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

Nonprofit clinic specializing in affordable care plans new Columbia Pike office

By Katie Taranto
The location of a planned Neighborhood Health location at 2301 Columbia Pike (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A health-care nonprofit focused on providing affordable services in Northern Virginia is planning to construct a new medical office on Columbia Pike.

Public records show Neighborhood Health is preparing to open a clinic at 2301 Columbia Pike, where XSport Fitness gym closed in 2021. The medical group has over a dozen locations in the region, including a nearby pediatric center at 3401 Columbia Pike.

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Around Town

The Portofino Restaurant celebrates 55 years on Crystal City’s Restaurant Row

By Katie Taranto
Signs for The Portofino Restaurant's 55th anniversary in Crystal City (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

One of the oldest restaurants on Restaurant Row is celebrating its 55-year anniversary in Crystal City this summer.

The Portofino Restaurant will ring in its anniversary next month with a tomato-themed dinner on Sunday, Aug. 10. However, the restaurant has been celebrating 55 years in business since January, hosting monthly events like wine dinners, live music and raffles.

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Around Town

New places to eat and drink in Arlington and Falls Church this summer

By Katie Taranto
Wine and offerings from El Mercat (via El Mercat Bar de Tapas/Facebook)

From French bistros to fried chicken, dozens of new restaurants have landed across Arlington and Falls Church in recent months.

Here are some of the latest developments in the local dining scene this summer, along with some highlights of anticipated openings over the next few months.

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Around Town

New ‘Megaformer’ fitness studio aims for winter opening in Clarendon

By Katie Taranto
Megaformer's new Clarendon studio at 1016 N. Garfield Street (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A boutique fitness studio is gearing up to replace a former yoga center in Clarendon.

Megaformer plans to open this winter at 1016 N. Garfield Street, in the vacant retail bay next to Pure Barre. The space was formerly held by the yoga studio Sukha Center, which closed last year.

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Around Town

New sushi restaurant and listening bar ‘Oasis’ opens in Clarendon

By Katie Taranto
Outside Oasis in Clarendon (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A new restaurant and sushi bar has opened with aspirations of introducing Clarendon to a Japanese-inspired music program.

Oasis: The Listening Bar opened its doors at 2940 Clarendon Blvd earlier this month, filling a vacancy left by Cava Mezze. Modeled after Japanese “listening bars,” the restaurant plans to host frequent live performances and DJ nights.

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News

Arlington public art director retires, leaving full pipeline of planned projects

By Katie Taranto
The “Floral Sky” installation at Market Common in Clarendon (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington’s public art director has retired after over three decades in the role, leaving behind a range of ongoing projects in the county’s public arts pipeline.

In her role at Arlington Public Art, Angela Adams oversaw the delivery of artistic projects ranging from sculptures and outdoor light fixtures to artistic flourishes found in parks, on bus shelters and bridges under the Public Arts Master Plan.

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News

New ‘Meals with Dignity’ program launches at Kitchen of Purpose on Columbia Pike

By Katie Taranto
A volunteer pours water for Taneka Shoemaker during Kitchen of Purpose's first Meal with Dignity (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

An Arlington nonprofit is launching a new program that invites underserved local residents to enjoy a three-course meal planned by guest chefs.

Kitchen of Purpose (KOP) is repurposing its former cafe space at 918 S. Lincoln Street to host “Meals with Dignity,” a monthly three-course meal “prepared with love” by chefs from local restaurants and the bilingual culinary school’s students, CEO Brian MacNair told ARLnow.

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Around Town

New yacht rock cabaret debuts at Signature Theater in Shirlington this week

By Katie Taranto
Signature Theatre in Shirlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Sounds of summer are coming to Shirlington this week with the start of a new yacht rock cabaret.

“Sailing: Yacht Rock” premieres tomorrow night (Tuesday) at Signature Theatre, featuring the melodies of Christopher Cross and quintessential yacht rock tunes like “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” and “What a Fool Believes.”

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Around Town

‘Wonder’ food hall plans Thursday grand opening in Rosslyn

By Katie Taranto
A look inside Wonder in Rosslyn (Modern Angles courtesy of Wonder)

A new food hall in Rosslyn will celebrate its grand opening this week with a ribbon cutting, giveaways and live music.

Wonder, a new celebrity chef-partnered food hall at 1771 N. Pierce Street, opens for business at 4:30 p.m. this Thursday. The new hall hosts over a dozen vendors, including exclusive Wonder partners and restaurants from across the country.

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Around Town

Where to go for National Ice Cream Day in Arlington this weekend

By Katie Taranto
A Van Leeuwen employee scoops ice cream (courtesy of Van Leeuwen)

Arlington ice cream shops are preparing to scoop out some sweet deals in honor of National Ice Cream Day this Sunday.

Here’s a look at some local parlors that plan to offer discounted scoops for the annual celebration, along with a couple other local flavors to try anytime.

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Around Town

Vietnamese eatery in Annandale teases Crystal City relocation plans

By Katie Taranto
Balo Kitchen dishes (via Balo Kitchen/Facebook)

The team behind a Vietnamese restaurant in a closing Annandale food hall is dropping hints about its upcoming project in Crystal City.

Balo Kitchen, which is closing this summer along with the rest of the vendors at The Block in Annandale, has teased a new “project” in Crystal City this fall. Its owners, Huy Nguyen and Long Lai, are slated to design the menu of the upcoming Scapegoat Beer Garden at 556 22nd Street S.

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Around Town

Falls Church Domino’s relocating to closed bike shop this fall

By Katie Taranto
The future Domino's spot at 438 S. Washington Street (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

The only Domino’s in Falls Church will soon relocate to a shuttered bike shop, possibly making way for another pizzeria to set up shop.

The Domino’s, currently located in a strip mall at 1106 W. Broad Street, plans to move to 438 S. Washington Street in mid-November, operations manager Himel Uddin told ARLnow.

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