We’re nearly at the end of another eventful year in Arlington, and that means it’s time to look back at our top stories of the past 12 months.
From Amazon’s arrival to a momentous local election, the county has not lacked for big stories this year. But a few stand out above all the rest to form our list of most-read articles.
We kick off our countdown with #11-15, and check back all week long for the rest of the list.
15. Longtime Nightlife Venue Clarendon Grill to Close (16,330 views)
2018 was a difficult year for some of Arlington’s longest-tenured bars and restaurants, and Clarendon Grill was among the year’s casualties. First opened in 1996, the popular live music venue was initially listed for lease in August and its owners announced it would shutter a few months later. The bar held its last parties on Halloween weekend.
14. Caps Stop in Clarendon, With Stanley Cup in Tow (16,712 views)
Clarendon’s Don Tito played host to the newly crowned Stanley Cup champs the day after the Caps’ big victory over the Las Vegas Golden Knights. An anxious crowd of dozens of fans awaited the team’s arrival at the bar, and everyone from Tom Wilson to T.J. Oshie were spotted kicking off the celebrations. Even Alex Ovechkin eventually swung through for the opening round of what turned into several weeks worth of aggressive partying in the wake of the Caps’ long-awaited win.
13. Yorktown High School Student Rushed to Hospital (16,799 views)
In early February, a student was found collapsed in the high school’s restroom with self-inflicted wounds and subsequently rushed to the hospital. The girl died several days later.
12. Original Bob and Edith’s Diner on Columbia Pike Listed for Sale (16,997 views)
Fans of the diner were shocked and alarmed to discover that the original restaurant was listed on a realtor’s website in late September. However, its owner subsequently told ARLnow that he has no plans to shutter the popular restaurant any time soon, and is even eyeing an expansion on Lee Highway in 2019. Nevertheless, the property is still listed for sale online.
11. Ballston Quarter Unveils 12 New Restaurants, Including the Return of Chick-Fil-A (17,516 views)
Few new developments around Arlington have attracted as much attention as Ballston Quarter, the overhaul of the old Ballston Common mall. The news that Chick-fil-A would be a part of the new development seemed to garner a particularly large audience, and the chain’s new location opened for diners earlier this month (though many other stores at the mall are still a work in progress).
Check back for #6-10 on the countdown tomorrow.