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

Pet portraits by young artist benefit Arlington shelter

By Katie Taranto
Keira Cheng paints an owl witnessing forest destruction at the New York School of Arts in Vienna (courtesy of Keira Cheng)

Through kindness and painting, a local teenage artist is giving some of Arlington’s shelter pets a helping hand.

Keira Cheng, 17, is a volunteer artist for Lucky Dog Animal Rescue at 5159 Langston Blvd. The Woodson High School student has been creating portraits of the rescue’s resident cats and dogs since summer 2023, all the while advocating for their adoption via social media.

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Around Town

Ballston juice shop closes with plans to relocate nearby

By Katie Taranto
The former Ballston location of Greenheart Juice Shop (staff photo by James Jarvis)

After a little over a year in business, a Ballston juice bar intends to relocate to a smaller space in the neighborhood.

Greenheart Juice Shop, a Northern Virginia-based juicery and eatery founded in 2013, closed last Friday at 4121 Wilson Blvd. The shop serving smoothies, cold-pressed juices, cashew milks and light breakfast items opened for business last September in the former location of Philz Coffee.

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Around Town

Hyde Social set to host grand opening in Clarendon this weekend

By Katie Taranto
Hyde Social at 3100 Clarendon Blvd (via Hyde Social/Facebook)

A restaurant and bar providing diners with a classy, but easygoing, night out aims to celebrate its grand opening this weekend.

Hyde Social — named after Clarendon’s namesake, first Earl of Clarendon Edward Hyde — is scheduled to open at 4 p.m. this Friday at 3100 Clarendon Blvd. Co-owner John Cerrito said the restaurant plans to serve appetizers, drinks and entrees in a relaxed atmosphere.

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News

Arlington detective who worked high-profile homicide and sex crime cases retires

By Katie Taranto
Det. Rosa Ortiz speaks at her retirement ceremony (via ACPD/X)

A long-time detective in the Arlington County Police Department retired this week.

Det. Rosa Ortiz served her last day on the force yesterday (Thursday) following decades of Arlington sex crime and homicide investigations, including the 2009 murder of Carl Diener and the 1999 murder of Eva Veliz.

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Around Town

Arlington Lao and Thai spot makes Washington Post’s ‘40 best restaurants’ list

By Katie Taranto
Padaek, in the Arlington Ridge Shopping Center, in October 2023 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A Lao and Thai eatery in Arlington has captured Washington Post praise once again in a list of the D.C. area’s 40 best restaurants.

Longtime food critic Tom Sietsema lauded Padaek, located at 2931 S. Glebe Road in the Arlington Ridge Shopping Center, both for its offerings like fried blue catfish with tamarind-pineapple sauce and for its ambience.

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Around Town

‘Urban Oasis’ departs from Ballston courtyard amid building ownership changes

By Katie Taranto
Isa Seyran chats with a regular and friends at Ballstonian: Urban Oasis (staff photo)

Ballston’s outdoor “Urban Oasis” cafe has dried up — but its signature red coffee cart hasn’t gone far.

Like flowers after a desert rain, the short-lived Turkish coffee experience by Ballstonian founder Isa Seyran sprang up this summer in a courtyard at 4075 Wilson Blvd.

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Around Town

Goodwill opens new donation center on Langston Blvd

By Katie Taranto
Goodwill Donation Express at 5210 Langston Blvd (courtesy of Goodwill)

Arlington’s third Goodwill location opened yesterday (Wednesday) on Langston Blvd after some delays during interior construction.

The new center at 5210 Langston Blvd mainly serves as a donation drop-off spot for apparel and household goods. The site is also expected to sell a limited selection of merchandise.

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Around Town

Road closures scheduled for Army Ten-Miler race

By Katie Taranto
Runners are splashed with water during the 2017 Army Ten Miler (Photo via John Sonderman/Flickr)

Several roads will close temporarily for the 40th annual Army Ten-Miler race this Sunday, Oct. 13.

Some streets in and around Rosslyn, Crystal City and the Pentagon will be affected. Closures will begin at 5 a.m. and last until 12:30 p.m.

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Around Town

D.C.-area salon, once frequented by Kamala Harris, opens Crystal City location

By Katie Taranto
Pedicure stations at nailsaloon in Crystal City (courtesy of Cecilie Olaussen)

A popular D.C.-area nail salon opened its first Northern Virginia location in Crystal City over the weekend.

Nailsaloon, voted “Best Mani-Pedi” in Washingtonian’s 2023 Reader Picks, opened for business on Sunday at 1900 Crystal Drive on the business’ 10th anniversary.

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Around Town

New Kaldi’s Social House opens near Potomac Yard with cocktails and a dinner menu

By Katie Taranto
Red velvet seating at the bar inside Kaldi's at Potomac Yard (via Kaldi's/Facebook)

Kaldi’s Social House has soft launched its second Arlington location in the Potomac Yard area, with plans to be fully operational by next week.

The new cafe and restaurant at 3639 S. Glebe Road, near Crystal City, soft opened yesterday (Monday). It aims for a somewhat different ambience than the eatery’s other spots in Clarendon and Silver Spring, Director of Operations Sean Swartz told ARLnow.

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