There is a 50% chance of intermittent showers and thunderstorms throughout the day, with mostly cloudy skies and a high of 84°F. Winds will shift from northeast to southeast at 6 mph in the afternoon. On Tuesday night, expect a 70% chance of showers and possible thunderstorms, along with mostly cloudy skies and a low of 70°F. Light winds and a quarter to half an inch of new rainfall are anticipated. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
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Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Francisco Durán greets students at Gunston Middle School on the first day of school (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Francisco Durán greets students at Gunston Middle School on the first day of school (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Teachers and staff at Gunston Middle School greet students on the first day of school (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Francisco Durán greets students at Gunston Middle School on the first day of school (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz greets returning students on the first day of school at Gunston Middle School (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Students arrive to Gunston Middle School on the first day of school (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Students arrive for the first day of school at Gunston Middle School (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Francisco Durán greets students at Gunston Middle School on the first day of school (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Francisco Durán greets students at Gunston Middle School on the first day of school (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
(Updated at 4:15 p.m) Arlington Public Schools students headed back to school today and the positive energy, according to Superintendent Francisco Durán, was palpable.
“It was so wonderful,” he told ARLnow on a phone call this afternoon, debriefing from his morning spent visiting the half-dozen schools with new principals, including Gunston Middle School. “People are excited to be back.”
Going into this year, Durán says APS has its work cut out for it.
The system spent two years focused on improving literacy among kindergarten through second-graders, and is starting to see more students who are proficient the basics of reading. Now, the system is developing an all-hands-on-deck approach to another area of concern: middle and high school students who cannot read or write on grade level, either.
“We haven’t done a systemwide approach to secondary literacy,” he said. “How do we shift and go intensely, and in a strategic way, to supporting… those who are really struggling?”
Already, APS has identified struggling readers who he says could benefit from a new reading curriculum and the extra attention. The school system also is looking into ways to assess and identify struggling students better. Families can expect more information coming online about this shift in the coming months.
Likewise, the school system says a big challenge ahead will be tackling mental health. Last year saw the death of a 14-year-old due to an overdose as well as a rash of reported deaths connected to worsening mental health.
“We’ve had challenges at secondary level with substance abuse and students feeling depressed, isolated or having anxiety,” Durán said.
Middle and high schools have new intervention counselors and APS is working with Arlington County Dept. of Human Services to bring therapists to the schools. Three middle schools and all high schools have new deans focused on providing supports to students and getting their families involved.
“When we see students who are experiencing behavioral challenges — being suspended or being sent out of class or experimenting with substance abuse — we have to take an approach that’s not just punitive,” he said.
Part of that work, for Washington-Liberty High School Principal Tony Hall, is holding students to the school’s policy to keep phones “away for the day.” This week on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, he outlined the academic and social reasons for keeping phones off.
Address:6223 Langston Blvd Neighborhood: Lee Ridge Type: 3 BR, 2 BA single-family detached – 3300 sq. ft. Listed: $1,299,000
Noteworthy: City living with tailored country surroundings/two-car garage
A timeless North Arlington Cape Cod, lovingly maintained and thoughtfully upgraded by the same owners since 1995.
This home features three upstairs bedrooms and two full bathrooms. Set behind a handsome stone retaining wall, the home enjoys wonderful privacy and quiet, thanks to its solid one-foot-thick stone construction. Large windows on every side invite natural light to spill across the high ceilings, solid wood floors, and custom built-ins found throughout both levels.
The kitchen is a chef’s delight, complete with a gas cooktop, granite countertops, and a suite of thoughtful additions including a microwave with convection capabilities. Surround sound enhances the first floor, ceiling and wall speakers in the sunroom, dining room, and living room, and SpeakerCraft ceiling speakers in the kitchen. Bright recessed lighting runs throughout the home, while the basement shines with upgraded fixtures that bring exceptional brightness to the space.
Outdoor living is equally as inviting with a rear stone patio and exterior lighting with carriage lamps and multiple spotlights that showcase the grounds beautifully. The primary suite is a true retreat with custom built-in cabinetry featuring granite countertops that flow seamlessly into the walk-in closet and bathroom.
Recent updates include exterior and interior painting (2024), a fully renovated lower-level bath (2024), and roof replacements over both the house and garage (2017). An oversized detached two-car garage with storage plus a driveway accommodating four or more cars provides exceptional convenience. This residence offers easy access to Georgetown, downtown DC, Airports, and Metro.
Interior design rendering of the upcoming Makers Union restaurant in Pentagon City (courtesy of Thompson Hospitality)
Interior design rendering of the upcoming Makers Union restaurant in Pentagon City (courtesy of Thompson Hospitality)
Makers Union Alfredo Pasta, Salmon and Steak Salad (courtesy of Thompson Hospitality)
Makers Union brunch options (courtesy of Thompson Hospitality)
More food options offered at Makers Union restaurant (courtesy of Thompson Hospitality)
(Updated at 4:40 p.m.) Get ready to raise your forks and pint glasses.
Makers Union, a gastropub known for its upscale menu, is coming to Amazon’s second headquarters in Pentagon City this fall.
Alex Brown, the restaurant’s director of operations, tells ARLnow doors will open by mid-October, though a specific opening date has yet to be confirmed.
“I’ll put it at 90% — unless something comes up,” he told ARLnow.
This will be the third location for Makers Union, which first opened in Reston three years ago and is planning to open a second location in D.C. at the Wharf in September.
Makers Union joins a variety of new businesses and dining establishments slated to get in on the ground floor of the first phase of Amazon’s HQ2, known as Metropolitan Park, which opened earlier this summer.
“[Makers Union] is all about having fun with different events and just being that place where guests can celebrate any of life’s occasions,” Brown said.
Guests can “grab wings and a beer at the bar,” partake in bottomless brunch or celebrate a birthday or anniversary with “elevated options” such as crab cakes and ribeye steaks, he added.
The pub’s owner, Thompson Hospitality, also operates Matchbox, Big Buns Damn Good Burgers and Wiseguy Pizza, among several other local restaurant concepts.
Thompson Hospitality launched three decades ago with the purchase of several Bob’s Big Boys. It has since become a nearly billion-dollar company, with most of its restaurants still in the D.C. area., including Matchbox and Wise Guys Pizza.
Have you found your quarantine oasis? Are you tired of paying down someone else’s mortgage? Please join us for a Rent vs. Buy Happy Hour on Tuesday, April 13 at 6 p.m. via zoom (link to be provided upon RSVP).
A lot has happened in the local market since the beginning of the pandemic. Sip on your drink of choice and learn from Northern Virginia and Washingtonian Magazine top producing agents on how you can get $1,500 towards your closing costs immediately! We will discuss the latest market updates, the home buying process and rent vs. buy cost savings. Please RSVP by clicking on the link by April 12. Call/text Manavi at 703-869-6698 with any questions!
Chip City’s new location in Shirlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
(Updated at 4:55 p.m.) Cookie shop Chip City is making its move into Shirlington.
The New York-based cookie purveyor is opening a location in Shirlington at 4014 Campbell Avenue, next to Best Buns Bread Company. That’s the former home of Yogi Castle, which closed last year.
The 1,023-square-foot-shop is set to open in January 2024, the company tells ARLnow. The possibility of Chip City raising its flag in Shirlington was noted in May when ownership announced it was also moving into Clarendon. That location is set to open later in November of this year, we’re told.
“We liked Shirlington because it is a great neighborhood with lots of families and restaurant co-tenants,” a Chip City spokesperson wrote in an email.
Chip City is known for its “big, gooey five and half ounce cookie,” as CEO Peter Phillips told ARLnow earlier this year. It has a rotating weekly menu encompassing 40 different flavors, including classics like Chocolate Chip and Triple Chocolate and more unique flavors like Pina Colada, S’Mores, and Italian Rainbow.
Chip City’s rotating weekly menu (image via Instagram/Chip City)
Shirlington has recently seen a mini-boom in notable eateries opening in the private, open-air development. Jeni’s Ice Cream, Our Mom Eugenia and Taco Bamba all have opened within the last nine months, while Astro Beer Hall in the old Capital City Brewing Co. space is aiming for next month.
Gallery Underground’s Focus Gallery presents, during the month of April, Urban Soul, a solo show of works by Gustavo Forselledo — expressionist images of Washington, D.C. and other cities worldwide, with a special emphasis on Uruguay, where the artist was born. Forselledo, who has been influenced by Uruguayan masters Carols Paez Vilaró and Joaquín Torres García, presents the acrylic and ink images on canvas and hardboard as acquiring their own movements so the observer can perceive the rhythm and soul of the cities depicted.
