Around Town

A longtime local retailer for tennis and pickleball goods is getting settled into its first brick-and-mortar space in Courthouse.

Capital Tennis & Pickleball is selling tennis rackets, pickleball paddles and shoes at 2200 Wilson Blvd, on a lease at the former Young’s Tailors dry cleaner.


Sponsored

This regularly scheduled column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. If you would like to work with Eli and his team in Northern Virginia and the greater D.C. Metro area, you can reach him directly at [email protected].

Question: What areas of Northern VA have the most and least expensive new construction homes?

Answer: The biggest and most expensive new builds in Northern VA are in Great Falls and Mclean. Prince William County offers the most affordability, along with the most house and land for your money.

The following data is based on MLS sales of new construction detached homes in Northern Virginia from 2025-June 1 2026.

Great Falls, Mclean, and Everybody Else

  • The small town of Middleburg is the only city with an average new home price over $3,000,000.
  • Dumfries and Bristow are the only Northern VA cities where the average new home costs less than $1,000,000
  • The average price for a new home in Vienna is $22,000 higher than Arlington

How Big Are New Homes?

  • Most new homes throughout Northern VA come in around 5,000-6,000 finished square feet
  • Mclean (8,450) and Great Falls (8,700) average nearly 2,000SF more than homes in Vienna, the city with the third largest average new home
  • Despite having significantly more room to build, homes in Loudoun County and Prince William County are constructed with a “modest” 4,800 finished SF
  • On average, 5,700 finished SF in Northern VA is filled with 5.4 bedrooms and 5.1 full bathrooms

If Yard and Privacy Matter the Most

  • The average new home in Prince William County sits on nearly 2.7 acres and provides new home buyers with the lowest cost per acre for a new home
  • Privacy in your new home is hard to come by in Arlington, Ashburn, Brambleton, Dumfries, and Bristow with average lot sizes under 0.2 acres
  • Great Falls (1.69) and Oakton (2.07) are the only jurisdictions within Fairfax County with an average lot size over one acre
  • In Northern VA, the average new home is built on 0.84 acres

(more…)


Sponsored

This regularly scheduled column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. If you would like to work with Eli and his team in Northern Virginia and the greater D.C. Metro area, you can reach him directly at [email protected].

Question: What areas of Northern VA have the most and least expensive new construction homes?

Answer: The biggest and most expensive new builds in Northern VA are in Great Falls and Mclean. Prince William County offers the most affordability, along with the most house and land for your money.

The following data is based on MLS sales of new construction detached homes in Northern Virginia from 2025-June 1 2026.

Great Falls, Mclean, and Everybody Else

  • The small town of Middleburg is the only city with an average new home price over $3,000,000.
  • Dumfries and Bristow are the only Northern VA cities where the average new home costs less than $1,000,000
  • The average price for a new home in Vienna is $22,000 higher than Arlington

How Big Are New Homes?

  • Most new homes throughout Northern VA come in around 5,000-6,000 finished square feet
  • Mclean (8,450) and Great Falls (8,700) average nearly 2,000SF more than homes in Vienna, the city with the third largest average new home
  • Despite having significantly more room to build, homes in Loudoun County and Prince William County are constructed with a “modest” 4,800 finished SF
  • On average, 5,700 finished SF in Northern VA is filled with 5.4 bedrooms and 5.1 full bathrooms

If Yard and Privacy Matter the Most

  • The average new home in Prince William County sits on nearly 2.7 acres and provides new home buyers with the lowest cost per acre for a new home
  • Privacy in your new home is hard to come by in Arlington, Ashburn, Brambleton, Dumfries, and Bristow with average lot sizes under 0.2 acres
  • Great Falls (1.69) and Oakton (2.07) are the only jurisdictions within Fairfax County with an average lot size over one acre
  • In Northern VA, the average new home is built on 0.84 acres

(more…)


News

Two exhibits relating to Native American history are back on display at Gulf Branch Nature Center, six years after being removed for rehabilitation.

The exhibits were removed in 2020 “after years of natural aging and exposure of the organic items and signage on display,” said Jerusalem Solomon, communications/engagement manager for the Department of Parks and Recreation.


News

The new commander of an Arlington Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post wants to maintain what is working well while expanding the organization’s footprint in broader civic life.

During a Memorial Day open house, Fritz Gottschalk succeeded Mike Cantwell as commander of John Lyon VFW Post 3150.


Event

Equality Arlington and the National Landing BID are co-sponsoring a LGBTQ+ movie screening on Saturday, June 6 beginning at 3 PM at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema followed by a Pride Month Party at National Landing Water Park from 6-9 PM. Both events are free and first come, first serve (although we encourage you to RSVP to help us prepare) and open to all. Learn more at equalityarlington.org/events.

Saturday, June 6th: 3 PM – 5:20 PM – Screening of “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar” at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Crystal City (1660 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202).


Schools

Arlington school leaders have more work to do in sketching out how they might use public-private partnerships to construct new facilities in an era of fiscal constraints.

Superintendent Francisco Durán’s proposed fiscal 2027-36 capital improvement plan, unveiled May 14, makes reference to potential future partnerships to help defray costs of constructing and maintaining new facilities.


News
Birds feeling peckish outside Weenie Beenie in Green Valley (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

Hurricane Season Begins — The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through Nov. 30, and Arlington County is urging residents to prepare. “Hurricane preparedness starts long before a storm is in the forecast,” said the county’s emergency management director. [Arlington County]

Input Sought on Legislation — The Arlington County Board is seeking resident input to help shape next year’s legislative package for the Virginia General Assembly. A feedback form is open through July 31. [Arlington County]

Swanson Response Questioned — A two-day police presence at Swanson Middle School in late April is renewing scrutiny over how the school discloses incidents to families. The principal described the April 29-30 calls as “separate non-emergency calls” and said everyone was safe, but has declined to explain what prompted the multi-day response. [EdNews Virginia]

Rabid Raccoon in Potomac Yard — “After a raccoon that later tested positive for rabies came into contact with a dog and its owner in Potomac Yard, the Alexandria Health Department is urging caution around wildlife.” The aggressive raccoon made contact near E. Glebe Road on May 23. [ALXnow]

Spanberger Vetoes Draw Fire — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) has vetoed 31 bills passed by the Democratic-majority General Assembly, an unusually high number that has angered members of her own party. But Sen. Barbara Favola (D-Arlington) defended her: “A lot of the criticism is a bit unfair.” [Washington Post]

Pentagon Bars Press Office — The Defense Department has designated its press office a classified space and banned journalists from the room where they once met with public affairs officers. The Pentagon said the move followed speechwriters who “routinely handle classified material” relocating into the office. [Washington Post]

Marriage Amendment Campaign — The Virginians for Marriage Equality coalition launched its statewide campaign in Richmond on Monday, the start of Pride Month, backing a November referendum that would permanently protect same-sex marriage in the state constitution. The measure would repeal Virginia’s dormant 2006 constitutional ban. [Virginia Mercury]

A Cool, Dry May — D.C. finished May 1.4 degrees cooler than normal, despite a record-early high of 97 on May 19. It was the fourth drier-than-average month in a row for the region. [Capital Weather]

It’s Tuesday — Expect a sunny day with a high near 76 and a northeast wind of 5–8 mph. Skies stay mostly clear overnight with a low around 57. [NWS]

Want more local news from around the region? Check out our newest sister site, WSHnow.


Around Town

Good Monday 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 — Jun 1, 2026.

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Tuesday’s forecast

Expect sunny skies with temperatures reaching a high of around 75°F and northeast winds blowing at 7 to 9 mph. Tuesday night will be mostly clear with a low temperature near 57°F and a gentle north wind. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”
– William James

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

Thanks for reading! If you have something to say about an issue of local note not covered today, feel free to post it as a letter to the editor on our new forum.


News

Numerous officers and a police helicopter searched the area around Glencarlyn Park early Monday morning after reports of gunshots being heard.

Despite the search, “there was no evidence recovered of shots being fired,” Arlington County police said today in a crime report.


Schools

A divided School Board last Thursday backed a 22% cut in the anticipated future cost of a renovation/expansion project at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, but left the door open to more discussion.

The 3-1 vote, with one abstention, reduces the cost estimate to $130 million, from an initial $168 million proposed by Superintendent Francisco Durán and staff.