Around Town

Del Ray getting second record store, replacing play café this August

By James Cullum
Crooked Beat Records at 2417 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (staff photo by James Cullum)

Del Ray is seeing a vinyl boom as another record store is coming to Del Ray this August, one block from the new location of Crooked Beat Records on Mount Vernon Avenue.

Michael Babin, principal at the Neighborhood Restaurant Group, confirmed to ALXnow that the company is closing Mulberry Lane Play Café at 2016 Mount Vernon Avenue and replacing it with a record store. The news comes as Crooked Beat Records recently announced that it is also aiming for an August opening at 2101B Mount Vernon Avenue.

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News

Alexandria charity sends disaster relief to earthquake-ravaged Venezuela

By Emily Leayman
Relief in Venezuela after earthquakes (via Global Empowerment Mission)

In the wake of deadly earthquakes in Venezuela, an Alexandria charity is among the U.S. organizations lending a helping hand.

Various regions of Venezuela are reeling from a humanitarian crisis as the earthquakes have resulted in thousands of confirmed casualties and tens of thousands unaccounted for, as well as building collapses and structural damage.

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News

Alexandria apartment rents dip but remain well above pre-Covid levels

By Scott McCaffrey
Apartment living (via Brian Zajac/Unsplash)

While down year over year, Alexandria’s median apartment rental rate is still more than 16% above the onset of the pandemic and 28% more than during the worst of Covid-19.

The city’s median rent of $2,234 — $2,046 for one-bedroom units, $2,513 for two bedrooms — was down 3.1% in June from a year before, according to figures released June 30 by Apartment List.

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News

Morning Notes for July 2, 2026

By ALXnow.com
A street lined with American flags in Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Reminder on Alexandria Fireworks Date — “More fireworks? We got ’em! Celebrate Alexandria’s birthday with us with live music from the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, cupcakes, and free fireworks next Saturday, July 11! Check out our party invite at alexandriava.gov/Birthday.” [City of Alexandria/Bluesky]

DOJ Challenges Virginia Assault Weapon Ban — “The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, names the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Virginia Department of State Police as defendants. The DOJ is asking the court to declare portions of Senate Bill 749 unconstitutional and permanently block state officials from enforcing the law.” [13 News Now]

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News

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Jul 1, 2026

By ALXnow.com

Good Wednesday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Jul 1, 2026.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Original family owners sell 74-year-old Arlandria apartment complex (947 views)
  2. Ribbon cut on Alexandria’s massive RiverRenew sewer system overhaul (603 views)
  3. Virginia budget provides $1M to rehabilitate Alexandria’s historic Freedom House Museum (486 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Thursday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

☀️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect sunny and hot conditions with temperatures reaching around 102 degrees and heat index values climbing to 109. A gentle west wind will blow at 3 to 5 mph. Thursday night will be clear with temperatures dropping to about 80 degrees, accompanied by a light southwest wind. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.”
– Plutarch

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading!

News

Original family owners sell 74-year-old Arlandria apartment complex

By James Cullum
Glebe House Apartments in Arlandria (via Google Maps)

After an Arlandria apartment complex has been owned by the same family for more than 70 years, the owner has sold the property and retired.

Joann Poladian Belknap recently sold the 213-unit, three-building Glebe House Apartments complex at 25 W. Glebe Road to Maryland-based Rock Creek Property Group for $29.5 million. After managing the 2.5-acre property for nearly 40 years with her Potomac Management Company, Belknap has officially retired and moved to Myrtle Beach, S.C.

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News

8th Congressional District candidate forum set for next week in Alexandria

By Emily Leayman
Shiloh Baptist Church and the NAACP Alexandria Branch will host a candidate forum for the 8th Congressional District race on July 9, 2026 (via Shiloh Baptist Church)

Candidates for the 8th Congressional District will gather in Alexandria for a candidate forum next week.

Shiloh Baptist Church and the NAACP Alexandria Branch will host the candidate forum at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 9 in the Shiloh Baptist Church Worship Center (1401 Jamieson Avenue). Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

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Weather

WEATHER ALERT: Extreme Heat Warning issued as Alexandria offers cooling centers

By ALXnow.com
The waterfront of Old Town, seen from the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The hottest weather of the year has arrived in Alexandria.

The National Weather Service upgraded the earlier watch to an Extreme Heat Warning for Alexandria and other parts of the D.C. region from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday. The real-feel heat index could reach 111 degrees Thursday and 112 Friday.

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Around Town

Crooked Beat Records aims for August reopening at new home in Del Ray

By James Cullum
Crooked Beat Records is moving to 2101B Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (staff photo by James Cullum)

Crooked Beat Records is staying in Del Ray.

Store owner Bill Daly announced on Tuesday (June 30) that the record store is expected to open at its new 2101B Mount Vernon Avenue location in August. Daly and his staff were forced to close their previous basement location up the street at 2417 Mount Vernon Avenue after significant flooding in January.

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