The79th, based in Arlington, Virginia, is a small business specializing in 18 Karat (18K) solid gold jewelry.
Unlike other brands, their pieces are never filled, plated, or vermeil, offering true solid gold craftsmanship that lasts a lifetime. Hypoallergenic and tarnish-free, The79th’s timeless collections combine elegance, durability, and affordable luxury.
The79th was created out of a passion for providing affordable, high-quality solid gold jewelry. Tired of seeing people waste money on gold-plated pieces that tarnish and cause skin irritation, or overpaying for exuberant-priced 14K gold, The79th set out to offer a better solution. With a focus on accessible luxury, the brand delivers timeless, durable gold jewelry without the hefty mark ups.
The New Drop, launched this week, features three distinctive collections:
The Foundation: This collection features timeless, essential pieces crafted from solid 18K gold. Designed to be versatile and enduring, these pieces serve as the backbone of any jewelry collection, effortlessly complementing both everyday wear and special occasions.
The Rare Finds: This collection has exclusive pieces that are carefully curated and often available in limited quantities! These unique items showcase exceptional craftsmanship and design, making them perfect for those looking for something truly special.
The Showstopper: This is a newly added collection, featuring breathtakingly beautiful and entirely one-of-a-kind, statement pieces. With each piece having an intricate design and unmatched craftsmanship, this collection exudes elegance and exclusivity.
With the holidays around the corner, The79th offers exceptional, timeless pieces that make the perfect gift for someone special or a well-deserved treat for yourself! Whether you’re looking to shine at a holiday party or surprise a loved one with a stunning gift, their beautiful designs are sure to make you feel unique and unforgettable.
Treat yourself or someone special with the timeless beauty of real gold at The79th today!
This sponsored column is by Law Office of James Montana PLLC. All questions about it should be directed to James Montana, Esq. and Janice Chen, Esq., practicing attorneys at The Law Office of James Montana PLLC, an immigration-focused law firm located in Falls Church, Virginia. The legal information given here is general in nature. If you want legal advice, contact us for an appointment.
In October, we explained, in these pages, that TPS-Lebanon had been announced but that the application window had not yet opened yet. Great news!
The filing window is now open. In this brief advertorial, we want to describe the application process and offer our general view about the wisdom of applying early.
May 27, 2026 is more than a year away. January 20, 2025 — Inauguration Day — is substantially closer. Temporary Protected Status is a benefit granted by the Secretary of Homeland Security as a matter of discretionary authority delegated by Congress under the Homeland Security Act of 2002.
President Trump will appoint a new Secretary of Homeland Security — currently slated to be Gov. Kristi Noem — and it’s fair to assume that President Trump’s new Secretary of Homeland Security will have a different attitude towards TPS than President Biden’s Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas. The Trump Administration may move to revoke the grant of TPS for Lebanon.
Why is it fair to assume this? Because the Trump Administration, in its first iteration, moved to revoke TPS for El Salvador, Nicaragua, Sudan, Honduras, Haiti, and Nepal. These maneuvers were blocked by lengthy (and complex) litigation. A second round of attempts to revoke TPS is likely.
We do not know whether President-Elect Trump will attempt to revoke TPS-Lebanon, but we believe that prospective applicants will be in a better position if they apply before he has a chance to do so.
The famous cedars of Lebanon.
So, if you qualify for TPS-Lebanon, we recommend that you apply before President Trump takes office. Here’s how:
Start gathering your documents. Your lawyer will want to see your Lebanese passport or your birth certificate, plus evidence that you have been physically present in the United States on or about October 16, 2024. Evidence of physical presence includes:
Your 2024 tax returns (file them next year!)
Employment records, if you have them
Rent receipts
School records for you or your children
Medical records concerning treatment for you or your children
Religious records describing your attendance at a place of worship
Put money aside. You can expect USCIS to charge up to $550 for your initial application.
You can call us at 888-389-8655, or make an appointment via Calendly, here. But we know that, with tens of thousands of Lebanese nationals in Northern Virginia, handling all of these cases is going to be a team effort. In that spirit, here are two other trustworthy local partners for Lebanese nationals who need help applying for TPS.
Just Neighbors has a wonderful program that focuses on immigrants who make 200% or less than the amount prescribed by the Federal Poverty Guidelines. For information on how to get help from them, see here.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington is an excellent non-profit legal services center. They can handle your TPS application for a modest fee, and they’re wonderful people.
As always, we are grateful for your questions and comments, and will do our best to respond.
Looking for one-of-a-kind gifts this holiday season?
The studio artists of Arlington’s LAC Studios will hold their Annual Holiday Fine Crafts Show and Sale on Saturday, December 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the LAC Studios, 5722 Langston Boulevard in Arlington.
Shop local this holiday season and let Arlington’s extraordinary community of artists help you find that unique gift you’ve been looking for. The annual show and sale features ceramics, pottery and hand-pulled prints for sale by member-artists of LAC Studios (formerly Lee Arts Center), a program of the Arlington Cultural Affairs Division.
This is just one of the many opportunities to engage with Arlington’s arts and culture community this winter. For an array of activities across the visual and performing arts, please visit the Winter Arts Highlights page.
LAC Studios is a program of Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development which delivers public activities and programs as Arlington Arts. Our mission is to create, support, and promote the arts, connecting artists and community to reflect the diversity of Arlington.
We do this by: providing material support to artists and arts organizations in the form of grants, facilities and theater technology; integrating award-winning public art into our built environment; and presenting high quality performing, literary, visual and new media programs across the County.
For information on the Annual LAC Show and Sale, call LAC Studios at 703-228-0560 or visit arlingtonarts.org.
Studies reveal that social isolation and loneliness increase the risk of heart disease by 29% and stroke by 32%. In fact, some research suggests that isolation can be just as deadly as smoking. When combined with the threat of food insecurity, many homebound individuals in Arlington face significant risks.
For over 50 years, Meals on Wheels Arlington has been delivering essential meals with a smile to vulnerable, homebound residents.
Every week, about 60 dedicated volunteers prepare and deliver healthy, packaged meals to 189 individuals, many of whom rely on the volunteer’s visit for their only social interaction that week.
In 2023, 139 volunteers delivered over 97,000 meals to 270 clients across all Arlington zip codes!
Steven, a Meals on Wheels client, shares, “The meals are delicious and easy to prepare. I’m so thankful I met these wonderful people when I did — they really saved my life!”
Another client, Marie, says, “The food is excellent, especially the lunches. I can’t afford to pay for meals, and I look forward to the volunteer’s visit every Wednesday. I can’t wait for the Thanksgiving dinners.”
With your generous support, Meals on Wheels Arlington can continue to help seniors maintain their independence, reduce isolation, and provide essential nutrition to those in need.
Meals on Wheels Arlington is locally funded and supported. While affiliated with Meals on Wheels America, we do not receive direct funding from the national organization.
Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose price have been cut over the previous week. The market summary is crafted by Arlington Realty, Inc. Maximize your real estate investment with the team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6000 today!
Please note: While Arlington Realty, Inc. provides this information for the community, it may not be the listing company of these homes.
As of December 2, there are 110 detached homes, 27 townhouses and 139 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 10 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:
Please note that this is solely a selection of Just Reduced properties available in Arlington County. For a complete list of properties within your target budget and specifications, contact Arlington Realty, Inc.
Founded in 1982, this highly anticipated and much beloved indoor, juried, three-day show features approximately 80 talented, juried, regional artisans with one-of-a-kind gifts for every budget.
The special shopping experience includes pottery, glass, jewelry, holiday decor, mixed media, fashion accessories, leather, wood, fine art, artisanal foods, soaps, and metalworking.
The Festival will be held on December 6-8 at the McLean Community Center (MCC) in McLean. The McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean, VA 22101) is ADA compliant and provides a delightful venue with music and an onsite café.
This year’s Festival will include a VIP Happy Hour on Friday, December 6 from 4-6 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact Festival Chairs Charles Cheek or Roz Jacobs at [email protected].
Festival Happy Hour Event
Friday, December 6 | 4-7 p.m. to VIP attendees
Beer and wine in the McLean Project for the Arts Atrium Gallery
$15 for all three days
Festival
Friday, December 6 | 10 a.m.-7 p.m., open to the public
Saturday, December 7 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m., open to the public
Sunday, December 8 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m., open to the public
$5 for three days | Children under 12 free
This regularly scheduled sponsored column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. If you would like to work with Eli and his team in Northern Virginia and the greater D.C. Metro area, you can reach him directly at Eli@EliResidential.com.
Eli and his team believe that your real estate needs should be managed by advisors, not salespeople. Their mission is to guide, educate, and advocate for their clients through real advice, hands-on support, and personalized service.
Question: I’ve noticed that the market has slowed down quite a bit the last few months. Is that a sign that the market is finally turning?
Answer: I hope everybody had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Last week, I asked everybody to vote on whether you should start eating your Thanksgiving meal before 5 p.m. or 5 p.m. or later. With 825 total votes, 77% of you said the meal should start before 5 p.m. and 23% voted for 5 p.m. or later. We aimed to start our meal at 4 p.m., but ended up starting at 5 p.m.
Will The Slow Market Continue into 2025?
Like clockwork, the second half of the year is slower than the first half (except when COVID flipped 2020 upside down) and it gets especially slow in the 4th quarter as focus shifts to holidays, family/friend time, and travel. This period of seasonal slowness consistently succeeds in lulling the market to sleep, resulting in predictions that whatever economic/housing headwinds exist at the time (high rates, rattled economy, affordability crisis, etc) will result in a down housing market the following year.
These predictions are consistently wrong, and the market usually proves that within the first few weeks of the new year.
The Data Says Prepare for a Rapid Increase in Demand
The data in the chart below is collected from Arlington sales going back to 2019, sans 2020 data and new construction. It shows market performance based on the week that properties go under contract based on the percentage of properties selling over the original ask, percentage of properties selling at or over the original ask, and the percentage of properties selling within ten days on market (my preferred measure of market speed).
The highlight of the chart is how rapidly the market shifts in January, relative to the previous 1-2 months. By the third week of January, the market is moving faster than it has in over three months and by the fourth week of the year, the market is experiencing stronger performance than it has in nearly every week over the past six months.
Only 27% of properties that go under contract in the second half of the year are over the asking price, but from the fourth week of January through May, an average of 45% of homes sell for over the asking price.
For buyers in the market, it’s important to also prepare for just how quickly homes will start selling. In the last seven weeks of the year, only 33% of homes were going under contract in the first ten days, but that jumps to over 46% by the third week of January and by early February over 50% of homes sell within the first ten days on market and the pace hovers around 60%-70% through May.
These percentages will vary based on the market conditions of a given year, but the important takeaway is how quickly demand shifts in the new year relative to the end of the prior year. As a reminder, Q4 ’22 to Q1 ’23, a period many predicted would result in a continuation of a slow/down market, delivered us the most significant whiplash effect through a new calendar year we have seen.
Contract Week Performance
You can see a similar shift in market conditions in this chart from Altos Research showing the percentage of properties in Arlington on market that have had a price decrease. The steep drops you see start when the calendar turns to January.
Properties With Price Decrease
If you’d like to discuss buying, selling, investing, or renting, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].
If you’d like a question answered in my weekly column or to discuss buying, selling, renting, or investing, please send an email to [email protected]. To read any of my older posts, visit the blog section of my website at EliResidential.com. Call me directly at (703) 539-2529.
Eli Tucker is a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland with RLAH Real Estate, 4040 N Fairfax Dr #10C Arlington VA 22203. (703) 390-9460.
Lee Heights Shops, a charming destination on Cherry Hill Road, captures the spirit of our local community with an outstanding collection of independent boutiques, specialty shops and services, and delicious dining options sure to please everyone in your family.
Our shops include:
Arrowine & Cheese, Northern Virginia’s best source for wine and cheese
Café Colline, Featuring regional French inspired cuisine
Arlington stands out for its thriving business climate, and Arlington Economic Development (AED) took advantage of these strong fundamentals to invest in our startup ecosystem in 2024.
This year, Arlington was named the Country’s Best Mid-size Metro for Business while being the CNBC Best State for Business, recognizing our educated workforce, top-notch education system and business-friendly policies that support long-term growth and success for businesses.
However, despite these great fundamentals, Arlington is still experiencing challenges with office vacancies, which impacts Arlington’s commercial tax base. With large U.S. companies making fewer big moves or expanding less frequently to new markets, we looked to foster “homegrown” businesses and talent in 2024.
Arlington’s economic development strategy focused heavily on investing time and resources into Arlington startups and the startup ecosystem through the Arlington Innovation Fund (AIF). AIF encouraged the growth and success of Arlington technology startups by providing access to capital and enhancing the local tech ecosystem through sponsoring unique initiatives and programming. New hires at AED helped execute the strategy and supported new partnerships with Citrine Angels, Unstuck Labs and DC Startup Week.
Through the AIF Catalyst Grant program, Arlington awarded nine eligible Arlington-based startups non-dilutive coinvestment grants ranging from $25,000 to $50,000. Qualifying companies were early-stage ventures, and their grant funds can be used for hiring employees, conducting research and development, occupying commercial real estate, and other business-related expenses.
AED is closely tracking the success of this program. Still, early wins include AI trucking logistics startup GenLogs expanding from five employees to nearly 30 in the past nine months and HR-tech company Pryze scaling its platform and gaining traction with large customers.
Other significant moves and investments this year include:
Looking ahead to 2025, AED expects continued growth in our tech ecosystem, especially in the Advanced Computing (AI, cloud computing, etc.), Cybersecurity and Defense Tech industries. We’re also excited to see Virginia’s 2018 investments in our tech talent pipeline come to fruition with the opening of two new higher education tech and entrepreneurship programs, George Mason’s FUSE in December and the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in February.
Arlington will continue to grow as an innovation hub thanks to Amazon and Virginia’s investments in the area. Exciting things are in the pipeline for the County in the new year.
Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose price have been cut over the previous week. The market summary is crafted by Arlington Realty, Inc. Maximize your real estate investment with the team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6000 today!
Please note: While Arlington Realty, Inc. provides this information for the community, it may not be the listing company of these homes.
As of November 25, there are 111 detached homes, 11 townhouses and 134 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 17 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:
Please note that this is solely a selection of Just Reduced properties available in Arlington County. For a complete list of properties within your target budget and specifications, contact Arlington Realty, Inc.
This regularly scheduled sponsored column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. If you would like to work with Eli and his team in Northern Virginia and the greater D.C. Metro area, you can reach him directly at Eli@EliResidential.com.
Eli and his team believe that your real estate needs should be managed by advisors, not salespeople. Their mission is to guide, educate, and advocate for their clients through real advice, hands-on support, and personalized service.
Happy Thanksgiving ARLnow!
Eli Residential Group has donated $500 to Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) on behalf of ARLnow readers to support their mission to feed our neighbors. I’m grateful for you all.
Every Thanksgiving I ask the hard questions and poll ARLnow readers on Thanksgiving preferences:
In 2022, votes came in 291 for Dark Meat and 290 for White Meat — amazing (that 290 people are wrong)!
In 2023, 470 voted for Pumpkin Pie, 310 voted for Apple Pie, and 280 voted for Pecan Pie
This year, I’m back with another critical poll question:
Two Awesome, Local Businesses
I would like to shoutout two awesome local businesses that supported our annual client event. Acme Pie Co handmade 182 incredible pies for our clients. Interestingly enough, they chose pies in the exact opposite order of preference as ARLnow readers voted in 2023 — our clients ordered 75 pecan, 71 apple, and 36 pumpkin. Get yourself an Acme pie, you will thank me. They also do slices and other treats at their bar.
Thanksgiving pies (photo via Acme Pie Co.)
We hosted the pie pick-up at the recently opened Parciti indoor/virtual golf. They’ve got seven high-end golf simulators, and our clients had a blast playing. If you haven’t visited and are looking for a fun activity with friends/family over the holidays, give them a visit. The simulators have about 1,000 different courses, including many of the world’s most famous tracks. And the best part — when you shank your drive into the trees, you don’t have to go searching for it.
Both businesses are along The Pike and have endured 12-18 months of non-stop road and utility work, along with all the other awesome, mostly local/family-owned businesses along The Pike that all deserve our patronage. If you like supporting small, local businesses in your community and Pike business and restaurants aren’t usually on your radar, consider adding them to your rotation this holiday season.
If you’d like to discuss buying, selling, investing, or renting, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].
If you’d like a question answered in my weekly column or to discuss buying, selling, renting, or investing, please send an email to [email protected]. To read any of my older posts, visit the blog section of my website at EliResidential.com. Call me directly at (703) 539-2529.
Eli Tucker is a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland with RLAH Real Estate, 4040 N Fairfax Dr #10C Arlington VA 22203. (703) 390-9460.
Neighborhood Spotlight is a bi-weekly column exploring Arlington County. This week’s column is sponsored and written by Kelsey Crittenden of Corcoran McEnearney. Questions? Reach Kelsey at 703-863-2629.
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and it’s a wonderful time to think about how we can give back to the community that we’re all so grateful for.
There are many incredible organizations right here in Arlington that could use our help. Let’s talk about how we can ‘Give Where We Live’ this holiday season! Together, we can support these groups who work every day to create a better, more caring community.
First up, the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. For animal lovers like me, the Animal Welfare League of Arlington is a great place to make a difference. For more than 75 years, they’ve been helping our four-legged friends find homes and provide resources so animals can stay happy and healthy.
They offer everything from dog walking and cat socialization to adoption counseling and more! Fun fact: if you know anyone who’s looking for a way to unwind, spending time with animals is a great way to de-stress. So if you or someone you know would love a little more animal time, the Animal Welfare League might just be the perfect fit!
EcoAction Arlington is our community’s answer to a sustainable future. From stream cleanups to their Energy Masters program, they give volunteers hands-on ways to help our environment and build awareness right here in Arlington. A pro tip: sign up with a friend to make volunteering a fun and meaningful way to spend time outdoors, all while helping the planet! Know someone who’s passionate about the environment? EcoAction is a great way to turn that passion into action! It’s a rewarding way to enjoy Arlington’s natural beauty while giving back.
EcoAction Arlington Barcroft Park Cleanup and Trash Tally 2023 (photo courtesy EcoAction Facebook)
If you’re cleaning out closets and swapping seasonal wardrobes think about donating to The Clothesline. Arlington’s Clothesline provides a fun, free shopping experience for kids in need. With donations from generous neighbors, they offer children the clothing they need to feel confident and comfortable in school and life. This is Arlington’s first free clothing store for school-aged children.
Twice a year, kids in need get a chance to pick out a season’s worth of clothes — completely free. Volunteers here sort and display donations like a real boutique! And teens — here’s your chance to join in, too, by helping sort clothes or even organizing a drive of your own. If you’ve got clothes your children have outgrown, consider donating them to The Clothesline. Ask your schools if they are donating their lost and found items anywhere before the new year — it would be a great opportunity.
Next, we have the Arlington Community Foundation, the heart of local giving. If you want to be a part of something bigger, you can volunteer in fundraising or grant committees that really help shape the future of Arlington.They bring people, resources, and ideas together to create positive change in our community.
From fundraising to outreach, their volunteers work hard to build economic opportunities. Think about how you can make an impact on Arlington’s future by lending your time or expertise here. Looking for a way to add more charitable giving to the season of giving while supporting your neighbors in need? Every Giving Season (November — New Year’s), Arlington Community Foundation hosts the Nonprofit Holiday Wish Catalog featuring grant ideas of local nonprofits with wishes of up to $5,000 each. Check it out here (link).
PathForward provides shelter, supportive housing, and medical care for those experiencing homelessness. Their story started with just a few bagged meals, and now, they’re a full-service center helping people rebuild their lives. Volunteers can serve a hot meal to over 80 people each night. Come with a smile and make someone’s day a little brighter! Get educated on the program with a tour of the center to learn more. There are many ways you can donate here, including sponsoring a bagged meal — you can pack them up at home and drop them off at the center.
Finally, At the Arlington Food Assistance Center, their mission is to provide groceries so families can focus on essentials like housing and health. As a mom, I know how essential it is to keep our families fed and healthy, and that’s where the Arlington Food Assistance Center comes in. AFAC provides groceries to local families, which helps them focus on other important needs like housing and medication. Kids ages 12 and up can help pack bags — it’s a great way to teach kids about community and kindness.
There are also easy ways you can get involved with your schools. Discovery Elementary School has a Food Bus program where volunteers take donations every week from the school to AFAC. There are so many ways volunteers of all ages can help. Pitch in to help feed your neighbors this season — it’s something that’ll nourish the whole community.
This Thanksgiving, let’s show our gratitude by giving back to these wonderful organizations that make Arlington a stronger, kinder place for everyone. Because when you give where you live, you’re not only helping your neighbors — you’re strengthening the entire community. Get involved, make a difference, and let’s make this season of giving one that counts.
If you have something you are passionate about that you did not see represented I encourage you to visit the Arlington non-profit link to explore more, there are so many ways that I did not cover.
It’s Kelsey Crittenden with Corcoran McEnearney and I hope I’ve inspired you to give where you live this holiday season. As a native Arlingtonian I am so thankful to be a part of this vibrant community! Kindness counts and Happy Holidays!
Corcoran McEnearney, 3135 Langston Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201, 703-525-1900, corcoranmce.com. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.
