Launched in January 2010, ARLnow.com is the place for the latest news, views and things to do around Arlington, Virginia. Started by a Pentagon City resident who has spent the past several years working in local TV news, ARLnow.com seeks to distinguish itself with original, enterprising, up-to-the-minute local coverage.
Here is what’s going on Tuesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.
🌤️ Tuesday’s forecast
Expect partly sunny skies and a high near 75, accompanied by a southwest wind at around 10 mph. Meanwhile, Tuesday night will be mostly clear with a low around 47 and a north wind between 6 to 8 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“It always seems impossible until it is done.” – Nelson Mandela
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
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Graffiti targeting an Israeli company outside the Arlington Tower building in Rosslyn (photo courtesy anonymous)
Graffiti targeting an Israeli company outside the Arlington Tower building in Rosslyn (photo courtesy anonymous)
Graffiti targeting an Israeli company outside the Arlington Tower building in Rosslyn (photo courtesy anonymous)
Graffiti targeting an Israeli company outside the Arlington Tower building in Rosslyn (photo courtesy anonymous)
(Updated at 4:15 p.m.) Someone splashed red paint and scrawled messages in red letters on the outside of the Arlington Tower building in Rosslyn.
The extensive graffiti was discovered this morning on the front of the office building at 1300 17th Street N., which notably housed then-President Donald Trump’s 2020 reelection headquarters.
Workers could be seen covering up and trying to clean the red paint from the building’s front walkway, facade and glass doors throughout the day today.
Despite the building’s political campaign history, the apparent target of the graffiti was the Washington office of Israel-based defense firm Elbit Systems. Photos sent to ARLnow show the words “Shut Elbit Down” uncovered while workers attempt to remove the paint.
A number of European funds have publicly divested of Elbit stock in the past due to the company’s role in constructing the Israeli West Bank barrier and manufacturing cluster munitions.
Arlington County police said an online report about the office building vandalism was filed Monday.
“Police received an online report for vandalism alleging that between 2:15 a.m. and 2:35 a.m. on November 6, unknown suspects threw paint on a commercial building and wrote comments regarding Palestine and the company occupying the property,” said ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage. “The investigation is ongoing.”
In a company statement, Elbit says it’s working to ensure employee safety.
Elbit America employs thousands of Americans who are dedicated to the mission of creating innovative solutions that protect and save lives, While we support the rights of protesters to peacefully express their views, we take the safety and well-being of our employees extremely seriously and we will continue to work closely with local officials to ensure safety for all.
Red paint, meanwhile, was also used to vandalize the front gates of the White House with red handprints over the weekend amid pro-Palestinian protests. The latest round of Middle East violence started with a surprise Hamas attack on Israeli civilians, leading to the bombardment, blockade and ground invasion of Gaza by Israeli armed forces.
The chair of the Arlington County Board last month said the county “unequivocally… condemn[s] all of the violence that has been targeted at non-combatants” during the Hamas-Israel war.
In addition to Elbit Systems, the Arlington Tower building houses the Washington office of a major engineering firm, an outpost of a Boston-based university, and the headquarters of a publicly traded conglomerate noted for its media and education holdings. While Trump’s 2024 campaign headquarters is said to be in Florida, the campaign’s FEC filings maintain an Arlington post office box.
Pentagon Row Ice Skating Rink at Westpost in 2021 (staff photo by Matt Blitz)
High temperatures in the 60s and 70s for much of the week will not stop a winter tradition in Pentagon City.
The outdoor ice skating rink at 1201 S. Joyce Street officially opened for the season on Wednesday, Nov. 1, a spokesperson for Westpost — the shopping center formerly known as Pentagon Row — confirmed to ARLnow. The opening has yet to be announced on social media.
The seasonal rink in Westpost’s central plaza is billed as one of the biggest in Virginia.
“The Plaza has an outdoor dual-sided stone fireplace and many shops, restaurants and a coffee shop,” says the rink’s website. “Pentagon Row’s 7,200 square foot ice rink is now the largest outdoor rink in Northern Virginia and the second-largest in the state.”
Discounted reservations for up to two hours of skating can be booked online. Admission costs range from $10 to $13 depending on the skater’s age and whether it’s booked online or on-site. Skate rentals are $6, up from $5 two years ago.
Standard rink hours are as follows.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Monday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Tuesday: Noon – 10 p.m.
Wednesday: Noon – 10 p.m.
Thursday: Noon – 10 p.m.
Friday: Noon – 11 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
The rink is scheduled to remain open on holidays and public school off-days, sometimes with expanded hours.
Ballston beaver pond on a sunny fall day (staff photo)
W-L Captures District Championship — “The regular season ended for Arlington’s four high-school football teams the night of Nov. 3 with different overall results for each. The most successful story was the Washington-Liberty Generals clinching the outright Liberty District championship thanks to a 41-21 come-from-behind victory over the visiting Wakefield Warriors in an all-Arlington clash. The Generals finished 9-1 overall (their most wins in a season since 1975) and 5-1 in the league.” [Gazette Leader]
YHS Second in Region Tourney — “Although it wasn’t the accomplishment they wanted, by finishing second in the region tournament the Yorktown Patriots added to an impressive list of achievements the girls field hockey team has earned since the 2019 high-school season. The two-time defending champions lost, 2-1, to the host and undefeated Oakton Cougars in this year’s 6D North Region tournament-championship match the night of Nov. 1.” [Gazette Leader]
Arlington Astronaut Dies — ” Ken Mattingly, the former astronaut best known for helping save the crew of Apollo 13 in the 1970s — a near-catastrophic mission later recounted in the Hollywood film ‘Apollo 13,’ in which Mattingly was played by Gary Sinise — has died, officials at NASA announced Thursday. He was 87… Mattingly was born in Chicago, grew up in the Miami area and died at his home in Arlington, Virginia, according to The New York Times.” [Patch]
Residents Want Old Building to Stay — “Leaders of the surrounding civic association are seeking a stay of execution for the nearly century-old building that formerly held the Lee Community Center and remains home for now to the Lee Arts Center, which Arlington government leaders plan to raze and replace with a public-private development. Jane Henceroth, president of the Leeway Overlee Civic Association, attended the Oct. 24 meeting of the Park and Recreation Commission, calling the building a treasured landmark and pressing county leaders to use creativity in keeping it in place.” [Gazette Leader]
Police Seize Illegal Gun — From ACPD: “Yesterday, an officer conducted a traffic stop along Crystal Dr resulting in the recovery of a concealed, loaded firearm. This is a great example of the dedicated & proactive work officers perform each day to keep our community safe while reducing opportunities for violent crime.” [Twitter]
Unemployment Rate Update — “Arlington’s jobless rate held steady from August to September, according to new data, and was low enough to rank second best in the commonwealth. With 160,418 employed in the civilian workforce and 3,576 looking for jobs, the county’s unemployment rate of 2.2 percent in September was equal to that of August, if slightly above the rate of 2 percent recorded in September 2022.” [Gazette Leader]
NYC Coffee Chain Eyes Area — “A New York City-based coffee roastery has set its sights on the Greater Washington region, where it aims to open more than a half-dozen stores spread across D.C., suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia.” [Washington Business Journal]
ARLnow is Hiring — “Local News Now is seeking an experienced, detail-oriented reporter and editor to join our growing team in Northern Virginia. The reporter/editor will report local news across a range of topics — including local government, local business, real estate development and breaking news.” [Journalism Jobs]
It’s Monday — A mostly sunny day with a high around 63 degrees and light winds that will increase from the south at 5-8 mph in the afternoon. As for Monday night, the skies will turn mostly cloudy and the temperature will dip to about 53 degrees, accompanied by a south wind at 6-10 mph. [Weather.gov]
One person was killed and another seriously injured after an SUV collided with a group of motorcyclists overnight.
Virginia State Police said the crash happened around 4:40 a.m. on southbound I-395 in Arlington.
More from a VSP press release, below.
At 4:40 a.m. Saturday (Nov. 4), Virginia State Police responded to a fatal crash in Arlington County. Three motorcycles were traveling south on I-395 when all three vehicles were struck from behind by an SUV. The crash occurred near Exit 8 for Route 27.
Two of the motorcyclists were transported to a nearby hospital. One of the two succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The other is still being treated for serious injuries.
The third motorcyclist was not injured. Nor was the driver of the SUV.
The crash remains under investigation. Charges are pending. State police is still in the process of notifying the next of kin for the deceased.
Expect mostly sunny skies with a high of 64 degrees and calm winds shifting towards the northwest at around 5 mph in the afternoon. Saturday night will be mostly cloudy as the temperature drops to around 44 degrees, with south winds at 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” – Thomas Jefferson
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋
Backups on the GW Parkway due to crash (via Google Maps)
Update at 6 p.m — All lanes have reopened, according to Arlington Alert.
Earlier: All lanes of the GW Parkway in Arlington are currently blocked by a crash.
Police and medics are on scene of a multi-vehicle crash on the southbound GW Parkway near Chain Bridge. At least three people were hurt in the crash and are being taken to local hospitals via ambulance, according to scanner traffic.
Commuters should expect significant delays in both directions on the Parkway, which also has lane closures due to ongoing construction.
LOCATION: George Washington Memorial Pkwy / VA-123 (Dolly Madison Boulevard) INCIDENT: Traffic Collision IMPACT: All lanes of GW Pkwy are blocked in both directions in the area of VA-123 (Dolly Madison Blvd.) Seek alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/9PRphmgcN6
Michael Stiefvater and the Amazon HQ2 ribbon cutting (left: via Arlington Economic Development)
What’s next for tech in Arlington?
Michael Stiefvater, Director of Business Investment at Arlington Economic Development, sat down with ARLnow’s James Jarvis to discuss Arlington’s emerging tech industry over the last decade and the future outlook for the local tech scene.
Arlington County police are investigating a brazen armed robbery just a couple of blocks from their headquarters.
The CVS at 2121 15th Street N., next to the Courthouse Metro entrance, was robbed around 7:50 p.m. Thursday by a man armed with a gun.
The initial police dispatch said he pointed the gun at staff. Today’s ACPD crime report says he demanded money and fled with cash.
Despite a search of the area and local Metro stations, the man — said to be a notably diminutive 5’3″ tall — was not found.
More from the crime report:
ROBBERY, 2023-11020222, 2100 block of 15th Street N. At approximately 7:52 p.m. on November 2, police were dispatched to the report of an armed robbery. The preliminary investigation indicates the suspect entered the business, approached the counter, brandished a firearm and demanded money before leaving the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash. A lookout for the suspect was broadcast and officers canvassed the area yielding negative results. No injuries were reported. The suspect is described as a Black male, approximately 5’3” tall and wearing a black hat, black jacket and blue pants. The investigation is ongoing.
CVS ARMED ROBBERY— 2121 15th St-North in Arlington. Man pointed a gun at store staff and robbed the CVS before fleeing on foot, possibly into the Courthouse Metro #WMATA. Happened around 7:50 p.m. @ARLnowDOTcompic.twitter.com/USxrIRvLkL
Walking path in Lacey Woods Park on a sunny day (staff photo)
Police Volunteering With Kids — “Arlington County first responders are hoping just one hour a week will give kids in their community a brighter and safer future–through a new partnership with developer Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC) and tutoring nonprofit Life Enrichment Center.” [WJLA]
Driver Flees ACPD — From Dave Statter: “Driver wouldn’t stop for @ArlingtonVaPD and did a sudden U-turn on Columbia Pike at S. Wayne Street at 10 pm. The officer reported the car almost hit two other vehicles. Last seen on Washington Boulevard toward I-395.” [Twitter]
Boosting Apartment Recycling — “As they attempt to nearly double the county’s overall recycling rate, Arlington leaders will start turning their attention more to apartment/condo dwellers and the commercial-real-estate sectors. County staff on Oct. 31 outlined their thinking on ‘voluntary’ ways those market segments – which in Arlington are responsible for just under two-thirds of all refuse – could be enticed to improve overall recycling rates.” [Gazette Leader]
Child Struck at Elementary School — “So saddened to hear about the child struck by a driver at @GlebeAPS & hope he makes a full recovery… Schools are for kids. We need design that keep kids safe – not blaming children!” [Twitter]
School Overdose Notification Order — “Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order Wednesday aimed at bolstering the response to school-related drug overdoses… The order directs the Virginia Department of Education to issue guidance to school divisions to “notify all parents of school-connected overdoses within 24 hours,” according to a news release from the governor’s office.” [WTOP]
It’s Friday — Expect a sunny day with a high temperature near 59 degrees and a south wind blowing at 5 to 8 mph. On Friday night, the weather will be partly cloudy with a low temperature around 39 degrees. [Weather.gov]
