From dim sum and soup dumplings to noodles and hot pot, Arlington’s Chinese restaurants offer a vast range of flavors from numerous regions and traditions.
From Clarendon’s high-energy nightlife scene to bars, concerts and comedy shows around the county, Arlington has no shortage of options to spend a fun night out.
Whether you’re in the mood for watercolors, pottery or a paint-and-sip night out, Arlington has no shortage of options to help residents explore their creative side.
Here are the nominees for “Best Places to Take an Art Class in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.
Did we miss your favorite place? Write it in!
Voting will close in two weeks.
Voting for Best Nail Salon in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.
Rosslyn skyline, with Tysons in the background (Flickr pool photo by Kevin Wolf)
Arlington is a county, not a city — a technicality that surprises plenty of newcomers who assume a place this dense and urban must be one.
Whether it should stay that way is now an open question. As part of a broader review of its form of government, some advocates have floated dropping the county label and becoming Virginia’s newest independent city.
In Virginia, independent cities aren’t part of any county — they run their own courts, schools, roads and tax collection. Arlington already does nearly all of that. It maintains its own streets (one of the few Virginia counties that does), runs its own buses and provides a full slate of urban services, so the practical differences may be smaller than the label suggests.
There are catches. County Attorney Ryan Samuel cautioned the County Board that Arlington’s county manager plan — a form of government unique to Arlington, in place since 1932 — grants it powers other localities don’t have, and that some could be lost in a switch to a city or another structure. His 33-page report flagged both seen and hidden risks in making the leap.
There’s also a timing problem: a longstanding state moratorium on creating new Virginia cities runs through at least 2032, so the switch couldn’t happen before then even if Arlington wanted it.
Cityhood is only one option on the table. The governance review is also weighing changes like expanding the five-member County Board, electing its chair separately, adding district-based seats and ending Arlington’s practice of electing a board member every year. A preliminary report is due by the end of October — and the debate has surfaced before, including a near-overhaul back in 1970.
Despite the moratorium — and with any real change years off regardless — it’s a question that seems to resonate with locals, as one of last week’s most-read stories. So today we’re asking: should Arlington become a city?
A towering cloud behind a North Arlington home, as storms build to the west (staff photo)
If it feels like the weather forecast has been letting you down lately, a growing number of meteorologists say you may not be imagining it.
They point to a quieter problem playing out well above our heads: the National Weather Service has been launching fewer weather balloons, and the resulting gaps in data may be making forecasts less reliable — especially for severe weather.
Weather balloons carry instruments called radiosondes that measure temperature, humidity, pressure and wind as they rise through the atmosphere. That information is among the most valuable data forecasters have. A recent NASA analysis found balloon readings did more to reduce errors in 24-hour forecasts than any single satellite instrument or aircraft data across the Northern Hemisphere.
The Weather Service began scaling back launches in March 2025, citing staffing shortages, and more than 25 sites are now routinely pushing their morning launches to midday, according to Capital Weather. The agency has lost roughly 600 employees to layoffs and buyouts over the past year, CBS News reported.
Forecasters say the missing morning data is most worrisome on days when severe storms are possible.
Meteorologists and an emergency manager told Politico that absent balloon data likely contributed to a poorly predicted tornado outbreak near Kansas City in April. Many Great Plains offices delayed morning launches to noon that day, NBC News reported, too late for the models that run shortly after 7 a.m. — and a tornado watch went up only about 30 minutes before the first twister.
Arlington-based meteorologist Matthew Cappucci, who recently broke down the issue on Fox 5, didn’t mince words on X:
Have weather forecasts seemed less accurate lately? There's a major contributing factor: nearly half the morning weather balloons in the Lower 48 are "missing."
This is an ongoing crisis that is degrading critical severe weather forecasts that we all rely on. It's having real,… pic.twitter.com/xMajo4MzUs
How much any of this affects forecasts here is up for debate. Because weather generally moves west to east, some meteorologists argue a missed launch out West can ripple downstream and dent forecasts on the East Coast. Others counter that balloons are a small slice of the data feeding modern models, and that the biggest effects are likely felt closer to the Plains.
The Weather Service, for its part, disputes that forecasts have suffered. A spokesperson told Capital Weather the agency has seen “no evidence of degradation” in its models, pointing to satellites, aircraft and other sensors that help fill the gaps.
Arlington readers have had reason to keep an eye on the forecast lately, from a snowy winter to tornado watches this spring and the threat of severe storms earlier this week. Whether local forecasts have actually slipped is hard to prove — but some seem to have a gut feeling one way or the other.
So today we’re asking: have you noticed weather forecasts getting less accurate recently?
Whether you’re after a sharp cut, a full color transformation or a low-maintenance refresh, Arlington is full of hairstylists ready to freshen up your look.
Arlington itself isn’t exactly wine country, but some of Virginia’s most celebrated vineyards are just a short drive west — close enough for a scenic trip and a pleasant afternoon of tasting and touring.
Whether you want to master fresh pasta, finally conquer a sourdough loaf or just spend a fun evening at the stove, Arlington has no shortage of places to sharpen your skills in the kitchen.
Rendering of proposed arch near Memorial Bridge (via Commission of Fine Arts)
The Trump administration’s plan for a 250-foot “triumphal arch” near Memorial Bridge keeps advancing — even as opposition across Northern Virginia keeps growing.
Pitched as a monument to the nation’s 250th anniversary, the arch would rise more than two and a half times the height of the Lincoln Memorial at the western end of Arlington Memorial Bridge. Critics have questioned both its historical basis and its place in the protected vista between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
Whether you’re leaving for a weekend getaway or just looking to give your pet some company, Arlington has no shortage of boarding options for your furry friend.
