Launched in January 2010, ARLnow.com is the place for the latest news, views and things to do around Arlington, Virginia. The ARLnow staff byline is used for the Morning Notes and reporting done by an editor or other member of our full-time staff.
Yorktown student/athletes (courtesy of Yorktown athletics)
A total of 32 student/athletes from Yorktown High School recently participated in a college commitment and signing ceremony to play their particular sports at the next level.
Members of the Class of 2025 made their choices known in 14 different sports. Additional Yorktown athletes will announce their choices in coming weeks.
Flags blowing in the wind at Arlington County government headquarters (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Get ready for a windy and wild Sunday.
After a rain start to the weekend, winds are expected to whip up with the arrival of a cold front. Sustained winds up to 30 mph and gusts up to 60 mph, combined with the soggy conditions, could fell trees and large branches.
There is a slight chance of rain and snow before 1pm, followed by rain and possible sleet between 1pm and 4pm, with ongoing rain after 4pm and a high near 38°F. South wind speeds will range between 6 and 9 mph, and there’s a 100% chance of precipitation. Accumulation of new snow and sleet may be less than half an inch. For Saturday night, rain is expected mainly before 1am with temperatures around 37°F and south winds at 5 to 7 mph. Precipitation has a 100% chance with amounts between half and three-quarters of an inch possible. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.” – Maya Angelou
We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋
Arlington’s real estate market reflects the broader community — it’s diverse, dynamic, and never boring.
This weekend’s local open houses offer a snapshot of Arlington’s wide variety real estate offerings, from affordable condos to multi-million dollar homes. One highlight: a house in Maywood with wood flooring, a heated basement and large back yard with garden views.
Winter isn’t over yet and the cold weather can dry out your skin, but Arlington is filled with plenty of options to get your face glowing.
Here are the top spots for “Best Place to Get a Facial in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards. These spots are sure to have you looking fresh faced and rejuvenated. Your favorite place not listed? Write it in!
Don’t wait to vote as polls will close in two weeks.
Voting for Best Happy Hour Spot in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on Best Arlington date idea. The results are now official:
An ant makes a treacherous journey through an expanse of snow in Arlington earlier this week (staff photo)
Gravelly Point Back Open — “Update: Gravelly Point and the Mount Vernon Trail have reopened.” The trail and popular plane watching spot closed in the aftermath of last month’s deadly midair crash, to allow first responders and recovery operations to stage in the Gravelly Point parking lot. [U.S. Park Police/X]
Local Funding Freeze Impact — “Public safety programs that work to reduce recidivism and help victims of violence will be threatened by the Trump Administration’s efforts to freeze federal grants and loans, according to Arlington’s top prosecutor.” [Patch]
Bus Picks Up Dogs for Fitness Sessions — “Two local entrepreneurs have joined forces on a new venture that’s really for the dogs—Club Canine Cardio at Snouts & Stouts. The doggie daycare program brings fitness sessions for furry friends to the lower level of Snouts & Stouts, an 11,000-square-foot indoor dog park with a restaurant and bar in Shirlington.” [Arlington Magazine]
New Recognition for Marymount — “Marymount University has reached a significant milestone in its Strategic Plan trajectory as it has been designated a Research University for 2025 by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation. This recognition reflects the institution’s commitment to advancing knowledge, fostering innovation and addressing pressing societal challenges through impactful research initiatives.” [Press Release]
Police Hosting Summer Camps — “The Arlington County Police Department is committed to working proactively with Arlington youth and is excited to offer fun and educational youth camp opportunities during Summer 2025. Applications for the following camps close on Sunday, May 4 at 11:59 p.m. The application to each of these camps may close earlier if all spots are filled before the deadline.” [ACPD]
GW Parkway Bill Fails — “A bill in Virginia that would allow state and local police departments to enforce traffic laws on the federally owned George Washington Memorial Parkway failed to advance in Richmond. Senate Bill 776, introduced by Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax County) passed the Senate before it crossed over to the House.” [WUSA 9]
F.C. Paper Takes on Trump — “Just like the City of Falls Church, this newspaper is unapologetically both “woke,” pro-DEI, and resolved to remain vigilant in the protection of the values those terms represent as we stare at the menacing forces that are now emanating from across the Potomac.” [FCNP]
No Tysons Casino for Now — “Lawmakers deciding on a controversial bill to develop a casino and entertainment complex in Tysons Corner tabled a decision Wednesday… Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell’s Senate Bill 982 would have added Fairfax County to the list of Virginia localities eligible to develop a casino that backers say would bring jobs and revenue for the county and commonwealth.” [FFXnow]
Snow Possible Next Week — “Models… are fairly consistent in showing the potential for a more wintry storm around Wednesday or Thursday next week. Most models show some key ingredients for a snowstorm in our region.” [CWG]
It’s Friday — Expect sunny skies and a high around 38 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind ranging from 8 to 13 mph, and gusts reaching up to 21 mph. On Friday night clouds will increase as temperatures drop to around 27 degrees, with initially calm winds picking up to 5 mph from the southeast after midnight. [NWS]
Expect sunny skies and a high around 38 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind ranging from 8 to 13 mph, and gusts reaching up to 21 mph. Moving into Friday night, clouds will increase as temperatures drop to around 27 degrees, with initially calm winds picking up to 5mph from the southeast after midnight. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Runways Reopened at DCA — “Two runways were reopened at Reagan National Airport and a section of the Potomac River was restored Tuesday following a deadly midair collision last month, according to officials… In addition to the reopening of Runways 4/22 and 15/33, the Federal Aviation Administration has increased the hourly arrival rate to 28 aircraft for DCA. The regular maximum hourly arrival rate for Reagan Airport is 32.” [WTOP]
Beyer Laments Calls Spurred by Groups — “Members of the Steering and Policy Committee — with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) in the room — on Monday complained activist groups like MoveOn and Indivisible have facilitated thousands of phone calls to members’ offices… Some Democrats see the callers as barking up the wrong tree given their limited power as the minority party in Congress: “It’s been a constant theme of us saying, ‘Please call the Republicans,'” said Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.).” [Axios]
Governance-Change Measure Passes Senate — The Virginia Senate on Wednesday by a 21-18 vote passed a bill patroned by Del. Patrick Hope providing for referendums to change Arlington’s governance structure. But the Senate also attached a provision requiring the bill to again be passed in Richmond next year to become effective. That amendment now goes to the House of Delegates for consideration. —Scott McCaffrey
Spanish Immersion Daycare Opens — Tierra Encantada opened Monday, Feb. 10 at 131 Haycock Road in Falls Church and is accepting enrollments for its bilingual daycare and preschool programs. The organization has other locations nearby, in Ashton Heights and Alexandria. –Katie Taranto
‘Bridgerton’ Author Speaking Tonight — The Arlington Public Library will host New York Times-bestselling author Julia Quinn for a romance-themed conversation and audience Q&A tonight (Thursday). The TV adaptation of her Bridgerton novel series “remains one of the most-watched English television series in Netflix history,” an event description notes. The first-come, first-serve event starts at 5:30 p.m. at Kenmore Middle School. [Event]
Reminder: Valentine’s Day Ideas — “From fancy date nights to couple’s painting, there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Arlington and Falls Church. Whether you plan to celebrate solo or over a candlelit dinner for two, here are some ways to enjoy the day of love with local food, drink and events.” [ARLnow]
Arlington, F.C. Tots Options — “Tater tots are a great happy hour snack, an inventive side at dinner, and can be dolled up with sauces and toppings for a nacho-style dish. Here are a few of the best must-try tater tots in Northern Virginia — some classic and some with a twist!” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
License Plate Reader Bill — “As lawmakers seek to regulate use of automated license plate readers in Virginia, debates continue about how best to do so. Legislation faced a brief defeat in a Senate committee on Monday before being revived for further deliberation.” [Virginia Mercury]
It’s Thursday — Expect rain to subside before 10am, followed by increasingly sunny skies and a high of 52. South wind shifting to northwest at 6-13 mph and gusts up to 23 mph. 60% chance of precipitation, with under a tenth of an inch possible. For Thursday night, mostly clear, lows around 26, and northwest winds of 11-14 mph along with gusts up to 23 mph. [NWS]
Expect rain to subside before 10am, followed by increasingly sunny skies and a high of 52. South wind shifting to northwest at 6-13 mph and gusts up to 23 mph. 60% chance of precipitation, with under a tenth of an inch possible. For Thursday night, mostly clear, lows around 26, and northwest winds of 11-14 mph along with gusts up to 23 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
