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.
Scattered showers are expected before 8 am, followed by isolated showers and thunderstorms after 2 pm. Otherwise, the weather will be mostly sunny, with a high temperature close to 89°F and west winds at speeds of 6 to 10 mph. There is a 30% chance of precipitation. Friday night will be mostly clear, with a low temperature of around 68°F, accompanied by northwest winds at speeds of 7 to 10 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.” – Jim Rohn
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
Driver crashes into bank drive-thru in Falls Church (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Driver crashes into bank drive-thru in Falls Church (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Driver crashes into bank drive-thru in Falls Church (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Driver crashes into bank drive-thru in Falls Church (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Driver crashes into bank drive-thru in Falls Church (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
A bank drive-thru has been heavily damaged in the City of Falls Church after a driver smashed through a brick wall.
The incident happened shortly after noon at the M&T Bank branch at 133 S. Washington Street. Arlington County firefighters responded to the scene to evaluate injuries and, if need be, rescue anyone inside the vehicle.
(ACFD provides firefighting services to the city under contract.)
The driver, who appeared to be an elderly man, was reportedly able to get out of his Subaru on his own power and did not suffer any serious injuries. The drive-thru, however, was not so lucky — the brick wall that was demolished was holding up the roof, which came down on the front of the hatchback.
First level retail under construction at 1900 Crystal Drive in Crystal City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
DCA Expansion Effort Fails — “The House on Wednesday evening voted not to expand flights at the airport closest to the U.S. Capitol building, a fight that has featured dueling op-eds from warring airlines, each with bipartisan lawmakers in both chambers aligned with their side. The provision, which would have expanded flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport by 14 per day, is a win for United Airlines, American Airlines and lawmakers local to the Washington, D.C. area that opposed the flights.” [Politico]
State Police Chase Wanted Man — From Dave Statter: “Man reported wanted on felony charges by @ArlingtonVaPD stops for @VSPPIO this afternoon & then pulls off. A 3.5 mile chase on I-95S in Prince William ends after a crash into another vehicle.” [Twitter]
County Employee Discontent — “Employees in the Arlington County government’s cultural-affairs office face ‘harassment, retaliation and racism’ that is accepted by higher-ups, County Board members were told July 15. ‘A hostile work environment has been created by management,’ said Charlotte Malerich, an office aide in the county government’s library system who is active in the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.” [Gazette Leader]
‘Innovation Fund’ Approved — “The Arlington County Board voted on July 18, 2023, to approve the framework for the Catalyst Grant Program of the newly created Arlington Innovation Fund (AIF). The $1 million AIF, part of the FY 2024 Adopted Budget, is designed to encourage the growth and success of technology startups by providing access to capital and to enhance the local tech ecosystem through the sponsorship of unique initiatives and programming.” [Arlington County]
New Donation Center for Lions Club — “With a new home having been secured, Lions Clubs from across the region aim to build on past success in recycling eyeglasses… Several weeks ago, the new facility opened at 919 South Monroe Street in Arlington. Donations can be dropped off there 24/7.” [Gazette Leader]
Local Swim Team Undefeated — “Highlighted by bookend road victories to start and end the regular season, the Dominion Hills Thunder Ducks finished 5-0 to win this summer’s Northern Virginia Swimming League Division 8 championship.” [Gazette Leader]
Ebbin Gets GOP Challenger — “[Sophia] Moshasha, an Alexandria resident, qualified for the ballot in June against [State Sen. Adam] Ebbin… Moshasha is the co-host of the Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Association’s podcast and the association’s local lead. If elected, she will advocate for policies that encourage entrepreneurship, such as tax incentives for small businesses and streamlined regulations, the campaign said.” [Gazette Leader]
GOPers Line Up for Kaine Challenge — “Hung Cao, a retired U.S. Navy captain who entered the political spotlight last year with an unsuccessful bid to unseat Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.), announced Tuesday that he will seek the Republican nomination to challenge Sen. Tim Kaine (D) in Virginia’s 2024 elections. Cao’s announcement adds to an increasingly crowded field of GOP candidates in next year’s nomination contest, with at least eight contenders so far.” [Washington Post]
It’s Thursday — There’s a chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon, despite a predominantly sunny day with highs around 88°F. Showers and thunderstorms are more likely at night. [Weather.gov]
There’s a likelihood of showers and thunderstorms, starting from the afternoon with a 30% precipitation chance. Expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures peaking near 88 degrees, and light winds turning southward around 6mph. As the evening progresses, showers and potential thunderstorms are more likely to occur between 8pm and 2am, with a 70% chance of precipitation. The night will be mostly cloudy with low temperatures near 71 degrees and a southeast wind blowing at speeds of 5 to 8 mph. Rainfall may range from a quarter to half an inch. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Our greatest fear should not be of failure… but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” – Francis Chan
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
Water main break (2018 file photo courtesy Arlington DES)
A water main break near Route 50 caused water pressure issues for a large swath of Arlington today, prompting some county facility closures.
The water main break happened on N. Irving Street, just north of Route 50, on the border of the Ashton Heights and Lyon Parks neighborhoods.
While the water main being repaired just served the surrounding neighborhood, crews had to “isolate” a nearby transmission main.
“It is a 6” water main that is being repaired,” Arlington Dept. of Environmental Services spokeswoman Kathryn O’Brien tells ARLnow. “We’ve isolated a 30” water main nearby to allow crews to repair the break.”
“That has caused low water pressure for a number of customers in the area,” she noted.
While most the water pressure was restored around 2 p.m., the lack of water prompted closures of several county facilities, as far away as Fairlington.
The Arlington Dept. of Human Services offices and Arlington Public Schools offices at Sequoia Plaza were both closed.
“Due to a water main break near the Syphax Education Center, staff have been asked to leave the building and telework,” APS said in an email to families today. “As a result, phone communication with staff at the Syphax Education Center may be delayed. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”
DHS call center, Emergency Services, Child Protective Services, Adult Protective Services, and other services continue to operate on a virtual or modified basis. (2/2)
Additionally, the Fairlington Community Center was closed due to lack of water.
“Messages have gone out to all summer camp participants to let them know that all programs are closed as of 1:30 p.m. today. All campers will need to be picked up immediately as the building will also be closed,” the county said in an email. “All Enjoy Arlington classes at Fairlington Community Center are also canceled for the rest of the day.”
Repairs on the six-inch main are expected to wrap up around 5 p.m.
Emergency Water Main Repairs Update: Crews are working on a 6-inch water main at 19 N Irving Street. Water pressure has been restored and repairs are expected to be completed by 5 p.m. The street is closed and traffic is being detoured. Questions? Call 703-228-5000. https://t.co/fUAbWXwNpx
— Arlington Department of Environmental Services (@ArlingtonDES) July 19, 2023
The Capitol as seen from the US Marine Corps War Memorial on a hazy summer day (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Talento Sworn In As Interim Board Member — “Tannia Talento was unanimously appointed to the Arlington County Board on Saturday, July 15, 2023, during the Board’s regular meeting. She was sworn in at Tuesday’s Recessed meeting and will serve out the term remainder of former Board member Katie Cristol, who stepped down July 4, 2023.” [Arlington County, Twitter]
DCA Proposal Down to Seven Add’l Flights — “A bipartisan group of lawmakers revised downward its plan to add more long-distance flights at Reagan National Airport in hopes of finding more support, offering a measure that would add seven round trips instead of the 28 the group originally sought.” [Washington Post]
Bad Day for Local Hondas — “2400 block of Army Navy Drive/S. Vance Court at 27th Street S./2600 block of S. Vance Court. At approximately 8:57 a.m. on July 17, police were dispatched to the late report of a larceny. Upon arrival, it was determined between approximately 5:00 p.m. on July 16 and 8:52 a.m. on July 17, the unknown suspect(s) removed the tires and rims from three vehicles, smashed the passenger’s side window of one vehicle and tampered with a fourth vehicle. All involved vehicles are Honda models.” [ACPD]
ACFD Helping Out in Vermont — “A team from the Arlington County Fire Department has headed to Vermont to support recovery efforts after significant flooding impacted the state. The fire departments of Arlington and the city of Fairfax teamed up to deploy eight swift-water-rescue personnel to aid in recovery efforts.” [Gazette Leader]
Arlington Tops ‘Digital’ List Again — “Arlington County is proud to be recognized as the No. 1 Digital County for 2023 by the Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties. This year’s award marks the sixth time that Arlington has received the top spot in the nation for the 150,000-249,999-population category.” [Arlington County]
Synetic Nixes Some Performances — “Unexpected problems with its performance space have caused Synetic Theatre to cancel this week’s performances of its summer production, ‘Cyrano de Bergerac.’ Shows set for July 20-23 have been nixed… ‘Earlier this month, acoustic ceiling tiles within the facility failed, falling into the theater,’ they said.” [Gazette Leader]
More on New Crystal City Metro Entrance — “The lone existing Crystal City Metrorail entrance, at South Bell Street and 18th Street South on the west side of a lengthy block, was frequently at capacity during peak ridership times pre-pandemic, and usage is expected to grow with development in the area. A typical Metro rider living or working on Crystal Drive will save about three to five minutes walking or using a mobility device to access the new Crystal City Metrorail Station entrance. Construction on the $146.1 million project could begin next summer and is expected to be completed in 2027.” [Arlington County]
Commercial Vacancy Blues — “Arlington had the highest year-end-2022 office-vacancy rate of any jurisdiction across Northern Virginia and the second highest among all localities in the region, according to new Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments data. The vacancy rate on the roughly 64 million square feet of office space in the county stood at 19.5 percent at year-end… Across the metro area, that’s second only to Greenbelt, Md., whose estimated office-vacancy rate was 21.5 percent.” [Gazette Leader]
New DCA Parking Garage? — “The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority appears to have a plan to address parking shortages at the increasingly busy Reagan National Airport, where the space inventory often fills to 100% capacity, or very near it, during peak periods. The authority is readying a solicitation for a 1,500-space, three-story modular parking garage, which would be built on the existing economy lot at National. Modular is the key: The garage would be ‘relocatable,’ according to a staff presentation released ahead of the MWAA board’s Wednesday meeting.” [Washington Business Journal]
TV News Producer’s Plea Deal — “A former national security journalist for ABC News who was indicted on child pornography charges this year has reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors, a court docket indicates… The FBI said agents searched [James Gordon] Meek’s apartment in Arlington last year and found explicit images and videos of minors on his electronic devices, after receiving a tip that began with the online file storage company Dropbox.” [Washington Post]
It’s Wednesday — Expect isolated showers followed by possible thunderstorms after 11am, partly sunny weather with a high near 88, and a light northeast wind of about 5 mph. The chance of rain is 40%. For Wednesday night, there’s a chance of showers and thunderstorms primarily before 2am. Otherwise, expect partly cloudy skies with a low around 71. [Weather.gov]
Expect a chance of showers and thunderstorms primarily after 3pm, with partly sunny skies, a high of around 88, and a mild, variable wind turning northeast in the afternoon. As evening falls, the rain and thunderstorm chances persist, mainly before 3am, under mostly cloudy conditions, moderate temperatures around 71, and a light southeast wind. The overall precipitation probability for the day stands at 40%. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Every moment is a fresh beginning.” – T.S. Eliot
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
Outdoor bar at The Pinemoor (photo via The Pinemoor)
Indoor bar at The Pinemoor (photo via The Pinemoor)
The Pinemoor has reached the end of the dusty trail.
The vaguely Western-themed restaurant and bar in Clarendon, which replaced the former Clarendon Grill, is closing today, owner Reese Gardner tells ARLnow.
It opened at 1101 N. Highland Street three years ago, just a few months into the pandemic, after initially planning an ill-fated March 2020 opening.
“After opening during Covid we couldn’t find our footing with the concept or come to better terms with the landlord to continue to operate,” Gardner said. “We will be honoring all gift cards at Brass Rabbit and will be moving our popular $5 champagne brunch to Brass Rabbit and Quinn’s.”
The Pinemoor’s menu, originally described as “protein-heavy” with “family-style sides,” includes appetizers, flatbreads, wings, tacos and sandwiches, in addition to craft cocktails and special brunch offerings.
A 29-year-old D.C. man has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman inside the Courthouse Metro station last night.
Police responded to the Metro station shortly after 10:45 p.m. Monday after a 911 caller reported a man touching a woman inappropriately. The first arriving officer told dispatch that the man and the woman were actively having sex at the base of the Metro station’s escalators.
Both the suspect and the victim started to walk away, according to Arlington County police, but were stopped by officers for questioning. That led to the sexual assault charge.
More, below, from an ACPD press release.
The Arlington County Police Department has arrested a suspect following a sexual assault in the Courthouse Metro Station. Justice Bilaal Hatcher, 29, of Washington D.C., has been charged with Rape, Forcible Sodomy, Sexual Battery and Obstruction of Justice (x2). He is being held without bond in the Arlington County Detention Facility.
At approximately 10:48 p.m. on July 17, police were dispatched to the report of a suspicious person in the 2100 block of Wilson Boulevard. The investigation determined a witness called police when they observed the male suspect grab and inappropriately touch the female victim in the Metro. Responding officers located the suspect sexually assaulting the victim in the Metro, during which both parties separated and began to leave the area. Officers gave the suspect commands and attempted to take him into custody during which he resisted arrest. With the assistance of additional arriving officers, the suspect was taken into custody.
Yesterday’s quick apprehension was aided by the proactive involvement of community members who immediately reported the suspect’s suspicious behavior by calling 911. This remains an active criminal investigation. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact the Arlington County Police Department’s tip line at 703-228-4180 or [email protected]. Information may also be provided anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).
Blue Angels/Thunderbirds flyover in 2020 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Get ready for some loud roars overhead tomorrow.
A pair of military flyovers are planned Wednesday morning and later that night, according to AlertDC.
The first appears to be a standard-issue flyover of Arlington National Cemetery.
“The Naval Air Force Atlantic will conduct a flyover of the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at approximately 11:10 AM,” said AlertDC.
“The US Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC) will conduct a flyover in the National Capital Region over Audi Field, Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at 8:30PM,” AlertDC said.
