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.
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 $2 million house in Alcova Heights with exceptional additions including an elevator and solar panels.
Love ramen? Arlington has some great spots to enjoy it.
Whether you’re a seasoned fan or graduating from making packets of noodles in your dorm room for the first time, these places offer some of the best ramen in town.
Check out the top picks for “Best Ramen Spot in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards, based on a mix of online reviews and ARLnow article views. Don’t see your favorite on the list? Feel free to write it in.
Voting closes in two weeks, so cast your vote and help highlight the best ramen spot in Arlington.
Don’t forget voting for Best Park in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote — or write in your own — before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on Arlington’s best new restaurant. The results are now official:
Rainy day in Rosslyn (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
More on Green Pig Plans — “Lewis acquired both restaurants within the past year, having paid $900,000 for the Green Pig in January, and $600,000 for Buena Vida in February, with the intent of making more modest improvements to boost their profitability. When the bistro’s landlord moved to triple rent from $32 per square foot to $60 per square foot, the solution was clear.” [WBJ]
County Board Race Fundraising — “As of Aug. 31, Spain’s political action committee received a total of $167,132 in donations, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, which tracks campaign finance in the state. By comparison, Independent candidate Audrey Clement reported receiving $13,066, Forward Party candidate Madison F. Granger raised $7,082 and Republican Juan Carlos Fierro brought in $1,241.” [Patch]
More Equity Grants — “Arlington County, in collaboration with the United Way of the National Capital Area, has continued funding for an equity-based grant program, “RACE to Rebuilding Trust & Community.” The program is designed to support local organizations’ efforts to address critical community needs.” [Arlington County]
Technology Awards for County — “Arlington was named the No. 1 County Overall in the nation by the Center for Digital Government for its 2024 Government Experience Award. Arlington also won the 2024 Commonwealth Technology Award from the Virginia IT Agency in the Innovative Use of Technology category for its Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) Document Search project launched earlier this year.” [Arlington County]
Speed Camera Update — “Speeding near some Arlington County public schools could cost drivers $100. Fines started Wednesday after the Arlington County Police Department installed 10 cameras in selected school zones last month… as of Sept. 23, the latest date available, warnings went out to just over 1,820 drivers.” [DC News Now]
Free Narcan in Arlington — “Thursday is ‘Save a Life Day’, a national campaign that started in West Virginia in 2020… ‘This year we are aiming to dispense over 101,000 boxes of Narcan across the country, as a whole,’ said Emily Siqveland, the Opioid Programs Manager for Arlington County. She told WUSA9 that this year, Arlington County is participating in the campaign for the first time.” [WUSA 9]
More on Green Energy Home — “Four decades ago, energy technology expert Scott Sklar decided to install solar-powered sump pumps in his Arlington, Virginia, home to keep his basement from flooding. Since then, he’s added solar panels and a wind turbine, turning his home into a clean, green, energy machine.” [WTOP]
More on GazetteLeader Acquisition — “We who toil in local newsgathering, and the business operation that supports it, have been on a wild ride over the past two decades. For our part, we can say without reservation or hesitation that the O’Rourke group is high-class and was a pleasure to work under. Departing the local market wasn’t an easy choice for them, but these things happen, and we wish our O’Rourke Media Group colleagues across the company (and country) the very best.” [GazetteLeader]
Trump Rally in Arlington — From the Arlington GOP: “Join WMAL’s Vince Coglianese and Arlington Republicans… Friday, September 27th… as we #TailgateTheVote for President Trump and our GOP candidates outside the Courthouse Early Voting site at 8am. Free coffee and donuts! Bring your yard signs, flags, and campaign swag!” [Twitter]
Nearby: Trump Car Rally — “Some local Donald Trump supporters will rev up their engines this Sunday (Sept. 29) as a display of enthusiasm for the Republican presidential nominee. Organized by activists from the D.C. area’s Vietnamese community… After meeting up, attendees will ultimately drive east to the Eden Center in Falls Church.” [FFXnow]
It’s Friday — Expect showers throughout the day, with patchy fog before 7am and possible thunderstorms after 5pm. The temperature will reach a high of 76°F, accompanied by east winds of 6-11 mph and gusts up to 23 mph. Tonight, showers and potential thunderstorms continue until 2am, while temperatures drop to around 70°F. Winds remain at 6-13 mph, gusting up to 22 mph. [NWS]
Expect showers throughout the day, with possible thunderstorms after 5pm and patchy fog before 7am. The temperature will reach a high of 76°F, accompanied by east winds of 6-11 mph and gusts up to 23 mph. Precipitation is likely at 70%, with rainfall amounts ranging from a tenth to a quarter of an inch. Tonight, showers and potential thunderstorms continue until 2am, while temperatures drop to around 70°F. Winds remain at 6-13 mph, gusting up to 22 mph, and an 80% chance of precipitation persists with comparable rainfall amounts. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Success is not in what you have, but who you are.” – Bo Bennett
Address:4524 40th Street N. Neighborhood: Golf Club Manor Type: 4 BR, 4 BA single-family detached — 3,000 sq. ft. Listed: $1,500,000
Noteworthy: Big 4 bedroom, 4 bath colonial on 12,000sf lot in Jamestown, Williamsburg, Yorktown
Fresh paint, gleaming wood floors on three levels, main level office or fifth bedroom, family room off updated kitchen, and lower level rec room with doors to patio. Recent updates — 2024: new deck off family room; 2023: new air conditioning, microwave, dishwasher; 2020: new double pane windows throughout the home and new sliding doors to deck, garage door, updated hall bath, new storm doors.
Deep garage opening directly to large kitchen, featuring light wood cabinets, granite tops, and stainless appliances. Access from both dining room and family room allows excellent flow for gatherings or daily living. Fireplaces in rec room and living room. Private backyard with mature trees and landscaping.
Easy access to Washington and Maryland via nearby Chain Bridge, good reverse commute to Tysons, Reston, Dulles Airport and tech corridor. Good commute to government, military, and business centers in Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church.
A pristine home awaits the buyer who values space, value, and location.
A duck on the Potomac River across from Rosslyn, fall 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Solidcore Sold — “The private equity owners of Solidcore Holdings LLC have reached a deal to sell the Arlington-based fitness chain to L Catterton, the private equity firm backed by luxury giant LVMH SE. Terms have not been disclosed, but Reuters reported the deal values Solidcore between $600 million and $700 million. Solidcore’s investors began exploring a sale of the Pilates chain in May.” [WBJ]
Chase Through Arlington — “The Alexandria Police Department said a suspect pursued by the Arlington County Police Department crashed at the intersection of N. Van Dorn Street and W. Braddock Road just off I-395 near Fort Ward. Scanner traffic indicated that the Arlington County Police Department was following up on D.C. police pursuit of a homicide suspect. The suspect drove over the 14th Street Bridge into Arlington on I-395.” [ALXnow, Twitter]
Closures for Clarendon Day — “The 2024 Clarendon Day will take place on Saturday, September 28, 2024, from approximately 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. The Arlington County Police Department will conduct the following road closures from approximately 3:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 28 to accommodate the event.” [ACPD]
Governance Task Force Considered — “Is a county-government task force the way to advance the ball down the field on proposed changes to the governance structure that has been in place in Arlington for nearly a century? That’s a request being made by the Arlington County Civic Federation. Whether county officials take the group up on its proposal remains to be seen.” [GazetteLeader]
VHC Launches New Podcast — “Coming soon, VHC Health and the Washington Business Journal will launch a new podcast called Living Well with Alison Starling. Join the former ABC 7News anchor and Emmy Award winner for exclusive conversations with health care advocates and experts on today’s most timely health topics.” [WBJ]
Senior Program Keeping Staff Busy — “An increase in community needs, coupled with staffing challenges, has led the Arlington Area Agency on Aging (AAAA) to cut back slightly on walk-up services for those seeking assistance from the county’s Aging & Disability Resource Center. Walk-ins are now curtailed on Fridays, ‘primarily to give staff time to catch up with their administrative duties.'” [GazettLeader]
Beyer Statement on Crime Stats — “According to the FBI’s release of 2023 hate crimes statistics, only 16,009 agencies out of out of 18,800 agencies nationwide participated in hate crimes data collection. The 2023 hate crimes statistics illustrate the urgent need to improve hate crimes reporting across the country.” [Press Release]
Nearby: Squirrel Befriends Gas Man — “Every day at the Exxon at 4001 Mount Vernon Avenue in Arlandria, attendant Ghulam Rabani has fed peanut M&Ms to a squirrel. ‘I see him every day,’ Rabani told ALXnow. ‘He loves the M&Ms. He’ll take them and hide them and then come back.'” [ALXnow]
Watching Hurricane Helene — “Helene should manage to send its remnant rains our way Friday into Friday night. There’s a chance of some thunderstorms, but the higher threat of severe weather and tornadoes will probably remain to the southwest of the D.C. area… It’s still early to predict rainfall totals with much confidence, but models suggest 0.75 to 2 inches is possible through Sunday night.” [Capital Weather Gang]
It’s Thursday — Expect showers and possible thunderstorms after 11am, with cloudy skies and a high of 79°F accompanied by a south wind at 7 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%. For Thursday night, there’s a 20% chance of showers, with otherwise cloudy conditions and a low around 69°F. [NWS]
Expect showers and possible thunderstorms after 11am, with cloudy skies and a high of 79°F accompanied by a south wind at 7 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%. For Thursday night, there’s a slight chance of showers, along with cloudy conditions and a low around 69°F. A southeast wind will blow at 3 to 5 mph, with a 20% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
Issues of the GazetteLeader newspaper (staff photo)
ARLnow’s parent company has acquired the GazetteLeader amid an expansion of local news coverage.
Arlington-based Local News Now acquired the newspaper’s assets, including its archives, from Arizona-based O’Rourke Media Group, which operates 50 local publications in more than three dozen markets across the U.S.
Rainy day in Rosslyn (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Energy Startup Moves to Arlington — “Dandelion Energy Inc. has raised $40 million in fresh funding for the national rollout of its geothermal systems that heat and cool single-family homes and multifamily housing… It also comes following the relocation of Dandelion’s headquarters from Mount Kisco, New York, to Arlington earlier this month… By year’s end, [CEO Dan Yates, who co-founded Arlington utility management provider Opower Inc.] plans to staff about 15 people at new offices at 1515 N. Courthouse Road.” [WBJ]
Food Waste Collection Pilot — “Arlington residents have answered the call to feed the green machines deployed to collect food scraps and food-soiled paper to divert them from trash bins. To date, more than 11,000 pounds of food waste has been collected since the launch of the Solid Waste Bureau’s pilot program in early July, which seeks to expand the County’s ability to compost food scraps and prevent waste.” [Arlington County]
Open House for Long Bridge Trail — “Learn about Arlington’s Long Bridge Drive Multimodal Connection Project, which aims to improve transportation for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. Attend the Concept Design Open House on Thursday, September 26, from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM.” [Twitter]
Latino Festival Friday Evening — “The Arlington County government will host the 2024 Festival Latinoamericano on Friday, Sept. 27 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Arlington Mill Community Center. The free event will feature delicious food, captivating performances and a warm community atmosphere, organizers said.” [GazetteLeader]
Beyer Introduces AI Bill — ” U.S. Representatives Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Don Beyer (VA-08) introduced the bicameral Secure Artificial Intelligence Act, legislation to enhance the monitoring and management of security and safety incidents and risks related to artificial intelligence.” [Press Release]
GMU Admission Pilot Program — “Some Northern Virginia seniors will be admitted to George Mason University without having to fill out an application, as part of a pilot program that aims to address the falling number of underrepresented students applying to college… At a school board meeting last week, Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Francisco Durán said students at Wakefield and Washington-Liberty High Schools, as well as the Arlington Career Center, will have access to the program.” [WTOP]
Old Post Chapel Temporarily Closed — From Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall: “Old Post Chapel will be closed until Nov. 9 for pipe organ restoration and audio upgrades.” [Twitter]
New F.C. Library Director — “Megan Dotzler has been hired as the new Library Director for Mary Riley Styles Public Library (MRSPL) in the City of Falls Church… Dotzler joins MRSPL from the Arlington Public Library in Arlington, Virginia, where she was head of Central Library youth services and before that branch manager for Arlington’s Aurora Hills location.” [City of Falls Church]
Whooping Cough Cases Rising — “The United States is seeing a rise in the number of whooping cough cases. Nationally in 2024, cases are nearly five times higher than the previous year. In Virginia, there have been 424 cases so far in 2024, compared with 72 in 2023 — an increase of 488 percent.” [Patch]
It’s Wednesday — Expect showers and possible thunderstorms today. Patchy fog may occur before noon. The day will otherwise be cloudy with a high near 73 and a southeast wind around 9 mph. There’s a 60% chance of precipitation, with new rainfall amounts ranging from a tenth to a quarter of an inch, or higher in thunderstorms. Wednesday night, there’s a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, with cloudy conditions, a low around 68, and a south wind at 7 mph. [NWS]
Expect showers and possible thunderstorms before 2pm, followed by a chance of more showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Patchy fog may occur between 7am and noon. The day will be cloudy with a high near 73 and a southeast wind around 9 mph. There’s a 60% chance of precipitation, with new rainfall amounts ranging from a tenth to a quarter of an inch, or higher in thunderstorms. Wednesday night, there’s a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, with cloudy conditions, a low around 68, and a south wind at 7 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“I can’t give you a sure-fire formula for success, but I can give you a formula for failure: try to please everybody all the time.” – Herbert Bayard Swope
Map of planned GW Parkway closure (via National Park Service)
Update on 9/27/24 — The lane closure for this weekend has been cancelled due to rain. From the National Park Service:
Due to inclement weather, the scheduled closure of the northbound lanes of the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) between Spout Run Parkway and Windy Run Bridge has been cancelled for this weekend. One northbound and southbound lane will remain open in each direction. Thank you for your patience as we continue rehabilitation.
