Author: ARLnow.com

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.

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Oct 4, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Wednesday evening, Arlington. 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 — Oct 4, 2023.

📅 Upcoming events

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

🌤️ Thursday’s forecast

The forecast for Thursday includes partly sunny skies with a high temperature near 78 degrees. In the morning, expect light and calm wind, eventually shifting to southeast at 5 to 9 mph. Thursday night will bring mostly cloudy conditions and a low temperature around 63 degrees, with southeast winds around 6 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Life is short, break the rules.”
– Mark Twain

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Chico

By ARLnow.com
1/2

Say hello to Chico, the newest Adoptable Pet of the Week!

This little guy is currently in foster through the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.

Here is what his friends had to say about him:

Chico is a very special boy with special needs. He has a wobble in his walk and would do best without too many stairs, but he will climb his way onto a couch if given the chance.

He was previously only fed people food, but we are working on getting him to enjoy a more balanced doggie diet. He gets along well with dogs, kids and even a parrot and will pick his favorite and find it difficult to let them go.

He voices his opinions in typical chihuahua fashion but doesn’t seem to get offended when you disagree.

Chico loves to harness up and go for walks and really gets the zoomies in the yard. He also will try to zoom out the door if his chosen person tries to leave.

Chico would probably do best in a stand alone house as he has a proclivity for long winded chihuahua speeches, particularly when out of bed in a room not with his people.

Is Chico the match you’ve been looking for? Read his entire profile to learn more about this guy and the adoption process.

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with 2-3 paragraphs about your pet and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos.

One Arlington restaurant made the Washington Post’s Fall Dining Guide

By ARLnow.com
1/3

The prestigious Washington Post Fall Dining Guide is out and Arlington avoided the shut out of past years.

As is usually the case, the vast majority of the 40 restaurants on critic Tom Sietsema’s list are located in D.C. But one Arlington eatery made it: Ruthie’s All-Day (3411 5th Street S.).

Chef Matt Hill’s spot for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner was praised by Sietsema for its tasty Southern cuisine and for being both kid- and dog-friendly.

From the Post:

Restaurateurs can plan all they want, but not until after a business is born do they know how customers will use it. Take this all-American hot spot in Arlington, going on three years. Co-owner Todd Salvadore says he and chef Matt Hill envisioned Ruthie’s as “a parents’ date night place.” Instead, it became a magnet for young households. “We’re watching all the kids grow up!” says Salvadore.

There’s no children’s menu, but the regular list includes a roll call of dishes (chicken tenders, mac and cheese) that appeal to little ones and their minders. Want a one-patty burger or a single pancake at brunch? The kitchen can honor both requests. Ruthie’s, named for Hill’s grandmother, also stocks a score of high-chairs and a patio that welcomes four-legged companions and accepts reservations.

Ease in with some songs of the South: pink folds of rich Surryano ham arranged with craggy buttermilk biscuits, pimento cheese and red onion jam on what looks like a slice of tree trunk. The bestseller is brisket, smoked overnight and seasoned with paprika, garlic and onion powder, what the kitchen knows as TCB, or Taking Care of Business. The meaty delight comes with tender milk bread, house-made pickles and a choice of two or three sides. Make sure one of them is dirty rice tossed with charred kimchi.

Arlington has seen some banner years for its food scene in the Fall Dining Guide, such as in 2019 when Thai Square on Columbia Pike, Sfoglina in Rosslyn and Buena Vida in Clarendon all made the cut.

Notable Arlington-adjacent restaurants on the 2023 list are the Bethesda outpost of The Salt Line, which also has a Ballston location, and Rice Paper, located in the Eden Center, just across the county line in Falls Church.

Despite Arlington’s meager showing this year, it could have been worse: no restaurants from Alexandria made Sietsema’s latest list.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Soldiers from Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall work out underneath the Air Force Memorial (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Emergency Alert Test Today — From FEMA: “On Wednesday, Oct. 4th at 2:20 p.m. ET, there will be a nationwide emergency alert test on cell phones, wireless devices, radios, and TVs. This is a standard test that occurs at least once every three years. No action is needed.” [Twitter, CBS News]

Walk and Roll School Day — From ACPD: “[Today] is International Walk, Bike and Roll to School Day! Each and every day, help keep our students safe during their commute to and from school by slowing down, avoiding distractions and obeying posted traffic signals.” [Twitter]

Fare Evasion Down in Courthouse — “Upgrades to faregates are having their intended impact at Metro stations where they have been incorporated, including now at the Court House Metro station. The percentage of fare-evaders has dropped from 4 percent to 1 percent since the new gates were installed at the station on Sept. 1.” [Gazette Leader]

Arlingtonian Wins Photo Contest — “Jennie Hommel from Arlington Virginia was the 2024 Annual Pass Photo winner with her stunning photograph of this kingfisher taken on the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.” [Shore Daily News]

Va. Ped Crashes Killing More 30-Somethings — “An increasing number of pedestrians killed in traffic crashes are those in their 30s living in urban areas, and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is trying to raise awareness while urging both those on foot and behind the wheel to remain vigilant.” [Gazette Leader]

Va. Mulling Reduction in Ped Projects — “Planning officials… fear proposals to change Virginia’s transportation funding system could significantly reduce state funding for smaller transportation projects for cyclists and pedestrians. The Commonwealth Transportation Board has been reviewing the state’s transportation funding process, SMART SCALE, which has been in place for the past seven years.” [Virginia Mercury]

It’s Wednesday — Patchy fog clearing before 10am, followed by sunny skies with a high around 84 and calm winds shifting to southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. Wednesday night, watch for patchy fog returning after 4am, while the rest of the evening remains mostly clear with a low around 58. [Weather.gov]

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Oct 3, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Tuesday evening, Arlington. 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 — Oct 3, 2023.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Wednesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

☀️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect patchy fog to clear by 10am, followed by a sunny day with a high near 84°F and calm winds turning southeast at 6 mph in the afternoon. On Wednesday night, patchy fog returns after 4am, with mostly clear skies and a low around 58°F. The south wind of around 5 mph will become calm after midnight. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Chase the vision, not the money, the money will end up following you.”
– Tony Hsieh

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

Listing of the Day: 830 21st Street S.

By ARLnow.com
1/6

Address: 830 21st Street S.
Neighborhood: Addison Heights
Type: 5 BR, 4 (+1 half) BA single-family detached — 5,005 sq. ft.
Listed: $2,169,000

Noteworthy: New Addison Heights Home by National Landing Attractions!

Welcome Home to Addison Heights! This new build by Classic Cottages is conveniently located to all the attractions National Landing has to offer. This 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath home has an open floor plan, including an expansive main level living space.

A well-appointed kitchen with JennAir appliances includes a breakfast bar and kitchen table space making room for everyone to enjoy a meal. The butler’s pantry with beverage center leads to a formal dining room. A home office with an abundance of natural light makes your Zoom calls bright! The Primary Suite includes a large walk-in closet, luxurious bath with dual vanities, soaking tub and shower. Three secondary bedrooms and a laundry room round out the upstairs.

In the basement, an entertainers delight with wet bar, recreation room and fitness room. Enjoy a 16 minute stroll to nearby Metropolitan Park and Whole Foods.

Listed by:
Michelle Lynch — Urban Living Real Estate, LLC
[email protected]
(571) 366-3324

BREAKING: Two charged after more overdoses at Wakefield HS

By ARLnow.com
Wakefield High School entrance in February 2023 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A 19-year-old man and a teen boy are facing charges after two girls overdosed at Wakefield High School last week.

Police and medics responded to the school just before 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 27 for a report of a critical overdose. A student in the school clinic was going in and out of consciousness and Narcan was administered ahead of the arrival of first responders, according to scanner traffic.

Arlington County police said today that the overdose patient was a teen girl, who was transported to a local hospital along with a second overdose patient, also a teen girl. Both “have since recovered,” ACPD said in a press release.

An investigation into the overdose led police to arrest Walter Zelaya Padilla, a 19-year-old Fairfax resident, and a teen boy who lives in Arlington. They’re facing a battery of charges, with police saying that Padilla supplied fentanyl to the teen, who then gave or sold it to the victims.

The drug distribution happened within a school zone, APCD said.

The arrests come as Arlington County tries to combat a crisis of teen opioid abuse. While overdoses in general are trending down this year in Arlington, incidents of teen overdoses have prompted calls to action by parents and local officials.

In January, 14-year-old Sergio Flores died after overdosing in a Wakefield High School bathroom. In March, several Washington-Liberty High School students overdosed in the Ballston mall parking garage. Last month, another Wakefield student was found dead at an apartment building in what one elected official and a local advocacy group described as an overdose, though an official cause of death has yet to be determined.

If the student’s death last month is confirmed as an overdose, it would be at least the 11th reported juvenile overdose in Arlington County — fatal and non-fatal — so far this year, factoring the two last week and official numbers provided to ARLnow by the county earlier in September.

More on the drug arrests, below, via an ACPD press release.

(more…)

Morning Poll: How extensive are your Halloween decorations?

By ARLnow.com
Houses decorated for Halloween along N. Jackson Street in October 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

It’s October and thus officially spooky season — and the Halloween decorations are out in Arlington.

Just walk through a local grocery store or down a residential street and there are ghosts and goblins galore.

But not everyone is into decorating, or into Halloween for that matter. So today we’re asking: how extra are you when it comes to Halloween decor?

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Runners in Rosslyn near the Netherlands Carillon (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Another Award for Sustainability — “Arlington has achieved LEED® Platinum certification. Again. Arlington County was among 54 American and international jurisdictions to submit applications this year, and one of only four applicants certified at Platinum level… Arlington LEED-certified buildings include schools, community centers, libraries and office buildings.” [Arlington County]

New Historical Marker in the Works — “Members of the Arlington government’s Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board on Sept. 20 gave conditional approval to the design and wording for an historical marker that will go in the new Arlington Junction Park at South Eads Street and Army Navy Drive… The signage will note the area’s use as a major trolley crossroads from the 1890s to the 1930s, and also will note the history of the Alexandria Canal.” [Gazette Leader]

Police Looking for Clarendon Groper — “3100 block of Wilson Boulevard. At approximately 7:08 p.m. on September 30, police were dispatched to the report of an assault just occurred. Upon arrival, it was determined the female victim was inside an establishment when the unknown male suspect approached her from behind and touched her inappropriately. Several witnesses then confronted the suspect outside the establishment before he left the scene on foot.” [ACPD]

Nearby Pumpkin Patch Options — “Whether you’re planning to bake a pie, carve a jack-o’-lantern or just add some festive flair to your stoop, there are plenty of places to pick up a pumpkin near Arlington. Here are a few suggestions.” [Patch]

Retirement for Parking Enforcer — From ACPD: “Last week, we celebrated the outstanding career of Public Service Aide Supervisor Arcielia Williamson who retired after serving the Arlington community for over 33 years! We are grateful for her years of dedication to public safety and wish her all the best in retirement!” [Twitter]

David Rubenstein Talks Local History — “Arlington House, he confessed, by the 21st century was looking ‘shabby.’ Under his grant, the National Park Service retrieved original furnishings and decorations that had been removed and now displays many new pieces chronologically and aesthetically accurate. Rubenstein is on board with legislative proposals to remove Lee’s name from what since 1972 has been officially called ‘Arlington House — The Robert E. Lee Memorial.'” [Falls Church News-Press]

First Football Defeat for W-L — “This time, the formula of scoring early and a lot overall didn’t work for the Washington-Liberty Generals. On the night of Sept. 29 on their home field, the Generals (5-1, 1-1) lost for the first time this season, falling to the Herndon Hornets, 38-37, in double overtime in a Liberty District high-school football contest.” [Gazette Leader]

Yorktown Notches Needed Win — “The Yorktown Patriots (4-2) snapped a two-game losing streak by defeating the host Centreville Wildcats, 28-21, Sept. 29 in non-district high-school football action. Yorktown led 14-7 at halftime, scored two second-half touchdowns to take an 28-21 lead then recovered an onside kick in the game’s final 30 seconds to secure the win.” [Gazette Leader]

It’s Tuesday — Sunny with a high temperature near 83 degrees and a calm wind. Tuesday night will be mostly clear with a low temperature around 59 degrees. [Weather.gov]

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Oct 2, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Monday evening, Arlington. 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 — Oct 2, 2023.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Tuesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

☀️ Tuesday’s forecast

The forecast predicts a sunny day with a high temperature around 83°F and calm winds turning east at 6 mph in the afternoon. Tuesday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures reaching a low of 59°F, and southeast winds at 5 mph calming down in the evening. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.”
– John F. Kennedy

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

NOW: ACFD battling house fire in Arlington Forest

By ARLnow.com
1/16

Firefighters from Arlington and surrounding jurisdictions are on scene of a house fire in the Arlington Forest neighborhood.

The blaze broke out shortly before noon, reportedly in the front porch area of a home at the corner of Route 50 and S. Park Drive.

It was quickly brought under control and no people were inside when firefighters arrived, but according to scanner traffic a dog was removed from the home by firefighters. The dog’s condition could not immediately be learned.

Firefighters are currently looking for any remaining hotspots.

View More Stories