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

Michelin-starred tacos are coming to Crystal City for limited time

By Katie Taranto
Tacombi in Crystal City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A Crystal City eatery is about to start serving Michelin-starred tacos. But only for a short time.

Starting tomorrow (Wednesday) and lasting through Thursday, Dec. 26, Tacombi at 1550 Crystal Drive will offer some items from the menu of Mexico City-based El Califa de León — the first taqueria in the world to earn a Michelin star.

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Around Town

American restaurant with ‘veggie-forward’ menu coming to Clarendon

By Katie Taranto
Shuttered Jos. A. Bank at The Crossing Clarendon on Jan. 23, 2024 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A casual eatery with a “veggie-forward” menu is on track to open at some point next year at The Crossing Clarendon.

The location at 2800 Clarendon Blvd, in the former Jos. A. Bank space, will be the first location outside of New York City for Westville, which serves “casual American food.”

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News

Reward offered in death of ’emaciated’ Arlington dog with hypothermia

By Katie Taranto
A dog found in critical condition in Arlington last week (via AWLA/Instagram)

An animal advocacy group is offering a reward for information after a dog succumbed to injuries last week in Arlington.

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington responded around 8 p.m. Wednesday to a report of a dog in critical condition near the intersection of 14th Street S. and S. Walter Reed Drive, a few blocks south of Columbia Pike.

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Around Town

California Tortilla closes in Courthouse after two decades

By Katie Taranto
2057 Wilson Blvd, formerly California Tortilla (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Arlington’s last California Tortilla closed in Courthouse late last month, as another restaurant is reportedly lined up to replace it.

The fast-casual Tex-Mex restaurant closed its doors Nov. 30, according to a storefront message at 2057 Wilson Blvd, next to Brooklyn Bagel Bakery. The Bethesda-based restaurant opened in Courthouse 20 years ago.

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Around Town

Bobalicious rebrands, adds soft tacos to Vietnamese menu

By Katie Taranto
Pho and Banh Mi Eatery Cafe signage (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A Vietnamese eatery in Clarendon featuring bubble tea has rebranded and added some new menu items.

After opening in July under the name Bobalicious, the cafe became Pho and Banh Mi Eatery Cafe later this summer — and has now updated its offerings to include soft tacos in addition to pho, poke, rolls and banh mi.

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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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