Beer lovers and shoppers alike will find things to keep them busy this weekend in Alexandria.
If you want to sample beers from different places, Alexandria’s Port City Brewing Co. is gathering breweries from around the country for its Port to Port Beer Festival. Shoppers will have extra reason to head out on the town between Virginia’s sales tax holiday and Old Town Boutiques’ special Tax-Free Weekend promotion.
A new wellness studio featuring saunas, cold plunges and fitness classes is opening Saturday, Aug. 15 in Alexandria’s Braddock neighborhood.
Kalm Studio is currently taking reservations at 800 N. Henry Street. The building has undergone significant renovations over the last several months, and features three private saunas and a communal sauna. For a $300 monthly fee, members can get contrast and movement therapies, like cold plunges and saunas, as well as Pilates and yoga classes.
For more than 60 years, Shenandoah Valley Music Festival has brought unforgettable summer evenings of live music to Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Nestled among the mountains at historic Shrine Mont in Orkney Springs, the Festival combines nationally recognized performers with the beauty of one of the region’s most scenic outdoor venues.
As the 2026 season enters its final weeks, there are still so many incredible performances remaining, offering everything from the iconic sounds of The Beach Boys and Eagles to Americana favorites and heartfelt folk-rock.
On Friday, August 7, original Beach Boy Al Jardine joins The Pet Sounds Band for a tribute to Brian Wilson. Featuring many of Wilson’s longtime touring musicians, the concert celebrates the timeless harmonies and beloved songs that helped define generations of summer memories. Fans can expect classics like “California Girls,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Help Me, Rhonda,” and many more in an evening honoring one of popular music’s most influential catalogs. The concert starts at 8 pm, with gates opening at 6 pm.
The following evening, Saturday, August 8, The Bacon Brothers bring their People In The World Tour to the Festival, with special guests Martin & Kelly opening the show. Blending Americana, folk, rock, soul, and country, brothers Kevin and Michael Bacon have spent three decades creating a sound that’s uniquely their own. Their engaging live performances pair thoughtful songwriting with plenty of humor, storytelling, and musicianship, making for an entertaining night that goes beyond a traditional concert experience. The concert starts at 8 pm, with gates opening at 6 pm.
Labor Day weekend brings three nights of unforgettable music to close out the Festival’s 2026 season. The weekend begins on Friday, September 4, when legendary Motown group The Four Tops, joined by special guest Meisha Herron, take the stage for an evening of timeless hits. Audiences can sing along to beloved classics like “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch),” “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” “Baby I Need Your Loving,” and more as one of Motown’s most enduring vocal groups brings its iconic sound to the Shenandoah Valley. The concert starts at 7 pm, with gates opening at 5 pm.
On Saturday, September 5, Hotel California: The Original Eagles Tribute, joined by special guest Robbie Limon, recreates the music of one of rock’s most celebrated bands with remarkable authenticity. From soaring harmonies to note-for-note instrumentals, audiences can relive classics including “Take It Easy,” “Desperado,” “Life in the Fast Lane,” and of course, “Hotel California.” The concert starts at 7 pm, with gates opening at 5 pm.
The season concludes on Sunday, September 6, with the Hot Strings & Cool Breezes Americana Minifest, featuring Grammy Award-winning fiddle virtuoso Michael Cleveland and Jason Carter, acclaimed duo Josh & Jenee of The Wood Box Heroes, and award-winning bluegrass favorites Becky Buller and Ned Luberecki. The afternoon showcases exceptional musicianship and celebrates the rich traditions of bluegrass and Americana music in an intimate festival atmosphere. The concert starts at 6 pm, with gates opening at 5 pm.
Guests enjoy performances beneath the Festival’s open-air pavilion, where cool mountain breezes, star-filled skies, and the natural beauty of the Shenandoah Valley create an experience unlike any other. Visitors can also extend their stay by taking advantage of ticket-and-lodging packages through Shrine Mont, making it easy to turn a concert into a relaxing weekend getaway filled with scenic drives, local dining, hiking, and exploration throughout the Valley.
With only two concert weekends remaining, now is the perfect time to experience everything Shenandoah Valley Music Festival has to offer! Whether you’re revisiting a favorite artist or discovering the Festival for the first time, these performances promise memorable music in an unforgettable setting.
A 20-year-old Maryland man has been sentenced to serve nearly six months in jail for making hidden camera recordings inside the bathroom of his former workplace, a popular Del Ray restaurant.
Joshua Hombrebueno, of Oxon Hill, Md., was sentenced to serve 179 days in jail after being found guilty of making hidden camera recordings inside the employee restroom of Gustave Boulangerie & Brasserie (2213 Mount Vernon Avenue) in September 2025. Five years of his sentence had been suspended, and he must undergo five years of probation.
Alexandria has no shortage of taco spots that have gained loyal followings by serving up fresh ingredients, handmade tortillas and house-made salsas.
Here are the nominees for “Best Taco Spot in Alexandria” as part of our returning ALXnow Readers’ Choice awards.
Did we miss your go-to taco spot? Write them in!
Voting will close in two weeks.
Voting for the Best Bar in Alexandria is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Family Dinner Spot in Alexandria. The results are now official:
1. Chadwicks
2. Lost Dog Cafe
3. Mia’s Italian Kitchen
Enjoy dinner, grab a drink in an official Little City Sips Cup, explore local shops, and experience live music in downtown City of Falls Church.
There is no entry fee to attend Little City Sips. Simply purchase any food, beverages, or items you wish to enjoy from participating businesses throughout the evening.
Meet Chino, a sweet young dog at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria in the market for a new home.
This handsome 3-year-old is reported to have good house manners and crate training, and he loves everyone he meets. He’d like to show off his smarts with the cues for sit, paw and down.
On This Day in Alexandria History — “On August 7, 1900, the Alexandria Gazette reported that a four-legged chicken was residing in the city at the home of Washington Ewell, a 65-year-old African American farmer who resided at 1017 Cameron Street. Although the newspaper considered the unusual fowl a “queer freak of nature,” the amazing bird was also described as “perfectly formed and remarkably active.” Interestingly, it was further confirmed that the yellow-bellied curiosity walked on only two legs, carrying the other two about one inch above the ground.” [Historic Alexandria]
Gov. Spanberger Intervenes in Proposed Dominion Energy Merger Case — “As a Virginian, I am deeply skeptical about whether selling our primary, state-regulated utility to an out-of-state company is good for the commonwealth. I have serious questions about what this deal would mean for us. And as governor, I intend to get answers and be a voice for Virginians in the process.” [Washington Post op-ed]
Good Thursday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Aug 6, 2026.
Here are today’s most-read articles:
Here is what’s going on Friday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
Expect mostly sunny conditions with a high of 91 and a heat index up to 102, with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 PM. Southwest winds will be light, increasing slightly in the morning. Friday night brings likely showers and thunderstorms before 8 PM, becoming mostly clear later, with a low of 73 and a 60% chance of precipitation. Rainfall may range from a tenth to a quarter of an inch, with heavier amounts in thunderstorms. See more from Weather.gov.
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
– Steve Jobs
Thanks for reading!
A solar panel installation program championed by Virginia’s governor is gaining traction in Alexandria and other areas of the state as homeowners look for ways to address rising electricity costs.
Switch Together, a bulk purchasing initiative to connect residents to solar installers, was recently expanded from Northern Virginia to other parts of the state. It was previously only open in Fairfax and Arlington counties, with Alexandria joining the roster last summer.
The Del Ray Montessori School, earlier this month, won approval from the city to change ownership and reopen a decades-old daycare that closed in Old Town last year.
The city’s planning and zoning director, on Aug. 5, approved change of ownership paperwork, allowing Del Ray Montessori School to reopen at 721 N. Columbus Street. That is the former home of the Flagstone School, a licensed daycare for young children (18 months to five years old) that closed last fall after more than 30 years in business.
