Author: ARLnow.com

Ruthie’s Opening Fairfax Location — Popular Arlington eatery Ruthie’s All Day has picked Fairfax Corner for its second location. Ruthie’s will move into a space at 11951 Grand Commons Avenue, the company announced Thursday. The new restaurant, which follows the elevated comfort food spot’s well-regarded first location in the Arlington Heights neighborhood, is expected to open in fall 2025. [FFXnow]

Mail Ballot Deadline — From Arlington’s elections office: “Have you made a plan to vote yet?! The deadline to request a mail ballot is [today], 10/25 at 5pm and the last day to vote early is Saturday, 11/2! Make a plan today!” [Instagram]

Arlington’s Voting Machine History — “By the 1930s, ‘essentially all of the nation’s larger urban centers had adopted lever voting machines,’ Jones writes. Virginia, being Virginia, was a bit slower to adopt this technology. A news story in the Northern Virginia Sun in 1940 reports that Arlington County Democrats were debating whether the machines were too expensive. Arlington eventually decided they weren’t. The first use of voting machines in Virginia apparently came in Arlington on Aug. 1, 1950, in a primary election.” [Cardinal News]

Traffic Stop Drug Bust Near Clarendon — “At approximately 9:41 p.m. on October 23, a patrol officer observed a vehicle displaying an improper registration and conducted a traffic stop. During an inventory search of the vehicle prior to towing, officers recovered suspected narcotics including cocaine, amphetamine/methamphetamine and a large quantity of marijuana, drug packaging/distribution materials, and a large sum of cash.” [ACPD]

I-395 Crash on Camera — From Dave Statter: “Another left turn on I-395S at Exit 8C to Crystal City ends with a crash. It doesn’t happen as frequently thanks to @VaDOTNOVA’s fixes but lots of drivers still do squirelly things to avoid missing the exit. Early indication that there were no serious injuries.” [Twitter]

Beyer Hopeful for Lee Name Removal — Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) on Monday told the Arlington NAACP he believes legislation removing Robert E. Lee’s name from Arlington House ultimately will succeed, even if they prove unsuccessful this year. “When Kamala [Harris] wins, we’re going to pass it,” Beyer said of the effort, which has picked up 120 cosponsors (all Democrats) but will have to start from scratch when the new Congress convenes in January. —Scott McCaffrey

Warner, Kaine Want More Work Visas — “U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD), Angus King (I-ME), and a bipartisan group of colleagues in urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) to release the maximum number of Congressionally-authorized H-2B visas for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025.” [Press Release]

‘International Showcase’ This Weekend — From a PR rep:  “This Saturday from 1 – 5 p.m., Fashion Centre at Pentagon City is slated to host its annual Mosaic International Showcase… The event will highlight representatives from Bavaria (Germany and Austria), Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mongolia and more. Families are invited to the mall’s Metro Level to experience a celebration of culture with each country providing its own traditional entertainment, music and dances and food sampling.” [Simon]

Training for the Next MCM — “Thousands of first-time racers will take to the starting line Sunday at this year’s Marine Corps Marathon in Arlington, Virginia. If you would like to take on the challenge, one day, a running coach and MCM veteran has advice on how to prepare for your first 26.2-mile race.” [WTOP]

It’s Friday — Expect sunshine and a high temperature around 68 degrees alongside light and variable winds turning southwest at around 6 mph in the afternoon. Friday night will be partly cloudy, with lows near 54 degrees. [NWS]

Cemetery Records on Trump Incident — “The US Army has been ordered by a federal judge to release records related to former President Donald Trump’s controversial August visit to Arlington National Cemetery by Friday at the latest… The expedited release is a result of a lawsuit by American Oversight, a non-partisan watchdog nonprofit advocating for the release of government records. The group submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for any records relating to interactions between Trump campaign staff and the employee.” [WTOP]

Boeing Strike Continues — “Boeing factory workers voted Wednesday to reject the company’s latest contract offer and to continue a six-week strike that has halted production of the aerospace giant’s bestselling jetliners.” Boeing has its headquarters in Crystal City. [Associated Press]

Rollover Crash Caught on Camera — From Dave Statter: “Yesterday’s crash at Spout Run & Langston reminds us, once again, that many of today’s vehicles don’t need a lot to make them go belly up.” [Twitter]

Pink-Clad Thief Exposes Self — “Police are searching for a theft suspect wearing a pink hat and jacket who exposed himself Tuesday afternoon at a Virginia Square business. Arlington County Police responded around 3:35 p.m. to the report of a theft that had just happened in the 3500 block of Wilson Boulevard. Officers determined … the man exposed himself, grabbed some merchandise and left the store without paying.” [Patch]

Metal Chain Used as Weapon — “At approximately 4:00 p.m. on October 19, the male victim engaged the male suspect, who is an acquaintance, in conversation during which the suspect became confrontational. The suspect then briefly left the scene before returning with a metal chain. The suspect then struck the victim with the chain and physically assaulted him before subsequently fleeing the scene on foot. The victim sustained minor injuries.” [ACPD]

Beyer ‘Disappointed’ in Mideast Response — At an Arlington NAACP candidate forum held Monday, Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) said he disagreed with President Joe Biden’s approach to the ongoing Mideast conflict. “I’ve been very disappointed in the light touch he’s used,” Beyer said, while also criticizing Israel leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who “doesn’t pay any attention to what we think,” Beyer said. —Scott McCaffrey

Restaurant Week Was a Record-Breaker — With a total of 73 venues taking part, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce’s Arlington Restaurant Week broke a participation record. The event, held Oct. 14-21 and now in its sixth year, spotlighted restaurants ranging from fast-casual to haute cuisine. “It’s vital that we support them to ensure they thrive,” Arlington Chamber president/CEO Kate Bates said. [Arlington Chamber of Commerce]

Complaints About Screaming in Courthouse — “There’s a homeless man that gets drunk and screeches at the top of his lungs for hours in this courtyard near my apartment. He sits on a bench behind a bus stop across from sushi rock. Like 16th st N and North Scott street. He’s been doing it every other day for the past two weeks and I’m going insane.” [Reddit]

More on Arlington Transportation Plan — “Much of transportation policy pertains to the question of how to divide up a limited resource–the public right-of-way, or the road? This is the question that Arlington County will tackle over the next 18 months as we rewrite our Master Transportation Plan. This public engagement process is getting the top-shelf treatment in public engagement — the full ‘Arlington Way’ — so it even has its own branding.” [Greater Greater Washington]

It’s Thursday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 65 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 14 to 16 mph and gusts reaching up to 25 mph. As for Thursday night, it will be clear with a low temperature around 43 degrees, and a northwest wind at 5 to 7 mph. [NWS]

Equality Group ‘Concerned’ About Candidate — “Equality Arlington is concerned by recent statements from Arlington School Board candidate, James ‘Vell’ Rives, regarding his anti-LGBTQ+ policy positions. In Rives’s responses to a questionnaire from parents of transgender, nonbinary, and gender expansive students in Arlington Public Schools (APS), Rives repeatedly states that APS should follow the Youngkin Administration’s 2023 Model Policies.” [Equality Arlington]

CNN Talks to Arlington GOP — “Matthew Hurtt, the chairman of Virginia-based Arlington County Republican Committee, said he has fielded more than 200 calls and emails from frustrated donors located all over the country… Hurtt is not affiliated with WinRed, but said he receives the angry inquiries because WinRed is registered in Arlington, so charges made through the platform can sometimes show up with ‘Arlington’ on credit card statements.” [CNN]

Arlington NAACP Taps Incoming President — Rev. DeLishia Davis, senior pastor at Calloway United Methodist Church, will serve as president of the Arlington NAACP for 2025-26. She was the lone candidate for the post to emerge from the nomination process, with a formal vote slated for November. Rev. Davis will succeed Michael Hemminger, who has led the civil-rights organization since early 2023. –Scott McCaffrey

Keeping Eye on GW Parkway Trees — Arlington’s County Board chair said Tuesday that local leaders will maintain vigilance to ensure that recent cutting of mature trees along the George Washington Memorial Parkway does not resume without sufficient safeguards in place. “We just have to stay on top of it,” Libby Garvey said of interactions with National Park Service counterparts. –Scott McCaffrey

Honor for ACPD Sergeant — “Congratulations Sergeant Smithgall, an [International Association of Chiefs of Police] 40 Under 40 Awardee! This award recognizes rising leaders around the globe under the age of 40 in the policing profession, exemplifying leadership, dedication, and service to their communities.” [Twitter]

Nonprofit Director Profiled — “It’s hard to imagine anyone more fulfilled professionally or as a community member than Patti Klein, executive director of Rebuilding Together-AFF.org (RT-AFF), the ‘AFF’ referring to Arlington, Fairfax and Falls Church.  Since 1996, Klein has served on the staff … of the nonprofit that ‘makes critical repairs at no charge for low-income homeowners and nonprofit organizations’ to ensure ‘safe and healthy’ living environments and ‘help seniors age in place.'” [Falls Church Independent]

Local Rainless Streak — “With a forecast for clear skies and dry weather through at least the next week, Washington is poised to clinch one of its longest streaks without measurable rain on record. The rainless streak hit 20 days Tuesday and will probably become one of the 10 longest ever observed.” [Capital Weather Gang]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies and a high of around 79 degrees with a south wind at 5 to 8 mph. As for Wednesday night, it will be mostly clear with a low near 54 degrees. The southwest wind will be blowing at 6 to 13 mph, transitioning to a northwest direction after midnight. [NWS]