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

Carbonara featured in Yelp’s national ‘Best New Restaurants’ list

By Katie Taranto
Owner and chef Mike Cordero serving pasta at Carbonara (staff photo by Savannah Taffe)

An Italian restaurant in Virginia Square is one of the best new restaurants in the country, according to Yelp.

The website ranked Carbonara (3865 Wilson Blvd) at No. 21 on its list of the Best New Restaurants of 2024 earlier this week. The national list selected 25 restaurants based on the volume and ratings of their Yelp reviews, among other factors.

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Around Town

Vietnamese restaurant plans to open in former Lee’s Sandwiches space in Ballston

By Katie Taranto
An "open soon" sign for Simply Banh Mi in Ballston (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A Vietnamese restaurant from D.C. will soon make its Arlington debut in Ballston, serving banh mi, pho and other family recipes at affordable prices.

Simply Banh Mi plans to open its second location at 801 N. Quincy Street in a few weeks, owner John Tran told ARLnow. It will replace a similar restaurant that closed at that location in February: Lee’s Sandwiches, which bills itself as the “World’s Largest Bánh Mì Chain.”

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Around Town

A year in, Ocean Shack turned lackluster reviews into regular customers and big crowds

By Katie Taranto
Ocean Shack during New Year's Eve (courtesy of Ocean Shack)

It’s been a busy year for Ocean Shack, the seafood restaurant and sports bar that opened in Waverly Hills last November.

With an emphasis on sports, seafood and social media, the restaurant — which celebrated its one-year anniversary a couple weeks ago — overcame some initial growing pains to regularly draw in weekend crowds.

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Around Town

A kid-friendly bistro with Detroit-style pizza is coming to Falls Church

By Katie Taranto
Little Beast in D.C. (courtesy of Little Beast)

A D.C. pizza restaurant with a colorful monster theme is looking to open a second location, in Falls Church.

Known for its picture book-style art and Detroit-style pizza, Little Beast Cafe & Bistro plans on bringing a little whimsy to the ground floor of Broad & Washington (111 E. Broad Street) sometime next year.

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Events

Wine & Cider Festival coming to Water Park as seasonal festivities begin

By Katie Taranto
The view overlooking the renovated Crystal City Water Park (courtesy of Sam Kittner)

From cider tasting to ice skating, Water Park in Crystal City has some wintery activities planned this holiday season, starting this week.

Following a tree lighting at 6 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday), a Wine & Cider Festival featuring beverages and charcuterie pairings is happening from 2-8 p.m. on Saturday.

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Around Town

Ambar introduces ‘Winter Wonderland’ with holiday drinks in Clarendon

By Katie Taranto
Christmas trees in Ambar's "Winter Wonderland" dining room (courtesy of Ambar)

Ambar in Clarendon has a frosty new look — and libations — for the holiday season.

The Balkan restaurant at 2901 Wilson Blvd recently unveiled a winter drink menu and a cozy, chalet-inspired interior on its lower level.

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Events

Shirlington’s tree lighting celebration returns this week

By Katie Taranto
Shirlington's tree lighting celebration from a past year (courtesy photo)

An annual Shirlington holiday tradition is fast-approaching with festive music and family-friendly activities.

The Village at Shirlington’s annual tree lighting celebration begins at 6 p.m. this Thursday, Dec. 5. The event includes horse-drawn carriage rides, photos with Santa, face painting, a makers market and live holiday tunes.

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Around Town

Clarendon Irish pub plans expansion into former Spirits of ’76 spot

By Katie Taranto
3211 Washington Blvd, next to O'Sullivan's Irish Pub in Clarendon (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub in Clarendon is planning to open a new room in a vacant, adjacent storefront.

The business applied for a permit last week for a commercial addition at 3211 Washington Blvd, formerly home to The Spirits of ’76, an Americana-themed bar that closed in fall 2020.

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Around Town

New Indian restaurant offers clay oven cooking on Langston Blvd

By Katie Taranto
Curry & Clay Oven on Langston Blvd (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A new halal Indian restaurant opened recently on Langston Blvd, adding some South Asian flavors to the corridor’s diverse lineup of local restaurants.

At 5645 Langston Blvd, Curry & Clay Oven offers mainstays like biryani, palak paneer and curry, as well as fusion dishes such as paneer cheesesteaks, butter chicken pizzas and masala fries, manager Khalid Oylid told ARLnow.

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Around Town

National sandwich chain plans expansion into Arlington in 2025

By Katie Taranto
Port of Subs storefront example (courtesy of Port of Subs)

Sandwich shop Port of Subs is expected to land in Arlington next year as the company rolls out plans for a D.C.-area expansion.

The nautical-themed, Nevada-based submarine sandwich chain expects to establish 70 locations in the region over the next decade, with the first scheduled to open in Arlington by May 2025, Port of Subs announced this month.

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Events

Small Business Saturday returns to Arlington and Falls Church this weekend

By Katie Taranto
One More Page Books, pictured on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019 in Arlington. (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

The holiday shopping rush will continue after Black Friday with a local Small Business Saturday push.

Twenty-two stores and restaurants in Arlington and Falls Church are slated to participate in the program, which will go through Sunday this year.

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Around Town

Young chef and pastry maker from Arlington cooks up entrepreneurial success

By Katie Taranto
Esvin Gramajo Barrios Jr. works in the kitchen (courtesy of Johnathan Moreno)

At 20 years old, Esvin Gramajo Barrios Jr. wears many (chef) hats.

Since age 15, the Arlington native has worked hard to hone his culinary skills and launch his own bakeshop, Sweets by Esvin, out of the home he owns in Oxon Hill, Md. One day, he dreams of co-owning a bakery with his father, local chef Esvin Gramajo Hernandez.

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