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

A Japanese restaurant and ‘listening bar’ is coming to former Cava Mezze in Clarendon

By Katie Taranto
2940 Clarendon Blvd (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A Japanese fusion restaurant and “listening bar” is preparing to open next year in Clarendon.

Oasis: The Listening Bar is a concept based on “HiFi bars” popular in Japan — spaces known for their high-quality record players, loudspeakers and amplifiers, where customers focus on the music while enjoying a meal together.

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Around Town

Expanding boutique dentistry chain prepares to open in Pentagon City

By Katie Taranto
Tend in Pentagon City, 1421 S. Hayes Street (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A dentistry chain that claims to have reimagined the dentist’s office experience is preparing to open a second Arlington location.

Tend, which plans to open in February at 1421 S. Hayes Street, offers general dentistry, orthodontics, cosmetic services and more with a self-described “spa-like” ambience. Part of the recent ‘medtail‘ trend, Tend opens in retail spaces and refers to its locations as soothing “studios” that patients look forward to visiting.

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Around Town

New Crystal City taqueria serves up family recipes from Mexico

By Katie Taranto
Taqueria Xochi at Amazon HQ2 (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A new Mexican restaurant with an emphasis on authenticity is the latest business to arrive at the ground floor of Amazon’s HQ2.

Taqueria Xochi (pronounced “so-chee”) plans to host a grand opening on Tuesday (Nov. 19) at 1450 S. Eads Street in Crystal City. With its entire menu coming from family recipes by co-founders Geraldine Mendoza and Teresa Padilla, the restaurant aims for truly Mexican cuisine — not Tex-Mex.

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Around Town

Former &pizza location in Rosslyn remains vacant

By Katie Taranto
1800 N. Lynn Street in Rosslyn (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

The former space of a D.C.-based pizzeria remains vacant in Rosslyn after the restaurant closed over the summer.

A few months after &pizza’s closure at 1800 N. Lynn Street, the restaurant’s kitchenware and checkered tiles can still be seen inside. Recent permits do not indicate a new tenant at the property, which houses several other restaurants, including Nando’s Peri-Peri Chicken, sweetgreen, Happy Eatery food hall and McDonald’s.

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Around Town

Mediterranean restaurant to open in Falls Church this week

By Katie Taranto
Cafe Zevian at The Kensington (courtesy of Adem Kaplan)

A new cafe highlighting Turkish, Greek and Lebanese cuisines is opening this week in Falls Church.

Cafe Zevian, a Mediterranean concept by Adem Kaplan, will be located at the bottom of The Kensington senior living facility at 700 W. Broad Street. Opening at 7 a.m. each day, the restaurant will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner options including an array of meat and vegetable dishes.

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Around Town

Photos with Santa Claus begin Friday at the Pentagon City mall

By Katie Taranto
Santa Claus (via Tim Mossholder/Unsplash)

Santa Claus is coming to town, starting with photo sessions in Pentagon City this Friday.

Professional photos with Saint Nick will be available at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City through Christmas Eve (Dec. 24). Santa’s schedule varies this time of year, but he will be present for photos most weekdays from 2-7 p.m., with extended hours on weekends.

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Around Town

Clarendon couple appearing on ‘House Hunters’ this week

By Katie Taranto
Mike and Alexa McGuire's wedding photo (courtesy of Mike and Alexa McGuire)

A Clarendon couple’s search for a new home for their growing family will be featured on “House Hunters” tomorrow (Wednesday).

Alexa McGuire, a pediatric health care salesperson, and Mike McGuire, a business consultant, lived in their Clarendon condo on N. Highland Street for five years before going on the HGTV show. One of their main reasons for moving, the couple told ARLnow, was needing more space.

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Around Town

ACPD’s holiday toy drive returns this week

By Katie Taranto
Officers with toys at a past ACPD Fill the Cruiser toy drive (courtesy of the Arlington County Police Department)

The Arlington County Police Department is kicking off its annual toy drive for children in need.

The first of two ACPD collection events is taking place this weekend, and drop boxes were placed around the county last week. As part of its 10th annual “Fill the Cruiser” campaign, the department is seeking new, unwrapped toys for kids up to 17 years old.

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Around Town

Arlington, F.C. appear on N. Va. Magazine’s list of 50 best restaurants

By Katie Taranto
Inside Ellie Bird (via Ellie Bird/Facebook)

Restaurants across Arlington and Falls Church received acclaim in Northern Virginia Magazine this month.

The magazine’s list of the “50 Best Restaurants in Northern Virginia” in 2024 featured 14 establishments from the county and The Little City. Featured cuisines ranged from sushi and Italian, to Vietnamese and tapas.

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Around Town

New Tex-Mex restaurant Casa Mariachi opens in Falls Church

By Katie Taranto
Casa Mariachi, 133 E. Annandale Road (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A new Latin and Tex-Mex restaurant is currently hosting its soft opening in Falls Church.

Casa Mariachi Bar and Grille expects to hold a grand opening sometime next week at 133 E. Annandale Road, manager Tony Flores told ARLnow. The restaurant serves an expansive menu featuring tacos, quesadillas, burritos, fajitas and platters.

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Around Town

Arlington businesses offer free meals and deals on Veterans Day

By Katie Taranto
Busy day at Mr. Wash on N. Glebe Road in 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

In honor of Veterans Day on Monday, a number of Arlington businesses are offering complimentary meals and other free stuff to veterans and active service members.

Free pizza, free donuts, free car washes and other offerings of gratitude are available at the following locations.

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