Around Town

Smallest and largest homes sold in Arlington (November 2023)

By ARLnow.com

Here in Arlington, real estate is a spectator sport. Let’s take a look at some of the smallest and largest homes sold last month (November 2023).

Largest homes sold

  1. 709 N Florida St — Bluemont — $1,670,000 (6 beds | 7.5 baths | 8,808 sq. ft.)
  2. 6512 36th St N — Williamsburg — $3,034,680 (6 beds | 6.5 baths | 6,815 sq. ft.)
  3. 4012 N Woodstock St — Stafford Albemarle Glebe — $2,625,000 (5 beds | 4.5 baths | 6,467 sq. ft.)

Smallest homes sold*

  1. 716 S Wayne St — -Penrose – $1,080,000 (4 beds | 4 baths | 2,031 sq. ft.)
  2. 4642 20th Place N — Waverly Hills — $1,100,000 (3 beds | 2 baths | 2,072 sq. ft.)
  3. 6118 11th St N — Madison Manor — $1,025,000 (3 beds | 2.5 baths | 2,088 sq. ft.)

*Minimum home value of $200,000 set to exclude certain land sales, retirement condos, properties with expiring ground leases, etc.

San Antonio Bar & Grill to close in Crystal City after 30 years

By James Jarvis
San Antonio Bar & Grill in Crystal City (courtesy of Edwin Magne)

After a three-decade run, the San Antonio Bar & Grill in Crystal City is set to close this Saturday, marking the end of an era.

The Tex-Mex restaurant, a mainstay in the underground Crystal City Shops since 1993, was notified by its landlord, JBG Smith, three months ago that its lease would not be extended past December, according to co-owner Amparo Magne.

Magne, who operates two other San Antonio Bar & Grill locations in D.C. and Alexandria, said no specific reason was given for the non-renewal, but she suspects it might be due to the landlord’s desire to renovate the space.

“That’s what we think,” she told ARLnow. “We don’t know.”

A PR rep for JBG Smith declined comment.

Edwin Magne, Amparo’s brother and business partner, said the notice from JBG Smith was unexpected. Still, he noted there were signs that changes were coming based on the rapid changes in the area, such as the opening of Amazon Fresh, Alamo Drafthouse and the recently renovated Crystal City Water Park.

“I mean most of the stores in the mall are closing down as well,” he told ARLnow.

While his sister has the means to reopen the restaurant in Arlington, Edwin said rising rents — in an area now home to Amazon’s HQ2 and, potentially, a new sports arena in Potomac Yard — may push them further from their original location.

“It’s prime real-estate,” he said.

Wherever they reopen, Amparo and Edwin hope it won’t be too far from their loyal customers in Crystal City.

“We don’t want to go far away,” Amparo said. “We want something near.”

They are currently looking at Clarendon as a potential option, but no final decisions have been made.

“We just got to find a good place for us that’s gonna fit, that’s going to be good for our employees as well and it’s going to be close enough for our guests that we used to always have,” Edwin said.

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Dec 27, 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 — Dec 27, 2023.

📅 Upcoming events

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

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.

🌤️ Thursday’s forecast

Patchy fog is expected to clear by 10am, giving way to partly sunny skies and a high near 58. There will be a northwest wind of around 7 mph. On Thursday night, there is a 30% chance of rain after 1am, accompanied by mostly cloudy conditions and a low of around 43. The northwest wind will be at 3 to 6 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.”
– Napoleon Hill

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

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

Top 20 Arlington stories of 2023: #11-15

By Jo DeVoe
1/5

We are continuing our countdown to 2024 with this year’s top stories.

Breaking news once more claimed the attention of readers, from a juvenile overdose to some of our follow-up coverage of the Bluemont house explosion that made national headlines.

Lightening up this roster of heavy hitters is a story about the arrival of a lounging Lady Liberty in Arlington and an update on production of the local ‘Real Housewives’ TV series.

The countdown continues tomorrow.

15. BREAKING: Police presence at Wakefield High School after possible overdose (Jan. 31 | 35,277 views)

At the start of the year, medics responded to reports of a possible overdose at Wakefield High School. The ultimately fatal overdose of 14-year-old Sergio Flores prompted a parent march and community conversations and lead Arlington Public Schools and the and county government to ramp up its focus on student mental health and substance use.

14. A lounging Lady Liberty to lie down in Arlington for the next year (July 10 | 37,835 views)

A 25-foot “Reclining Liberty” sculpture relocated from the New York area to the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington. Inspired by the reclining Buddha, the fresh take on the iconic monument to democracy contrasted with Arlington’s backdrop of monuments to major American wars.

13. NEW: Massive police presence at former Key Bridge Marriott as county condemns building (March 24 | 41,854 views)

Law enforcement and county personnel swarmed the former Key Bridge Marriott in Rosslyn to clear the building of squatters and condemn the property. The hotel was slated for redevelopment but those plans stalled amid financial woes for the developer, and the site instead became a makeshift shelter for unhoused individuals.

12. ‘Real Housewives’ appears to be filming again in Arlington (April 18 | 41,953 views)

Production for Season 8 of “Real Housewives of Potomac” kicked off this spring, featuring cast member Ashley Darby in her new home, apparently purchased by an LLC connected with Monument Realty, the real estate firm founded by her estranged husband, Michael. The home is not far from Clarendon restaurant Oz that the couple, now separated, had run until it closed in 2019.

11. BREAKING: Suspect killed in house explosion, police believe (Dec. 5 | 43,059 views) 

A police standoff in the Bluemont neighborhood ended when the house of 56-year-old James Yoo exploded, ultimately killing him and injuring police officers. Earlier that afternoon, Yoo had barricaded himself in his house and begun firing flares, prompting police to evacuate the family who lived in the adjoining duplex. The story drew national attention and a fundraiser for the evacuated family, who lost their possessions but were unharmed, quickly surpassed its goal.

Arlington through the eyes of ARLnow’s outgoing staff photographer, Jay Westcott

By James Jarvis
1/145

When Jay Westcott joined ARLnow in September 2019, he said one of his main focuses was covering the arrival of Amazon’s HQ2 and its impact on the local community.

He could not have foreseen that within just seven months, he would be documenting some of the most consequential years not only for Arlington but for the entire world.

“The global pandemic changed the way we do business, shop for groceries, dine out, and live our lives here in Arlington,” he told ARLnow.

After nearly two decades in the field, Westcott is stepping away from news to focus on his other interests, including portraiture, storytelling and music. He leaves behind a vast archive of photos that captured scenes from the pandemic, major storms, Black Lives Matter protests and Arlington’s changing landscape.

The gallery above features 145 of Westcott’s favorite photos, chosen from thousands to represent his four-plus years of capturing life in Arlington.

“I have tried my best to show Arlington in all its forms and show how much I love living here,” he said.

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Dec 26, 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 — Dec 26, 2023.

📅 Upcoming events

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

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.

🌧️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect showers and patchy fog with a high near 56 and an east wind of 7 to 10 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%, with new amounts ranging from half to three-quarters of an inch. On Wednesday night, showers are likely, mainly before 1am, along with patchy fog. The skies will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 47 and light winds. The precipitation chance is 60%, and new amounts may vary between a quarter and half an inch. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
– George Bernard Shaw

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

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

Top 20 Arlington stories of 2023: #16-20

By Jo DeVoe
1/5

Today begins our annual countdown to the New Year with a look back at the most-read articles of 2023.

Breaking news dominated the top 20 this year, though a motorcycle motorcade and pugnacious parents also piqued reader interest, too.

Check back tomorrow to see what crime, arts and entertainment stories beat out the five listed below.

20. UPDATED: Large group of bikers swarm Arlington roads (Aug. 26 | 27,253 views)

Upwards of 100 motorcycle and dirt bike riders caroused from Rosslyn to Crystal City, culminating in shots fired at gas stations near Old Town Alexandria that resulted in multiple injuries.

19. New Ikea location in Pentagon City to open tomorrow (Aug. 15 | 27,812 views) 

Arlington saw a Swedish invasion — sans meatballs — when a new, small-format Ikea “Plan and Order” location opened in Pentagon City. Unlike the large warehouse stores, the 5,000-square-foot store at Pentagon Centre lets customers order kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom solutions for delivery.

18. Three Arlington neighborhoods rank high in ‘Best Places to Live in America’ list (April 7 | 29,097 views)

Niche ranked Colonial Village as the No. 2 “Best Place to Live in America” for its historic garden-style apartments and condos and tree-lined streets. The Ballston/Virginia Square and Radnor/Fort Myer Heights neighborhoods also made the top 25.

17. Parent fight at elementary school graduation ceremony draws police response (June 9 | 32,440 views) 

An altercation among adults — and reports of a child bitten during the fracas — disrupted a fifth-grade promotion ceremony at Oakridge Elementary School, drawing police and medics to the scene.

16. Unassuming Arlington eatery named region’s No. 1 casual restaurant by Washington Post (Jan. 9 | 32,783 views)

The Washington Post named Charga Grill, located in a strip mall on Langston Blvd, the top casual restaurant in the D.C. area for 2022. Critics and diners alike have praised the family-run restaurant, which serves street food and Peruvian, Pakistani and South African chicken dishes.

Tuna Restaurant in Cherrydale to rebrand as Siam Shinzo in the New Year

By James Jarvis
Tuna Restaurant in Cherrydale (photo courtesy of Sak Vong)

The owner of Tuna Restaurant in Cherrydale says she plans to rename the Thai and Japanese eatery “Siam Shinzo.”

The new signage, however, won’t be displayed until early next year. And the menu will stay the same.

“It is official on papers, but the signage is still in the process,” the owner, May Ditnoy, told ARLnow. “I probably won’t have it ready to be installed until early February.”

Located at 3813 Langston Blvd, the restaurant has undergone several changes over the years. Originally a spot for Thai cuisine, it became a sushi restaurant in 2015 following a change in ownership. In 2022, it transitioned to Laotian and Japanese cuisine under new management.

Ditnoy acquired the restaurant this past spring, marking its fourth ownership change in eight years. Despite retaining its name, the menu shifted to Thai and Japanese cuisine.

Ditnoy, a Leesburg resident who also runs a catering business with her mother, said she always intended to rename the restaurant. She chose not to delay the restaurant opening to wait for the name change paperwork.

Nearly eight months later, Ditnoy says she believes a name change will more accurately represent the restaurant’s menu offerings.

“Siam is the shortened original name for the capital of Thailand that is now Bangkok. ‘Shinzo’ means heart in Japanese,” she said.

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Dec 22, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Friday 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 — Dec 22, 2023.

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

  1. Arlington’s Pupatella recognized as one of the world’s best pizza chains (27097 views)
  2. Orvis at The Crossing announces closing sale and eyes potential reopening (15929 views)
  3. A Yorktown alum sold his first startup before he had a diploma. Now he’s onto the next venture. (12059 views)
  4. New Panera to open in Ballston this week and its first customers will get free meals for a year (10469 views)
  5. Two apprehended after reported robbery in Clarendon Metro (10218 views)
  6. W-L student prompts police investigation after allegedly using a device to turn off nearby iPhones (6967 views)
  7. County ratifies financing plan for Barcroft Apartments redevelopment despite push from advocates for deeper affordability (6362 views)
  8. Police: Man kicks officers after breaking into woman’s apartment in Ballston (6332 views)
  9. Photos: Possible albino squirrel sighting in Arlington (6238 views)
  10. JUST IN: Flood Warning issued for Arlington (5773 views)
  11. Part of GW Parkway will close for winter weather, NPS warns (5309 views)
  12. Ask Eli: Will new Capitals/Wizards stadium increase home values? (4194 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.

Here are the events planned for Sunday:

🌥️ Saturday’s forecast

Expect a mostly cloudy day with a high of 48, accompanied by a calm wind that shifts to the south at around 6 mph in the morning. For Saturday night, there is a slight chance of showers after 1am, with temperatures dipping to a low of 38. A southeast wind of around 5 mph will become calm after midnight, and there is a 20% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”
– Albert Schweitzer

🌅 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. 👋

Merry Christmas from ARLnow

By ARLnow.com
Christmas tree at Reagan National Airport (staff photo)

As Christmas approaches, we at ARLnow want to take a moment to wish all of our readers in Arlington a very Merry Christmas. Your readership, engagement and support mean a great deal to us.

Please note that we will be taking a short break to celebrate the holiday with our families and friends. Barring major breaking news, our regular posting will resume on Tuesday, December 26. We hope this season offers you a chance to relax and enjoy time with your loved ones.

Merry Christmas, and we look forward to reconnecting with you after the holiday.

Cheers,

The ARLnow Team

Podcast: Bridges to Independence CEO on rising youth homelessness in Arlington

By James Jarvis
Bridges To Independence offices in Green Valley (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Over the last 18 months, Arlington nonprofit Bridges to Independence has experienced a notable surge in children and families seeking shelter, resulting in a growing waiting list.

CEO Fraser Murdoch sat down with staff reporter James Jarvis to discuss what factors may be driving the youth homelessness crisis in Arlington and how the broader community can intervene.

Listen below or find the podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn.

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