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.

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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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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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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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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NEW: Andy’s Pizza opens tomorrow in Virginia Square

By Katie Taranto
New signage is up for Andy's Pizza at 901 N. Pollard Street (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

It’s happening: Andy’s Pizza is opening in Virginia Square tomorrow (Friday), the pizzeria announced on social media last night.

After over a year in the making, the acclaimed D.C.-area pizza shop’s newest outpost — and first Arlington location — is ready for business at 901 N. Pollard Street.

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New gelato shop and Guatemalan restaurant open at Pentagon City mall this week

By Katie Taranto
Amorino Gelato is now open at the Pentagon City mall (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A new gelato shop and a fast-casual Guatemalan restaurant are celebrating their debuts at the Pentagon City mall this week.

Amorino Gelato al Naturale opened yesterday (Tuesday) at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City (1100 S. Hayes Street), while Pollo Campero is expected to celebrate a grand opening on Friday with free giveaways.

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McDonald’s on Langston Blvd closes ahead of forthcoming demolition

By Katie Taranto
The former McDonald's at 4834 Langston Blvd in April (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

It’s the end of an era for the McDonald’s at 4834 Langston Blvd.

The fast food chain’s aging Langston Blvd location just closed and is now blocked off with fencing, ahead of its scheduled demolition to make way for a long-planned, modernized building.

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Life Alive Cafe plans for September opening in Ballston

By Katie Taranto
A spread of dishes from Life Alive Cafe (courtesy of Scott Suchman)

A new cafe with plenty of vegetarian breakfast and lunch options hopes to open in Ballston this fall.

Life Alive Cafe, which has been planning to set up shop in the former Bruegger’s Bagels space at 818 N. Quincy Street, announced plans to open this September.

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Yu Noodles opens new location tomorrow in Rosslyn

By Katie Taranto
Noodles from Yu Noodles (courtesy of Yu Noodles)

Serving up noodles, soup dumplings and dim sum, a D.C.-area Chinese restaurant is set to open a new location tomorrow (Wednesday) in Rosslyn.

Yu Noodles will kick off its soft opening at 11 a.m. at 1515 Wilson Blvd, where Tom Yum District closed in 2021, co-owner Tea Shao told ARLnow.

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Events

Easter Bunny hopping to Pentagon City mall this Friday

By Katie Taranto
The Easter Bunny (courtesy of the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City)

With Easter on the way, a familiar, festive rabbit is making his annual return to the Pentagon City mall.

The Easter Bunny will visit the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City at 11 a.m. this Friday, April 4, and he’ll be available for photos at 1100 S. Hayes Street until Saturday, April 19.

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Around Town

Acclaimed D.C. Ethiopian restaurant searches for Arlington location

By Katie Taranto
Table full of Eatopia dishes (courtesy of Eatopia)

Fresh off a successful first year in D.C., a family-operated Ethiopian restaurant lauded as one of the best in the region is planning a potential new Arlington location.

Eatopia Eatery, which The Washington Post recently named one of the region’s best Ethiopian restaurants, has been searching for an Arlington space since October, owner Surafel Gizachew told ARLnow. It would be the restaurant’s second outpost, joining the U Street location that debuted last April.

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