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.

News

Shirlington Circle bridge closes again for a week of construction

By Katie Taranto
Detour lanes and closures in effect until Sunday, July 28 (courtesy of the Virginia Department of Transportation)

For the second time this month, the Shirlington Circle south rotary bridge over I-395 has closed for construction.

The bridge — which connects southbound lanes from I-395 and Shirlington Road to North Quaker Lane at Exit 6 — is set to remain closed until just before midnight this coming Sunday, July 28.

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Around Town

Bun’d Up speakeasy reimagined as Korean street food spot at Westpost

By Katie Taranto
Noonchi's interior is decorated with lanterns and neon lights (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Korean street food is on the menu at Noonchi, a new eatery in the back of Bun’d Up in Pentagon City.

Asian-American fusion spot Bun’d Up at 1201 S. Joyce Street, in the Westpost shopping center, finished rebranding its back room earlier this year. Noonchi is a departure from Sparrow Room, the former speakeasy and dim sum destination.

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Around Town

Arlington spot makes Washington Post’s short list of ‘great affordable restaurants’

By Katie Taranto
Pho 75 in Rosslyn (via Google Maps)

A longtime Rosslyn eatery was recently recognized in the Washington Post’s list of “great affordable restaurants in the D.C. area.”

Pho 75 at 1721 Wilson Blvd, in the Colonial Village Shopping Center, was one of five restaurants on the list compiled by food critic Tom Sietsema.

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Around Town

Nando’s serving free chicken tomorrow in exchange for donated school supplies

By Katie Taranto
The Nando's Peri-Peri storefront in Ballston has outdoor seating (staff photo)

School supplies and financial donations can be exchanged for free chicken at all Nando’s Peri-Peri locations tomorrow (Thursday) to celebrate Mandela Day.

The South African fast casual chain will serve a free flame-grilled chicken leg or breast at any spice level to customers who donate at least one school supply item or make a financial donation between 4-7 p.m.

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Around Town

Bees & Tea to go solo as Asia Bistro prepares to close in Pentagon City

By Katie Taranto
Bees & Tea serves colorful milk and fruit teas at the Westpost shopping center (via Bees & Tea/Instagram)

Bees & Tea by Asia Bistro is getting ready to become a standalone cafe at Westpost in Pentagon City.

The “tea bar” located inside Asia Bistro at 1301 S. Joyce Street requested a license to serve beer and wine in May, owner Jessica Arbaugh tells ARLnow. She expects the license to be approved by August or September.

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Around Town

A new Goodwill donation center is coming to Langston Blvd

By Katie Taranto
A Goodwill Donation Express center is under construction on Langston Blvd (courtesy of anonymous)

A Goodwill Donation Express center is slated to open later this year at 5210 Langston Blvd, formerly Tops Cleaners.

The new facility will mainly operate as a donation drop-off spot, a local Goodwill spokesman tells ARLnow, but a limited selection of donated goods will be for sale.

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Around Town

‘Tiny but mighty’ Turkish market in Courthouse winning following with authentic goods

By Katie Taranto

A small shop in Courthouse Plaza selling authentic Turkish grocery items has been gaining a following since opening in late February.

Avrasya Market, named after the Turkish word for Eurasia, is a 230 square-foot room packed to the brim with all kinds of Turkish goods. The shelves are stocked with spices, canned goods, comfort foods, condiments, beverages, cookies, pastries, chocolates, nuts, Turkish delight and more.

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Events

New ACPD summer community engagement series kicks off this weekend

By Katie Taranto
A police officer a game of pickup basketball with local kids in 2018 (Flickr pool photo by Kevin Wolf)

The Arlington County Police Department is launching a summer community engagement series this weekend.

The goal is to build the department’s relationship with the public. Headlining the series is a pair of kid-oriented events — an outdoor game day and a movie marathon.

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Around Town

Tortas y Tacos la Chiquita is opening in Va. Square

By Katie Taranto
Tortas y Tacos la Chiquita III is coming to 3811 Fairfax Drive (staff photo)

A third Tortas y Tacos la Chiquita is set to open next week in Virginia Square.

Restaurant Owner David Villalobos said the menu at Tortas y Tacos la Chiquita III on 3811 Fairfax Drive will be a “copy and paste” of other Tortas y Tacos locations on Columbia Pike and in Merrifield.

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Events

Nonprofit to celebrate two years of trash pickup with first-ever ‘Grabber Olympics’

By Katie Taranto
NOVA Cleanups' Grabber Olympics begin Saturday, July 13 at 11 a.m. (via NOVA Cleanups/Reddit)

The Paris Olympics start later this month and tomorrow (Saturday) in Arlington, a new competition will emerge: the Grabber Olympics, for Northern Virginia’s litter-picker-uppers.

The inaugural event will begin at 11 a.m. by the Clarendon Metro station for a two-hour community cleanup with volunteer nonprofit NOVA Cleanups, sister of District Cleanups. Anyone is welcome to sign up and participate.

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Around Town

Cafe serving bubble tea, Vietnamese cuisine opens in Clarendon

By Katie Taranto
Bobalicious Cafe is located next to Endo Sushi at 3000 Washington Blvd (staff photo)

Bobalicious Cafe, an eatery and bubble tea shop, opened for business at 3000 Washington Blvd in Clarendon last week.

The new cafe serves a variety of milk teas, fruit teas, smoothies, coffee and other chilled drinks. “Favorites” on the menu include milk tea, brown sugar milk tea, taro slush, cappuccino smoothie, Thai tea, sea salt coffee, passion fruit green tea, lychee green tea, peach black tea, and mango slush.

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Around Town

Nepalese restaurant expected to open next year after Booeymonger closes in Ballston

By Katie Taranto
Booeymonger in Ballston (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Deli and sandwich shop Booeymonger has closed its doors in Arlington.

Nepalese restaurant Himalayan Wild Yak is now expected to occupy the space at 1010 N. Glebe Road in Ballston, but it likely won’t open before January 2025, owner Dipraj Magar told ARLnow.

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