This column is sponsored by BizLaunch, a division of Arlington Economic Development.
Arlington is home to a wealth of talented professionals, and for those looking to take their expertise in a new direction, entrepreneurship offers an exciting opportunity.
At BizLaunch, we’ve helped countless federal employees turn their skills and experience into thriving businesses, guiding them toward success. While entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone, if you’re considering launching your dream business, BizLaunch and SCORE have the tools and resources you need to succeed.
On February 7, we partnered with SCORE for a special webinar designed for the federal workforce, covering the essential steps to launching a business and building a strategy for success.
The first step for many entrepreneurs is to develop a business plan. In our previously recorded webinar, Dr. Ebony Grey, a certified SCORE mentor, outlines the necessary elements of a successful business plan and the mindset required to be an entrepreneur. While a solid business plan is essential, entrepreneurs often need support in other key areas as well.
That’s where SCORE comes in. SCORE offers free training through its Small Business Essentials Series, provides industry-specific mentorship opportunities, and offers free business plan templates to help you get started.
Beyond planning, understanding business regulations is crucial. BizLaunch Director Tara Palacios breaks down the Small Business Checklist in the webinar to ensure entrepreneurs comply with local, state and federal regulations. BizLaunch also offers unique programming and one-on-one counseling to support new business owners at every stage.
Take advantage of this free recorded webinar to gain valuable insights into the entrepreneurial journey. From there, if you’re ready to take the next step, schedule a free one-on-one consultation with a BizLaunch expert today.
For more information about BizLaunch and to be notified about future opportunities, sign up for our newsletter by visiting www.bizlaunch.org.
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 February 10, there are 102 detached homes, 27 townhouses and 139 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.
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and there’s no better time to prioritize your child’s oral health.
In honor of this month, VK Pediatric Dentistry is highlighting the importance of proper oral hygiene and dental care for children. As a trusted pediatric dentist in Arlington, we understand that forming healthy habits early on can lead to a lifetime of bright smiles.
Key Tips for Healthy Smiles This February and Beyond
1. Start early — Clean your baby’s gums daily. Begin brushing as soon as the first tooth erupts using an infant toothbrush. It’s recommended that your child has their first dental visit by age one. This early visit helps establish a positive dental experience and gives you the opportunity to ask questions about your child’s oral health.
2. Brush twice a day — Brush twice a day for 2 minutes. When you brush, teach your kiddo to brush with short, back-and-forth strokes that are the width of a tooth. Make sure to clean the outer, inner and chewing surfaces of the teeth. Helpful hint: Most kids cannot start brushing their own teeth until they are coordinated enough to tie their own shoes (usually around 6 years old).
3. Floss to clean between the teeth — Once your child’s teeth touch, you can start flossing! Flossing helps prevent cavities by removing plaque between the teeth. Establishing a nightly dental routine at an early age helps your child develop early habits as they grow!
4. Limit the frequency of sugary snacks — Limiting sugary snacks and drinks can prevent cavities, which are one of the most common childhood diseases. Just because it’s natural sugar or organic doesn’t mean it’s healthy for teeth. The frequency of eating (constant snacking) can contribute just as much as the type of snack. We’d rather a kiddo eat an entire chocolate bar once a week than have a few pieces throughout the day, every day.
5. Routine dental checkups — Routine dental visits allow us to keep an eye on your child’s overall health. We recommend visiting VK Pediatric Dentistry every 6 months for dental checkups. With our emphasis on diet, oral hygiene and early prevention protocols, we pride ourselves on stopping cavities before invasive approaches are ever mentioned! After your appointment, the dentist will discuss your child’s oral health, answer any questions about toothpaste, share more tips for effective at-home care, and address any other questions you may have about your child’s oral health and development.
6. Dental sealants and protective care — Dental sealants are a great way to protect your child’s teeth from cavities, especially on the back teeth where food and bacteria are more likely to get trapped. These thin, protective coatings help keep teeth healthy by preventing decay and making brushing more effective. Your pediatric dentist can evaluate whether sealants are right for your child.
Why Pediatric Dentistry is Essential for Your Child
Pediatric dentistry isn’t just about routine cleanings and check-ups; it’s about fostering a positive relationship with oral health from an early age. Children’s teeth are not only vital for eating and speaking — the habits they learn as children can contribute and mold their oral habits for the rest of their lives. That’s why it’s important to see a pediatric dentist who specializes in the care and treatment of young patients.
At VK Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Peter Markov and Dr. Allie Lonneman provide comprehensive, conservative care for children of all ages, from their very first dental visit to the development of their adult teeth. Our experienced team is dedicated to creating a comfortable and stress-free environment for both children and their parents. We use child-friendly language and age-appropriate techniques to help kids feel safe and excited about taking care of their smiles.
Let VK Pediatric Dentistry Be Your Partner in Oral Health
As we celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month, VK Pediatric Dentistry is here to provide top-tier dental care in a friendly, welcoming environment. Our pediatric dentists and amazing team provide services in Arlington that are tailored to meet the unique needs of each child, whether they need preventive care, treatment, or guidance on proper dental habits.
Don’t wait to schedule your child’s next appointment. Start them on the path to a lifetime of healthy smiles by choosing VK Pediatric Dentistry for all of your child’s dental needs. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule an appointment!
VK Pediatric Dentistry is located at 5001 Langston Blvd, Arlington. For more information, visit our website or email us at [email protected].
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: Are the current and future cuts to government jobs and contracts by Trump/Elon Musk/DOGE negatively effecting real estate values and demand?
Answer: With recent announcements of government workforce and contract cuts, led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Elon Musk, and the Trump administration, many are wondering how these changes impact the local D.C.-area real estate market. While uncertainty looms, making forecasting difficult, here’s what I’m seeing on the ground and what it could mean for buyers and sellers in 2025 and beyond.
I’m not going to rehash what’s happening in the federal workforce and contractor space because it’s 90% of the news cycle and you can find more detailed and current information across many news outlets, but personally, I’ve followed the excellent coverage of Arlington-based Axios.
Market Remains Strong…
I’ll cut to the chase — so far, in most sub-markets, my team and I have not seen many signals of demand dropping enough to have a measurably negative effect on real estate values. We have been involved in (on the buy and list side), and been privy to, numerous sales with competing offers, escalating prices, and stripped down/out contingencies that have all become the norm during the Q1/Q2 market. These examples have shown up across the Greater D.C. Area, in different property types (single-family detached, townhouse, and condo), and at various price levels (more on this later).
…Despite Less Market Demand & Intensity
During Q1 of each year, I look closely at the intensity of competition, not just the existence of competition. I define intensity by the percentage of properly marketed and priced homes that are getting multiple offers, the number of offers coming in (this is critical, especially for forecasting the Q2/Q3 market), and how much contract prices are escalating over prior year pricing. The structure of the real estate industry makes this difficult to measure accurately early in the year because it’s more anecdotal than scientific, but I get a feel for it by late-January/early-February and this year market intensity is down from this time last year (and the last five years). It’s hard to say how much of this can be attributed to persistently high interest rates vs the federal workforce cuts.
The season runs from mid-March to early June, with standings kept and a final tournament to wrap things up. Our goal is to make softball an enjoyable experience for everyone and encourage as many players as possible to return each season.
Open to girls in grades K-12, House softball is a competitive, yet positive and fun environment. It is divided into five divisions based on grade level and allows girls to be introduced to the basic rules of softball while developing fundamental softball skills! House softball also builds strong, lasting bonds and friendships between players.
In Burgundy’s complex landscape of prestigious vineyards and celebrated winemakers, some of the most compelling stories come from dedicated vignerons who prioritize craft over recognition.
Laurent Pillot exemplifies this tradition, rarely leaving his village over two decades to ensure he never missed a crucial moment in his vineyards.
Now joined by his sons Romain and Simon, the Pillot family continues their meticulous approach to winemaking, earning a reputation for extracting exceptional quality from their parcels. Their 2023 Bourgogne Pinot Noir showcases the vintage’s much-praised characteristics: immediate charm, fresh fruit expression, and elegant structure.
The wine displays a deep ruby color and offers fragrant aromas of strawberry tarts and Bing cherries, accented by delicate violet notes. On the palate, it presents concentrated red fruit flavors balanced by subtle notes of toasted nuts, spice, and cherry pit. While immediately appealing, brief decanting reveals additional depth and complexity.
Wine critics have praised 2023 as an outstanding vintage for Burgundy’s entry-level wines, delivering both immediate pleasure and aging potential. The Pillots’ bottling, aged in stainless steel to preserve freshness and purity, exemplifies these qualities.
Available now at Arrowine, this release continues the Pillot family’s tradition of producing expressive Pinot Noir that punches above its price point. Previous vintages have consistently sold out within hours of release.
Close up of a glass of Pinot Noir red wine on a table (Photo by the blowup on Unsplash)
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
By John V. Berry, Esq
With the deadline approaching today (February 6, 2025) for federal employees considering whether to take up the administration’s offer to resign and get paid through the end of September (“Fork in the Road” email), many still have questions.
There have been multiple changes to the offer and proposed settlement terms over the last few days so employees accepting the deferred resignation are facing risks as to whether or not the program will work as planned.
Many federal employees offered the deferred resignation opportunity could benefit from it, but one of the problems is that the program has been rushed out too quickly. With the speed that the program was put in place, most federal employees have been confused about how it applies, whether they will have to do any work during the resignation period and whether it is binding. Most agency administrators have been unable to properly advise subordinate federal employees on what type of work they will have to do during the resignation period and many other questions.
One version of the Fork in the Road email suggests that vacations are an option, which is likely not the case. Federal employees can expect to work to some degree (or perhaps full time) from home if they accept the deferred resignation offer. We just don’t know what will happen.
The Reality of the Resignation Offer
We are advising federal employee clients to seriously consider the risks before accepting OPM’s deferred resignation offer. While the offer is appealing to many, it involves a leap of faith. If something goes wrong with the resignation offer in the courts, such as it is found to have not been appropriated correctly by Congress, or whether it complies with the Administrative Procedures Act and other laws, individuals could be left without any option to challenge the agreement. We wrote about these issues when it first came out.
Arlington’s visual arts scene is thriving, with a growing array of galleries, maker spaces and museums showcasing diverse and thought-provoking works. From sculptural movement pieces and historical photography to a tribute to a pioneering fashion designer, local exhibitions reflect Arlington’s dynamic arts landscape.
Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington County’s Arlington Economic Development Department, delivers unparalleled public arts programming for Arlingtonians, visitors and beyond. Our mission is to create, support and promote the arts, connecting artists and the community to reflect Arlington’s diversity.
January 31-May 3 | Mason Exhibitions Arlington | Virginia Square
This exhibition explores Nothing Personal (1964), a book collaboration between writer and Civil Rights activist James Baldwin and photographer Richard Avedon. The work juxtaposes celebrity culture with capitalism and racism’s corrosive effects.
Now through March 8 | Cody Gallery | Virginia Square
This exhibition celebrates Patrick Kelly, the late 1980s designer known for joyful, boundary-pushing fashion. Dubbed the “male Black Lucille Ball,” Kelly infused humor and playfulness into his work. The Cody Gallery presents more than 20 of his creations, courtesy of the Shaw-Holmes Collection.
Wednesday, February 12 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Innovation Studio + Store | National Landing
During her residency, Negar Ahkami will develop Y’All Go Rhythm!, an interactive installation inspired by Persian architectural patterns and the exuberant dance traditions of Iranian-American gatherings. Visitors are invited to move and dance within the space.
Through March 1 | Fred Schnider Gallery | Virginia Square
Poet, painter and social advocate Bennie Herron explores identity and emotion through bold, fractured busts in his latest work. His paintings serve as an extension of his poetry, reflecting on the paradoxes of existence.
Explore Arlington’s galleries and experience the power of visual storytelling. For a full calendar of visual and performing arts events, visit arlingtonarts.org.
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 February 3, there are 100 detached homes, 30 townhouses and 127 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 14 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.
Question: How did Arlington’s single-family detached market perform in 2024?
Answer: Starting this week, you can find some of my upcoming pre-market listings at the end of my article. For more information about these listings or more pre-market listings, feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].
With even less available inventory in 2024 than in 2023, low supply levels drove the average price of a single-family detached (SFD) home in Arlington up by 6.8% to an average price of more than $1,450,000 while the median price increased by 5% to nearly $1,280,000. Despite the strong gains, this is the first time since 2019 that condo prices outpaced SFD prices. Last week we did a deep dive into the 2024 condo market, so this week we’ll dive into Arlington’s 2024 SFD market…
The data below looks at Arlington’s SFD market last year and the trends over the past five years. Most real estate data sets look at numbers based on the year a home sold/settled, but I prefer to look at data based on when a home went under contract because it gives a more accurate reflection of what was happening in the marketplace at the time the deal was agreed to. In past analysis, I have used “net” prices (sold price less seller closing cost credits), but due to MLS data changes, this data does not net out closing cost credits.
Supply Down, Prices Up
The available supply of SFD homes in Arlington continues sinking to new lows since 2022, putting immense upwards pressure on prices, despite lower demand. The result is an increase of 25.6% and 28% in the average and median price, respectively, of SFD homes in Arlington over the past five years.
The average price of a SFD home increased by 6.8% to over $1.45M. Removing new construction from the data, the average SFD resale price increased by 6.8% to nearly $1.33M.
The median price of a SFD home increased by 5% to over $1.28M
The average buyer paid 0.4% over the seller’s original asking price across all SFD homes, but for homes purchased within the first ten days on market (59% of all sales), the average buyer paid 4.2% over the seller’s original asking price
New builds sold for an average of $2.365M, 8.3% more than last year, but just a bit higher than in 2022
Just 6% of SFD homes sold for less than $800,000 and many of them will be torn down and replaced with a new home
17% of homes sold for over $2M, while just 14% sold for $1.6M-$2M
In 2020, almost half of the homes sold were $800k-$1.2M, in 2024 just over 1/3 fell within that range
Homes with 3-5 bedrooms make up more than 84% of the homes sold
Single Family Market Review 2024Distribution Of Single Family Detached Prices 2020-2024Bedroom Count As Percentage Of Total Sales 2020-2024
Open to girls in grades K-12, House softball is a competitive, yet positive and fun environment. It is divided into five divisions based on grade level and allows girls to be introduced to the basic rules of softball while developing fundamental softball skills! House softball also builds strong, lasting bonds and friendships between players.
The season runs from mid-March to early June, with standings kept and a final tournament to wrap things up. Our goal is to make softball an enjoyable experience for everyone and encourage as many players as possible to return each season!
While Bordeaux is famous for its red wines, the region’s white wines offer some of France’s most intriguing and overlooked values.
At Château de la Vieille Tour, the Boissonneau family has been crafting distinctive white wines since 1839, earning recognition as pioneers in organic viticulture with their certification in 2007.
Their 2023 Bordeaux Blanc exemplifies the complexity possible in the Entre Deux Mers region, located just two miles from the Garonne River. The wine brings together all four white varieties grown on the estate: aromatic Muscadelle provides floral notes, Sauvignon Gris contributes texture and ripe fruit character, Sauvignon Blanc adds vibrancy and complexity, while Semillon grounds the blend with depth and structure.
The resulting wine displays bright citrus and stone fruit characteristics, complemented by notes of white flowers, lime peel, and Granny Smith apple. A distinctive mineral character, reminiscent of wet stone and chalk, reflects the estate’s unique terroir.
This versatile white pairs naturally with seafood, particularly shellfish and white-fleshed fish, as well as grilled poultry dishes. The wine is available at Arrowine.
