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

Green Pig Bistro relocates to same Clarendon address as nearby Buena Vida

By Katie Taranto
Green Pig Bistro's new mural (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Green Pig Bistro is expected to reopen soon after relocating a few blocks away from its original home.

The Clarendon restaurant of 12 years has completed the 0.2-mile move from 1025 N. Fillmore Street to the first floor of 2900 Wilson Blvd, PR rep Jill Collins told ARLnow.

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News

Sheriff’s office welcomes new bomb-detecting dog to K9 team

By Katie Taranto
K9 Weaver (courtesy of the Arlington County Sheriff's Office)

A dog with bomb-sniffing capabilities has joined the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office’s K9 team.

Weaver, a 1.5-year old Labrador retriever, is tasked with ensuring the safety of the Courthouse neighborhood and surrounding areas.

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Around Town

Arlington business owner and foster parent recognized on Today Show

By Katie Taranto
Linda Cheeks on the Today Show (via NBC)

An Arlington business owner and veteran was featured on NBC’s Today Show this week for a life of service to others.

The Today Show recognized Linda Cheeks, owner of Linda’s Unisex Hair Salon (2405 26th Road S.) in Long Branch Creek, for her work as a foster parent and other contributions to the Northern Virginia community. Cheeks, who also served in the U.S. Army in the 1970s, was featured on the morning show’s “Heroes Among Us” series.

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Around Town

District Taco bringing back original truck to serve free breakfast tacos in Rosslyn

By Katie Taranto
District Taco Founders Osiris Hoil and Marc Wallace (photo courtesy of District Taco)

A local restaurant has plans to serve free breakfast tacos in Rosslyn next week for National Taco Day.

District Taco says it will park its original taco truck at the intersection of Wilson Blvd and N. Lynn Street at 8 a.m. next Friday, Oct. 4. The Arlington-founded company will serve one taco per customer while supplies last — most likely until 10 a.m., the restaurant predicts.

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Around Town

Crystal City gallery showcasing local art is closing after 12 years

By Katie Taranto
The Gallery Underground in February 2024 (via Gallery Underground/Facebook)

The Gallery Underground in Crystal City is closing next week after one last art auction and gala.

The 3,000-square-foot gallery at 2100 Crystal Drive — in the Crystal City Underground — has been a mainstay of the Arlington Artists Alliance since 2012, showcasing the work of numerous artists. Now, the nonprofit’s outpost has confirmed its last day is Friday, Oct. 4, as JBG Smith is requiring all tenants to vacate the underground commercial area.

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Around Town

New Uyghur restaurant aims to open in Falls Church next month

By Katie Taranto
Dry fried chicken from Dolan Uyghur (via Dolan Uyghur/Facebook)

D.C.-area restaurant Dolan Uyghur plans to expand further into Northern Virginia with a new Falls Church location.

The new eatery hopes to open by Friday, Oct. 18 at 400 S. Maple Avenue, in the space formerly held by Pizzeria Orso, owner Hamid Kerim told ARLnow. The business also still plans to open a new location in Crystal City, although it has pushed back the planned opening date from November to February or March 2025.

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Events

Fall in Arlington: Festivals, nature walks, ‘Howl-O-Ween’ and more

By Katie Taranto
The Fall Heritage Festival (courtesy of Arlington County)

As the temperature cools and leaves begin to change, a wide array of activities are planned in Arlington this harvest season.

Whether marveling at fall foliage, attending a seasonal festival or celebrating Halloween with one’s dog, fans of fall will have no shortage of events to attend in the coming weeks.

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News

Filming for new ACPD recruitment video means Friday road closure

By Katie Taranto
Police officers gather at the intersection of Wilson and Clarendon Blvd for ACPD's November 2023 Street Smart campaign (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The filming of an Arlington County Police Department recruitment video will bring a temporary road closure on Friday.

A section of Army Navy Drive between S. Nash Street and 28th Street S. will be closed from 5-10 p.m. to accommodate filming, ACPD said. The forthcoming video is meant to “showcase the work of our officers and enhance our recruitment efforts.”

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Around Town

Clarendon hair salon gets updated look after 14 years

By Katie Taranto
Urban Halo Salon (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A longstanding hair salon in Clarendon has reopened after a major interior makeover.

After 14 years in business, Urban Halo Salon at 2900 Clarendon Blvd has swapped its former blue interior for white marble and gold and black tones. The changes aim to create a “timeless” aesthetic while adding fixtures to improve customer experience, co-owner Nash Noufal told ARLnow.

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News

Building accessory dwellings could become easier in Falls Church

By Katie Taranto
An accessory-dwelling unit by Backyard Homes in North Arlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Falls Church is eyeing possible changes to make it easier to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

The city, which has not granted an ADU permit since 2000, has released a draft framework for potential amendments to its zoning ordinance. Scheduled for a City Council vote in February, proposed changes would make it possible to build detached ADUs within city limits and would set dimensional standards for floor area, height and setbacks.

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Around Town

Shirlington’s Oktoberfest is canceled once again, but aims for 2025 return

By Katie Taranto
Shucktoberfest in Shirlington in 2022 (courtesy of Shucktoberfest)

A seasonal celebration of craft beer and oyster shucking in Shirlington has been canceled for the second year in a row.

For logistical reasons related to a change in ownership last December, Copperwood Tavern’s Shucktoberfest won’t be returning in October, General Manager Jody Hessler told ARLnow.

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News

‘Hero’ dog helps prevent house fire in Fairlington

By Katie Taranto
Archie the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (courtesy of Shravani Bobde)

A four-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel helped stop a fire in a Fairlington townhouse from spreading last week.

Shravani Bobde was awakened around 2 a.m. on Thursday to one of her dogs, Archie, incessantly licking her arm. Smelling smoke, she got up and began searching her bathroom, home office and other rooms for its source.

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