The Alexandria Brief: Thursday, March 19

Good morning, Alexandria. It's Thursday, March 19. Spring arrives tomorrow at 10:46 a.m.

This morning, Alexandria's General Assembly delegation recaps the 2026 session at the Chamber ALX breakfast at the Hilton Old Town. And ACPS celebrates Essential Workers Appreciation Day with a special event at Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School.

Tonight at 7 p.m., the city hosts a town hall on the Potomac Interceptor collapse at the Lee Center. DC Water and Virginia DEQ officials will answer questions in person or via Zoom.

Reminder: No school tomorrow due to Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan.

Here's what else you need to know today.

1️⃣ City Council reviews housing pipeline, transit expansion, fee hikes, and human services in combined budget session

Budget Works Session on March 18 (Screenshot/City of Alexandria)

Alexandria City Council combined two budget work sessions into a single session last night at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center after Monday's session was canceled due to severe thunderstorms. The joint session covered the "Livable, Green & Prospering" and "Healthy, Thriving & Equitable" functional areas — together representing roughly $722 million of the proposed FY 2027 budget.

The session was the most wide-ranging of the budget cycle so far, touching on wastewater infrastructure, DASH bus expansion, a $100 million gap in the affordable housing pipeline, human services sustainability, and the future of the Torpedo Factory.

2️⃣ Three new food and drink spots are coming to Alexandria

Dok Khao Thai Eatery has opened at 2501 Oakville Street. (Dok Khao Thai Eatery)

Dok Khao Thai began its soft opening on Monday at 2514 Richmond Highway in the Oakville Triangle. The restaurant is a concept of The Pattana Restaurant Group, which operates Thai restaurants across the DMV. The menu draws from Thai street food — signature items include Crispy Duck Basil, Volcano Seafood, and Lamb Massaman Curry. Open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Validated parking available at 2575 Oakville Street.

DCANTER, a boutique wine shop on Capitol Hill, is preparing to open a second location at 1101 King Street in Old Town. The shop received its certificate of occupancy last week. Founders Michelle Lim Warner and Michael Warner signed the lease about eight weeks ago — they lived near Old Town when they first moved to the region two decades ago. No opening date announced yet.

And Crooked Run Fermentation, the Northern Virginia brewery behind taprooms in Leesburg, Sterling, and DC's Union Market, has filed for an ABC license at 2003 Mount Vernon Avenue — the former Dolce & Bean space. The application is pending.

3️⃣ Old Town boutiques invite shoppers to 'Bloom Together' this weekend

Bloom Together, the Old Town Boutique Community’s spring shopping event, will take place March 20–22. (Old Town Boutique Community)

Old Town's independent boutique community is welcoming shoppers back to King Street this weekend with Bloom Together, a three-day spring shopping event featuring gift card prizes of up to $1,000.

The Old Town Boutique Community's spring passport event runs Friday, March 20, through Sunday, March 22, across more than 20 participating stores. Shoppers who collect stamps at 10 locations become eligible for more than $500 in boutique gift cards, while those who visit 15 or more stores are entered to win gift cards totaling up to $1,000.

📰 In brief

Cogir Senior Living communities across the country will unite today for "what may be the largest coordinated dog celebration in senior living history". (Cogir of Old Town/Facebook)

Braddock Road Corridor Project: There is a lot of misinformation and disinformation being shared. Here are the facts and data from the Feb. 23 Traffic & Parking Board meeting: Presentation, Meeting Recording, Public Comment Letters, and Minutes.

Former Mayor Justin Wilson spoke at a celebration of CityHouse Old Town last night. (Justin Wilson/Bsky)

Gov. Abigail Spanberger has appointed two Alexandria residents to state boards and commissions. (The Brief)

Keith Pettigrew, who led the ARHA from 2017 to 2023, has been voted the new CEO of the Chicago Housing Authority. (CBS News)

The public is invited to provide feedback on the Draft Recommendations and Strategies for the Housing 2040 Plan through March 22. (City of Alexandria)

As of March 17, 2,054 residents have voted early in person for the April 21 Special Election, and another 9,937 have requested mail-in ballots. (City of Alexandria)

On this day in history: In 1855, a fire destroyed the Friendship Firehouse on South Alfred Street. In 1936, the Potomac River reached its peak at a level of 28.1 feet, isolating Alexandria for days and putting the nearby Washington Airport almost completely underwater. (Historic Alexandria)

Today in Alexandria

⛅ Weather

Partly sunny today, with a high near 57 degrees. Mostly cloudy tonight, with a low around 39 degrees.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

The sun will rise at 7:12:36 a.m., and sunset will be at 7:19:04 p.m. Today we will have 12 hours and 6 minutes of sun. The first low tide was at 3:26 a.m., and the next low tide will be at 4:02 p.m. The first high tide will be at 9:14 a.m. and the next high tide at 9:42 p.m. The lunar phase is a New Moon.

🗓️ Things To Do

8 a.m.: The Chamber ALX's General Assembly Breakfast at Hilton Alexandria Old Town
11:30 a.m.: Fusion Academy Alexandria: Connections & Conversation Series: Finding Clarity, Psychological Testing at 333 John Carlyle Street
5 p.m.: March NOTICe Social at St. Elmo's
7 p.m.: Rosemont Citizens Association Meeting at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and virtual

🎶 Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Mike Kelley & Friends at 9 p.m.
Alexandria Bier Garden: Trivia at 7:30 p.m.
Aslin ALX: Trivia at 7 p.m.
Evening Star Cafe: Jon Lewis at 8:30 p.m.
Galactic Panther: A night of Garage and Electro Punk Rock at 8 p.m.
Hops N Shine: Trivia at 6:30 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Ken Kilpatrick Trio at 6 p.m.
Lena’s: Gigi MacLaughlin at 6 p.m.
Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Pat Garvey & Rook Richards at 8:30 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Tangible Ego at 9 p.m.
Port City Brewing: Trivia: Gen Z vs Millennials at 7 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
The Birchmere: RHYE at 7:30 p.m.
The Study at Morrison House: Live Piano Music at 6 p.m.
Vola’s Dockside Grill: Comedy Night Series at 6 p.m.

🏛️ City & Schools

Gov. & Schools: Open | Flag: Full Staff | Trash & Recycling: On Time

6 a.m.: Chinquapin Open at Chinquapin
11:30 a.m.: Commission on Aging Outreach Committee (virtual)
5:30 p.m.: ARHA Redevelopment Work Group at ARHA Headquarters
5:30 p.m.: Public Health Advisory Commission at 4850 Mark Center Drive
6 p.m.: Minnie Howard Open at Minnie Howard
6 p.m.: Towing Advisory Board at DASH Facility
7 p.m.: Park & Recreation Commission at 2900-A Business Center Drive
7 p.m.: Commission on IT at Lee Center
7 p.m.: Potomac Interceptor Response Town Hall at Lee Center or via Zoom
7:30 p.m.: Environmental Policy Commission (virtual)

The ACHS Titans and middle school sports schedule can be found here.

📚 Alexandria Library

10 a.m.: Application Assistance - One-on-One Help at Barrett Branch Library
11 a.m.: Line Dancing 101 at Burke Branch Library
11 a.m.: Preschool Story Time at Barrett Branch Library
12 p.m.: Line Dancing 201 at Burke Branch Library
1:15 p.m.: Baby Bounce at Beatley Central Library
2 p.m.: Film Screening - "One Battle After Another" at Burke Branch Library
3 p.m.: Carefull Knit & Crochet at Barrett Branch Library
4 p.m.: Preschool Storytime at Beatley Central Library
5 p.m.: Spitfire - 4th and 5th Grade at Duncan Branch Library
5:30 p.m.: Teen Volunteer Orientation (virtual)
6 p.m.: Dungeons and Dragons: Teen Group at Barrett Branch Library
6 p.m.: Nerdy Knotters at Duncan Branch Library
6 p.m.: Dungeons and Dragons Adult Group at Barrett Branch Library
6 p.m.: Coding Game Night at Beatley Central Library
7 p.m.: Great Books Foundation Discussion Group (virtual)

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