The Alexandria Brief: Tuesday, April 7

Good morning, Alexandria. It's Tuesday, April 7 — the 97th day of 2026, with 268 days left in the year. You're one of 5,725 neighbors reading this morning.

Welcome back, students. Spring break is officially over.

Freeze warning tonight — temperatures drop to the mid-30s after sunset. Sunny today with a high near 54 degrees.

Two weeks until Election Day. More than 10,000 of Alexandria's 102,597 registered voters have already cast a ballot. Extended early-voting hours begin Saturday at 132 North Royal Street.

Tonight is busy: Planning Commission meets at 7 p.m., a Duke Street safety overhaul hearing runs 5 to 7 p.m., and the city hosts a community meeting on the West Reed Avenue and Dale Street storm sewer project at 6:30 p.m.

Here's what you need to know today.

1️⃣ Five Alexandria restaurants named RAMMYS finalists

Matt and Tony's All Day Kitchen Bar secured the No. 100 spot on Yelp's Top 100 US Restaurants 2026 (Matt & Tony’s All Day Kitchen + Bar)

Five Alexandria restaurants advanced Monday to the finalist round of the 44th Annual RAMMYS Awards & Gala, the Washington region's top dining honors, as the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington narrowed the field to 95 contenders across 20 categories at a packed event at The Hamilton Live.

Matt & Tony's in Del Ray earned a finalist nod for Best Brunch of the Year. Old Town's Andy's Pizza and Call Your Mother are both finalists for Fast Casual Restaurant of the Year — putting two Alexandria spots in direct competition in the same category. Both also operate locations in Washington, D.C. Oak Steakhouse Alexandria's Todd Hunt and Bastille Brasserie & Bar's Juan Ramirez are both finalists for Manager of the Year.

2️⃣ ACPS will pay Kay-Wyatt $37,500 in separation deal; she was under contract through 2028

Melanie Kay-Wyatt, Superintendent of Alexandria City Public Schools. (ACPS)

Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt was under contract with Alexandria City Public Schools through June 2028 when she announced her retirement last month — nearly two years before her agreement was set to expire — and the school board approved a separation package that includes a $37,500 payout, according to a signed agreement made public as part of the March 26 school board meeting minutes.

The Alexandria City School Board voted unanimously 8-0 to accept Kay-Wyatt's resignation following a closed session at its March 26 meeting. Christopher Harris made the motion; Kelly Carmichael Booz seconded. The board deliberated in closed session before returning to open session to take the public vote. All eight members present voted in favor.

3️⃣ Two weeks out: what Alexandria voters need to know before April 21

Voters wait in-line outside a polling station on November 4, 2025 in Alexandria, Virginia. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Election Day is just about two weeks away — and more than 10,000 of Alexandria's 102,597 registered voters have already cast a ballot.

Saturday marks the start of extended early-voting hours at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections at 132 North Royal Street. On the polling location front, the Blessed Sacrament voting location has been relocated to North Quaker (1801 N Quaker Street).

Here's what else you need to know.

4️⃣ Alexandria to host tall ships festival and jazz fest on the waterfront this June

Four historic tall ships will dock along the Alexandria waterfront this June as the city hosts Sails on the Potomac, a free three-day festival marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

The event runs June 12–14 at Waterfront Park, 1A Prince St., and will feature ship tours, family activities, art and history programming exploring Alexandria's role in the founding era of the United States. A free fireworks show is planned for Saturday, June 13 at 9 p.m.

The tall ships coming to Alexandria are the Gazela, Kalmar Nyckel, Providence and Sultana. Tours are free, but all visitors — including children — must reserve a timed ticket in advance.

5️⃣ ACHS King Street Campus administrator to leave at end of school year

Alexandria City High School's King Street Campus administrator is leaving the school division at the end of the current school year, Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt recently announced — adding another leadership vacancy at a school already navigating a principal search, and coming as the district simultaneously conducts a superintendent search following Kay-Wyatt's own impending retirement.

Ashley Carter Sinclair, who joined ACHS in September 2023, will depart to pursue a new career opportunity, according to a March 24 message to students, staff, and families through the ParentSquare platform.

Carter Sinclair's departure is notable in part because of its timing. When ACPS announced its principal search on March 17, it simultaneously restructured its high school leadership titles, renaming campus-level administrators as campus principals. Carter Sinclair had been named to serve as King Street campus principal under that new structure. He will instead leave at the end of the school year.

📰 In brief

Alexandria's civic calendar snaps back to full speed this week after spring break and Easter, with consequential budget deadlines, a heavy Planning Commission docket, a Duke Street safety overhaul hearing, and the first public look at a renegotiated agreement governing police in schools all arriving in quick succession. (The Alexandria Brief)

The city is inviting residents to share their thoughts on a planned redesign of one of the city's busiest corridors, with a public hearing scheduled for this evening. (The Alexandria Brief)

The city will host a public meeting this evening to update residents on the West Reed Avenue and Dale Street Storm Sewer Improvements, a long-planned flood mitigation project. (The Alexandria Brief)

The Alexandria City School Board convenes Thursday at 6 p.m. at 1340 Braddock Place for its first regular meeting since the board voted March 26 to accept Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt's resignation. (The Alexandria Brief)

Two Virginia lawmakers who represent portions of both Alexandria and Arlington will join the full Arlington legislative delegation for a post-session town hall next Monday, giving constituents across both jurisdictions a chance to weigh in on the 2026 General Assembly session. (The Alexandria Brief)

With temperatures finally on the rise, Alexandria health experts are sounding the alarm tonight that tick season is once again upon us. (Fox5)

In a part of the north end of Old Town, you’ll find a little-known historical gem that goes all the way back to a time when the city was a part of D.C. (WTOP)

Seven fox kits were rescued in Alexandria after they fell into a window well and could not get out. (DCNewsNow)

See which EV is right for you at the City of Alexandria’s EV Ride and Drive Event on Saturday, April 11. (City of Alexandria)

Good Fortune, the rooftop bar at Hotel Heron, opens for the season on Saturday, April 18. (Hotel Heron)

Cat Boat Pizza Bar at the Washington Sailing Marina is planning to reopen for the season on April 15. (Catboat/IG)

April 21 Special Election: As of April 2, 5,442 residents have voted early in person, and 5,205 have voted by mail-in ballot (10,249 ballots have been sent). The ballot includes a contest for City Council as well as a proposed statewide constitutional amendment on redistricting. Early voting continues today at 132 N Royal Street. (City of Alexandria)

Today in Alexandria

⛅ Weather

Sunny, with a high near 54 degrees. Clear tonight, with a low around 34 degrees.

🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide

Sunrise at 6:43 a.m., sunset at 7:37 p.m. 12 hours & 54 minutes of sun. High tide at 12:37 a.m. & 12:28 p.m. Low tide at 6:15 a.m. and 7:22 p.m. The moon phase is a Waning Gibbous.

🗓️ Things To Do

11 a.m.: Meet the Employers: Mini Networking Event at Del Pepper Community Resource Center
6 p.m.: April Social with Queens on King Street at The Cooper Mill
7 p.m.: Beer Yoga at Port City Brewing Company

🎶 Entertainment

219 Restaurant: Justin Gillen Trio at 9 p.m.
Atlas Brew Works ALX: Trivia at 7 p.m.
Cooper Mill: Music Bingo at 6 p.m.
Laporta’s Restaurant: Antonio James at 6 p.m.
Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap: Melissa Quinn Fox Duo at 6 p.m.
Lost Dog Cafe: Trivia at 7 p.m.
Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Pete Baker at 8:30 p.m.
O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Trivia at 9 p.m.
Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
The Commodore: Trivia at 7 p.m.
The Garden Del Ray: Trivia at 7 p.m.

🏛️ City & Schools

City Government: Open | Schools: Open | Flag: Full Staff | Trash, Recycling, & Yard Waste Collection: On Time

All day: Sexual Assault Awareness Month: Teal-Out Day
6 a.m.: Chinquapin Open at Chinquapin
7:30 a.m.: ACPS Operational Excellence Committee via Zoom
4:30 p.m.: AlexRenew Governance Committee Preparation Meeting at 1800 Limerick Street
5 p.m.: Duke Street and W. Taylor Run Project Public Hearing at 2900 Business Center Drive
6 p.m.: Minnie Howard Open at Minnie Howard
6 p.m.: APD Evening Hiring Event
6:30 p.m.: West Reed Avenue & Dale Street Storm Sewer Design Update
6:30 p.m.: ACPS Athletic Hall of Fame Advisory Committee Meeting at ACHS Media Center
7 p.m.: Planning Commission Public Hearing
7 p.m.: Arts Commission Executive Committee Meeting
7:30 p.m.: Public Records Advisory Commission

📚 Alexandria Library

All day: America 250 Community Mini Art Show Canvas Pick-Up at Burke Branch Library
All day: Footsteps of History - Virtual Walking Challenge (virtual)
All day: Turning the Lens on Plastic Pollution Through Art at Barrett Branch Library
All day: The Great American PoeTREEs at Beatley Central Library
All day: Tiny Art Show: Tiny Chair Edition at Beatley Central Library — on display through May 2
All day: A Commonwealth of Cultures Exhibit at Local History/Special Collections
10 a.m.: Sunshine Readers at Barrett Branch Library (outdoors)
10 a.m.: Twice Loved Plushies at Beatley Central Library — accepting donations through April 20
10 a.m.: English Language Learning (ELL) 1 Workshop at Beatley Central Library
10:15 a.m.: Family Storytime at Burke Branch Library
11 a.m.: Playtime! at Beatley Central Library
11 a.m.: Baby and Toddler Time at Barrett Branch Library
2 p.m.: Baby and Toddler Play Date at Burke Branch Library
4 p.m.: Passport to American History with Julie Albright at Beatley Central Library
4 p.m.: Author Talk: "Freewater" with Amina Luqman-Dawson at Duncan Branch Library
4:30 p.m.: Financial Literacy for Teens at Burke Branch Library
5 p.m.: Duncan and Dragons - Arkipeligo at Duncan Branch Library
6:30 p.m.: Teen Volunteer Orientation at Beatley Central Library

📜 On This Day in History

On April 7, 1846, "the City of Alexandria authorized the first paid curator at the Market House Museum, then located in the second City Hall building, which faced North Royal Street. Originally established in 1812, in conjunction with Alexandria’s Masonic Lodge, which leased the space in the northwest second-floor corner of the building, the museum was often the site of major events, including a festive reception for the Marquis de Lafayette when he visited Alexandria for a month in 1824. Originally, museum artifacts relating mostly to George Washington were placed decades before by the local Masonic Lodge, of which the nation’s first President was a member". (Historic Alexandria)

On April 7, 1950, "the Alexandria Gazette announced that the Library of Congress had completed microfilming its old issues. It took three years to film the collection, which then covered 166 years of daily news. The microfilm is available at the Alexandria Library Special Collections". (Historic Alexandria)