Around Town
Brick House Butcher in Falls Church (via Brick House Butcher/Instagram)

A new butcher shop is set to open in Falls Church within the next few weeks, giving Arlingtonians more options for high-end, locally sourced meats.

Brick House Butcher, owned and operated by brothers Afsheen and Arash Tafakor, will be located just off of W. Broad Street, next to Dominion Wine & Beer, which they also own. They aim to open the shop by the end of January.

The shop at 109 Rowell Court will offer an array of beef, poultry, pork and seafood products and a variety of homemade items — like crabcakes and meatballs — that are ready to cook or eat. It will additionally feature different types of compound butter made and sold in-house and will serve OddFellows Ice Cream.

The two butchers working at Brick House, Mike and Emma Ferguson, have a combined 23 years in the hospitality industry, including fine dining and livestock management, according to the shop’s Instagram account.

Butchers Mike and Emma Ferguson (via Brick House Butcher/Instagram)

Afsheen says Brick House Butcher has a “farm-to-butcher-to-table” concept and will source meat from Virginia farms. The butcher will also find ways to use the whole animal, rather than focus on specific cuts.

“We’re a whole-animal butcher shop, so we’ll break down a whole animal,” Afsheen said. “We don’t just get, like, loins of ribeye. We have a lot of the parts of the animal that we gotta use.”

The brothers decided to open Brick House Butcher after noticing a lack of “old-school American butchers” in Falls Church, Afsheen said. The closest option is The Organic Butcher in McLean, a perpetually busy shop that serves many Arlington clients.

Afsheen and Arash grew up working at Georgetown Square Wine and Beer, owned by their father. In addition to Dominion Wine and Beer, they own Downtown Crown Wine and Beer in Gaithersburg and have plans to open a restaurant called Stratford Gardens elsewhere in Falls Church.

The butcher will eventually provide meat to Dominion Wine and Beer’s in-house, second-floor restaurant, as well as to Stratford Gardens, according to the brothers.

Meat from Brick House Butcher (via Brick House Butcher/Instagram)

Around Town
Makers Union in Pentagon City (staff photo by James Jarvis)

In light of the recent snowstorms, a number of Arlington restaurants participating in this winter’s Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week are extending their promotions for an extra week.

The event, organized by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), will now run from today (Monday) through Sunday, Jan. 28.

“The decision to extend Winter Restaurant Week is reflective of our commitment to the well-being and enjoyment of our restaurant community and its consumers,” RAMW President and CEO Shawn Townsend said in a press release. “This extension is an opportunity for more people to safely enjoy what our local restaurants have to offer, showcasing the resilience and adaptability of our industry.”

Roughly half of Arlington’s eateries that participated in the initial Winter Restaurant Week are extending their offers, as of this article’s filing. The continuing restaurants will retain their previous promotions, including three-course lunches and brunches at $25 or $35 and dinners for $40, $55, or $65.

The list of Arlington restaurants extending their promotions is below.


Sponsored

This column is sponsored by Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

Enjoy an unforgettable evening of celebration and culture at the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington on Saturday, Nov. 1, with an outdoor picnic in honor of Día de los Muertos. Set against the backdrop of crisp fall weather in Virginia Square, this family-friendly event promises art, music, delicious food and performances for all ages.

Spread out your blanket and partake in activities like interactive art projects, live performances and games of lotería (lottery). Savor the flavors of tacos and craft espresso drinks from local food trucks such as TNT Mexican Grill, Taco Cinco De Mayo and Rossana Coffee. Additional vendors include Ana Schwar, Otterly Artistic Designs and David Amoroso. Festive lighting will be provided by AVLD Events .

A cherished Arlington tradition, the event is co-sponsored by the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington and Arlington Arts, celebrating the Mexican holiday dedicated to remembering loved ones with joy and festivity. National Geographic notes, Día de los Muertos blends ancient Aztec rituals with Spanish customs brought to Mexico in the early 1500s, honoring the dead through colorful and lively celebrations.

Arlington-based artist David Amoroso is once again creating a large-scale ofrenda (altar) on the museum’s front portico. Attendees are invited to bring a photo of a deceased loved one to include in the ofrenda, making the altar a collective tribute. Participants will be able to decorate their own Calavera masks. Amoroso is also working with Johnerick Lawson on a kinetic element to showcase their creations!

The evening will be filled with music and dance, including a performance by Mariachi Imperio by Blanca Chucuan. The DC-based, woman-led ensemble is carrying on this venerable musical tradition in the DMV, having performed everywhere from the Smithsonian Institution to popular area restaurants and family Quinceanera’s. Dance enthusiasts will also be captivated by the folkloric Mexican dance group Los Quetzales, known for their vibrant performances over the past 26 years.

While you’re there, don’t miss the chance to take a selfie with the popular Reclining Liberty sculpture by Zaq Landsberg. This striking, 25-foot installation juxtaposes the Statue of Liberty with a traditional Buddhist reclining pose, encouraging reflection on the ideals the iconic statue represents. Installed in 2023 co-sponsored by Arlington Public Art and MoCA Arlington, the sculpture was recently granted permanent status at the venue.

The Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington has been a key collaborator with Arlington County Government for decades. Housed in the historic Clarendon School building, the museum is part of Arlington’s cultural legacy, operating under a long-term lease with the County. The building, designed in 1910 and renovated in 2004, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mark your calendar for this vibrant celebration! The Día de los Muertos event will take place from 5:00 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, 3550 Wilson Boulevard. Click here for event details. Visit the Arlington Cultural Affairs website for more details and to explore Arlington’s exciting public art and cultural programs.

Don’t miss out — join us to honor tradition, celebrate culture and experience the arts in Arlington!


News

The driver of an SUV slammed into a building along Columbia Pike early Saturday morning.

It happened around 1:40 a.m. on the western end of the Pike in Arlington, near the massive “Pike” sculpture.

Video of the incident, posted by local public safety watcher Dave Statter, shows the SUV driving at a high speed down S. Jefferson Street before crashing into a commercial building at 5555 Columbia Pike.

No serious injuries were reported. So far, there’s no word on any charges against the driver.


Announcement

Is your young adult (or teen) looking for tools to manage stress? Our local therapy practice recently welcomed Brittany Tokash, Resident in Counseling, and she has openings now for new clients.

Brittany collaborates with young people, explaining how stress affects us and tailoring for them healthy techniques for confidence, energy, self-esteem, friendships, school and work. If needed, Brittany also provides skilled Depression Therapy and Anxiety Therapy. With all of her clients Tokash uses a mix of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and values work, staying focused on science-backed results and positive change.


News
Sledding late Sunday afternoon at Nottingham Elementary (staff photo)

Police Announce Stabbing Arrest — “The Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit is announcing an arrest in the stabbing that occurred on December 15, 2023, in the 5100 block of Columbia Pike. Kamron Tartt, 18, of Arlington, VA was taken into custody on January 18 and charged with Malicious Wounding by Mob, Conspiracy to Commit a Felony and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor (x2). He is being held without bond.” [ACPD]

Photos from Wreaths Out — “Volunteers participate in the Wreaths Across America annual removal of wreaths, commonly known as Wreaths Out, in Section 33 at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., Jan. 20, 2024. This year, nearly 3,000 volunteers removed approximately 260,000 wreaths originally placed at ANC on Dec. 16, 2023.” [Flickr]

Winning Performances at Track Meet — “Members of Wakefield and Washington-Liberty high-school track and field teams had strong finishes at a recent meet at Christopher Newport University. Winning the girls 3,200-meter race was Washington-Liberty’s Alba Edsall in 11:50.2, with her teammate Mina Dowler seventh in 12:51 and Wakefield’s Kenedy Shields won the high jump at 5-feet.” [Gazette Leader]

Volunteers Clear Trail — From the Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail: “17 volunteers showed up to clear snow from the Mount Vernon Trail today!” [Twitter]

It’s Monday — Expect sunny skies and a high around 37 degrees as a calm wind shifts to the south at 5 to 8 mph during the morning. For Monday night, conditions become partly cloudy with a low of around 25 degrees and a southwest wind blowing at 3 to 6 mph. [Weather.gov]

Today’s Morning Notes post is brought to you by coworking provider Industrious. ARLnow has been based in an Industrious office for several years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing the coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked with paper. Industrious has a number of Arlington locations from which to choose.


Announcement

Virginia Hurricanes Basketball is offering a Friday night youth basketball training program in November and December 2023 for girls and boys in grades K through 5.

Players will have a fun-filled experience working on individual basketball skills and learning the rules and concepts of the game.