The lives of six residents of a historic African-American Arlington community were celebrated during Green Valley Day on Saturday (Sept. 19).
“Green Valley Greats” honored the civic legacies of George “Go-Go” Long, Joan Cooper, John Robinson, Leonard “Doc” Muse, Dr. Alfred Taylor and Portia Clark.
The timetable for County Board members to begin addressing potential changes to local governance appears to be holding to schedule.
“All the remaining deliverables … are on track,” Mason Kushnir, clerk to the County Board, said at the Board’s Sept. 22 meeting.
Aspiring retail entrepreneurs and product-based small businesses will soon have an exciting new opportunity to grow through NEXT., a new retail incubator program launching in November through Arlington Economic Development’s BizLaunch program and in partnership with the Ballston Business Improvement District (BID) and the Ballston Quarter Mall.
Designed to help makers, artisans and product-based businesses build the skills and confidence needed to succeed in a brick-and-mortar environment, NEXT. combines classroom instruction, one-on-one business advising and hands-on retail experience in a real storefront setting.
Eligible businesses include those selling apparel, jewelry, handmade goods, home décor, beauty and skincare products, artwork, accessories and other specialty retail items. Food and beverage businesses are not eligible for the inaugural cohort.
Participants will complete a weeklong retail readiness curriculum covering:
Licensing and permitting
Retail leasing
Merchandising
Branding
Customer experience
Point-of-sale operations
The curriculum features instruction from industry professionals, property management representatives and local partners, along with hands-on merchandising support.
A key component of the program is a weekend retail activation. After completing the training, selected participants will operate a shared retail storefront in Ballston for one weekend, gaining firsthand experience serving customers, merchandising products, managing inventory and processing sales in a live retail environment.
Participants will also meet with a BizLaunch business advisor for individualized technical assistance. These one-on-one sessions are designed to help entrepreneurs strengthen operations, evaluate growth opportunities, and connect with resources related to marketing, financing, ecommerce, licensing and expansion planning.
Applications are open to businesses that:
Are registered and in good standing with the Commonwealth of Virginia
Hold the required business licenses and sales tax registration
Can commit to participating in the full program
Applicants will be evaluated based on business readiness, product quality, growth potential and their ability to benefit from the retail training experience.
Selected participants will pay a $100 fee to secure their place in the cohort.
For entrepreneurs interested in testing their products in a retail setting, gaining practical experience and connecting with a supportive business community, NEXT. offers a practical pathway to growth.
To learn more and apply, visit the Next application page. If you know of aspiring makers, innovators or retailers, please share this opportunity! Applications will be reviewed by the program team, and selected applicants will be invited to interview before the final cohort is selected.
Learn more about BizLaunch and NEXT. at www.bizlaunch.org.
Businesses participating in next month’s Arlington Restaurant Week offered a preview of what they have in store at a tasting last night (Thursday).
The Arlington Chamber of Commerce hosted a first-of-its-kind preview of the annual event, which will bring specials to restaurants across a range of price points from Monday, Oct. 12 to Monday, Oct. 19.
Pumpkin spice season is here, but winter is closer than you think.
When winter weather arrives, some of our most vulnerable neighbors can’t clear snow from their sidewalks and driveways, limiting their ability to travel safely and access essential services.
Mort Zetlin was serving a stint in the U.S. Army in Germany during the early 1950s when he first encountered Mercedes-Benz automobiles.
Little did he know that the chance meeting would help define the next 70 years of his life.
🍂 Fall is here — and so is FOSH Fall Fest!
For twelve years, Friends of the Soldiers Home has kicked off autumn the right way — and we're not stopping now.
Despite Arlington’s small size, it’s home to a surprising number of trails offering an escape into peaceful, quiet treks through nature.
Here are the nominees for “Best Place to Hike Near Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.
Did we miss your favorite hike? Write it in!
Voting will close on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
Voting for Best Ramen Spot in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Wednesday at 11:59 p.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Park in Arlington. The results are now official:
In recent seasons, Tyler Flint-Steinig has been a standout performer in two different types of football — and dissecting defenses very well in each.
On the field, Flint-Steinig has successfully quarterbacked freshman, junior-varsity and varsity high-school teams for the Washington-Liberty Generals. Currently, he is W-L’s varsity starter for the second straight year.
The County Board has ordered the release of available footage from a fatal Columbia Pike police shooting earlier this year.
The Board announced this morning (Friday) that it has directed County Manager Mark Schwartz to release video of the incident that resulted in the death of 33-year-old Shawn Valn by Friday, Oct. 16. No footage accompanied the announcement and it is unclear what, specifically, will be released.
Two screenings of an international short film festival are coming to a Falls Church movie theater this weekend and next.
Paragon Theaters will host two screenings of the Manhattan Short Film Festival on Founders Row at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27 and Sunday, Oct. 4.
Arlington Tops ‘Thriving’ Poll — “People who live in Arlington and Alexandria (61%) and Loudoun County (59%) are most likely to be thriving,” according to a new Gallup poll of D.C.-area residents. Arlington and Alexandria also had the second-highest share of households hurt by federal job cuts or furloughs, at 62%. [Axios, WTOP]
DCA Passenger Count Inches Up — Reagan National Airport has recorded 14.4 million passengers year-to-date through July, up 0.2% compared to the same period a year ago, according to new figures from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. The year-to-date figures were boosted by a 0.8% growth rate in July to 2.2 million arriving and departing travelers. —Scott McCaffrey
Equipment Spotted at Arch Site — Rep. Don Beyer (D) visited Columbia Island yesterday after constituents spotted heavy equipment at the site of President Trump’s proposed arch. Workers said they were doing archaeological soil work, but Beyer said the equipment is “a clear indication that the Trump Administration is preparing to move forward with construction.” [Press Release, The Hill, WUSA9]
AG to Keynote NAACP Gala — Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones will be the keynote speaker at the Arlington NAACP’s 2026 Freedom Fund Banquet, to be held Saturday, Oct. 17 at George Mason University’s Arlington campus. [Arlington NAACP]
Southside Express Lanes, Take Two — State transportation officials have a revised plan for I-495 Express Lanes on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. “VDOT proposes significantly reducing shoulder space… to accommodate four non-toll lanes and two Express Lanes in each direction, along with an 18-foot-wide right-of-way down the middle for future Metro service.” [FFXnow]
Beyer Tours East Potomac Park — Rep. Don Beyer toured East Potomac Park yesterday with representatives of local cycling, running and golf groups. “We also saw the Administration’s destruction firsthand, including trees that have already been cut down, some of them historic cherry trees. And all of this is happening behind closed doors,” Beyer said. [Press Release]
Waymo Foes Rallying in D.C. — “Labor unions, civil rights groups and even churches are ramping up pressure on the D.C. Council to reject a bill legalizing robotaxis.” Activists plan to rally Oct. 6 outside the Wilson Building. The bill from Council member Charles Allen would cap robotaxi operators at 200 vehicles. [Axios]
Warner Targets Tick Allergy — Sen. Mark Warner (D) introduced two bills yesterday targeting tick-borne diseases, including one that would require food labels to flag alpha-gal, the trigger of a meat allergy linked to lone star tick bites. “Cases of alpha-gal syndrome are rapidly increasing in Virginia and across the country,” Warner said. [Press Release]
Coworking Booms in Suburbs — “Suburban coworking locations now make up 67% of all coworking locations, according to a study by real estate data firm Yardi Kube.” Suburban sites grew 39% from July 2024 to July 2026, compared to 22% growth in urban areas. [WBJ]
It’s Friday — Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high near 73 and north winds around 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Tonight will be mostly clear with a low around 56. [NWS]
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The League of Women Voters of Arlington and Alexandria City will host Candidating for the general election on Sunday, Oct. 4, from 1:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. at Walter Reed Recreation Center, 2909 16th St. S.
The event gives Arlington residents the opportunity to speak directly with the candidates seeking county office this November.
