News

As she mulls over her own political future, Arlington’s senior state senator is seeking to help Democrats pick up seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Despite the Democratic redistricting map being overturned by the Virginia Supreme Court, Sen. Barbara Favola (D-40) believes her party has a chance in November to flip several of the five Virginia congressional seats currently held by Republicans.


Around Town

After about a year of preparations, a Nashville-inspired burgers-and-fries franchise is seeking to open soon in the Buckingham neighborhood.

Nash & Smashed aims to open next month at 310 N. Glebe Road, serving up hot chicken, sandwiches and smash burgers, Chief Operating Officer Lamaan Malik told ARLnow. The restaurant, which replaces a former Boost Mobile, will have seating for 25 guests and will stay open late throughout the week.


Opinion

Arlington’s title companies handle everything from title searches and insurance to settlement services, protecting your interests and guiding you through the closing process with professionalism.

Here are the nominees for “Best Title Company in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your favorite title company? Write it in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for Best Real Estate Agent for Sellers in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Moving Company Serving Arlington. The results are now official:

  1. Square Cow Movers (tied)
  2. Bookstore Movers (tied)
  3. Town & Country Movers

Event

Join us for a delightful Sunday afternoon at the BlackRock Center for the Arts as Cruise Planners Beth & Rod present a special travel-inspired matinee featuring the beloved film Under the Tuscan Sun.

Date & Time: Sunday, May 31 | 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM


News

A Ballston-based defense technology firm is investing $19 million to expand its Arlington headquarters and add 210 jobs, doubling its Virginia workforce.

Innovative Defense Technologies, headquartered at 4401 Wilson Blvd, develops automated software tools that help U.S. military programs integrate, test and field new systems faster. The expansion was announced today by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D), who approved an $800,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to help Arlington land the project.


Sports

Jimmy Carrasquillo continues to establish himself as the most accomplished public-school soccer coach in Arlington.

The longtime coach of the Washington-Liberty Generals boys team recently earned his 300th career victory. The breakthrough came May 19, when the host Generals blanked the Marshall Statesmen, 5-0, in a Liberty District tournament-semifinal match.


News

The Arlington Chamber of Commerce on May 19 celebrated businesses and organizations that combine organizational success with a commitment to the broader community.

The 40th annual Best Business Awards drew 250 local leaders to Army Navy Country Club for “the premier celebration of businesses of all sizes in Arlington,” Chamber president/CEO Kate Bates said.


News

Reagan National Airport’s parking crunch has become a little less challenging as the busy summer travel season arrives.

More than 600 new spaces became available this week, part of a parking expansion in the airport’s economy lot.


News
Dark clouds over the twin towers in Rosslyn (courtesy George Brazier)

Nissinen to Lead AED — Arlington County has named Anna Nissinen as Chief Economic Development Officer and Director of Arlington Economic Development, effective June 29. “She brings a combination of global economic development experience in the region, strategic vision, collaborative leadership, and a deep understanding of how innovation economies evolve that will help propel Arlington forward,” County Manager Mark Schwartz said. Nissinen is currently a senior vice president at the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. [Arlington County, WBJ]

Ballston-Based AvalonBay Merging — “Apartment owners AvalonBay Communities and Equity Residential have agreed to a merger, creating a multifamily real-estate giant worth more than $50 billion.” Under the deal, AvalonBay shareholders will own a little more than 51% of the combined entity, which will hold more than 180,000 rental apartments. [WSJ, Multifamily Dive, CNBC]

Cape Opens Rosslyn HQ — “Fresh off raising $100 million, Arlington mobile carrier startup Cape has established a stand-alone headquarters after operating out of a WeWork in Rosslyn since its launch in 2022.” Cape inked a nearly 13,000-square-foot lease in Arlington Tower, two blocks from the Rosslyn Metro station, and plans to double its workforce to 200 people by year-end. [WBJ]

Courthouse Startup Lands $43M — “Arlington startup Quartermaster AI Inc. wants to make the world’s ships easier to spot and track, and investors are taking note.” The Courthouse-based company has developed SmartMast — a combination of cameras and radios installed on a ship’s mast that produces data on vessel activity, weather changes and ocean anomalies. Investors including First Round Capital and Quiet Capital participated in the Series A round. [WBJ]

Flags In at ANC — Nearly 1,500 Old Guard soldiers placed an American flag at every headstone at Arlington National Cemetery yesterday morning — more than 260,000 in all — to mark the start of Memorial Day weekend. “The Old Guard has done this every year since 1948. Each flag is placed exactly one boot length from the headstone. They finish in under four hours.” [Military.com, Stripes, ArlingtonNatl/X]

Flower Volunteers Needed — “The Memorial Day Flowers Foundation will bring 200,000 flowers to Arlington National Cemetery to place on graves as a tribute to those who gave their lives to protect others.” The foundation is still seeking volunteers to help place flowers Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and again on Memorial Day. Sign up at MemorialDayFlowers.org. [WUSA9]

Mini Grant Apps Open — “Arlington County’s Neighborhood Mini Grant (NMG) Program is now accepting applications through Friday, July 17, 2026. The program’s goals are to provide Arlington neighborhoods with funding opportunities to encourage community building through a variety of activities, programs, events, and projects that promote racial equity, diversity, and inclusion.” Maximum grant amount is $1,000. [Arlington County]

Reads Set in Arlington — Northern Virginia Magazine rounded up six books that use Arlington “as more than a backdrop, whether it’s a staycation guide, a neighborhood history, or a crime novel.” The list includes Charlie Clark’s “Arlington County Chronicles,” Kim A. O’Connell’s “Echoes of Little Saigon,” Mark de Castrique’s mystery “Secret Lives,” and Ann Patchett’s novel “Commonwealth.” [N. Va. Magazine]

Falls Church Housing Plans — Falls Church City Council is weighing three scenarios for affordable housing at the 4-acre Virginia Village site on S. Maple Street, ranging from refurbishing 40 existing units to building upwards of 100 new units in three to seven stories. The council is aiming to issue a request for proposal by the end of next week. [Falls Church News-Press]

Beyer Hails Housing Bill — “This bill is a big win for everyone who wants to make housing more affordable… Housing costs in particular are high on the list of the most important challenges affecting my Northern Virginia constituents, and I’m thrilled to see this bill advance,” Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) said of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. The bill passed the House 396-13 and now returns to the Senate. [Rep. Don Beyer/X, Press Release]

Safe Swimming Pledge — “After pool drownings of children 5 and under reached a five-year high last year in Virginia, state health officials are urging families to take a ‘safe swimming pledge’ as pools open for the season.” There were 12 accidental drownings of children 5 and under in Virginia in 2025 — more than the nine reported across the prior three years combined. [ALXnow]

It’s Friday — Expect periods of light rain throughout the day with cloudy skies, a high near 62 and a northeast wind of 9 to 14 mph gusting as high as 18 mph. Rain continues into the night with a low around 51. [NWS]