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Good morning, Alexandria.
Today is Election Day. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the August 4 dual primary — Democrats choose among five candidates for the 8th Congressional District seat, Republicans choose among three candidates for the U.S. Senate.
Today is also National Night Out — Alexandria's annual community-police celebration, with dozens of neighborhood events, block parties, and cookouts planned across the city this afternoon and evening.
Also tonight at 6 p.m., the Alexandria Film Festival and Safer Country screen the Virginia premiere of "Louder Than Guns" at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum.
Here's what you need to know for Tuesday, August 4.
1️⃣ Alexandria votes today — here's what's to know
Alexandria voters head to the polls today in a dual primary — but the two ballots cover different races. Democrats choose among five candidates for the 8th Congressional District seat: incumbent Rep. Donald S. Beyer Jr., Mo Seifeldein, Michael Christian Duffin, Adam M. Dunigan and Lorena Thorne Bruner. Republicans choose among three candidates for U.S. Senate: Bert Mizusawa, Kim Farington and David E. Williams. The winner faces Sen. Mark Warner, who is unopposed for the Democratic nomination, in November. Voters may choose one ballot or the other — not both.
Four precincts have moved — check before you go. The former Blessed Sacrament precinct is now at North Quaker, 1801 N. Quaker Lane; the former City Hall precinct is now at Lyles Crouch School, 530 S. St. Asaph St.; the former George Mason School precinct is now at Trinity Church, 2911 Cameron Mills Road; and the former View Alexandria precinct is now at Hope Way, 2800 Hope Way.
Polls are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bring ID. Same-day registration is available via provisional ballot. Confirm your polling place at vote.elections.virginia.gov or call 703-746-4050.
2️⃣ New America wins $250,000 grant to build digital exhibit on Alexandria's 1939 library sit-in
New America has been awarded a two-year, $250,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to build a digital exhibit on the 1939 sit-in at Alexandria's whites-only public library, the think tank announced Monday.
The free exhibit is scheduled to launch in 2027 and will be housed on the Alexandria Library's website. It is being developed in partnership with the library and the African American History division of the Office of Historic Alexandria.
3️⃣ Comment period on Dawes Avenue safety plan closes Wednesday
Alexandria residents have until Wednesday to comment on a conceptual design that would add bike lanes along Dawes Avenue and change on-street parking through the Northern Virginia Community College campus.
The city's Department of Transportation & Environmental Services is collecting feedback on the concept for Dawes Avenue between Seminary Road and King Street. The online form closes Wednesday, Aug. 5.
The project is a partnership between the city and NVCC. According to the city, it responds to concerns raised by the college, community members and the corridor's crash history. The city reports 16 crashes on the corridor since 2017, six of which resulted in injuries, and says speeding is common there.
In brief
Virginia’s sales tax holiday begins on Friday and runs through Sunday, offering deals on qualifying school supplies, clothing and footwear sales tax. Certain emergency preparedness items also qualify. (The Brief)
The City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums will perform a free outdoor concert at Waterfront Park in Old Town on Friday, Aug. 21. (The Brief)
⚽ Sports
Derek Hill hit a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning and Bryce Harper added a two-run shot to lift the Philadelphia Phillies to their third straight win, 6-3 over the Washington Nationals on Monday night. (The Brief)
After preaching the need for competition at the start of Washington Commanders training camp, coach Dan Quinn got his wish Monday in the first practice with players in full pads. (The Brief)
Today's Schedule
- 6:40 p.m.: Nationals at Philadelphia Phillies
Today in Alexandria
⛅ Weather
Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 86 degrees. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph.
Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 4 a.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., then showers likely after 5 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72 degrees. East wind around 5 mph, becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, except higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.
🌖 Sun, Moon, & Tide
Sunrise at 6:12 a.m., sunset at 8:15 p.m. 14 hours & 2 minutes of sun.
High tide at 12:28 a.m. & 12:50 p.m. Low tide at 7:13 a.m. & 7:07 p.m. The moon phase is a Waning Gibbous.
🗓️ Things To Do
- Various Times: Alexandria celebrates National Night Out throughout the city
- 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Dual Party Primary Election across Alexandria
- 8:30 a.m.: The Chamber ALX's August Networking Breakfast, presented by M&T Bank at Bastille Restaurant
- 6 p.m.: Alexandria Film Festival to screen Virginia premiere of Louder Than Guns at The Lyceum
- 7 p.m.: Beer Yoga at Port City Brewing Company
🎶 Entertainment
- 219 Restaurant: Holly Montgomery 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: Melissa Quinn Fox on the patio 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 Birchmere: Graham Nash at 7:30 p.m.
- The Commodore: Trivia at 7 p.m.
- The Garden Del Ray: Trivia at 7 p.m.
🏛️ City & Schools
- City Government: Open
- Flag: Full Staff
- Trash, Recycling, & Yard Waste Collection: On Time
- 6 a.m. – 7 p.m.: Dual Party Primary Election — polls open citywide
- 6 a.m.: Chinquapin Pool open
- 7 a.m.: Minnie Howard Pool open
- 10 a.m.: Memorial Pool open
- 12 p.m.: Old Town Pool open
- 6 p.m.: National Night Out 2026 — neighborhoods across Alexandria host events in support of crime prevention and community safety
- 7:30 p.m.: Public Records Advisory Commission meeting (in-person)
📚 Alexandria Library
- All day: Alexandria Library: A Legacy of Service Since 1937 — exhibit at Beatley Central Library
- 10 a.m.: Sunshine Readers — outdoor book club at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library (registration required)
- 10:15 a.m.: Family Storytime — Martes de niños at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library (ages 0–5)
- 10:15 a.m.: Sing Books with Emily at Mount Vernon Recreation Center
- 11 a.m.: Baby and Toddler Time at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library (ages 0–23 months)
- 11:15 a.m.: Sing Books with Emily (2nd session) at Mount Vernon Recreation Center
- 2 p.m.: The Legacy of Julia Child's Kitchen with Paula J. Johnson (Virtual) (registration required)
- 2 p.m.: Baby and Toddler Play Date at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library (ages 0–3)
- 5 p.m.: Duncan and Dragons — The Kingdoms of Living Giants at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library (teens 13–18; registration required)
- 6 p.m.: Technología y Entrenamiento Profesional — Sesiones de español at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library (registration required)
- 6:30 p.m.: Summer Teen Volunteer Orientation at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
- 7 p.m.: Handcraft Tuesday — Evening Edition (Virtual). This event has been canceled.
On this day in Alexandria's history
On August 4, 1898, the City received a novel complaint: perambulators — large Victorian baby carriages — were occupying too much space on the sidewalks of King Street, forcing pedestrians to zigzag their way along the main commercial corridor while unperturbed mothers shopped at their leisure. Though sympathetic, city officials could find no legal recourse to restrict the increasingly large baby carriages of the period.
On August 4, 1965 — 61 years ago today — Landmark Center opened at the intersection of Duke and Van Dorn streets. Merchants estimated more than 15,000 cars arrived for the grand opening. The open-air shopping center was converted to a three-story enclosed mall in the late 1980s. (Historic Alexandria)
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