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.
Ayers Variety and Hardware, the Westover shop generations of Arlingtonians have relied on for the one screw, seed packet or odd gadget they couldn’t find anywhere else, is closing.
The family that has owned the store at 5853 Washington Blvd since 1977 announced the closing in social media posts earlier this afternoon (Sunday). Its lease ends July 31 and the doors will close for the last time “in a few weeks,” owners Kristy Peterkin and her brother, Keith, wrote.
Lightning from thunderstorm (photo courtesy James Mahony)
It’s going to be stormy, sweltering Fourth of July in Arlington and the D.C. area.
Amid an ongoing heat wave, strong storms are expected to form later today, potentially packing hail and damaging wind gusts up to 75 mph. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch was just issued and will be in effect until 10 p.m.
Fireworks over the National Mall, viewed near the US Marine Corps War Memorial in Rosslyn (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
The supersized July 4 fireworks display planned over the National Mall for America’s 250th should be spectacular, but it could also be worse than ever for pets and people with respiratory conditions.
Arlington’s air could turn “very unhealthy” this weekend as a result of the roughly 40-minute show, according to the Washington Post.
It will be sunny and hot with a high of 103 degrees and a heat index up to 110. There will be a west wind at 3 to 7 mph. Friday night will be mostly clear with a low of around 80 and a light west wind. On Independence Day, expect showers and possible thunderstorms after 2 PM. It will be hot with a high of 102 and a heat index up to 109. Winds will be calm, becoming west at 5 to 8 mph in the morning. There is a 60% chance of rain, with rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch, although more is possible in thunderstorms. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” – Sam Levenson
Thanks for reading! If you have something to say about an issue of local note not covered today, feel free to post it as a letter to the editor on our new forum.
Protesters demonstrating against President Trump’s proposed arch in Memorial Circle (courtesy Peter Roof)
Potomac Towers Could Triple — “Newly filed plans reveal that owner Caruthers Properties wants to add three new towers to the existing Arlington apartment complex, which sits on about seven acres between Interstate 66 and Langston Boulevard.” The 800 new units would be built in phases alongside the original 1961 building, which has 406 units. [WBJ]
DCA Grounded for Fourth — Reagan National Airport will halt flights for much of July 3 and 4 to accommodate celebrations in D.C., with no departures or arrivals scheduled after noon Saturday. The FAA has set roughly 15 hours of airspace closures across the two days, and terminal services will run at reduced capacity until flights resume July 5. [ARLnow]
Where to Watch Fireworks — With the record-setting Independence Day fireworks now expected to begin around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, ARLnow has rounded up the county’s best viewing spots, from the Marine Corps War Memorial to Marymount University. The 850,000-shell display will launch from 10 sites along the National Mall and the Potomac. [ARLnow]
Declaration Reading Moves Indoors — Due to expected heat advisories, the Arlington Historical Society’s Saturday, July 4 community reading of the Declaration of Independence has been moved from the Ball-Sellers House (which has no air conditioning) to the Arlington Historical Museum. It will begin at 2 p.m. Attendees can also tour the museum and make Revolutionary-themed protest signs. [Arlington Historical Society]
Marlinspike Closes $127M Fund — “Marlinspike Partners, an Arlington venture capital firm backing defense tech startups, has closed a $127 million fund as investors crave new technologies being developed for the Defense Department.” The close on its second fund was well above the firm’s original $70 million target and will fuel larger checks for 20 to 24 companies. [WBJ]
English Manor Hits Market — A six-bedroom, nine-bathroom English manor-style home in the Country Club Hills neighborhood has hit the market for $7,150,000. Built in 2009 at 4614 36th Street N., the 9,850-square-foot house features five fireplaces, a wine cellar, a home theater and a 40-by-20-foot pool. [N. Va. Magazine]
Wakefield’s Javelin Standout — It is not a Virginia High School League-sanctioned event, but that hasn’t stopped rising Wakefield High School senior Olivia Barr from making a name for herself in javelin. A recent success for the multi-sport athlete was a sixth-place finish at the Penn Relays. [RunWashington]
Hidden Art Spreads Joy — After losing her job last year, Rachael Wood began hiding colorful handmade artwork around Arlington for strangers to find, an effort she calls the Joyful Art Project. “My purpose is to spread joy, and I don’t know if I grasped how I was going to do that,” Wood said. “I think I found it.” [WUSA9]
East Potomac Golf Overhaul — “If built as shown, the redesign would reduce East Potomac from its current three-course, 36-hole layout to a single 18-hole championship course. It would also expand golf into roughly 50 acres of parkland now used for picnicking, fishing, cycling and other recreation.” A court hearing on a lawsuit challenging the project is set for this week. [Washington Post]
D.C. a No-Drone Zone — From the FBI Washington Field Office: “Washington, D.C., is a #NoDroneZone, so if you plan to celebrate #America250 in the district, don’t crash the party; leave your drone at home.” Unauthorized drone activity can be reported at 1-800-CALL-FBI. [FBI Washington Field/X]
ICE Mask Ban Blocked — A federal judge blocked Virginia’s new law barring ICE officers from wearing masks less than 12 hours before it was set to take effect, finding the Justice Department likely to succeed in arguing the state cannot regulate the conduct of federal officers. Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones (D) said his office “strongly disagrees” with the ruling and will keep defending the law. [Courthouse News]
Spanberger Signs Energy Package — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed a package of energy bills Tuesday aimed at lowering costs, meeting rising demand and keeping data centers from driving up bills for families, along with legislation directing Virginia to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. “We’re investing in energy that is cleaner, more affordable, more reliable, and homegrown,” Spanberger said. [Press Release]
Data Center Battle Lines — N. Va. is home to more than 300 data centers, but public sentiment has soured: a recent Washington Post-Schar School poll found just 35% of Virginia voters would be comfortable with a new one in their community. “The battle line has been drawn around that question in Virginia,” said Brennan Gilmore of the advocacy group Clean Virginia. “And folks are lining up on either side of it.” [NOTUS]
It’s Thursday — Expect sunny skies with a high near 103 and heat index values as high as 110. Winds will be light out of the northwest around 5 mph. Skies stay clear overnight with a low around 80. [NWS]
There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.
Expect sunny and hot conditions with temperatures reaching around 102 degrees and heat index values climbing to 109. A gentle west wind will blow at 3 to 5 mph. Thursday night will be clear with temperatures dropping to about 80 degrees, accompanied by a light southwest wind. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Thanks for reading! If you have something to say about an issue of local note not covered today, feel free to post it as a letter to the editor on our new forum.
Water feature at James Hunter dog park amid summer heat (staff photo)
Its official: Arlington and the D.C. area will be under Extreme Heat Warnings over the next couple of days.
The National Weather Service just upgraded the earlier watch to a warning, in effect from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values above 110 are expected, posing a risk to people and pets spending significant time outdoors — or in hot buildings or vehicles.
Paris Baguette now open in Clarendon (staff photo)
Paris Baguette is now serving pastries, sandwiches and coffee in Clarendon.
The French-inspired bakery and cafe recently opened in the Hartford building at 3101 Wilson Blvd, near the Clarendon Metro station. On a visit this week, customers were sipping coffee and eating meals inside the new space, which was adorned with “now open” signs outside.
A speed camera on Washington Blvd, east of N. Glebe Road in August 2024 (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Drivers who speed through five Arlington school zones this summer can still expect a $100 ticket.
The county’s PhotoSPEED speed cameras at those locations will stay on through Arlington Public Schools’ summer session, which runs July 6 through 31, police said.
People walk past members of the National Guard stationed outside the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, Saturday June 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jen Golbeck)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal law enforcement authorities are preparing for one of Washington, D.C.’s, largest and most complex security operations as the nation’s capital gears up to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation’s freedom.
American flag on office building in Courthouse, a few days before July 4 (staff photo)
A Late Fourth — D.C.’s July 4 fireworks keep slipping later, in part because President Trump is slated to give a 45-minute speech on the National Mall starting around 9:50 p.m. Mayor Muriel Bowser says the show won’t begin until 11 p.m., though Freedom 250 still advertises 10:30 p.m. as it tries to set a world record with 850,000 shells over 40 minutes. “The timeline is subject to change right up until the start of the event,” a Secret Service official said. [Axios, Washington Post]
County Closed Friday — Arlington County government offices will be closed Friday (July 3) for the Independence Day holiday, including the courts, DMV Select and the treasurer’s and commonwealth’s attorney’s offices. Curbside trash, recycling and organics collection will run on the regular schedule, though the recycling center and Earth Products yard will be closed until Monday (July 6). Parking meters won’t be enforced. [Arlington County]
Man Tries to Disarm Officer — A man, 27, was arrested in Rosslyn on Monday morning after he allegedly became combative and tried to disarm an officer who was taking him into custody, according to police. Officers had responded to a trespassing report in the 1800 block of N. Kent Street, where the man was allegedly inside a parking garage he had been banned from. He was charged with attempting to disarm an officer and four other offenses and held without bond. [ACPD]
Arlington Man Charged in Hit-and-Run — An Arlington man, 63, has been charged with felony hit-and-run in the death of a Falls Church pedestrian in Seven Corners last month, Fairfax County police said. Jose Jimenez, 60, was crossing Route 50 (Arlington Blvd) at Patrick Henry Drive against the signal early on May 26 when he was struck by a silver Honda Civic that fled the scene. The driver turned himself in Sunday and is being held without bond. [FFXnow]
VRE Buys Alexandria Rail Yard — Virginia Railway Express has bought the former Seminary Yard, near Duke Street and I-495, for $35.8 million as part of a five-year, $155 million deal to take over four properties from the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. The site will be used for midday train storage. “Midday storage is critical for VRE operations,” CEO Katie Choe said. [VRE, ALXnow]
East Potomac Golf Overhaul — President Trump says a sweeping overhaul of the century-old East Potomac Golf Links, the public course just south of the National Mall, will begin Sept. 1, with architect Tom Fazio redesigning it to potentially host major tournaments. Officials haven’t said how that squares with environmental reviews or a pending lawsuit in which a judge warned against major changes without notifying the court. Critics worry the affordable course will become pricier. [Washington Post]
Beyer Wary of Impeachment — Rep. Don Beyer (D), whose district includes Arlington, told ALXnow that President Trump deserves to be impeached a third time but that Democrats shouldn’t pursue it as a doomed messaging exercise. “He certainly has done enough stuff to deserve impeachment. I think we’ll wait,” Beyer said, noting that a Senate conviction would be out of reach even if Democrats retake Congress. [ALXnow]
Trump’s 250th Takeover — A bipartisan commission Congress created a decade ago to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary has been overshadowed by President Trump’s own Freedom 250 group, which is staging rally-style events on the National Mall and is set to receive $68 million in taxpayer funds this year. “If the celebration of the miracle of democracy… becomes partisan, shame on us,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R) said. [NOTUS]
Hemp Businesses in Limbo — Virginia hemp farmers and retailers are scrambling as state and federal rules shift, with federal changes set to make many hemp products illegal by November and a legal cannabis market not arriving until July 2027. “We are left with zero pathway and will not survive until July 2027 without a grace period,” said Caroline County farmer Graham Redfern. [Virginia Mercury]
It’s Wednesday — Expect a hot, mostly sunny day with a high near 100 and a heat index as high as 107, plus a slight chance of afternoon showers or thunderstorms. Southwest winds will be 6–9 mph with gusts up to 18 mph. It stays warm overnight, with a low around 77. [NWS]
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