Around Town

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.


Around Town

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.


News

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.


News

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.


Events

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.


Around Town

Goodwill has launched a new donation center out of a mobile trailer in Clarendon.

The nonprofit opened a Mobile Donation Express earlier this month at 2636 Wilson Blvd, near Whole Foods Market. Although moveable, the trailer will remain parked at the location for the foreseeable future, a Goodwill representative told ARLnow.


Around Town

A new option for fried treats and drinks with East Asian flavors expects to open this spring in the Ballston Quarter food hall.

Luna Bar is planning to open by April at 4238 Wilson Blvd, Marketing Director Matt Hall told ARLnow. The bar is also planning locations in Tyson’s Corner and Rockville, Md.


Events

Fresh, hibachi-style meals are coming to Bronson Bierhall’s patio this weekend. One caveat: the meals are for dogs.

The Ballston bar and patio at 4100 Fairfax Drive is hosting a live hibachi event for dogs at 2 p.m. this Saturday, March 1, on its outdoor patio. A grill and dog-friendly ingredients will be supplied by Bogey’s Mix, a new dog food company in Northern Virginia.


News

An Arlington memorial fund has raised nearly $10,000 in honor of a teen figure skater killed in last month’s mid-air plane crash over the Potomac River.

The Edward “Eddie” Zhou STEM and Figure Skating Enrichment Fund aims to honor two of the late teenager’s passions by supporting Northern Virginia middle and high school-age figure skaters with interests in STEM. One of Zhou’s friends, 15-year-old Charlotte Mount, started the fund this month with the goal of carrying on his memory.


Around Town

The Barnes & Noble in Clarendon is temporarily closing this spring as plans to remodel and consolidate the space move forward.

Until May 23, the bookstore at 2800 Clarendon Blvd is holding a 25% off “last chance” sale on nearly all merchandise, a store manager told ARLnow. After that, the remodeling project is expected begin in the spring or summer and last through 2026.


Around Town

An expanding D.C.-area sushi restaurant is planning to open in Pentagon City later this year.

Takumi hopes to open this summer at 11oo S. Hayes Street, in the retail bay where Rosa Mexicano closed last year. The Columbia, Md.-based restaurant is planning four new locations this year, including another outpost in Tysons Corner.


Around Town

A Compass Coffee location opened in Clarendon over the weekend, filling the vacancy left by Peet’s Coffee last fall.

The D.C.-based coffee shop, which is now serving springtime drinks, is open at 3003 Washington Blvd, where Peet’s closed permanently in November.


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