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.

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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Around Town

Warby Parker expected to open at The Crossing Clarendon this fall

By Katie Taranto
A Warby Parker is expected to open in Suite 600 at 2800 Clarendon Blvd. (staff photo)

Eyeglasses retailer Warby Parker is slated to fill a vacancy at The Crossing Clarendon that was once an Ann Taylor.

The shop is likely to open in November, a Warby Parker representative tells ARLnow. The storefront at 2800 Clarendon Blvd, located near Barnes & Noble and Sephora, is currently undergoing construction.

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Around Town

Ten interesting iced coffees to try in Arlington this summer

By Katie Taranto
Detour Coffee Co.'s Habibi Latte is seasoned with cardamom and cinnamon (staff photo)

Another hot day is on tap, with outdoor Arlington parks and rec activities from noon until 8 p.m. cancelled again amid yet another Heat Advisory (another advisory has already been issued for Wednesday).

As long as the area is scorching, the National Weather Service recommends staying in air-conditioned spaces and drinking plenty of fluids. An iced coffee run meets these conditions, but with it being so hot for so long, maybe you’re looking for something more unique than your average cold coffee.

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Around Town

Temporary beach volleyball courts now open in Crystal City, pickleball courts to follow

By Katie Taranto
Club Volo National Landing has four volleyball courts (courtesy of Volo Sports)

Four beach volleyball courts are now open in Crystal City as part of Club Volo National Landing, a new temporary recreational site at 223 23rd Street S.

The site is the result of an partnership between developer JBG Smith and Baltimore-based social sports company Volo Sports. The developer is set to construct high rise apartment buildings at the address, but has delayed construction until costs and interest rates settle.

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Around Town

Karaoke and pup cups are coming to Shirlington’s Astro Beer Hall

By Katie Taranto
The exterior of Astro Beer Hall in Shirlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Thursdays and Saturdays at the Astro Beer Hall in Shirlington are about to get more interesting, and in some cases, furry.

The restaurant, bar and arcade at 4001 Campbell Avenue will host weekly karaoke nights and a dog-friendly Paws on the Patio series this summer.

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Around Town

Most county facilities closing for July 4, transit on modified schedules

By Katie Taranto
Fireworks over the National Mall, viewed near the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Rosslyn (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

County offices, courts, community centers and all public library locations will all close Thursday for Independence Day.

Curbside collection of recycling, trash and organics will continue on regular hours, as will the special collection of brush, metal and e-waste. However, the Earth Products Yard and Household Hazardous Materials facility in Shirlington will close.

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Around Town

$3.9 million Donaldson Run home featured by ‘Zillow Gone Wild’

By Katie Taranto
Photos of house in Donaldson Run featured by popular social media account (via @zillowgonewild/Twitter)

A Donaldson Run house steps from Marymount University has captured the attention of a popular, real estate-focused social media account.

Zillow Gone Wild — which has 4.3 million followers across multiple social platforms — posted about the four-story home at 4605 26th Street N., showcasing its personal movie theater, extensive bar area and more.

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News

Tourism in Arlington broke a spending record last year

By Katie Taranto
Tourists and visitors at the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Rosslyn in March 2021 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington’s visitors spent $4.5 billion in the county last year according to a new study, eclipsing a pre-pandemic record by nearly $100 million.

The county’s 7.1 million visitors in 2023 spent record-breaking sums on transportation, food and drink, hospitality, recreation and retail, according to a study conducted by economic forecaster Tourism Economics.

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