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

Acme Pie Co. is relocating on Columbia Pike this month

By Katie Taranto
Acme Pie Co. at 2803 Columbia Pike (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A Columbia Pike pie shop is closing after next week, with plans to relocate and reopen by early next month.

Acme Pie Co. plans to close its doors at 2803 Columbia Pike sometime after Pi Day on Friday, March 14. The shop will relocate nearby on the Pike, with a goal of reopening during the first week of April, owner Sol Schott told ARLnow.

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Around Town

Clarendon-based mobile juicery hosts pop-ups at local gyms and stores

By Katie Taranto
SelfCare & Co's pop-up table (courtesy of SelfCare & Co)

A new Clarendon-based mobile juice bar has been making pop-up appearances at gyms and retail spaces around Arlington and Alexandria.

SelfCare & Co, which sells cold-pressed juice at fitness-themed events and businesses, aims to share the “transformative power of food.”

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Events

Where to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Arlington and Falls Church: Pubs, music and more

By Katie Taranto
St. Patrick's Day decorations at Ireland's Four Provinces in Falls Church (via Ireland's Four Provinces/Facebook)

Irish pubs throughout Arlington and Falls Church are gearing up for St. Patrick’s Day festivities — some with week-long celebrations in store.

From parties with live Irish dancing and specials on Jameson to a Clarendon bar crawl, here are some nearby destinations where you can toast “sláinte” next week, leading up to Monday, March 17.

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Around Town

Thai restaurant plans to open where Hunan Village closed

By Katie Taranto
The former site of Hunan Village on Langston Blvd (staff photo by Jared Serre)

A new Thai restaurant hopes fill the shoes of a longtime Chinese eatery that closed on Langston Blvd in November.

Thai O-Cha Express signed a lease at 4775 Langston Blvd in January and hopes to open there by early April, owner Chugiat Udommana told ARLnow. The space was previously home to Hunan Village for nearly 40 years.

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News

EXCLUSIVE: Amid immigration raids, a quiet resistance movement builds in Arlington

By Dan Egitto and Katie Taranto
Private property signage at AFAC's headquarters in Shirlington (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

As fears of immigration arrests flare, a network of Arlington organizations has been quietly but rapidly mobilizing to help undocumented residents and hinder immigration enforcement.

Local communities were already on the alert when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement carried out multiple raids in Northern Virginia yesterday and today (Tuesday).

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Events

BlerDCon returns to Crystal City this weekend with ‘Thrilla’ theme

By Katie Taranto
BlerDCon Spiderman cosplayers in 2023 (via BlerDCon/Facebook)

BlerDCon, an annual convention celebrating Black fandoms of sci-fi, comics, gaming and more, is happening this weekend in Crystal City.

Named for a portmanteau of “Black” and “nerd,” BlerDCon aims to entertain and create an inclusive environment for fans of “nerdy or geeky things.” Celebrity guest Janelle Monae is expected to join this year’s convention, which includes cosplay meetups, speaker panels, games, anime and more.

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Around Town

‘K-1 Beer and Wine’ owners plan to depart Columbia Pike hub of craft beers after 19 years

By Katie Taranto
K-1 Beer and Wine's storefront at 2516 Columbia Pike (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A Columbia Pike shop known for its extensive selection of wines and beers is changing hands after almost 20 years.

The owners of K-1 Beer and Wine at 2516 Columbia Pike are preparing to retire, co-owner Dae Choi told ARLnow. His mother, Bun Kim, bought the shop in 2006 and passed it down to Choi and his brother, Sang Kim, when she retired a decade ago.

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Around Town

‘Life Alive Cafe’ hopes to open at former bagel shop in Ballston

By Katie Taranto
818 N. Quincy Street (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

An organic, vegetarian-friendly cafe plans to open in Ballston where Bruegger’s Bagels closed in 2023.

Life Alive Cafe is preparing to renovate at 818 N. Quincy Street, county permits show. The Boston-based eatery with a focus on fresh meals for breakfast and lunch is expanding into the D.C. area.

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Around Town

A cryotherapy and ‘wellness’ studio plans Clarendon opening

By Katie Taranto
Vacant retail bay at 2832 Wilson Blvd where iCRYO plans to open (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Clarendon is slated to welcome a cold therapy studio on the old grounds of IOTA Club.

iCRYO, a Texas-based wellness industry franchise, offers various therapies, procedures, intravenous drips and “body sculpting.” The studio is “coming soon” to 2832 Wilson Blvd, where IOTA Club once stood.

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News

Columbia Pike businesses old and new feel the pinch as roadwork drags on

By Dan Egitto and Katie Taranto
Columbia Pike looking westbound in October 2024 (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Despite leaders’ hopes for a brighter future on Columbia Pike, both new and established businesses continue to face difficulties as roadwork drags on.

At this month’s “State of the Pike” forum, speakers highlighted a “light at the end of the tunnel” for establishments that have endured years of nearby utility work and road and sidewalk reconstruction.

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News

Bar Bao closes early after reported fight in latest rowdy incident

By Dan Egitto and Katie Taranto
Bar Bao in November 2020 (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

A Clarendon bar shut down early and crowd control was needed last weekend following a reported fight — a relatively common occurrence at the establishment.

Police were once again dispatched to Bar Bao — the site of almost 1,000 police calls for service between 2022 and 2024 — following a report of a quarrel around 8:53 p.m. on Sunday.

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Events

Where to celebrate Mardi Gras in Arlington and F.C.: King cakes, cocktails and more

By Katie Taranto
Mardi Gras in a Box and Li'l KC donuts from 2024 (courtesy of Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery)

King cakes, parties and themed drinks and foods are coming to Arlington and Falls Church for Fat Tuesday next week.

From purple, green and gold-covered sweets to New Orleans cuisine and church pancake suppers, here’s where you’ll find community celebrations and Mardi Gras activities next Tuesday, March 4.

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