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Good morning, Alexandria.
Thursday was a busy one. The Alexandria Brief was in the room as Mayor Gaskins and a panel of developers, nonprofit leaders and economic development officials got candid about the city's future — unemployment, affordable housing, the West End and what comes next. A few blocks away on King Street, the Fish Market was packed for its 50th anniversary celebration, where Gaskins declared it a city holiday and read a proclamation from behind the bar.
One story to watch closely: City Council returns from summer recess Wednesday night for a special session with one item on the agenda — a vote on whether to reopen the investigation into the in-custody death of Allan F. Tucker II.
And one deadline you cannot miss: today, July 24, is the last day to register to vote and request a mail-in ballot for the August 4 dual primary. Both deadlines are 5 p.m. The last day for in-person early voting at Royal Street and Beatley Library locations is Saturday, August 1.
Here's what you need to know for Friday, July 24.
1️⃣ The future of Alexandria: Mayor Gaskins and local leaders get candid on housing, jobs, and growth
Alexandria's mayor, a prominent developer, a nonprofit leader and economic development officials gathered Thursday evening at rand* construction's Old Town headquarters for a candid public conversation about where the city is headed — and they didn't sugarcoat the challenges.
Mayor Alyia Gaskins flagged a rise in unemployment, noting that roughly 3,000 Alexandrians were out of work as of May, many of them former federal workers. She also pushed back on the idea that every regulatory standard carries equal weight when affordable housing is the goal, and floated the idea of turning an unused kitchen at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center into a culinary arts incubator for summer youth employment, small business development and reentry job training. Developer Jay Kelly of Foulger-Pratt argued that piling on regulatory costs makes it increasingly difficult to build anything at all — and that the basic public benefit of development is the housing itself.
The conversation ranged from the West End's untapped potential as an innovation hub to the collapse of the Potomac Yard arena deal, which Liz Bolton of AEDP credited with forcing 18 months of deep community engagement that ultimately produced the city's Alex4 economic development blueprint. The event, part of Gensler's District Ambassadors series, drew about 90 people to 1029 N. Royal St.
2️⃣ Fish Market and Pop's Old Fashioned Ice Cream Co. celebrate 50 years as Alexandria declares a city holiday
Mayor Alyia Gaskins declared Thursday "Fish Market and Pop's Old Fashioned Ice Cream Co. Day" in Alexandria, issuing an official city proclamation at a packed celebration at the Fish Market, 105 King St., marking 50 years for both Old Town institutions.
Gaskins read the proclamation from behind the bar to a crowd that packed the King Street restaurant. "This is a place where you not only come for good food, but I'm sure every one of you has a good story to tell as well and a good memory that's been made here," she said. Her own aide, she noted earlier in the day, lit up at the mention of the celebration. "She was like, 'Oh my goodness, I used to have all of my birthday parties there as a kid.'"
Managing director Noe Landini called it a night to keep "those shrimp peeled" and celebrate five decades of Old Town history. Both the Fish Market and Pop's Old Fashioned Ice Cream Co. opened in 1976 and are owned by Franco and Noe Landini, father and son. Pop's traces its roots to Ray "Pop" Giovanni, who spent much of his early career catering White House events — including serving First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt her favorite ice cream. "When people look back 50 years from now," Gaskins said before reading the proclamation, "they will continue to recognize the importance of the Fish Market."
3️⃣ City Council votes Wednesday on whether to reopen Tucker investigation
City Council returns from summer recess Wednesday night for a special legislative session with a single item on the agenda: a vote on whether to allow Alexandria's civilian police oversight board to reopen its investigation into the in-custody death of Allan F. Tucker II. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center, 4850 Mark Center Drive, and via Zoom.
The special session was called after the Independent Community Policing Review Board voted unanimously on July 1 to declare Independent Policing Auditor Ameratu Kamara's investigation incomplete, finding her June 22 report left four critical questions unanswered — including the supervising sergeant's role in the incident, APD training records for the officers involved, and why disciplinary recommendations are excluded from the public report. Under city code, the auditor cannot reopen a closed investigation without council approval. Kamara has indicated she is willing to proceed.
Tucker, 32, of Woodbridge, died Aug. 15, 2025, in the sallyport of the Alexandria Adult Detention Center after being arrested for public intoxication. During transport, he repeatedly asked to be taken to the hospital as the patrol vehicle passed Inova Alexandria Hospital. He was found unresponsive after waiting roughly 40 to 45 minutes in the sallyport and could not be revived. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled his death accidental
In brief
Mayor Alyia Gaskins is hosting a free Mayors' Cup Rugby send-off celebration Sunday at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles — a chance to meet the Alexandria players heading to Scotland in August to face sister city, Dundee. The weekend also includes a 1776 Singalong & Discussion Saturday at 7 p.m. at The Lyceum, Civil War medicine tours at the Apothecary Museum, and the Apothecary Night Shift Saturday evening. (The Brief)
Sen. Mark Warner introduced a sweeping AI legislative package this week calling for federal minimum standards for data centers, mandatory safety testing of AI models before public release, and a fund to help displaced workers. The package has direct implications for Northern Virginia, home to the world's largest concentration of data centers. (The Brief)
Speaking of Sen. Warner, he recently said that this would be his fourth and final term in the Senate if his reelection bid is successful in November. (Virginia Pilot)
Kenneth Baldwin, 46, of Alexandria has been arrested and accused of sending explicit images to a 15-year-old Pennsylvania boy multiple times a week for more than a year, according to York Daily Record reporting. Baldwin is identified as a Virginia pastor. (York Daily Record)
An Alexandria company is among 13 Virginia businesses joining the state's export accelerator program this week. Anomaly Six, based in Alexandria, was selected for the Virginia Leaders in Export Trade program, which helps companies expand into international markets. (VEDP)
⚽ Sports
The Alexandria Aces beat the D.C. Grays 6-1 Thursday night at Frank Mann Field in the first-round play-in game, advancing to tonight's Wild Card round. As the #6 seed, the Aces travel to face the #4 Metro South County Braves at South County High School — a win sends them to the League Championship Semifinals. A loss ends their season.
Today's Schedule
- 6:45 p.m.: Arizona Diamondbacks at Washington Nationals
- 7 p.m.: Alexandria Aces at Metro South County Braves
The Alexandria Brief runs on reader support — no ads, no paywall, no corporate owner. This morning's newsletter includes original reporting from Thursday night's economic development forum, the Fish Market's 50th anniversary and the latest on the Allan Tucker investigation. None of that coverage can be found anywhere else this morning — and none of it happens without readers who believe local journalism is worth funding.
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Today in Alexandria
⛅ Weather
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84 degrees. Calm wind becoming east 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65 degrees. East wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide
Sunrise at 6:02 a.m., sunset at 8:25 p.m. 14 hours & 23 minutes of sun.
High tide at 5:11 a.m. & 5:46 p.m. Low tide at 11:55 a.m. & 11:33 p.m. The moon phase is a Waxing Gibbous.
🚇 Getting Around
Check here for the latest service alerts: Metro, DASH, VRE, Amtrak, and DCA
🗓️ Things To Do
- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.: In-person early voting open at 132 N. Royal St.
- 6 p.m.: Twist It – Barspoon Making & Mixology at Wear Ever Jewelry
- 6:30 p.m.: Friday Night Run Club at Daniel O'Connell's
- 7 p.m.: Trivia Night at Historic Sites at Carlyle House
🎶 Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Chris Timbers at 9 p.m.
- Cuates Grill: Karaoke at 10:15 p.m.
- Daniel O'Connell's: Franklin Music Duo at 9:30 p.m.
- Del Ray Public House: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
- Hops N Shine: Live music at 6 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: Live music at 7:30 p.m.
- Lost Boy Cider: Jacob DeForget at 7 p.m.
- Makeda Restaurant: Mesfin & Tsehay at 10 p.m.
- Murphy’s Pub: Rook Richards and Rocky Guttmann at 9 p.m.
- O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Desert Shade at 9 p.m.
- Pork Barrel BBQ: DM Shift Live at 8:30 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
- The Birchmere: The Australian Bee Gees Show at 7:30 p.m.
- The Garden Del Ray: Joe Delgado Duo at 5 p.m.
- The Light Horse: Diplomatic Immunity at 9:30 p.m.
- The Little Theatre of Alexandria: Catch Me If You Can at 8 p.m.
- The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6:30 p.m.
🏛️ City & Schools
City Government: Open · Flag: Half Staff · Trash & Recycling: On Time · Yard Waste: Partial Service Slide
- 6 a.m.: Chinquapin Pool Open
- 7 a.m.: Minnie Howard Pool Open
- 10 a.m.: Memorial Pool Open
- 11 a.m.: Warwick Pool Open
- 12 p.m.: Old Town Pool Open
- 5 p.m.: Deadline to Request a Ballot by Mail for August 4, 2026 Primary Election
- 5 p.m.: Voter Registration Deadline for August 4, 2026 Primary Election
📚 Alexandria Library
- 10:15 a.m.: Baby Storytime at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 10:30 a.m.: Sing Books with Emily at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 2 p.m.: Crafty Kid Series at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 3 p.m.: Teen Book Club at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
Ryan Belmore
On this day in Alexandria history
On July 24, 1794, the Alexandria Library Company — one of the earliest lending libraries in Virginia — was founded at the home of John Wise. Members met a week later upstairs at Gadsby's Tavern to elect officers. That same organization would go on to partner with educator Benjamin Hallowell to build The Lyceum at 201 S. Washington Street in 1839 — Alexandria's intellectual and cultural center for two decades before the Civil War.
On July 24, 1946, exactly 152 years later, the building's owners sought court approval to demolish it. A citizen preservation effort ultimately saved it by a 4-3 City Council vote in 1969. Today it is the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum.
And on July 24, 1774 — six days after signing the Fairfax Resolves — George Washington recorded a simple diary entry: "Went up to Church at Alexandria. Returnd to Dinner."
The Alexandria Brief
Alexandria news you can trust. Independent, free, and published every day.
Publisher: Ryan Belmore, journalist and Alexandria resident. Send questions, feedback, and news tips to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.
