Ryan Cole | ARLnow

Arlington high school football teams prepare for battle in 2025 season

Published August 19, 2025 at 2:45PM | Updated August 19, 2025 at 3:39PM

Wakefield's football team practicing (staff photo by Ryan Cole)

It’s almost time for “Friday night lights” in Arlington as the county’s three public high school teams get ready for the upcoming season starting on Aug. 28.

Wakefield, Washington-Liberty and Yorktown are in different stages of development and expectations, but they all play in the Liberty District. That means they will all face one another this season.

Around Town

AWLA announces winners of beer can contest for pets after raising $53K

By Ryan Cole

Published August 12, 2025 at 2:00PM

Popcorn, winner of the Rescue Brew Contest (courtesy of the AWLA)

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington is unveiling new limited-edition beer cans this week following the end of a charity contest featuring local pets.

The AWLA’s Rescue Brew Contest, which involved pet owners competing for a chance to feature their furry friend on 32-ounce aluminum cans, raised $53,000 after over 1,000 people voted to decide four winners.

Around Town

Local Scout redesigns wig room for cancer patients at VHC Health

By Ryan Cole

Published August 8, 2025 at 8:30AM | Updated August 8, 2025 at 12:05PM

New wig room in Reva and Sid Dewberry Cancer Resource Center at Virginia Hospital Center (courtesy of Alia Abbud)

A local Scout has redesigned the room where chemotherapy patients try on wigs at Virginia Hospital Center, seeking to create a more comfortable and welcoming space.

Seeking to honor one of her past teachers, who was diagnosed with breast cancer, 16-year-old Alia Abbud revamped the room in The Reva and Sid Dewberry Cancer Resource Center where patients go to try on wigs and head coverings.

Around Town

Free banana splits, outdoor movies and more coming to Pentagon City this month

By Ryan Cole

Published August 6, 2025 at 9:15AM

Metropolitan Park near Amazon HQ2 in Pentagon City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A summer of events is winding down this month at Pentagon City’s Metropolitan Park.

Live music, outdoor movies, crafts and a celebration of National Banana Split Day are all coming to the park over the next few weeks, courtesy of partnerships between Amazon and local businesses.

News

Upgraded water fountains coming to Mount Vernon Trail in Arlington

By Ryan Cole

Published August 1, 2025 at 9:15AM

A water fountain near the Roosevelt Island pedestrian bridge (staff photo by Ryan Cole)

New water fountains and refill stations are coming to the Mount Vernon Trail, the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial and other federally controlled parts of Arlington.

The National Park Service plans to install up to 14 new stations at “high-priority locations” in the vicinity of GW Parkway.

Around Town

Fried chicken and burger chain ‘Nash and Smashed’ coming to Arlington

By Ryan Cole

Published July 31, 2025 at 1:45PM

Signage for new Nash and Smashed location in the Buckingham Center(staff photo by Ryan Cole)

A Nashville-style burger and fried chicken chain plans to open a new location in Ashton Heights in about a month.

D.C.-area fast food joint “Nash & Smashed” is preparing to open at 310 N. Glebe Road, where Boost Mobile closed in the Buckingham Center. The new restaurant serves up traditional fried chicken, chicken sandwiches and smash burgers.

Around Town

Local entrepreneur starts hub for young innovaters at GMU’s Fuse building

By Ryan Cole

Published July 31, 2025 at 11:45AM | Updated July 31, 2025 at 6:29PM

George Mason's Fuse building (staff photo by Ryan Cole)

An Arlington entrepreneur and a father-daughter duo have begun hosting events for young innovators at George Mason University’s new Fuse building.

“Oasis Hill” — a project by Shy Pahlevani, founder of the local startups LiveSafe and HUNGRY, alongside the real estate development pair Hossein and Ivana Goal — set up shop at 3401 Fairfax Drive earlier this year.

Around Town

‘National Night Out’ festivities with ACPD coming to Arlington next week

By Ryan Cole

Published July 30, 2025 at 2:45PM

Arlington woman with police motorcycle (photo by David Moss Photography, courtesy of ACPD)

Live music, cookouts and other festivities are coming to neighborhoods around Arlington next week in an annual partnership with the Arlington County Police Department.

National Night Out, an event where police officers attend outdoor, community-building events in neighborhoods around their jurisdiction, is next Tuesday.

Around Town

New Arlington startup helps troubleshoot tech issues and increase technical literacy

By Ryan Cole

Published July 28, 2025 at 3:45PM

ReliableIT founder Mahoba "Maya" Akhtarzadah (courtesy of Mahoba Akhtarzadah)

An Arlington-based IT specialist is launching a new tech support company seeking to troubleshoot problems and help people build technical competence.

Mahboba “Maya” Akhtarzadah is the founder and CEO of ReliableIT, which provides support for issues with computers, phones, TVs, printers, Wi-Fi routers and more. In addition to solving customers’ tech troubles, Akhtarzadah will host one-on-one training sessions to help people develop greater comfort with technology.

News

Key Bridge Marriott redevelopment plan expires as demolition continues in Rosslyn

By Ryan Cole and Dan Egitto

Published July 22, 2025 at 3:45PM

The Key Bridge Marriott demolition site at 1401 Langston Blvd (staff photo by Ryan Cole)

The site plan to redevelop Rosslyn’s former Key Bridge Marriott has expired, raising even more questions for the future of the Langston Blvd property.

Plans for a renovated hotel and two 16-story residential buildings at 1401 Langston Blvd expired on July 1, county spokesperson Rachel LaPiana told ARLnow.

Sports

Phillies draft Yorktown High School graduate known for strike outs and fastballs

By Ryan Cole

Published July 17, 2025 at 9:15AM

James Tallon at Duke (via Duke Baseball/X)

The Philadelphia Phillies selected a Yorktown High School graduate in the sixth round of the Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft this week.

James Tallon, a 2022 Yorktown graduate, was an ace starting pitcher for the Patriots in high school. He then spent three years at Duke University, where he continued his pitching career as a reliever — coming into games in the late innings instead of starting them.

Around Town

Alshami Restaurant opens in Bluemont, promising ‘real Syrian food’

By Ryan Cole

Published July 16, 2025 at 2:45PM

Alshami Restaurant at 5216 Wilson Blvd (staff photo by Ryan Cole)

A new Syrian restaurant has opened for business in Bluemont, serving traditional cuisine straight from the kitchen of a Damascus native.

Alshami Restaurant offers a wide array of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, platters and flatbreads at 5216 Wilson Blvd. It takes the place of Ya Hala Bistro, a Middle Eastern restaurant that closed last year.