Experience the magic of the holiday season at this beloved event that has offered truly unique, handcrafted treasures for more than four decades. Find pottery, glass, jewelry, fashion accessories, woodwork, artisanal foods, and more from 80 exceptional regional artisans. Come discover the perfect gifts, treat yourself to lunch at the onsite café, and celebrate the spirit of the season with us! A juried show since 1982.
• FREE parking | 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean, VA 22101
• Proceeds support the NVHG Scholarship Program for college art students
• Tote bags will be given to the first 200 attendees each day
A Metrobus makes its way down Columbia Pike (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
A County Board member is urging caution around a possible increase in the cost of riding Metrobus.
With Metrobus ridership down across Northern Virginia and the broader region, Metro officials need to be “very, very careful about raising fares right now in the current environment,” County Board member Takis Karantonis said at a Nov. 5 meeting of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC).
For Alexander Torres, the dream of owning a restaurant didn’t begin with a grand opening. It began with years spent working in other people’s kitchens, learning the business one shift, one challenge and one meal at a time.
Now, Torres is putting that experience to work for himself as the owner of El Alfa Taqueria Food Truck, where his long-term dream is taking shape one customer at a time.
Since opening in March, El Alfa Taqueria has been serving tacos, pupusas, quesadillas and other scratch-made favorites from its location in Ballston. But for Torres, what makes the business special isn’t just what comes out of the kitchen. It’s what happens at the window.
Regular customers return often enough that conversations have moved well beyond their usual orders.
“One of my favorite parts of owning the food truck has been getting to know our regular customers. Over time, we’ve learned more than just their usual orders. We know their interests, their dreams and the things that matter to them. That connection means a lot to us.”
It’s the kind of connection Torres hoped to create when he decided to turn years of restaurant experience into a business of his own.
“My mentor has truly been my own experience,” he said. “After many years in the restaurant industry, I’ve learned from every kitchen, every challenge, and every skill I picked up along the way.”
Building a business where home is
Choosing Arlington was an easy decision for Torres. This isn’t simply where he does business. It’s the community where he and his family have built their lives.
“I chose Arlington because it’s home,” he said. “I’ve lived here for many years, and both of my baby girls were born and raised here.”
Family remains at the center of El Alfa Taqueria. Torres credits his wife as his greatest partner, both in the business and outside of it.
And like many entrepreneurs’ entering Arlington’s busy dining scene, Torres knows that good food alone isn’t enough. With customers having plenty of choices, he believes El Alfa Taqueria can distinguish itself through the combination of quality food and genuine hospitality that turns first-time visitors into regulars.
The food truck is just the beginning
Torres isn’t finished dreaming.
His long-term goal is to open a restaurant of his own, with the food truck serving as an important first chapter in that story.
“In five years, I hope to see El Alfa Taqueria continuing to grow and connect with every person in Arlington and beyond,” he said.
For now, every taco served and every returning customer brings Torres a little closer to that goal.
And perhaps that’s the best measure of success for a neighborhood business: not simply how much it grows, but how many people keep coming back.
El Alfa Taqueria Food Truck is located at 2111 Wilson Blvd. in Arlington. Follow El Alfa Taqueria on Facebook and @elalfataqueriafoodtruck on Instagram for menu offerings and location updates.
Local entrepreneurs interested in starting or growing a business in Arlington can learn more about Arlington Economic Development’s BizLaunch program at BizLaunch.
Arlington voter checks in to vote at Innovation Elementary School in Lyon Village (staff photo by Ryan Cole)
An advocacy organization is asking county leaders to consider ending the use of schools as polling places.
In an Oct. 29 letter to County Board members, Arlington Parents for Education (APE) said finding alternative sites would allow students to go to school on election days. Current School Board policy is generally to hold a teacher workday or close its facilities, including those not being used as polling places, for elections.
When I moved back to Northern Virginia, I ran into something a lot of grown men recognize: making guy friends takes more effort than it used to. My old social circle had scattered, and I wanted a few people nearby to grab a drink with, get outside, and hang out with regularly.
I had an idea that small groups and consistent plans could make that easier, so I started bringing a few guys together right here in Arlington. Those first members helped turn a small experiment into Choros, a local community and app built specifically around helping guys form a solid crew.
Road and sidewalk conditions near Wakefield High School (courtesy Julia Itani)
Arlington’s Pedestrian Advisory Committee plans to press local leaders on keeping crosswalks free of snow this winter.
The concern centers on plows piling snow in curb cuts where sidewalks meet crosswalks. Those mounds, if not removed immediately, can linger for weeks and make neighborhoods much harder to navigate on foot.
Northern Virginia Fairfax Families for Safe Streets (NoVA FSS) cordially invites you to attend and support our upcoming World Day of Remembrance (WDoR) for Road Traffic Victims.
World Day of Remembrance is an annual event where we honor those whose lives were prematurely ended after being struck by a person driving. This year is particularly painful and sad as we think about the recent death of a 13-year-old Frost middle school student who was struck and killed by a person driving a truck on Pickett Road. We will also honor the nearly 30 other people (as of today’s date) who have been killed on Northern Virginia streets while, walking, biking, or rolling since last year’s day of remembrance.
Fall colors in the Old Glebe neighborhood (staff photo)
Gunfire Arrest Caught on Video — Traffic camera video shows police pulling over the vehicle of an Arlington man who was arrested Saturday after gunfire was reported at four locations in North Arlington. No one was hurt, and police say the man, 39, was involved in an “ongoing dispute with a known individual.” [Dave Statter/X]
Fire Chief to Fill Vacancy Temporarily — County Fire Chief David Povlitz has been appointed as acting Deputy County Manager for Public Safety and Technology Services, county officials have confirmed to ARLnow. He is taking the place of Aaron Miller, who was loaned to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments to work on emergency-preparedness issues. In addition, Assistant Fire Chief Jason Jenkins will step into the role of acting fire chief while Povlitz is serving as a deputy county manager. —Scott McCaffrey
Leaf Vacuuming Starts Today — Arlington’s fall vacuum leaf collection begins today (Monday) and runs Monday through Saturday until the end of November, with a second pass in December. Collection is staggered by civic association, so look for yellow neighborhood signs posted three to seven days before each pass. [Arlington County, ARLnow]
Ballston Tower Stake Sold — “JBG Smith Properties has sold a majority stake in a Ballston office tower it developed more than a decade ago, the company announced in its third-quarter earnings released Friday morning.” The 306,200-square-foot tower at 800 N. Glebe Road, a $123 million project when it was built in 2012, is now valued at $79 million. [WBJ]
Neighbors Troll Trump Official — A traffic control box in South Arlington was tagged with the message “Suck it Russ” after last week’s midterms. A user who posted photos described it as a message to White House budget director (and Arlington resident) Russ Vought from his neighbors, placed where he’d see it coming and going. [Bluesky]
Falls Church Veterans Day Plans — The City of Falls Church will hold its annual Veterans Day ceremony Wednesday at 11 a.m. outside the Community Center (223 Little Falls Street). City Hall and Mary Riley Styles Public Library will be closed for the holiday, while the Community Center will be open 8 a.m.-10 p.m. [City of Falls Church]
Arch Plans Include Sniper Nest — A new White House website for the planned 250-foot arch between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery says its “massive columns will be storage for munitions,” with areas “set aside for snipers, countersnipers, and provisions for a sniper nest.” Construction is on hold under a court order, and Rep. Don Beyer (D) will use Democrats’ control of appropriations next year to “step in,” a spokesman said. [NBC 4]
Golf Course Closure Fight — “The preservation groups seeking to halt President Donald Trump’s overhaul of East Potomac Golf Links asked a federal judge on Thursday to block the administration from closing the course and surrounding parkland as planned on Nov. 15…” A hearing is set for Friday. The closure would also shut Ohio Drive, popular with runners and cyclists. [Washington Post]
Metro Eyes Fare Hikes, Cuts — Metro General Manager Randy Clarke said he is considering proposing both service cuts and a bigger fare increase than previously reported to close a budget deficit. “You’ve got to go fairly deep on service cuts to get actual savings,” Clarke said. Specifics will come in his proposed budget in December. [WJLA]
Marriage Vote Comes Full Circle — “Old Dominion voters have pulled off a true political one-eighty, approving same-sex marriage by virtually the same margin by which they banned it 20 years ago. (It was 57.1 to 42.9 in 2006, and 57.5 to 42.5 last week, according to unofficial results.)” [Washington Post]
Minimum Wage Rising in January — “Virginia’s state minimum wage is currently $12.77 an hour. That will increase to $13.75 in 2027 and $15 in 2028 under the bill. After that, the wage would increase alongside inflation.” Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed the bill in April. [NBC 4]
Foliage Hits Peak — “Over the past week, fall foliage reached its colorful peak across much of the DC area. Arriving a few days to a week later than usual because of prolonged warmth, the display has been impressive nonetheless.” Among the 15 photos: Four Mile Run at Glencarlyn Park. [Capital Weather]
It’s Monday — Expect sunny skies today with a high near 62 and northwest winds of 10–25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Tonight will be mostly clear with a low around 39. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.
Arlington police have arrested a man suspected of firing a gun at four locations across North Arlington late Friday night and early Saturday morning.
Eric Schaefer, 39, of Arlington, is charged with three counts of reckless handling of a firearm and three counts of discharging a firearm in a public place, according to an ACPD press release. He is being held without bond.
FILE - White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, left, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles listen during a meeting with President Donald Trump and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, June 16, 2025, in Kananaskis, Canada. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
Former Arlington resident Stephen Miller is President Donald Trump’s pick for White House chief of staff, and Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) says the news is cause for tears.
Beyer learned of Miller’s promotion during a live interview on BBC Newsnight today (Friday). Asked what it meant, he replied, “It means I’m going to go cry for the next half hour.”
The NOVA Guide has launched, giving Arlington residents a new source for local news, upcoming events, business openings, and things to do close to home.
The website covers news, businesses, and life across Northern Virginia, with a dedicated Arlington page that brings local stories and guides together. Readers can browse upcoming events, explore business features, check out Top Picks lists, and discover ideas for their next free afternoon or weekend outing.
