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Good morning, Alexandria.
If you live in District 39, don't forget to vote tomorrow — four Democrats are vying to replace state Sen. Adam Ebbin in a firehouse primary. I've also got updates on a Sunday night shooting that sent a man to the hospital and on flooding that has forced Crooked Beat Records to close its doors.
On this day in 1864, the Clerk of the Alexandria Common Council was directed to notify the Telegraph Company, whose wires and poles already traversed King Street, that the telegraph lines must be placed in a direct line with the street curb within thirty days.
Here’s what you need to know today.
1️⃣ Four candidates file for Ebbin's Senate seat; firehouse primary is Tuesday
Four Democrats filed to run for state Sen. Adam Ebbin’s seat ahead of Sunday’s deadline, setting up a four-way race in Tuesday’s firehouse primary.
In ballot order, the candidates are Charles Costen-Sumpter, Amy Jackson, Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, and Mark Levine.
2️⃣ Man hospitalized after Sunday night shooting in Alexandria
A man was hospitalized after being shot multiple times Sunday night, according to the Alexandria Police Department.
Officers responded to reports of gunfire near Swann Avenue and Oakville Street around 10:30 p.m. and found the victim suffering from gunshot wounds, police said.
3️⃣ Del Ray record store closed after flooding damages hundreds of vinyl records
Water covered the floor of Crooked Beat Records on Sunday as owner Bill Daly stood in several inches of flooding, documenting hundreds of damaged vinyl records.
“The whole store is several inches deep. We have extensive damage,” Daly said in a video posted to Instagram. “The water still keeps rising.”
4️⃣ City details traffic, parking impacts ahead of Jan. 20 City Hall renovation start
The City of Alexandria’s long-awaited City Hall renovation project will begin construction mobilization on Tuesday, Jan. 20, marking the start of a two-and-a-half-year effort to restore the historic building and completely rebuild the Market Square garage.
Jeremy McPike, director of general services for the city, announced the timeline during a virtual community meeting Thursday night, explaining that all city services will be fully relocated by the mobilization date when Grunley Construction takes over the vacant building.
5️⃣ Alexandria City Council to consider union contracts, economic development plan at Tuesday meeting
Alexandria City Council will consider tentative collective bargaining agreements with the city’s police officers, firefighters, and municipal workers totaling nearly $32 million over three years at its legislative meeting on Tuesday.
The meeting marks the first time the council will convene at its new temporary home at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center while City Hall is closed for renovations. All regular council meetings will take place at the center until the renovation project is complete.
6️⃣ On the Docket: A weekly preview of city and school board meetings (January 12–17)
Here’s your weekly guide to public meetings in Alexandria — what’s happening, what matters, and how to participate.
7️⃣ Extra! Extra!
From The Alexandria Brief
The annual George Washington Birthday Parade will follow a modified route this year.
Wonder food hall opened its Potomac Yard location on Friday, and the Old Town Farmers’ Market has moved to a temporary home as City Hall renovations begin. Here’s the latest in Alexandria business news.
Alexandria City High School football coach Rodney Hughey has been named the athletics program’s fall coach of the year.
An Alexandria City High School student has won a prestigious full-ride college scholarship, one of several achievements highlighted by student representatives during the Alexandria City School Board meeting Thursday evening.
A man was found dead inside an apartment on Thornton Way early Friday morning following a barricade incident that lasted several hours, Alexandria police said.
From Elsewhere
DC-based Five-Star Dive Bar is opening in Old Town at 220 N. Lee Street (previously home to Mystic Bar & Grill). (The Commordor DC/IG)
What to watch as Virginia’s 2026 General Assembly returns to Richmond (Virginia Mercury)
🗓️ Today in Alexandria
Sunny today, with a high near 46 degrees. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming west in the morning. Mostly clear tonight, with a low around 30. South wind around 5 mph, becoming calm in the evening.
The sun will rise at 7:25 a.m. and set at 5:07 p.m. There will be 9 hours and 41 minutes of sun.
Events & Things To Do
- 9 a.m.: Monday Morning Coffee Club at Rosemont Cellar
- 6 p.m.: Momprenuer Networking Meetup with Paint Night and Mocktails at Cowo & Creche
- 6:30 p.m.: Joggers & Lagers at Port City Brewing Company
Live Music & Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Just For Fun at 9 p.m.
- Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant: Traditional Irish Music Session at 7 p.m.
- Del Ray Pizzeria: Trivia at 7 p.m.
- Epicure on King: Open Mic at 7 p.m.
- Laporta’s Restaurant: Jim West at 6 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.
City of Alexandria
- 6 a.m.: Chinquapin Open at Chinquapin Park
- 5 p.m.: Visit Alexandria Executive Committee meeting at 277 S. Washington St.
- 5:30 p.m.: ARHA Redevelopment Work Group
- 6 p.m.: Minnie Howard Open at Minnie Howard
- 6:30 p.m.: CYFCC ad hoc meeting with School Board member at Beeliner Diner
- 7 p.m.: Board of Zoning Appeals public hearing
- 7 p.m.: Sister Cities Committee Dundee and Helsingborg
- 7 p.m.: Social Services Advisory Board (virtual)
- 7 p.m.: Human Rights Commission Executive Committee
- 7 p.m.: Alexandria-Caen Sister City Committee
Alexandria City Public Schools
- 4 p.m.: CTE Advisory Committee at ACHS King Street
- 5 p.m.: Strategy & Accountability Committee (Zoom)
- 6 p.m.: Advanced Academic Services Advisory Committee (Zoom)
Alexandria Library
- All day: A Commonwealth of Cultures exhibit at Local History/Special Collections
- All day: Winter Lego Building Contest (virtual, ages 6–16)
- 10:15 a.m.: Baby Time at Duncan Branch Library
- 10:30 a.m.: Senior Bingo at Burke Branch Library
- 11 a.m.: Storytime in the Reading Garden at Beatley Central Library (ages 0–5)
- 11:15 a.m.: Baby Time at Duncan Branch Library
- 1 p.m.: English Language Learning class at Burke Branch Library
- 5 p.m.: Dungeons & Dragons at Burke Branch Library
- 5:30 p.m.: ELL Conversation Workshop at Beatley Central Library
- 7 p.m.: Let’s Talk Books — “You Will Never Be Me” at Barrett Branch Library
- 7 p.m.: Diversity Book Club — “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow”
- 7 p.m.: Friends of the Duncan Library board meeting at Duncan Branch Library
