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Your free daily roundup of Alexandria news, events, and sports — published online and delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.
Good morning, Alexandria. The city turns 277 today — and celebrated in style on Saturday, when thousands of people stood in the rain at Oronoco Bay Park to see it through. The fireworks went off, the crowd stayed, and by most accounts the birthday party was exactly what it should have been. I was there and have the full story.
A couple from Old Town North made the evening a little more personal. Jenn Meffert and Zach Quinn spent Alexandria's birthday doing what they love — volunteering at Founders Park in the morning, then standing together in the rain watching fireworks over the Potomac that night. They marked the occasion by moving their Claddagh rings from their right hands to their left. It's a good story.
Also this weekend: Alexandria native Owen Hull was selected by the Boston Red Sox with the 67th overall pick in the MLB Draft, and Crooked Run says its Del Ray taproom is almost ready to open.
Here's what you need to know for Monday, July 13.
1️⃣ Alexandria turns 277 with symphony, fireworks and a surprise rainstorm
Thousands gathered along the Potomac River at Oronoco Bay Park on Saturday evening to celebrate Alexandria's 277th birthday — and a sudden downpour at the grand finale did nothing to dampen the mood.
The festivities kicked off at 6 p.m. with Mistress of Ceremonies Molette Green, an NBC4 Washington reporter, welcoming the crowd as the Decades Band warmed up the lawn. Dozens of city departments and offices — including the Fire Department, Police Department, Historic Alexandria and others — set up tents throughout the park, giving residents a chance to connect with the people and programs that keep the city running.
By the time Town Crier Benjamin Fiore Walker strode to the stage at 7:30 p.m., the park was packed with beach blankets, lawn chairs and families ready to celebrate. "We come to celebrate our love for Alexandria, which is perennial," Walker declared, capping his proclamation with the crowd-pleasing "Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!"
2️⃣ An Alexandria love story: Old Town North couple marks their engagement on the city's birthday
When Jenn Meffert and Zach Quinn decided to make their relationship official, they didn't plan a surprise proposal. They planned a day — a whole Alexandria day — and did it together.
On July 11, the city's 277th birthday, the Old Town North couple moved their matching Claddagh rings from their right hands to their left. It was a quiet, deliberate gesture — no down-on-one-knee moment, no secret kept — that said everything about how they operate. That evening, they joined thousands of neighbors at Oronoco Bay Park and stood in the rain watching fireworks arc over the Potomac.
"Our relationship is very egalitarian," Jenn said. "There's no better way to represent that than to both be able to say and show that we love each other and want to spend the rest of our lives together."
3️⃣ Alexandria native Owen Hull drafted by Red Sox after College World Series run
Owen Hull's journey from the diamonds of Alexandria Little League to professional baseball is now complete.
The Boston Red Sox selected Hull, an outfielder out of the University of North Carolina, with the 67th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday in Philadelphia. The Alexandria native and Bishop Ireton High School graduate was the second Tar Heel drafted by Boston that day, joining shortstop Jake Schaffner, who was taken 20th overall.
4️⃣ Crooked Run secures building permit for Del Ray taproom, says opening is imminent
Crooked Run Fermentation has secured a building permit for its Del Ray taproom and says an opening date is approaching, co-founder Jake Endres wrote in a Substack newsletter Friday.
The permit, which Endres described as the biggest obstacle to opening on time, came in under the 90-day wait his permit expediter had projected. "One mistake and you go to the back of the line again," Endres wrote. He credited co-founder Leland "Lee" Rogan for getting it across the finish line.
📰 In brief
Crews will fan out across Old Town's waterfront streets beginning today to investigate underground utilities, the first visible sign of progress on Alexandria's long-delayed waterfront flood mitigation project since City Council formally authorized a redesigned approach last month. (The Brief)
Sewage reached Hooffs Run after a blocked sewer line overflowed on Commonwealth Avenue late Thursday, releasing an estimated 68,000 gallons, AlexRenew, the city's wastewater utility, said Friday. (The Brief)
An 18-year-old Alexandria musician performed at Valley Forge National Historical Park earlier this month as part of the national celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. (The Brief)
The City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums will perform two free outdoor concerts this summer at Waterfront Park in Old Town, bringing bagpipes and drums to the foot of Prince Street on Friday, July 17, and Friday, Aug. 21. (The Brief)
Alexandria residents 60 and older can apply now for benefits that cover free fruits and vegetables at local farmers markets, ahead of a series of pop-up markets the city is bringing to residential communities in August. (The Brief)
Street repaving is scheduled this week on Dogwood Drive, North Ashton Street, Lloyds Lane, King Street in front of Alexandria City High School, and Braddock Road between Van Dorn Street and North Quaker Lane. (City of Alexandria)
⚽ Sports
Shakira Austin scored 10 of her 27 points in the fourth quarter, Kiki Iriafen had 12 points and 13 rebounds for her ninth double-double this season, and the Washington Mystics beat the Seattle Storm 84-79 on Sunday. (The Brief)
Ben Rice hit a two-run triple in the top of the eighth inning to give the New York Yankees their third straight come-from-behind victory over the Washington Nationals, 5-3 on Sunday. (The Brief)
The Alexandria Aces (14-16) had a mixed weekend — dropped a 9-0 decision to the Bethesda Big Train on Saturday, then bounced back with a 7-6 win over the D.C. Grays on Sunday at Catholic University.
Spain beat Belgium 2-1 Friday to advance to the semifinals. This weekend, England edged Norway 2-1 Saturday and Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1 Saturday night. The semifinals are Tuesday — France vs. Spain at 3 p.m. — and Wednesday — England vs. Argentina at 3 p.m.
Today's Schedule
- 5 p.m.: Alexandria Aces at Southern Maryland Senators, North Point High School
Today in Alexandria
⛅ Weather
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86 degrees. Calm wind becoming southeast 5 to 7 mph in the morning.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 66 degrees. Light southeast wind.
🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide
Sunrise at 5:54 a.m., sunset at 8:33 p.m. 14 hours & 39 minutes of sun.
High tide at 7:38 a.m. & 8:20 p.m. Low tide at 1:36 a.m. & 2:48 p.m. The moon phase is a Waning Crescent.
🗓️ Things To Do
- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.: In-person early voting open at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections (132 N. Royal Street)
- 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.
🏛️ City & Schools
- 6 a.m.: Chinquapin Pool open
- 7 a.m.: Minnie Howard Pool open
- 9 a.m.: Industrial Development Authority meeting (virtual)
- 11 a.m.: Warwick Pool open
- Noon: Old Town Pool open
- 7 p.m.: BAR Design Guidelines Committee meeting at Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Center
- 7 p.m.: Human Rights Commission Executive Committee meeting at Charles Houston Recreation Center
- (City of Alexandria calendar) (ACPS calendar)
📚 Alexandria Library
- All day: PINGO! — Plastic Free Bingo at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 10:15 a.m.: Baby Time at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
- 10:30 a.m.: Storytime in the Reading Garden at Beatley Central Library
- 10:30 a.m.: Senior Bingo at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 11:15 a.m.: Baby Time (2nd session) at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
- 1 p.m.: English Language Learning at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 5 p.m.: Dungeons & Dragons at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- 7 p.m.: Friends of Duncan Library Board Meeting at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
- (Alexandria Library calendar)
🗓️ On This Day in Alexandria History
On the morning of July 13, 1749, a group of buyers gathered along the Potomac River in what had recently been wilderness and farmland in Fairfax County, Virginia. What happened that day — the auction of 60 surveyed lots on land once owned by a Scottish merchant named John Alexander — was, on its surface, a routine real estate transaction. But it was also the founding of a city.
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