Katie Taranto | ARLnow

Developer reportedly abandons plans for 88-unit Columbia Pike project

Published May 7, 2025 at 3:45PM

The Elkins Building on the 2800 block of Columbia Pike (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A planned redevelopment project at a busy Columbia Pike intersection has reportedly been canceled.

Developer Christopher Companies has abandoned years-long plans to turn the Elkins Building at 2801 Columbia Pike into a multifamily building with 88 units, Angela Kostelecky, senior architect at Devereaux and Associates, told ARLnow.

Events

Outdoor movie nights and live music coming to Clarendon

By Katie Taranto

Published May 7, 2025 at 1:30PM

A past movie night at Mason Square Plaza (via University Life Mason Square/Instagram)

With warmer evenings ahead, free, outdoor live music and movies are coming to Clarendon this spring and summer.

The Clarendon Alliance’s concert series, Music by the Metro, began last week, while a movie series hosted by George Mason University kicks off this Friday.

Around Town

Falls Church nightlife spot becomes Caribbean restaurant under new owner

By Katie Taranto

Published May 7, 2025 at 11:45AM

Ricky Bartlette behind the bar at Lesly's (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A fixer-upper nightlife spot in Falls Church has transformed into a new Caribbean restaurant and bar under new ownership.

Ricky Bartlette took Lesly’s Restaurant Bar and Grill under his wing in January, hoping to improve its reputation. Since then, the entrepreneur, who also owns a Baltimore-based security firm, has renovated and added a Caribbean menu.

Around Town

‘Wonder’ celebrity chef food hall announces new Rosslyn location

By Katie Taranto

Published May 6, 2025 at 1:45PM

The former Foxtrot at 1771 N. Pierce Street in April 2024 (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

A celebrity chef-partnered food hall and delivery service plans to open in Rosslyn as part of a new D.C.-area expansion.

Wonder, which aims to make “great food more accessible” by hosting various celebrity chef-founded restaurants, recently applied for a permit to renovate “an existing restaurant” at 1771 N. Pierce Street. This is the same address as the former Rosslyn Foxtrot.

Around Town

CVS relocates on Columbia Pike amid redevelopment plans

By Katie Taranto

Published May 6, 2025 at 11:45AM

The former CVS spot on Columbia Pike is now vacant (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A decades-old CVS Pharmacy has completed its relocation on Columbia Pike, shuttering its former location amid new redevelopment plans.

Workers could be seen removing supplies from the former store at the Fillmore Gardens Shopping Center on Friday. Its replacement, located about half a mile away on the ground floor of Westmont Apartments at 3301 Columbia Pike, opened in late March.

Around Town

Scolapasta shifts opening plans from near Ballston Metro to Ballston Quarter

By Katie Taranto

Published May 5, 2025 at 11:45AM

Scolapasta's planned new kiosk at Ballston Quarter (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Scolapasta has shifted gears in Ballston.

The fast-casual Italian restaurant has abandoned its plans to open this summer at 4219 Fairfax Drive, across the street from the Ballston Metro. Instead, owner Burak Temel told ARLnow that he intends to open a kiosk in the food court at Ballston Quarter.

Around Town

‘The Pinball Basement’ opens second arcade above Rosslyn Metro station

By Katie Taranto

Published May 2, 2025 at 1:15PM

Games inside The Pinball Basement in Rosslyn (courtesy of Sam Groh)

An Arlington pinball arcade has opened a second location above the Rosslyn Metro station.

The Pinball Basement is now operating on the first level of 1700 N. Moore Street underneath the Upside on Moore food hall, Upside Director of Operations Sam Groh told ARLnow. The arcade offers daily playing passes and monthly memberships.

Events

Margaritas, dining and dancing: Cinco de Mayo events in Arlington

By Katie Taranto

Published May 2, 2025 at 11:15AM

Cinco de Mayo decorations at Sabores Tapas Bar in 2025 (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

The weekend leading up to Cinco de Mayo calls for plenty of live music and libations across Arlington.

Margaritas, dancing and deals on Latin and Tex Mex food are all on the schedule this weekend and Monday in honor of the annual May 5 celebration — which, historically speaking, commemorates Mexico’s 1862 victory against French forces in the Battle of Puebla.

News

Sprouts confirms plans for new Arlington grocery store in 2026

By Katie Taranto

Published May 1, 2025 at 2:30PM

Workers taking down signage from the Lyon Village Shopping Center's Giant (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

A week after applying for a permit to replace the vacant Giant in Lyon Village, Sprouts Farmers Market has confirmed plans to open a new grocery store in Arlington.

“We are happy to share that we will be bringing fresh, better-for-you products to the Arlington, VA community in 2026,” a representative told ARLnow.

Around Town

Van Leeuwen eyeing Ballston space, set to replace Nicecream in Clarendon

By Katie Taranto

Published May 1, 2025 at 1:15PM | Updated May 2, 2025 at 8:40AM

Former Nicecream in Clarendon (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is expanding in Arlington, with plans to replace a longtime Clarendon ice cream shop and potentially open another location in Ballston.

The website for The Crossing Clarendon lists the national ice cream franchise as “coming soon” to the spot that Nicecream currently occupies at 2831 Clarendon Blvd. Permit records also indicate that Van Leeuwen, which did not respond to a request for comment, is considering a location at 4075 Wilson Blvd in Ballston.

Around Town

Taylor Swift tribute band ‘The Fearless Eras’ performing in Clarendon this weekend

By Katie Taranto

Published May 1, 2025 at 11:15AM

The Fearless Eras at their debut performance in D.C. (courtesy of The Fearless Eras)

Taylor Swift’s iconic Eras Tour may be over, but a new tribute band is aiming to bring that energy to Arlington with a setlist that Swifties can enjoy all too well.

The Fearless Eras is performing at 9:30 p.m. this Saturday at The Renegade in Clarendon (3100 Clarendon Blvd). The D.C.-area group’s three-hour setlist includes about 40 songs spanning the superstar’s 18-year career, from mainstream hits to deep cuts.

Around Town

Local artist opens new stationery boutique in Long Branch Creek

By Katie Taranto

Published May 1, 2025 at 9:45AM

Theresa Esterlund and the letterpress (courtesy of Barbara O Photography)

Following a two-decade career at the Smithsonian Institution, a Fairlington artist has opened a new boutique with handmade stationery in Long Branch Creek.

Theresa Esterlund celebrated the grand opening of her new shop, Open to Being, last weekend at 2424 26th Road S. The shop carries cards, prints and notebooks featuring her original artwork, many printed on-site using an antique letterpress.