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.

News

Fourth of July will bring Arlington road closures and free Metro rides

By Katie Taranto
Fireworks over the National Mall, viewed near the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Rosslyn (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Road closures, reduced county services and modified transit schedules will be in effect tomorrow (Friday) in observance of the Fourth of July.

Arlington will operate on a modified holiday schedule, closing county courthouses, community centers and all public libraries. Metered parking across the county will not be enforced.

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Around Town

Casual American restaurant ‘Westville’ opens in Clarendon this month

By Katie Taranto
Westville in Clarendon (photo by Joy Asico-Smith, courtesy of Asico Photo)

A veggie-forward American restaurant with New York City roots expects to open its doors later this month in Clarendon.

Westville plans to serve brunch, lunch, dinner and drinks in a laid-back atmosphere at 2800 Clarendon Blvd, where Jos. A. Bank closed. It expects to open for dine-in service on Monday, July 14, with aspirations of becoming a trusted “neighborhood restaurant,” founder Jay Strauss told ARLnow.

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Around Town

Free Lyft rides available in Arlington for the Fourth of July

By Katie Taranto
Fireworks over the National Mall, viewed near the US Marine Corps War Memorial in Rosslyn (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Free Lyft rides will be available this Friday for the Fourth of July, courtesy of a D.C.-area nonprofit.

The SoberRide initiative plans to offer free rides from 4 p.m. Friday until 4 a.m. Saturday. Participants age 21 and over will be able to use a promo code once to receive a ride worth up to $15.

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Around Town

New ‘Wonder’ food hall plans grand opening in Rosslyn this month

By Katie Taranto
The forthcoming 'Wonder' food hall at 1771 N. Pierce Street (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Rosslyn’s new celebrity chef-partnered food hall has set a grand opening date.

Wonder announced plans today (Tuesday) to open for business later this month at 1771 N. Pierce Street. The New York-based hall promises dine-in, delivery and takeout from celebrity chef concepts and “the country’s best restaurants.”

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Around Town

Ellie Bird previews new ‘Side Chick’ carryout shop this Friday

By Katie Taranto
Side Chick chicken and sides (courtesy of Nina Palazzolo)

An award-winning Falls Church restaurant is previewing a new spinoff eatery in time for the Fourth of July.

Side Chick is a new a fried chicken carryout and delivery by Ellie Bird. The concept, based out of the restaurant’s kitchen at 125 Founders Avenue, blends Southern comfort foods, Asian American-inspired flavors and tongue-in-cheek attitude.

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Around Town

Five Guys returns to company’s very first location on Columbia Pike

By Katie Taranto
A Five Guys employee welcomes a line of customers into the chain's new Columbia Pike location (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Five Guys has made a triumphant return to the Columbia Pike location where the hamburger franchise got its start 39 years ago.

About a dozen customers lined up outside Westmont Apartments to be the first ones inside the burger joint, which opened for business at 11 a.m. today (Monday). It’s on the same spot where Five Guys opened its very first location in a former strip mall in 1986.

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Around Town

Veterinarian and hair removal studio coming to Falls Church apartment building

By Katie Taranto
Livewell Animal Hospital signs at Modera Falls Church (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Two new retail tenants have signed leases to join the ground floor of an apartment building in Falls Church.

Livewell Animal Hospital and laser hair removal studio SEV Laser are the newest additions to Modera Falls Church at 1033 W. Broad Street. The apartment began welcoming residential tenants in April and expects to open a cafe and Thai restaurant later this year.

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News

Bus stop eliminations and route changes go into effect Sunday in Arlington

By Katie Taranto
Metrobus will eliminate a bus stop near the intersection of Crystal Drive and 20th Street (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

All Metrobus routes are getting new names, some routes are changing and 19 bus stops will be eliminated this weekend in Arlington.

The redesign, dubbed the Better Bus Network, is part of the regional bus system’s first overhaul in 50 years. It aims to bring “more frequent, consistent bus service [and] enhance access across the region,” according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

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Events

Where to watch Independence Day fireworks in Arlington next week

By Katie Taranto
Fourth of July 2024 fireworks on the Mall, as seen from Arlington (via Michael Coffman/Flickr)

Independence Day is next Friday, bringing views of D.C’s annual fireworks show as well as other local celebrations in Arlington.

The nearly 18-minute pyrotechnic production on the National Mall is expected to begin at 9:09 p.m, weather permitting. Many parks and trails in Arlington provide popular viewing spots each year.

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Around Town

Acclaimed Nepalese restaurant in Ballston introduces new ‘Yakky Hour’

By Katie Taranto
Nepali set meal with goat from Himalayan Wild Yak (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A well-loved Nepalese restaurant with Northern Virginia roots is continuing to succeed at its second location in Ballston, serving up a unique delicacy: yak.

Himalayan Wild Yak opened at 1010 N. Glebe Road in March, joining an Ashburn location that has become a favorite of The Washington Post and Northern Virginia Magazine since opening in late 2021.

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Around Town

New ‘Foodie Trek’ program offers prizes for visiting restaurants in F.C. and Arlington

By Katie Taranto
The Falls (Flickr pool image courtesy of Jason Gooljar)

A dozen restaurants across Falls Church and Arlington are participating in a new “Foodie Trek” program with prizes this summer.

The Greater Falls Church Foodie Trek started June 1, intending to bring in customers during a slow season for restaurants, co-founder Tricia Barba told ARLnow. People who visit all participating businesses and collect passport “stamps” before Aug. 31 have the chance to win one of three prize baskets.

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Around Town

Steakhouse and raw bar ‘GrillMarX’ plans summer opening in Falls Church

By Katie Taranto
GrillMarX's restaurant space in Falls Church (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A family-owned steakhouse plans on opening its first Northern Virginia location in Falls Church later this summer.

The owners of Maryland-based GrillMarX are preparing to open their fourth restaurant on the ground floor at 510 S. Washington Street. After aiming for an early summer opening, the steakhouse now expects to open by late July or early August, operations manager Victoria Harvey told ARLnow.

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