Author: Ryan Cole

Ryan Cole is a reporting fellow at ARLnow and an Arlington native. He’s a 2022 Yorktown High School graduate and a 2026 graduate of Northwestern University, where he studied journalism and covered sports for campus publications.

Schools

New principal appointed at Yorktown High School for ‘confidential’ reasons

By Dan Egitto and Ryan Cole
Incoming Yorktown Principal Bridget Loft (via APS/X)

Yorktown High School is getting a new principal after six and a half years.

Bridget Loft, formerly the Swanson Middle School principal, will be taking the helm at Yorktown from Principal Kevin Clark. She is returning to a position that she previously held from 2017 to January 2020, when Clark took over.

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Events

Enjoy the waning days of summer with these outdoor August events

By Ryan Cole
A past movie night at the Plaza at Mason Square (via University Life Mason Square/Instagram)

While Arlington is entering the later days of the summer, a full schedule of outdoor events continues through August.

Movie showings, live concerts and the Arlington County Fair are sure to draw crowds in the maybe-not-so-blistering heat of the late-ish season. Other outdoor attractions range from Rosslyn’s Dark Star Park Day to an outdoor bonsai class in Pentagon City.

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Around Town

Nash & Smashed plans to open at Buckingham Center in two weeks

By Ryan Cole
Nash & Smashed on N. Glebe Road (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A Nashville-style fried chicken and smash burger chain is almost ready to open its latest location on N. Glebe Road.

Nash & Smashed, a rapidly growing D.C.-area chain, has had signage up at the Buckingham Center since this time last year. It’s now set to hold a soft opening in about two weeks, with a grand opening to come later on, chief operating officer Lamaan Malik told ARLnow.

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Around Town

Chris Distefano headlines Arlington Drafthouse schedule for second half of 2026

By Ryan Cole
Arlington Cinema N' Drafthouse on Columbia Pike (Flickr pool photo by Jason Gooljar)

Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse’s schedule for the next five months includes a stand-up comedian who has sold out Madison Square Garden.

The movie theatre and comedy club on Columbia Pike has nationally-touring comic Chris Distefano scheduled for four mid-December shows, marking his return to a venue he played early in his career.

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Around Town

From parenting to real estate, Arlington influencers plug into communities to find success

By Ryan Cole
Smiling woman with a sleek bun holding a baby in a green Mexico soccer jersey, seated indoors by a window with plants and decorations in the background.
Diana Casillas, an Arlington motherhood influencer on Instagram (courtesy of Diana Casillas)

To build a social media following in Arlington, focus on community.

That’s one lesson that local influencers shared with ARLnow, discussing how they and other Arlington residents have cultivated Instagram and TikTok accounts with well over 50,000 followers.

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Around Town

Solace Outpost brewpub eyes partnership with Ballston’s El Rey taqueria

By Ryan Cole
Outdoor cafe seating with colorful metal chairs and weathered wooden tables in front of a turquoise-and-white triangular tiled wall under string lights.
El Rey at 4201 Wilson Blvd in Ballston, where Solace Outpost just filed for a liquor license (staff photo by Ryan Cole)

A brewpub concept from a Sterling brewing company is pursuing a partnership with a Mexican restaurant in Ballston.

Solace Outpost has applied for a license to sell alcohol at 4201 Wilson Blvd, at the site of El Rey taqueria and margarita bar. Solace Brewing Company co-founder Jon Humerick told ARLnow that Solace is “finalizing terms” on an agreement with El Rey’s current owners, potentially involving co-ownership.

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Around Town

Unhoused man, 77, returning to Romania after local fundraiser

By Ryan Cole
Older man wearing a blue cap and gray T-shirt sits on a bench outdoors with lush green foliage behind him.
Ion Chilom, a 77-year-old homeless man in Arlington set to return home to Romania (courtesy of Mark Mooney)

After decades of trying to return to Romania, the last four of which he spent homeless in Arlington, a 77-year-old man is finally going home.

Ion Chilom arrived in the United States 44 years ago, fleeing a communist dictatorship in Romania. Since then, he has made several attempts to return home, but political conditions and financial insecurity dashed those hopes until a neighbor set up a GoFundMe campaign last month.

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Events

Arlington County Fair returns for 50th year next month, debuting new activities

By Ryan Cole
The Arlington County Fair (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Arlington County Fair is returning next month with its ever-popular assortment of carnival rides, treats and events, plus some new additions.

The fair will take place from Wednesday, Aug. 12 to Sunday, Aug. 16 at Thomas Jefferson Community Center, bringing back attractions like the fun slide, the double Ferris wheel and the “super shot” drop tower, paired with reliable fair bites such as fried Oreos, funnel cake and tacos.

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Around Town

Bagel Uprising opens in Ballston with back-to-the-basics breakfast bites

By Ryan Cole
Storefront entrance for Bagel Uprising with large yellow sign above glass doors and a circular logo on the right window; neon OPEN sign visible nearby.
Bagel Uprising at 901 N Glebe Road in Ballston (staff photo by Ryan Cole)

A veteran-owned bagel shop with hearty breakfast options opened its second location today (Tuesday) in Ballston.

Alexandria-based Bagel Uprising has opened its doors at 901 N. Glebe Road, on the heels of another bagel shop, Call Your Mother, opening at nearby 4000 Wilson Blvd earlier this month. Bagel Uprising seeks to distinguish itself with simple, consistent results on classic bagel and sandwich offerings.

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Around Town

Arlington bike race gets shoutout during Tour de France coverage

By Ryan Cole
A group of cyclists race down a city street lined with white tents and barriers, with spectators watching from behind the barriers.
The 2026 Clarendon Cup in Arlington (courtesy of Robert Laybourn)

A potential partnership between an Arlington bicycle race and one of the world’s largest cycling event organizers received a shoutout during weekend coverage of the Tour de France.

NBC sideline reporter Steve Porino referred to negotiations between the Amazon Armed Forces Cycling Classic and the Amaury Sports Organization, which owns and operates the Tour de France.

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Around Town

Another hot summer brings good business to Arlington’s ice cream shops

By Ryan Cole
Three friends sit on wooden benches at an outdoor cafe, eating ice cream together; a man hands a pink treat to a woman in jeans while another woman in a striped dress enjoys her cone.
People eating outside of Mimi's Handmade Ice Cream in Pentagon City (staff photo by Ryan Cole)

Hot days — but not too hot, ideally — mean steady business at Arlington’s ice cream parlors.

Store owners and employees told ARLnow that an unusually hot summer has been driving healthy revenue, although some days this year, intense heat has caused slower traffic even at ice cream shops. In a business built on frosty treats, Mimi’s Handmade Ice Cream owner Rollin Amore has summertime almost down to a science.

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Events

Used book sale from D.C. nonprofit coming to Crystal City this week

By Ryan Cole
A Turning the Page pop-up sale at Eastern Market in D.C. (courtesy of Jason King)

A pop-up book sale with live music and deals at local businesses is happening in Crystal City this week.

Stalls selling over 5,000 donated books, DVDs, CDs and vinyl records, all for under $8, will be set up in the courtyard between the Grace and Reva buildings at 19th Court S. from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Thursday.

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