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

Arlington Girl Scouts use funds from cookie sales for Wilson Blvd safety project

By Katie Taranto
Arlington Girl Scouts use their new "See Me Flags" at a Wilson Blvd intersection (courtesy of Barbara Hagenbaugh)

A group of Arlington Girl Scouts has received high honors for adding new “see me” flags to two Wilson Blvd intersections.

Twenty fifth graders from Ashlawn Elementary School saved funds from cookie sales to add baskets of bright red flags to N. Livingston and N. Liberty streets in February. Last month, Girl Scouts of the USA recognized their efforts with a Bronze Award — the highest honor a junior Scout can earn for community service.

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Around Town

New jewelry boutique celebrates grand opening in Clarendon tomorrow

By Katie Taranto
Upcycled earring creations at Eliana Curated in Clarendon (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A jewelry boutique selling upcycled earrings and art has opened its first brick-and-mortar location in Clarendon.

The new store, Eliana Curated, will celebrate a grand opening tomorrow (Saturday) at 3110 10th Street N. Founder Angelika O’Reilly, who previously sold her wares mostly at D.C.-area markets, specializes in “fine jewelry, fashion art and curated experiences.”

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Around Town

Arlington fitness entrepreneur opens new barre3 studio in Falls Church

By Katie Taranto
Hope Wheeler at barre3 in Falls Church (courtesy of Christine Halsey)

An Arlington woman began her entrepreneurial journey earlier this year with the opening of a new fitness studio in Falls Church.

Hope Wheeler opened a barre3 this winter at 450 N. Washington Street, making a career shift after two decades in professional communications. Since February, the new boutique fitness studio has brought dozens of people together for classes in strength, cardio and mindfulness.

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News

Tariff whiplash rattles Eden Center’s hub of Vietnamese businesses

By Katie Taranto
Eden Center's entrance in April 2025 (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Massive retaliatory tariffs that went into effect today before abruptly going on pause have left Eden Center businesses rethinking pricing and fearing for the future.

The Falls Church shopping center with over 120 family-owned businesses relies heavily on sales of imported goods from Vietnam, China and numerous other countries that have ridden an economic rollercoaster over the past week.

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Around Town

SER celebrates 10 years in Ballston as owners plan new restaurant

By Katie Taranto
SER in Ballston in 2025 (courtesy of SER)

Now celebrating a decade in Ballston, an award-winning Spanish restaurant is opening an outdoor patio as its owners consider plans for a new Arlington eatery.

SER co-owners Javier Candon and Christiana Campos commemorated 10 years at 1110 N. Glebe Road over the weekend alongside about 300 supporters. Expressing gratitude for community support and regional recognition, they teased expansion plans.

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Around Town

Ballston fitness scene grows with planned new gym and Onelife Fitness expansion

By Katie Taranto
Onelife Fitness in Ballston Quarter (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Ballston’s fitness scene is growing stronger.

Ballston Quarter gym Onelife Fitness is planning to renovate and expand into a nearby vacant space. Meanwhile, Performance 360, a new fitness center, is gearing up to open where Hunan Gate closed in December.

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Events

‘Art of Pink’ night market celebrates cherry blossoms in Pentagon City this Friday

By Katie Taranto
Met Park in Bloom sign at Art of Pink in 2024 (courtesy of National Landing)

A pop-up art gallery, breakdancing competition and night market are happening in Pentagon City this Friday to commemorate the cherry blossom bloom.

The free event, Art of Pink, will take place from 5-10 p.m. at Met Park on 1321 S. Elm Street.

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Around Town

Cantonese restaurant aims for May opening at Pentagon City shopping center

By Katie Taranto
1983 Chinese Cuisine at the Westpost shopping center (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A new Chinese restaurant hopes to open at Westpost at National Landing in early May.

1983 Chinese Cuisine is currently wrapping up interior design and finalizing its menu at 1101 S. Joyce Street in Pentagon City, manager Cuong Vo told ARLnow. It will fill a vacancy left by Bonefish Grill last winter.

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Around Town

Rumble Boxing gym plans soft opening in Courthouse this month

By Katie Taranto
Rumble Boxing's new Courthouse gym (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A new gym with a strength training and boxing program is opening in Courthouse later this month.

Rumble Boxing is slated to soft open on Monday, April 14 at 2055 15th Street N. It’s the second fitness studio to arrive on the ground floor of The Commodore apartments, opening near YogaSix.

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Around Town

A Japanese-themed plushie arcade is coming to Pentagon City’s mall

By Katie Taranto
Kids play with a Gatcha claw machine in New Jersey (via Gatcha/Facebook)

A Japanese-inspired arcade with plush toy prizes is coming to the Pentagon City mall in a couple months.

With games, claw machines and Japanese toys and anime figurines for sale, Arcade company Gatcha plans to open this June at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, a mall representative told ARLnow.

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Around Town

Scolapasta delays Ballston opening plans until the summer

By Katie Taranto
Scolapasta signs at 4219 Fairfax Drive in December 2024 (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A fast-casual Italian restaurant has pushed back its plans to open in Ballston until the summertime.

Scolapasta — previously expected to open last month at 4219 Fairfax Drive — is now aiming to open in July, owner Burak Temel told ARLnow.

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