Daylight Saving Time is around the corner.
The annual time change is set to take place early this coming Sunday, March 10. Clocks will “spring forward” by an hour, thus providing an extra hour of daylight in the evening (but one fewer hour of sleep Sunday).
In a previous ARLnow poll, some 60% of readers said they would like to see Daylight Saving Time be extended throughout the year. Earlier this week, the time change was the second-most popular choice for “Which March thing are you most looking forward to?”
Given the local affinity for the extra hour of daylight, we were wondering what, if anything, readers were planning to do with that extra daytime.
Pick the best answer in the poll below and let us know in the comments if there’s another daylight-enhanced evening activity that you’re even more jazzed about.
It’s March and the month to come is packed with holidays, events and the arrival of spring.
There’s warmer weather, cherry blossoms, Daylight Saving Time, March Madness and St. Paddy’s Day, just to name a few.
Given all that’s to come over the next few weeks, it might be hard to pick just one thing you’re looking forward to — so we’re letting you pick up to three.
Of the following dozen options, what are most looking forward to?
It’s Valentine’s Day, truly the Super Bowl of the floral and heart-shaped-chocolate-box industries.
Previous ARLnow polls have already established that a strong majority of readers — both single and in a relationship — prefer to stay in rather than go out on V-Day. Today we’re wondering about readers’ Valentine’s Day gift of choice.
Whether you’re more of a gift giver or gift receiver today, what do you typically prefer to give and/or get on Valentine’s Day? Between the two, do you prefer flowers — or food, like the aforementioned chocolate box? (You can use the comment section to brag about getting both.)
(Updated at 10:10 a.m.) Arlington is set to see a number of new restaurants on the scene this year.
We’re tracking at least 19 eateries hoping to open in 2024, from burger joints to Chinese restaurants, and even some by acclaimed local chefs.
Which are you, personally, most looking forward to? For the purposes of this poll, we’ll exclude nationwide chains and one spot mostly serving desserts — Van Leeuwen in Crystal City.
When we asked this same question last year, the top vote-getter was Sabores, which was recently named a Top 100 U.S. restaurant by Yelp (more on that in an article later t0day).
Links to more info, below, on each of the new-for-2024 restaurants.
- Carbonara (Ballston)
- Thakali Bhatti (Ballston)
- Immigrant Food (Ballston)
- Roggenart Bistro & Cafe (Ballston)
- Zazzy (Clarendon)
- Kirby Club (Clarendon)
- Mister Days (Clarendon)
- Burger Billy’s Joint (Cherrydale)
- Yunnan by Potomac (Pentagon City)
- 2910 Kitchen & Bar (Columbia Pike)
- For Five Coffee (Rosslyn)
- NiHao (Crystal City)
- Lantern Restaurant and Bar (Crystal City)
- Tatte Bakery and Cafe (Crystal City)
- Bar Chinois (Crystal City)
- Colada Shop (Crystal City)
- Bar Colline (Crystal City)
- Columbia Pike Deli (Columbia Pike)
- Andy’s Pizza (Virginia Square)
Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his stump at Gobbler’s Knob this morning and did not see his shadow — thus predicting an early spring.
The annual Feb. 2 ritual has been taking place about 85 miles northeast of Pittsburgh since the late 19th century. It “has roots in ‘ancient, undoubtedly prehistoric, weather lore,'” according to the Associated Press.
This year’s ceremony can be viewed below.
While Wikipedia argues that Groundhog Day is “based upon a communal light-hearted suspension of disbelief,” and Fox Weather pegs Punxy Phil’s predictive accuracy at just 39%, maybe there’s something to be said for the staying power of a weather-predicting rodent — even one that’s wrong more often than right.
The national media and tens of thousands of groundhog faithful still dutifully converge on Punxsutawney every year. What else in American life that dates back to the 1800s has that kind of draw today, in 2024? Even the World Series, contested since 1903, is a late comer by comparison.
So this morning, on Groundhog Day, we’re asking our well-educated, worldly Arlington readers: despite what the so-called experts might say, do you believe in the groundhog? Maybe just a little?
The New Hampshire primary is today, and Virginia’s presidential primary is six weeks away.
After former president Donald Trump’s record-setting win at the Iowa caucuses, all eyes are on New Hampshire to see if his remaining major opponent, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, can make it a competitive race.
While Trump consolidates support within the party, the Never-Trump faction of the GOP is rallying around Haley. And they might also be secretly hoping to get some help from across the aisle.
Virginia is among a number of states that hold an open primary, meaning that Democrats can vote in the Republican party and vice-versa.
“Virginia is an open primary state meaning that voters do not register by political party,” notes the Arlington County elections website. “Any registered voter is eligible to vote in any primary election. If both the Democratic and Republican parties hold primaries on the same day, voters must choose which party ballot they wish to vote, per Virginia Code § 24.2-530.”
The Democratic race, meanwhile, remains moribund, with challengers to President Biden mostly polling in the single-digits. A non-competitive Democratic race may — in theory, at least — drive a few more voters over to the more dynamic GOP primary, particularly Dems dead set against another Trump presidency.
So whether you vote on Super Tuesday, March 5, or vote early — in-person early voting started Jan. 19 in Arlington and ballot drop boxes opened yesterday — this morning we’re wondering which primary are you planning on voting in?
In case you haven’t heard already, we may be getting snow this weekend.
There’s broad agreement among weather forecasters that a storm is on tap for Saturday into Sunday, though the big debate is how much of the precipitation will fall as snow in the D.C. area. As is often the case, our area is around the predicted transition from snow to rain.
More, below, from the Capital Weather Gang, which has yet to get too excited about the possibility of significant snowfall:
Rain and snow are likely to fall in the D.C. region this weekend, as a significant winter storm impacts much of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. In the D.C. area, precipitation could go back and forth from rain to snow during the storm, perhaps mixing with a little sleet. How much snow, and whether it is cold enough for it to accumulate, depends on the exact track of the storm, which is still uncertain.
The storm has the potential to produce anything from mostly rain to shovelable snow across the area, although as of now the odds lean toward more rain than snow. The best chance for accumulating snow is north and west of the District, where temperatures will be the coldest, with decreasing chances to the south and east.
Of course, with a slight change in the track of the storm, we could end up with snowman-worthy accumulation. But the probability of that happening at this point is well below 50%.
Big snowstorm coming?
Perhaps, but not necessarily for the I-95 corridor.
We know:
– there will be a storm off the East Coast
– it will have moisture
– cold air may be iffy/in shorter supplyBasically a 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 chance of big snows NYC/PHL/BWI/DCA. pic.twitter.com/tJUYBuKs13
— Matthew Cappucci (@MatthewCappucci) January 1, 2024
Serious uncertainty remains with this weekends storm on track and totals. Areas to the west of the Blue Ridge will likely see snowfall regardless the track of this system.
Here locally, details become difficult. The rain/snow line could cause significant differences in totals.… pic.twitter.com/FjwRXPV7pr
— Washingtonian Weather Geeks (@WashingtonianWx) January 2, 2024
Given the forecast, and perhaps keeping in mind our area’s propensity for predicted snow storms turning out to be duds, what is your snowfall prediction at this point?
A new year is almost upon us, and it begs the question — will 2024 be a better year than 2023?
Economically, it’s looking like a solid maybe. For the state of the nation during a presidential election — also highly questionable.
But what sort of vibes are you getting, when it comes to how the year will play out for you and yours, personally? Are you optimistic about a better year, or do you think things might take a turn for the worse?
As we have been reporting, local public access station Arlington Independent Media is at a crossroads as it vies for funding from Arlington County and local cable providers.
Despite some internal strife, a bigger force is driving the existential questions around AIM: the ongoing loss of cable TV subscribers known as cord cutting.
Cable providers are losing some 10% of video customers every year, as consumers rely instead on some combination of broadcast TV and streaming. For some, cutting the cord is all about saving on those steep cable bills, while for others it’s simply a matter of not wanting to watch commercial-laden cable channels anymore.
Whatever the case, cord cutting will have notable impacts on everything from cable access channels to local TV news to professional sports teams — which derive significant revenue from cable channels — in the coming years.
Given that, we’re wondering how many readers have decided to cut the cord so far.
The Washington Capitals and Wizards are planning to move to Alexandria’s Potomac Yard neighborhood.
The announcement was made this morning in tents set up next to the Potomac Yard Metro entrance, where a new sports arena and entertainment complex is planned — about a half mile from the Arlington border.
More from our sister site ALXnow:
The project will be adjacent to the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in the Alexandria portion of National Landing — the collective term for Potomac Yard, Crystal City and Pentagon City.
“After many years of dreaming, many years of discussion, I’m pleased to announce that right here, in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard, we have a plan to unleash a brighter, more extraordinary future,” said [Virginia Gov. Glenn] Youngkin. “We will build a spectacular $2 billion dollar sports and entertainment district.”
[Team owner Ted] Leonsis said the move to Virginia is a “transformative step forward.”
“I have always believed there is a higher calling in sports — to unify our community, build a lasting legacy over multiple generations, and lift all our neighbors towards a shared sense of prosperity,” Leonsis said. “Today, we deepen that commitment as we enter a phase of rapid expansion in service to our fans, employees, and partners.”
Leonsis said starting a new stadium with a sense of tabula rasa was a big part of Potomac Yard’s appeal.
“When I saw 70 acres and the ability to start with a clean slate… to build a digital first experience, it really is a very romantic but also pragmatic vision that we can’t do anywhere else,” Leonsis said. “I got goosebumps again when I came here a week ago and looked at all of the expansion capabilities.”
As part of the deal, the construction and ownership of the arena would be overseen by a new Virginia stadium authority, and the arena would be leased to Monumental.
“Subject to legislative approval by the Virginia General Assembly, the Entertainment District will break ground in 2025 and open in late 2028,” said a press release from the governor’s office.
ARLnow is working to learn more about what this will mean for Arlington, from plans for changes to Route 1 to the Capitals practice facility moving from the Iceplex in Ballston.
In the meantime, we were wondering whether the move from Chinatown in D.C. to Potomac Yard will drive more game day attendance from Arlington residents. Do you think you will go to more games at an Alexandria facility, compared to your current attendance at Capital One Arena?
Last week ARLnow received an interesting reader email.
The writer’s suggestion: we should beautify Arlington County by encouraging those with inflatable holiday decorations to keep them inflated at all times, rather than leaving them deflated during the day, as is often the case.
The email:
Suggest a public service announcement to make Arlington more beautiful over the holidays.
While many people keep their inflatable holiday decorations full during the day, several do not and for some reason choose only to fill them at night – thus resulting is what looks like piles of colored plastic bags laying on front yards.
Perhaps a positive message like:
“Thank you Arlingtonians for keeping your inflatable yard decorations full during the day, and not just at night – helping to keep Arlington looking good through the holidays”
Thanks
Now, some may see inflatables as a scourge, a tacky way for busy households to decorate for the holidays with minimal effort and storage space required. And others might have concerns about the electricity use of the fan-driven decorations.
But those who appreciate holiday decor in any form may find themselves agreeing with the letter writer.
What do you think?