Table of Contents
Good morning, Alexandria.
It's a big week. Tomorrow is Election Day for the August 4 dual primary — polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Democrats choose among five candidates for the 8th District House seat; Republicans choose among three candidates for U.S. Senate. If you're registered, show up tomorrow.
Tomorrow is also National Night Out — Alexandria's annual community-police celebration, with events planned across the city, from front-yard cookouts to block parties. More than 40 Alexandria neighborhoods registered this year, with Chief McGuire aiming to break last year's record of 50-plus events.
And with Alexandria City Public Schools returning Aug. 24 — just three weeks away — now is the time to make sure physicals, vaccines, and back-to-school appointments are in order.
Here's what you need to know for Monday, August 3.
1️⃣ Alexandria nonprofit brought a free chemistry lab to 14 neighborhoods this month
Instead of asking families to get their kids to a lab, an Alexandria nonprofit spent July bringing the lab to them.
Chrysalis Development Group Corporation ran its Be a Chemist academy at 14 community locations across Alexandria and Fairfax County in July, enrolling 700 students in grades 2 through 8 for five days of hands-on chemistry at no cost to participating families. The sites included community centers, recreation facilities and residential neighborhoods — a deliberate choice to hold the program where students already are.
2️⃣ Virginia votes Tuesday: Everything you need to know about the 2026 primary elections
Virginians will head to the polls Tuesday for the 2026 primary elections, nearly two months later than usual after this year’s congressional redistricting referendum and the uncertainty over which map would govern the races delayed the state’s traditional June nomination contest.
More than 30 candidates are competing in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate and in seven of Virginia’s 11 congressional districts.
3️⃣ National Night Out returns Tuesday with record 54 locations
Alexandria has set a National Night Out participation record ahead of next week's event, with 54 locations registered citywide, the city announced Tuesday.
The count tops the 52 community neighborhood and civic association gatherings the Alexandria Police Department reported in its 2025 annual report — a figure that itself represented a 44% increase over the prior year and helped earn Alexandria a spot among the nation's top 15 National Night Out communities.
Police Chief Tarrick McGuire set the target at City Council's July 1 legislative meeting, telling members he wanted to beat last year's mark.
In brief
A stretch of King Street was closed in both directions Saturday night into Sunday after a vehicle struck an electrical pole and left wires hanging over the roadway, Alexandria police said. (The Brief)
Over the weekend, APD was seeking to locate the family of a toddler found alone on Kinsey Lane and was looking for a missing 13-year-old. The toddler has been reunited, and the 13-year-old has been located. (Facebook/APD)
The Justice Department moved Friday to dismiss a criminal case charging a former Olympian with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, saying evidence prosecutors had recently received refuted the idea that vandals were to blame. (The Brief)
The Virginia premiere of Louder Than Guns screens Tuesday at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum. (The Brief)
Alexandria community holds clothing drive for family who lost everything in house fire (NBC4)
U.S. Rep. Don Beyer fending off four challengers for Virginia Congressional District 8 (WJLA)
Street repaving is scheduled this week on Manor Road, Carolina Place, Ancell Street, West Del Ray Avenue, East and West Custis Street, and Wayne Street. Concrete work is planned on North Overlook Drive and Orlando Place. (City of Alexandria)
Vendor applications are now open for Patrick Henry Recreation Center's Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Saturday, October 10. (City of Alexandria)
The US Military will conduct an Aircraft Flyover in the NCR over the Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, August 3, 2026, at approximately 11:05 a.m. (AlertDC)
⚽ Sports
Lia Godfrey scored the lone goal as the San Diego Wave upset the Washington Spirit 1-0 on Sunday. (The Brief)
Mike Yastrzemski homered and drove in two runs and the Atlanta Braves beat the slumping Washington Nationals 4-2 on Sunday to complete a rare four-game sweep. (The Brief)
Tai Baribo equalized in the 77th minute to help D.C. United rally for a 2-2 draw against Nashville SC on Saturday. (The Brief)
Today's Schedule
- 6:40 p.m.: Nationals at Philadelphia Phillies
Today in Alexandria
⛅ Weather
Today: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87 degrees. South wind around 7 mph, becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70 degrees. Light and variable wind.
🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide
Sunrise at 6:11 a.m., sunset at 8:16 p.m. 14 hours & 4 minutes of sun.
High tide at 12:03 p.m. Low tide at 6:23 a.m. & 6:28 p.m. The moon phase is a Waning Gibbous.
🗓️ Things To Do
- 6:30 p.m.: Joggers & Lagers at Port City Brewing Company
🎶 Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Just For Fun at 9 p.m.
- Clyde’s at Mark Center: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
- Daniel O’Connell’s: Traditional Irish Music at 7 p.m.
- Del Ray Public House: Trivia at 7 p.m.
- Epicure on King: Open Mic at 7 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: Jim West at 6 p.m.
- Mason Social: Rook Richards at 5 p.m.
- Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Colby Sard at 8:30 p.m.
- O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Karaoke at 9 p.m.
- Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
- The Birchmere: Graham Nash at 7:30 p.m.
🏛️ City & Schools
- City Government: Open
- Flag: Full Staff
- Trash, Recycling, & Yard Waste Collection: On Time
- 6 a.m.: Chinquapin Pool open
- 7 a.m.: Minnie Howard Pool open
- 9:30 a.m.: Alexandria Electoral Board meeting (in-person) at Voter Registration Office
- 11 a.m.: Warwick Pool open
- 12 p.m.: Old Town Pool open
- 6 p.m.: Alexandria Police Department evening hiring event at Police Headquarters
📚 Alexandria Library
- All day: Alexandria Library: A Legacy of Service Since 1937 — exhibit at Beatley Central Library
- 10:15 a.m.: Baby Time at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library (ages 0–14 months; tickets required)
- 11:15 a.m.: Baby Time (2nd session) at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library (ages 0–14 months; tickets required)
- 1 p.m.: English Language Learning at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library (no registration needed)
- 3:30 p.m.: Teen and Tween Summer Craft Camp at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 4 p.m.: Sensory Story Time at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library (ages 2–8; wait list only)
- 5 p.m.: Silent Listening Party at Beatley Central Library (ages 12–18; registration required)
- 5:30 p.m.: English Language Learning 2 — Intermediate Conversation at Beatley Central Library (no registration required)
- 6:30 p.m.: Stability in Motion — weekly yoga with Seven Petals Yoga at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library (full)
On this day in Alexandria's history
On August 3, 1950, Alexandria residents began noticing a bad taste in their drinking water. Officials at the Alexandria Water Company quickly traced the source — chemicals had been dumped into a storm sewer by personnel at Cameron Station, the U.S. Army's Quartermaster Depot on Duke Street. The contaminated water had to be drained from the city's reservoir, and Alexandria's water supply was affected for a week. (Historic Alexandria)
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