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

New ‘Capital Doner’ Turkish restaurant plans Rosslyn opening

By Katie Taranto
Capital Doner signs at 1731 Wilson Blvd (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A new Turkish restaurant with kebab dishes and gyros is setting up shop in Rosslyn.

Capital Doner is “opening soon,” according to new storefront signs at 1731 Wilson Blvd, where The Simple Greek restaurant has closed.

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News

At least 19 Arlington bus stops are getting the ax this summer

By Katie Taranto
Metrobus stop closure signage at S. Arlington Ridge Road and S. Glebe Road (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

About two dozen bus stops in Arlington and Falls Church are scheduled to be eliminated at the end of June as part of a Metrobus “redesign” project.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) plans to remove at least 19 Arlington Metrobus stops and three Falls Church stops on June 29, the agency told ARLnow.

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Events

Cinco de Mayo celebration brings road closure to Shirlington this weekend

By Katie Taranto
Margaritas and food from Guapo's (via Guapo's Restaurants/Facebook)

All-day festivities in honor of Cinco de Mayo are coming to Shirlington this weekend, shutting down a portion of Campbell Avenue.

An outdoor celebration with live music and food deals is happening at Guapo’s Restaurant on Saturday. The party at 4028 Campbell Avenue starts at 11 a.m. and will last all day.

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Events

Arlington Palooza returns next month with live music and family activities

By Katie Taranto
DuPont Brass, a performer at Arlington Palooza 2025 (via Arlington Parks and Recreation/X)

Moon bounces, live music and food trucks are coming to Arlington next month as a free outdoor festival makes its return.

Arlington Palooza is happening from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, offering all-day music performances and family friendly activities at the Lubber Run Community Center and park at 300 N. Park Drive.

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Around Town

NYC-style deli and soda shop ‘Buffalo & Bergen’ plans summer debut in Clarendon

By Katie Taranto
The Breakfast Bandit sandwich from Buffalo & Bergen (via Buffalo & Bergen/Facebook)

A D.C. deli selling an array of New York-style foods and drinks is looking to come across the Potomac this summer.

Buffalo & Bergen hopes to open a fourth shop at 1028 N. Garfield Street in Clarendon, where UnCommon Luncheonette closed last fall. Inspired by soda shops in the Big Apple, the restaurant offers classic deli food, egg creams and cocktails.

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Events

Free Lyft rides coming to D.C. area for Cinco de Mayo

By Katie Taranto
SoberRide vehicle in Clarendon on Cinco de Mayo 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Free rides will be available throughout the D.C. area during Cinco de Mayo celebrations next month.

From 4 p.m. Monday, May 5 until 4 a.m. Tuesday, May 6, residents age 21 and over will be able to receive free Lyft rides worth up to $15. A promotional code will be published at 3 p.m. on www.SoberRide.com.

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Around Town

New ‘Club Pilates’ plans July opening in Clarendon

By Katie Taranto
Urban Kempo's former space at 3000 Washington Blvd (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A different kind of exercise is coming to the site of a longtime martial arts studio in Clarendon.

Club Pilates plans to open in late July at 3000 Washington Blvd, joining the neighborhood’s growing landscape of gyms and wellness industry businesses. It replaces Urban Kempo, a martial arts studio that closed last year after a decade in business.

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Around Town

Boutique dentistry chain ‘Tend’ opens new Pentagon City office

By Katie Taranto
Tend's new office in Pentagon City (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Boutique dental chain Tend cut the ribbon on its new Pentagon City office yesterday (Wednesday).

Appointments are now available at the new dental studio at 1421 S. Hayes Street, which promises a “kind, judgement-free team” that provides care in a soothing atmosphere.

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News

Vacant Giant grocery store in Lyon Village might become a Sprouts

By Katie Taranto
A worker taking down signage at the Lyon Village Shopping Center's Giant in March 2024 (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

It appears a new grocer has its eyes set on the vacant Giant at the Lyon Village Shopping Center.

A commercial addition permit application filed Monday on behalf of Sprouts Farmers Market calls for “tenant improvement of an existing grocery store into a new grocery store” at 3115 Langston Blvd.

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Events

American Legion post plans new Memorial Day art exhibit in Va. Square

By Katie Taranto
American Legion Post 139 (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

Virginia Square’s newly renovated American Legion Post 139 plans to host its first-ever veterans art exhibit over Memorial Day weekend.

Highlighting art by Northern Virginia veterans, the gallery opening on Saturday, May 24 at 3445 Washington Blvd will “explore themes of service, conflict, healing and duty,” Commander Richard L. Rodriguez, who served in the Marines, Navy and Navy Reserve, told ARLnow.

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Around Town

New facial studio plans to open in Clarendon this fall, replacing Verizon store

By Katie Taranto
Verizon's upcoming space at 2900 Clarendon Blvd (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Clarendon’s Verizon store is preparing to relocate this summer as a new facial studio hopes to open there this fall.

The Verizon at 2930 Clarendon Blvd is moving less than a block away to Le Pain Quotidien’s former space at 2900 Clarendon Blvd. Meanwhile, skin care studio franchise Glowbar intends to open at Verizon’s current address later this year.

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