Matt Blitz | ARLnow

Wakefield students question Sen. Tim Kaine about Congress passing gun legislation

Published June 7, 2022 at 10:45AM

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) speaks with Wakefield High School students about gun violence (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

Only days before graduation, Wakefield High School students questioned Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine (D) about what can be done to pass gun legislation in Congress

Kaine paid a visit to Wakefield on Monday afternoon, in the wake of another school shooting, to speak with students about gun violence and increasing safety in their classrooms. He was joined in the school’s library by about 30 students as well as Arlington School Board Chair Barbara Kanninen and Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Francisco Durán.

Around Town

The nightlife power couple behind B Live talk about their burgeoning Clarendon empire

By Matt Blitz

Published June 2, 2022 at 11:30AM | Updated June 2, 2022 at 7:07PM

B Live, a live music and dining venue on Wilson Blvd (photo courtesy of B Live/Albert Ting)

When B Live in Clarendon opened to the public earlier this month, it was a big moment for local restaurateurs Christal and Mike Bramson.

The live music venue and restaurant is not the only venture that the married team has in Arlington. They also own several other well-known Clarendon concepts, including The Lot, Clarendon Pop-Up Bar, and Pamplona on Clarendon Blvd, plus they are planning to open a new tropical-themed bar on the roof above B Live, at 2854 Wilson Blvd, later this summer.

News

Arlington’s spraygrounds and water features are open for the summer, except for one

By Matt Blitz

Published June 2, 2022 at 10:30AM

Sprayground at Virginia Highlands Park (file photo)

With temperatures rising and summer now here, the county’s spraygrounds and interactive water features are all now open except for Mosaic Park.

Arlington has four spraygrounds and two interactive water features that are typically open Memorial Day until Labor Day. Among them:

Around Town

Military Women’s Memorial reopens, hosts all-women Honor Flight

By Matt Blitz

Published June 2, 2022 at 9:30AM

An Honor Flight of female veterans tour the newly renovated Military Women’s Memorial (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Military Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery has reopened to the public after six months of significant renovations.

The memorial opened its doors on Friday for Memorial Day weekend, after closing in late November for construction. The work focused on upgrading restrooms to make them ADA-accessible and more family-friendly, Kaprice Dyson, the memorial’s director of marketing, tells ARLnow. Additionally, the 196-seat theater was turned into a multi-purpose event space.

Around Town

Rosa Mexicano is coming to Pentagon City

By Matt Blitz

Published June 1, 2022 at 11:55AM | Updated June 1, 2022 at 12:11PM

Rosa Mexicano is looking to open in the former home of Sugar Factory on S. Hayes Street (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A new casual Mexican restaurant is looking to start serving later this year at the Pentagon City mall.

Rosa Mexicano is aiming for a September 1 opening, according to the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City website. It’s moving into the 5,500-square-foot former Sugar Factory space, which has an outside entrance facing S. Hayes Street.

News

Roosevelt Bridge rehab expected to bring new paint job and wider sidewalks

By Matt Blitz

Published June 1, 2022 at 10:45AM | Updated June 2, 2022 at 12:09PM

Traffic on the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge at the exits for Route 50 and the GW Parkway in 2021 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated on 6/2) Wider sidewalks may be coming to a major Potomac River crossing.

The long-awaited rehabbing of the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge, one of the main thoroughfares connecting Arlington to D.C., will result in a new paint job, updated overhead lights, and significant widening of sidewalks, a new D.C. Department of Transportation report says.

Around Town

Buzzy new Middle Eastern restaurant looking to open in former IOTA Club space

By Matt Blitz

Published May 31, 2022 at 11:40AM | Updated May 31, 2022 at 12:56PM

Tawle will move into 2832 Wilson Blvd next year, the former home of IOTA Club

(Updated at 12:55 p.m.) A new Middle Eastern restaurant, from the owners of one of D.C.’s most acclaimed restaurants, is preparing to open in Clarendon next year.

The kebab-centric Tawle, which means “table” in Arabic, is moving into 2832 Wilson Blvd, the former home of live music venue IOTA Club. The new casual concept plus rooftop bar is from the co-owners of D.C.’s Compass Rose and Maydan, the latter of which is Michelin-starred.

Around Town

Japanese restaurant Yuraku now open in somewhat-obscured Rosslyn space

By Matt Blitz

Published May 26, 2022 at 1:30PM | Updated May 26, 2022 at 4:01PM

Yuraku Sushi in Rosslyn is now open (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 4 p.m.) A new sushi restaurant has opened in Rosslyn in a long-vacant, off-the-beaten-path space.

Japanese restaurant Yuraku opened about two weeks ago for lunch and dinner, manager Mike Kim tells ARLnow, at 1850 Fort Myer Drive. That’s the long-vacant ground floor commercial space inside of the Turnberry Tower condo building a few blocks from the Rosslyn Metro station.

Around Town

Taqueria el Poblano staying open through the summer, now set to close in August

By Matt Blitz

Published May 26, 2022 at 10:30AM | Updated May 26, 2022 at 11:25AM

Taqueria el Poblano on Columbia Pike (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

(Updated at 11:25 a.m.) Taqueria el Poblano on Columbia Pike is staying open for a few more months after all.

In March, ARLnow reported that the local staple known for its margaritas was set to close its Pike location by the end of this month. However, co-owner Thomas Stevens tells ARLnow that they’ve since come to an agreement with the property owner BM Smith to extend the restaurant’s lease at 2401 Columbia Pike until the end of August. He says it became clear that regulars wanted them to stay open through the summer.

Around Town

Massive ‘Pike’ sculpture is being installed this week near the county border

By Matt Blitz

Published May 25, 2022 at 3:30PM | Updated May 25, 2022 at 6:19PM

The Pike is set to be installed this week near the county border (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

The Pike, a large-scale work of public art, is finally being installed this week at the southwest corner of Columbia Pike and S. Jefferson Street, near the county line bordering Fairfax.

On Wednesday morning, ARLnow saw the 50-foot-tall reclaimed wind turbine wing lying horizontally while waiting for a crane to raise it on an already-installed steel base dotted with thousands of coins from around the world.

Events

Arlington’s Firefly Festival is returning to Fort C.F. Smith Park next month

By Matt Blitz

Published May 25, 2022 at 1:30PM

The Arlington Firefly Festival is returning to Fort C.F. Smith Park next month.

On Sunday, June 19, the festival celebrating insects that light up summer nights is back for the first time since 2019. Last year, a smaller firefly “prowl” (essentially, a nature walk) was held due to the pandemic.

Around Town

Amazon Fresh in Crystal City now eyeing summer opening

By Matt Blitz

Published May 25, 2022 at 10:30AM

Amazon Fresh store on Crystal Drive (courtesy of David Johnston)

Crystal City’s Amazon Fresh is looking at a summer opening, a company spokesperson confirms.

Back in February, a mystery was solved when it was confirmed that an Amazon Fresh grocery store was moving into the large retail space at 1550 Crystal Drive. Now, the company says that residents likely won’t have to wait too long for Crystal City’s only grocery store to open.