In search of the perfect birthday party spot for your teen or little one? Arcades, bowling lanes and spacious recreational parks are just some of what Arlington has to offer.

Here are the nominees for “Best Venue for a Kid’s Birthday Party in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your favorite venue? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for the Best Live Music Venue in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Seafood Restaurant in Arlington. The results are now official:

  1. Quarterdeck
  2. The Salt Line
  3. Seamore’s 

With a week and a half to go before the start of school in Arlington, we’re decidedly in the waning days of summer.

Nights are cooler. Pre-season football is on TV. Fall plans are being made. And office parking lots have plenty of open spaces thanks to people getting their final beach vacations in.

In all, the mid-August vibes are strong and that leads to another thing: a general pre-Labor Day malaise.

As the dog days drag on, an August inertia sets in for some, making it ever more excruciating to wake up in the morning and put in a full day’s work. A lucky few may have the flexibility to unilaterally slash their working hours and output, while the rest of us just have to muddle through.

How prevalent is this late summer lethargy in Arlington? Let’s find out.


Restaurants, bars and outdoor venues across Arlington offer a diverse lineup of live music performances to catch throughout the year.

Here are the nominees for “Best Live Music Venue in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your favorite venue? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for the Best Seafood Restaurant in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on Favorite Theater Company in Arlington. The results are now official:

  1. Synetic Theater
  2. Signature Theatre
  3. Encore Stage & Studio

From raw bar oysters to crab cakes, there are some great places in Arlington to enjoy seafood this summer.

Here are the nominees for “Best Seafood Restaurant in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your favorite restaurant? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for Favorite Theater Company in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Steakhouse in Arlington. The results are now official:

  1. Guerra Steakhouse
  2. Medium Rare
  3. Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Several theater companies call Arlington home, entertaining and inspiring the community with performances year-round.

Here are the nominees for “Favorite Theater Company in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your favorite group? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for the Best Steakhouse in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Things to do With Kids Arlington. The results are now official:

  1. Parks and playgrounds
  2. Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington
  3. Spraygrounds

A selection of top-rated steakhouses in Arlington are known for their satisfying meals and quality prime cuts.

Here are the nominees for “Best Steakhouse in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your favorite place? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for the Best Things to do with Kids in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Barbecue Restaurant in Arlington. The results are now official:

  1. Sloppy Mama’s BBQ
  2. Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company
  3. Texas Jack’s Barbecue

Arlington has plenty of great kid-friendly activities, from sightseeing in the great outdoors to crafting and attending story time at local libraries.

Here are the nominees for “Best Things to do with Kids in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your favorite activity? Write it in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for the Best Barbecue Restaurant in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Bar in Arlington. The results are now official:

  1. Bronson Bierhall 
  2. Cowboy Cafe
  3. Galaxy Hut

Arlington has some popular spots for classic barbecue, offering smoky specialties like pulled pork and brisket with satisfying sides.

Here are the nominees for “Best Barbecue Restaurant in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your favorite place? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for the Best Bar in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Place for Wings in Arlington. The results are now official:

  1. First Down Sports Bar & Grill
  2. Bonchon
  3. bb.q Chicken

From casual happy hour to something more upscale, Arlington’s bar scene has a little bit of everything, complete with events like trivia and live music.

Here are the nominees for “Best Bar in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Voting for the Best Place for Wings in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Bagel Shop in Arlington. The results are now official:

  1. Brooklyn Bagel Bakery
  2. Bethesda Bagels
  3. Call Your Mother

Going out for a casual bite or grabbing takeout for the game? Several restaurants, sports bars and chicken shops in Arlington serve wings with a variety of sauces and marinades to choose from.

Here are the nominees for “Best Place for Wings in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your favorite restaurant? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for the Best Bagel Shop in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Longtime Arlington Institution. The results are now official:

  1. The Italian Store
  2. Quarterdeck
  3. Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe

Whether you’re craving an egg sandwich or a bagel piled high with your favorite toppings, there are quite a few spots around Arlington to get your fix.

Here are the nominees for “Best Bagel Shop in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your favorite bagel spot? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for the Best Longtime Arlington Institution is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Food Truck in Arlington. The results are now official:

  1. A Toda Madre
  2. Rossana
  3. Portal Maya

If ARLnow was human, it would be registering for its first driving lessons next month.

We’ve been around for awhile, but it seems that quite a few folks aren’t sure how you’re supposed to pronounce our name. Some pronounce it kind of like a pirate — Arrrrrl Now — while others go for the full “Arlington Now” or the sound-out-every-letter method of “A-R-L Now.”

So let’s find out — how do you personally pronounce ARLnow, either aloud or in your head? We’ll drop the “official” pronunciation into the comments, just so everyone knows.


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