Around Town

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Cosmic Brownie

By ARLnow.com
1/2

The newest Adoptable Pet of the Week is Cosmic Brownie!

This girl is an adorable pup who is up for adoption at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.

Cosmic Brownie had this to say about herself:

I’m a bouncy pup who is still learning all about life in a home. I’m sweet as brownies and would like to rocket right out of this world on an adventure with you.

As a growing pup, I will need lots of attention and training to raise me just right. I am probably gonna grow up to be a big girl, so having excellent manners will make me a successful pet. I’m definitely still in my puppy phase, so be ready!

At AWLA I worked with trainers to ignore distractions, practice good manners, and connect to my handler on walks. In foster, I’ve worked on showcasing my cuteness and trying to explore my new home.

Is this girl the puppy you’ve been searching for? Read her entire profile to learn more!

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Please don’t send vertical photos — they don’t fit in our photo gallery!

Walgreens one-hour delivery service pilot in D.C. area ends next week

By Hallie LeTendre
Walgreens on Langston Blvd in Arlington (via Google Maps)

Arlingtonians have one more week to enjoy guaranteed same-day delivery services from Walgreens.

Through next Friday, customers of the pharmacy giant can order some 27,000 items online — from sunscreen to plastic cups — to have delivered to their door in under one hour. It’s part of a pilot program focused on our region.

“The offer, which is running exclusively across the Greater Washington region, guarantees customers will have items delivered to their door within the hour,” per a press release, which noted alcohol and prescriptions are excluded from this offer.

There are five participating locations in Arlington:

  • 3130 Langston Blvd
  • 1301 S. Joyce Street
  • 5841 Washington Blvd
  • 4720-B Langston Blvd
  • 2820 Columbia Pike

People who request one-hour delivery will be charged a fee that is calculated by the products ordered and the distance between the delivery location and the store from which they ordered. The delivery time is guaranteed, in a way that’s not dissimilar from those of that offered by pizza chains in the past.

“Walgreens is so confident in its delivery capabilities that it’s willing to guarantee it’ll be there in an hour — and if not, the company will give you your order and additional credit,” the release said.

Those who get late orders can receive $10 in Walgreens cash rewards, but only if they have an account with the company’s free rewards program.

As for what happens after the pilot ends on Friday, the release said Walgreens “has not announced plans to extend or expand the test.”

The company does offer pickup service in as little as 30 minutes after ordering.

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Jun 22, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Thursday evening, Arlington. Today we published articles that were read a total of 2829 times… so far.

📈 Top stories

The following are the most-read articles for today — Jun 22, 2023.

  1. Morning Notes
  2. Arlington police can now refer kids to restorative programs outside the juvenile justice system
  3. Acting Sheriff Jose Quiroz wins Democratic primary on commitment to improve inmate well-being
  4. Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Buckingham to undergo $15M renovation project

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛈️ Friday’s forecast

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 81. South wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. At night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 8pm and 2am. Low around 69. South wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
– Maya Angelou

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

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

Smallest and largest homes sold in Arlington (May-Jun 2023)

By ARLnow.com

This past week saw 49 homes sold in Arlington.

The least expensive condo, single-family home or townhouse sale over the past seven days was $200,000 while the most expensive was $2,149,900.

Over the past month, meanwhile, a total of 251 homes were sold. Let’s take a look at some of the smallest and largest homes sold over the past month.

Largest homes sold

  1. 3632 36th Road N — $3,750,000 (6 Beds | Baths | 8,825 SQ FT)
  2. 4308 Lorcom Lane — $1,900,000 (5 Beds | 4.5 Baths | 6,451 SQ FT)
  3. 650 N Jackson Street — $2,986,950 (5 Beds | 5.5 Baths | 6,231 SQ FT)

Smallest homes sold

  1. 1200 N Nash Street #208 — $200,000 (Studio | 1 Bath | 485 SQ FT)
  2. 1200 S Arlington Ridge Road #716 — $199,900 (Studio | 1 Bath | 516 SQ FT)
  3. 1020 N Highland Street #320 — $365,500 (Studio | 1 Bath | 527 SQ FT)

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Jun 21, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Wednesday evening, Arlington. Today we published articles that were read a total of 9881 times… so far.

📈 Top stories

The following are the most-read articles for today — Jun 21, 2023.

  1. New Japanese restaurant opening in Ballston, next to Uncle Julio’s
  2. Shove seriously injures innocent bystander near East Falls Church Metro
  3. Taco Bamba to open next week in Shirlington
  4. Morning Notes

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛈️ Thursday’s forecast

A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 5pm. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 73. Northeast wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. At night: Showers and thunderstorms before 2am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly after 2am. Low around 67. East wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”
– Friedrich Nietzsche

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

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

Taco Bamba to open next week in Shirlington

By Hallie LeTendre
1/3

Shirlington is getting the newest location of Taco Bamba.

The taqueria is set to open next Thursday (June 29) in the Village at Shirlington, replacing Taco + Piña, which closed last year.

The outpost at 4041 Campbell Ave will be Taco Bamba’s second location in Arlington, after one in Ballston that opened in 2020, and the company’s 10th location in a decade.

“Ten years and 10 locations later, staring down our most ambitious year of growth yet, I’m filled with gratitude for our Taco Bamba family, our guests, and for the opportunity to bring a second location to Arlington,” Chef Victor Albisu said in a statement.

The chef and founder of the burgeoning, taco-centric chain says the Shirlington area is inspiring him to serve up different foods from this particular location, which also has a full bar and patio seating.

“The area has such a vibrant dining scene,” Albisu said. “We look forward to challenging ourselves to provide something new and unexpected to an audience that is already familiar with what we do.”

The Shirlington location’s menu features a mix of Mexican favorites, including al pastor and carne asada, as well as original creations specific to this location, such as a steak, chicken and shrimp-stuffed quesadilla and a foot-long meat spring roll.

Inside, a mural by a local artist depicts the restaurant’s rooster mascot battling a crow — an homage to the ever-present murders of crow terrorizing the streets of the Shirlington shopping center and leaving behind their ever-present droppings.

The first 50 customers who order at the register on opening day will get a free travel mug, which can be used for the complimentary coffee all Taco Bamba locations serve daily, with a purchase, until mid-afternoon, a press release said.

This location will be open Sunday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. People can order online for pickup and delivery.

New Japanese restaurant opening in Ballston, next to Uncle Julio’s

By Matt Blitz
1/3

A new Japanese restaurant appears to be opening next to Uncle Julio’s in Ballston.

Not much is known beyond a permit application that notes there will be “interior alterations” in the space at 4301 Fairfax Drive that will convert it to a “new Japanese restaurant.”

That’s the former home of Willow restaurant, which closed way back in 2015. It does not appear as if a restaurant or business has occupied that space since then.

ARLnow has reached out to the Bethesda-based management company Willard for more information but has yet to hear back as of publication.

What is clear, however, is that neighborhood mainstay Uncle Julio’s is not closing, a restaurant spokesperson confirmed to ARLnow. There was initial worry from some locals, but the anxiousness appears to be unfounded.

The Uncle Julio’s spokesperson said that the staff and ownership are excited to finally have a business moving into the space next door, since it has been vacant for so long.

Whenever the new restaurant does open, it will have some Ballston competition.

Earlier this month, the Japanese barbeque restaurant Gyu San opened just a few blocks away. Also close by is Hawkers Asian Street Food, which serves a number of Japanese dishes along with other Asian-inspired food, plus a handful of poke, ramen and sushi options.

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Jun 20, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Tuesday evening, Arlington. Today we published articles that were read a total of 20307 times… so far.

📈 Top stories

The following are the most-read articles for today — Jun 20, 2023.

  1. JUST IN: Bear spotted in another N. Arlington neighborhood
  2. Light turnout so far for Democratic primary in Arlington
  3. Celtic House planning to expand with lower level whisky bar
  4. Morning Notes

📅 Upcoming events

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

🌧️ Wednesday’s forecast

Showers likely, mainly after 3pm. Patchy fog after 1pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 72. Northeast wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. At night: Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 9pm. Patchy fog. Low around 61. Northeast wind 15 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”
– Aristotle Onassis

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

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

Celtic House planning to expand with lower level whisky bar

By ARLnow.com
1/3

Celtic House on Columbia Pike wants to expand, but it will have to go through the county’s historic review board first.

The pub confirmed to ARLnow over the weekend that it wants to add a whisky and bourbon bar, in a lower level space previously used by a now-closed dry cleaner. The original pub and the whisky bar will be connected by a staircase.

In addition to providing another bar for the popular and well-reviewed pub, the new downstairs area will also serve as an event space, we’re told by a spokesperson.

The plan is on the agenda for tomorrow’s (June 21) Historic Affairs and Landmark Review Board meeting, since the strip retail center in which Celtic House is located is part of a historic district. Celtic House is proposing to add a small vestibule onto the rear of the building at 2500 Columbia Pike, to serve as an entrance to the new space.

“The Arlington Village Shopping Center is contributing to the Arlington Village National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) Historic District, which was designated by the National Park Service in April 2003,” notes a county staff report. “The applicant proposes to install a one-story, front gable-roofed vestibule addition near the southeast corner of the rear elevation.”

“The vestibule door will also be a new ADA-compliant wood and glass door with sidelights, and adjacent to the door and sidelights are simple pilasters with new exterior lighting,” the report adds.

The proposal is on the historic board’s consent agenda, implying that it is non-controversial and expected to pass.

The Celtic House spokesperson told ARLnow that the new bar should open at some point this fall, as long as the approvals are granted as expected.

Celtic House opened in late 2014 and has since established itself as a community staple and gathering place. It is hosting the Arlington Democrats primary watch party tonight, for instance.

Matt Blitz contributed to this report. Hat tip to @SRtwofourfour.

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Jun 16, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Friday evening, Arlington. Today we published articles that were read a total of 5235 times… so far.

📈 Top stories

The following are the most-read articles for today — Jun 16, 2023.

  1. Morning Notes
  2. NEW: Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for Arlington
  3. Candidates rack up endorsements as County Board race enters home stretch
  4. Chronic staffing shortages top of mind for Arlington County Sheriff candidates — with a side of pickleball

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  1. WaPo: Arlington restaurant has one of the best burgers in the area (14320 views)
  2. A half-dozen affordable garden apartment buildings near Rosslyn are set to be renovated (5748 views)
  3. Arlington Career Center project approved despite some resident concerns (5666 views)
  4. Shop selling snacks “from all seven continents” opens at Pentagon City mall (3945 views)
  5. Power outage and road closure after tree falls on utility lines (3572 views)
  6. Amazon unveils first buildings in HQ2 with pomp and circumstance (3501 views)
  7. Smokecraft in Clarendon feeling heat from county threat to revoke live entertainment permit (2585 views)
  8. Morning Poll: Which of these noise complaints has the most merit? (2412 views)
  9. A new Starbucks has opened in Ballston (2047 views)
  10. New townhomes coming soon to Arlington (1890 views)
  11. Pedestrian crash near Ballston prompts a stop sign and temporary police presence (1859 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

Here are the events planned for Sunday:

☀️ Saturday’s forecast

Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Northwest wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. At night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.”
– Milton Berle

🌅 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. 👋

County closures planned Monday for Juneteenth

By ARLnow.com
Arlington County government headquarters (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Most Arlington County facilities will be closed Monday for the Juneteenth federal holiday.

Courts, DMV offices, Dept. of Human Services facilities, libraries, community centers, permitting offices, the treasurer’s office and waste drop-offs will all be closed on June 19. Parking meters will not be enforced.

The Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center, on the other hand, will be open. Trash collection and ART buses, meanwhile, will both be operating on normal schedules

And enforcement of illegal parking, beyond meters, will continue as usual.

“Permit parking is always in effect unless specifically noted on the sign,” the county noted.

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