Author: Katie Taranto

Katie Taranto is a reporter at Local News Now, primarily covering business, public safety and the city of Falls Church. She graduated from the University of Missouri in 2024, where she previously covered K-12 education at The Columbia Missourian. She is originally from Macungie, Pennsylvania.

Around Town

Two Ballston Starbucks locations are closing this week amid nationwide changes

By Katie Taranto
Starbucks at 4000 Wilson Blvd in September 2025 (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

Starbucks is closing two cafes in Ballston this week as part of a $1 billion nationwide restructuring plan to address dropping sales.

Coffeehouses at 4000 Wilson Blvd and in the Ballston Metro station at 901 N. Stuart Street are on the chopping block.

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Around Town

After 85 years, Joyce Motors is closing next month for Clarendon redevelopment

By Katie Taranto
The Joyce Motors building in Clarendon (via Arlington County)

A longtime family-owned auto shop in Clarendon will close next month to make way for a redevelopment project.

After 85 years at 3211 10th Street N., Joyce Motors is closing for good on Friday, Oct. 10. The historic auto shop will host a farewell gathering at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11, before shutting down to allow for a new mixed-use apartment building.

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Events

Clarendon Day returns this weekend with live music and local vendors

By Katie Taranto
Clarendon Day in 2024 (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Clarendon Day is back this Saturday, with over 150 local artisans, businesses, nonprofits and restaurants participating in the annual street festival.

This year’s event kicks off at 11 a.m. in the blocks surrounding the Clarendon Metro station at 3100 Wilson Blvd. The following local bands and musicians are slated to perform live.

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Around Town

JUST IN: Whole Foods is opening in Crystal City next month

By Katie Taranto
New exterior signage for Whole Foods Market at 1550 Crystal Drive (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Whole Foods’ new Daily Market Shop in Crystal City is opening next month.

The grocery store at 1550 Crystal Drive will host a grand opening at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, offering samples and a tote bag giveaway for the first 300 customers, the grocer announced today (Wednesday). Replacing a vacancy left by Amazon Fresh last spring, the location with 10,000 square feet of retail space is the first Daily Market Shop to open outside of New York City.

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Around Town

New Falls Church Thai restaurant plans pop-up this weekend ahead of winter opening

By Katie Taranto
Dok Khao Thai Eatery (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

An upcoming Thai restaurant in Falls Church is offering a sneak peek of its offerings this weekend.

Dok Khao Thai Eatery is currently under construction at 180 W. Falls Station Blvd, but it will make an appearance at the West Falls Grand Opening and Fall Fest this Sunday. Owner and chef Porntipa Pattanamekar plans to offer free samples before the restaurant’s projected 2026 opening.

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Events

Ballston’s ‘Pumpkin Palooza’ dining promo launches next week

By Katie Taranto
Pumpkin soup and seasonal items from El Rey in Ballston (via El Rey/Facebook)

A new dining promotion is bringing autumnal dishes including pumpkin-flavored pancakes, pasta and cocktails to Ballston starting next week.

At least 13 restaurants are participating in Pumpkin Palooza, a new dining punch card program hosted by the Ballston Business Improvement District. Participants must try six eligible menu items at Ballston restaurants by Nov. 6 to qualify for a fall mug giveaway.

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Around Town

‘Pink Saffron’ Indian restaurant to replace Bun’d Up in Pentagon City

By Katie Taranto
Bun'd Up in Pentagon City (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Bun’d Up is closing next month at the Westpost shopping center, making way for a new Indian restaurant led by longtime chefs.

The last day for the Taiwanese restaurant and its speakeasy, Noonchi, is Sunday, Oct. 19, owner Scott Chung told ARLnow. The space at 1201 S. Joyce Street will make way for Pink Saffron, an eatery promising Awadhi cuisine and Indian street food.

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Around Town

Country-themed bar ‘BOE’ opens this weekend in Clarendon with mechanical bull

By Katie Taranto
BOE's mechanical bull (courtesy of @slumpedfilms)

A country-themed bar with a mechanical bull opens tonight (Friday) in Clarendon, aiming to bring a piece of Nashville to the neighborhood.

With antique fixtures, crocodile leather accents and country-inspired bar fare, BOE debuts this weekend in part of Coco B’s former space at 2854 Wilson Blvd. The new honky-tonk is named after Bodacious, a storied bucking bull, and will soon introduce mechanical bull riding contests, according to its website.

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Around Town

Local decorators offer premium pumpkin decor for upwards of $1,000

By Katie Taranto
A design by The Porch Parade (courtesy of Andrea Samuelson)

For as much as $1,450, a new local business specializing in “premium pumpkin delivery” is offering decorating jobs to porches in Arlington this season.

The Porch Parade aims to bring “effortless, discreet, and exclusive pumpkin displays” to D.C.-area porches. Andrea Samuelson, a former federal worker, co-founded the business with friend Anusha Seneviratne after their jobs were cut earlier this year.

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Around Town

‘Simply Banh Mi’ flourishes in Ballston after unexpected relocation

By Katie Taranto
Simply Banh Mi's new Ballston location (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A family-owned banh mi shop is flourishing during its first year in Ballston, months after its original location unexpectedly shuttered in D.C.

John Tran opened Simply Banh Mi in January at 801 N. Quincy Street as an expansion of his now-closed Georgetown restaurant. The business owner hoped to pass the D.C. store to new ownership earlier this year, but told ARLnow those plans fell through for reasons related to the health of a family member.

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News

Rosslyn BID introduces new pop-up park at stalled redevelopment site

By Katie Taranto

The Rosslyn Business Improvement District is seeking to bolster its neighborhood’s public amenities with a new pop-up park that opened yesterday (Wednesday).

NOW, which the Rosslyn BID installed, is a new half-acre public park located around a pair of offices at 1401 Wilson Blvd and 1400 Key Blvd. Slated for eventual redevelopment, the revamped site includes urban gardens, a terraced event space and “pet relief area.”

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