Author: Emily Leayman

Emily Leayman is a senior reporter at ARLnow, ALXnow and FFXnow. She was previously a field editor covering parts of Northern Virginia for Patch for more than eight years. A native of the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, she lives in Northern Virginia.

Around Town

All-day cafe from Michelin-starred chef coming to Rosslyn

By Emily Leayman
1100 Wilson Blvd (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A cafe from the team behind Sfoglina is opening in Rosslyn, in the same office building as the Italian restaurant.

Signage for the all-day cafe by Michelin-starred chef Fabio Trabocchi, first reported by the Washington Business Journal, has appeared in the lobby at The Towers at 1100 Wilson Blvd.

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Around Town

Virginia ABC stores closing in Crystal City and Lee Harrison Shopping Center

By Emily Leayman
The Virginia ABC store at the Lee Harrison Shopping Center (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

Two Virginia ABC stores, one in Crystal City and one just off of Langston Blvd, are closing their doors.

The first is expected to close in February and the other will close in March.

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Around Town

Arlington restaurants offer snow day specials during winter storm

By Emily Leayman
Snow-covered tables outside of Brass Rabbit Pub in Clarendon (courtesy George Brazier)

Some restaurants around Arlington and Falls Church are offering incentives for those brave enough to face the snow and sleet on foot today (Sunday).

Others made the call to close during the harsh winter weather.

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Weather

Storm brings enforcement of Arlington’s snow removal ordinance: what you need to know

By Emily Leayman
A crew shovels snow in Clarendon (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

With a state of emergency declared in Virginia over forecasts of heavy snowfall this weekend, it may be time to brush up on Arlington’s snow removal ordinance.

The ordinance goes into effect after snow stops falling, but it varies based on how much accumulation there is. Penalties also vary based on the length of the sidewalk.

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News

Virginia’s new AG Jones fights DOJ on in-state tuition for undocumented students

By Emily Leayman
Jay Jones is sworn in as Virginia Attorney General by the Hon. Lyn M. Simmons, chief judge of the Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, Jan. 17, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Days after taking office, Attorney General Jay Jones (D) is reversing his predecessor’s position on the Trump administration’s fight against in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants.

Yesterday (Wednesday), Jones filed a motion to withdraw from an agreement that former Attorney General Jason Miyares (R) made with the U.S. Department of Justice in a bid to invalidate the Virginia Dream Act of 2020.

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News

Gov. Spanberger targets utility bills, power demand amid data center boom in N. Va.

By Emily Leayman and The Associated Press
CoreSite’s Reston data center campus (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Increasing power demand from a growing number of data centers, many located in Northern Virginia, has made rising utility costs a key issue for Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) in her first days in office.

In her first address to the Virginia General Assembly yesterday (Monday), Spanberger outlined her Affordable Virginia Agenda, a set of proposals addressing energy, health care and housing costs. Spanberger also issued an executive order on her first day in office that directs her cabinet members and agencies to identify policy changes that would reduce costs for Virginians in energy and other areas.

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News

Abortion access amendment clears General Assembly, is expected to go to Virginia voters

By Emily Leayman
An attendee holds a sign at a rally of Washington-Liberty High students that followed a walkout (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A constitutional amendment to codify abortion access has cleared the last major hurdle before likely going to Virginia voters for a referendum in November.

Today (Friday), the Virginia Senate advanced an amendment to protect abortion in the Constitution of Virginia 21-18, following an earlier 64-34 vote by the Virginia House of Delegates. A simple majority of voters would need to vote in favor for the legislation to be approved.

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Around Town

Falls Church Restaurant Week returns this month with record number of eateries

By Emily Leayman
GrillMarX's lower level bar (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Falls Church Restaurant Week is back beginning next week, with the largest-ever number of establishments participating.

A record 66 restaurants will participate in the event Friday, Jan. 23 to Sunday, Feb. 1, offering restaurant week menus, special items and other exclusive offers. This is in addition to those participating in Metropolitan Washington Winter Restaurant Week, which returns on Monday.

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Around Town

Pizza and sub restaurant featured on Shark Tank opening at Rosslyn food hall

By Emily Leayman
Subs at Tony Boloney's (courtesy of Tony Boloney’s)

A New Jersey-founded restaurant featured on Shark Tank is bringing its bold pizza, cheesesteak and homemade mozzarella stick options to Rosslyn.

Tony Boloney’s is planning a grand opening of its first permanent location in the D.C. area on Jan. 27 at Upside on Moore (1700 N. Moore Street). Started as a small restaurant in Atlantic City in 2009, the restaurant is known for pushing the boundaries of comfort food.

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Around Town

New ‘high-end salon’ from hairstylist duo plans Courthouse opening next month

By Emily Leayman
Crafted Boutique Salon's future location at 2300 Clarendon Blvd (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

A pair of experienced hairstylists who used to work together in Clarendon are reuniting to open a new salon in Courthouse.

Crafted Boutique Salon is aiming to open by March 1 at 2300 Clarendon Boulevard, in Courthouse Plaza, stylists Baylie Madaj and Katy Felice told ARLnow.

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Around Town

One More Page Books celebrates 15 years of community support in East Falls Church

By Emily Leayman
One More Page Books owner Eileen McGervey poses for a portrait on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019 in Arlington. (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Approaching its next milestone in East Falls Church, a 15-year-old bookstore is looking back at achievements from organizing a young adult book festival to getting a visit from President Barack Obama.

One More Page Books, an independent bookseller at 2200 N. Westmoreland Street, will celebrate 15 years in business with an anniversary event next Thursday, Jan. 22, from 6:30-8 p.m.

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Around Town

Arlington-focused Facebook group with 25,000 members is removed, angering moderators

By Emily Leayman
A Google Maps photo of an exit sign on I-395 served as the cover photo for the "I Grew Up in Arlington" Facebook group (via Google Maps)

Moderators are crying foul over the removal of a popular, longstanding Facebook group where Arlingtonians have shared memories of growing up in the county.

“I Grew Up in Arlington,” a 15-year-old group with about 25,000 members, went dark last week after Facebook took it down and disabled some users’ accounts. The company reportedly accused them of violating standards against solicitation of children — claims that moderators strenuously deny.

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