Star Wars Day is next Monday, May 4, bringing themed bites, activities and giveaways to Arlington.
A Lego Star Wars building event, Grogu-inspired donuts and even an on-theme protest are just some of the ways local residents will be acknowledging the iconic sci-fi saga. Here’s a look at what is planned in the next few days.
The Swanson Admirals had smooth sailing in the 2026 Arlington middle-school swimming championships, held April 16 at Wakefield High School’s pool.
With 1,219.5 total points, Swanson edged out Dorothy Hamm Middle School (1,190.5) in the overall standings, counting both girls and boys competition.
For Tessa Cannon, books are more than stories. They’re a way to build community.
As the owner of The Wandering Shelf, an independent mobile bookstore that launched in Arlington in May 2025, Cannon brings books directly to readers across the community. Operating out of a bookstore van, she sells new and used books for all ages, along with book-themed merchandise, at events and locations throughout Arlington.
The idea grew from both her love of Arlington and her desire to expand access to independent bookstores.
“There are two main reasons I chose Arlington,” Cannon said. “First, I love Arlington and am one of its biggest fans. Second, Arlington is near communities with an incredible array of independent bookstores, yet at the time Arlington had only one bookstore selling new books. I wanted to grow our independent bookstore network and bring books to more Arlingtonians.”
As she prepared to launch the business, Cannon worked with Arlington Economic Development’s BizLaunch program, which connected her with a SCORE mentor and provided guidance through the startup process.
“BizLaunch was helpful in many ways,” she said. “They connected me with a mentor from SCORE, provided guidance on county-specific licenses and shared a fantastic Small Business Checklist. The BizLaunch website is filled with helpful resources.”
One customer interaction stands out as Cannon’s favorite business memory. A customer purchased a copy of I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman and returned a few weeks later to share how much she enjoyed it. Weeks after that, she came back with friends and the same copy of the book, now covered with notes and annotations from everyone who had borrowed and discussed it.
“It was a wonderful reminder of the gift that comes with sharing books with your community and how we are each impacted differently through the stories we read,” Cannon said.
Community remains at the heart of The Wandering Shelf’s mission. Cannon describes the business as “hyperlocal,” with charitable giving and community engagement focused on supporting Arlington residents.
Looking ahead, she hopes to grow the business into a small brick-and-mortar bookstore while keeping the mobile operation on the road.
“We dream of having a third space where people can rest, learn and connect with others,” Cannon said. “We plan to always keep the van running so we can continue meeting people in all the different pockets of Arlington.”
For now, The Wandering Shelf continues bringing books directly to Arlington readers, one stop at a time. For more information about The Wandering Shelf visit www.wanderingshelf.com or their Instagram @thewanderingshelf.va.
BizLaunch Update: Applications Open for the Arlington Growth Accelerator
Ready to take your business to the next level? The Arlington Growth Accelerator is designed for established small businesses looking to scale, strengthen operations and accelerate growth.
This hands-on program connects business owners with expert guidance, practical tools and a network of peers navigating similar growth challenges. Participants will gain insights on strategic planning, financial management, marketing, leadership and long-term business sustainability.
Whether you’re looking to expand your customer base, hire employees or position your business for its next phase of growth, the Arlington Growth Accelerator can help you build a roadmap for success.
Applications are now open. Learn more and apply at www.bizlaunch.org.
With flea and tick season approaching, Arlington is home to numerous veterinarians committed to keeping the community’s pets healthy and happy.
From longtime neighborhood clinics to certified hospitals, here are the nominees for “Best Veterinarian in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.
Did we miss your favorite vet? Write it in!
Voting will close in two weeks.
Voting for Best Pediatrician Serving 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 Electrician Serving Arlington. The results are now official:
There’s something a little bit magical about picking up a foil for the first time — or drawing back a bow and watching your arrow fly true. It’s why fencing and archery have such a hold on kids and adults alike: real focus, real skill, and a thrill you don’t get from the usual sports lineup.
This fall, Nova Fencing & Archery Club in Bailey’s Crossroads is opening registration for both, with beginner classes for every age starting the week of September 12th. Fencing welcomes ages 7 to 12 and teens and adults 13 and up. Explore Archery, coached by USA Archery certified instructors, welcomes ages 8 to 12 and meets Tuesdays or Saturdays. And for our youngest fencers, ages 4 to 6, ABC’s of Fencing meets on Saturdays. All classes run eight sessions for $195, equipment provided, no experience needed — yes, even for grown-ups who’ve never held a sword or a bow before.
An Arlington man with a background in trivia game shows will be competing on “Jeopardy!” on Monday night.
Matt Davis, a Capital One banker who lives in Halls Hill, previously competed on “It’s Academic” when he was in high school, and on “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?” in college. He took his first online test to try and compete on “Jeopardy!” 15 years ago, and had auditioned for the show three times before finally getting his chance.
Dreaming about your next vacation? Join Cruise Planners Beth Borrego and Rod Rodriguez for an inspiring day devoted to ocean and river cruises, guided tours, luxury travel and unforgettable destinations!
Meet representatives from AmaWaterways, Collette, Oceania Cruises and Premier World Discovery. Hear informative presentations, ask questions, explore exciting vacation possibilities and discover which travel experience may be the perfect fit for you.
A revised proposal for a 23-story Ballston redevelopment project calls for fewer total units in an unusual mix of apartments and condos.
Aria Development Group, which owns the site at 4420 Fairfax Drive, now proposes to build 59 condominium units and 182 apartments at the site of a five-story office building — down substantially from an earlier proposal to build just over 300 units.
Tensions already are appearing among Falls Church’s elected and staff leadership, even before planning for a major affordable housing plan starts to take shape.
Council members voted 5-1 on April 27 to authorize spending up to $175,000 on a consultant to help guide potential redevelopment in portions of the Virginia Village community. Even then, however, leaders disagreed over how the process should move forward and how many potential development scenarios should be considered.
Royals Visit Arlington Cemetery — “Cannons fired a 21-gun salute as King Charles III and Queen Camilla entered Arlington National Cemetery for an Armed Forces Full Honors Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.” The ceremony took place on the final day of the royal couple’s state visit to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. [Arlington National Cemetery, NBC Washington]
Beyer Primary Challenger Drops Out — Daniel Gray, one of a number of challengers taking on Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) in the Aug. 4 Democratic primary, yesterday suspended his campaign. In a statement, he said it proved impossible to both hold down a full-time job while simultaneously campaigning. —Scott McCaffrey
Juvenile Robbed at Gunpoint — “The juvenile male was outside when a vehicle with three male suspects approached him and engaged him in conversation. A struggle ensued at the vehicle, during which the suspects brandished firearms and stole the victim’s cash before fleeing the scene.” The robbery occurred around 8 p.m. Wednesday in the 800 block of S. Dickerson Street. [ACPD]
Pricier Parking in Alexandria — “Alexandria City Council on Wednesday approved City Manager Jim Parajon’s proposal to increase metered parking fees and parking ticket fines… raising parking meter rates from $1.75 to $2.75 and parking ticket fines from $40 to $55.” The changes take effect July 1. [ALXnow]
Mayor Flags Bargaining Bill — “Richmond Mayor Danny Avula sent a letter to the Spanberger Administration outlining his concerns with two statewide collective bargaining bills in the Virginia General Assembly… Avula’s letter said the bills as currently written could cause ‘significant implications’ for local governments.” [WTVR, Graham Moomaw/X]
Warner AI Bill Advances — Sen. Mark Warner (D) applauded the Senate Judiciary Committee’s unanimous passage of his bipartisan GUARD Act, which would ban AI companies from providing AI companions to minors and create new crimes for companies that knowingly make available to minors AI companions that solicit or produce sexual content. [Press Release]
It’s Friday — Mostly sunny with a high near 68 and a slight chance of rain showers after 2 p.m. Winds out of the west at 5–10 mph. Overnight lows will fall to around 48 with a 40% chance of rain showers before 2 a.m. [NWS]
Good Thursday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Apr 30, 2026.
Here is what’s going on Friday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
This afternoon will be mostly sunny with a high of 67°F and a slight 20% chance of showers after 2 PM. The wind will shift from northwest to southwest at 5 to 8 mph. Overnight, expect mostly cloudy skies with a 40% chance of showers between 8 PM and 2 AM, and a low around 48°F as the wind changes from west to northwest at 5 to 7 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
“Success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.”
– Winston Churchill
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
Thanks for reading! If you have something to say about an issue of local note not covered today, feel free to post it as a letter to the editor on our new forum.
Arlington and Fairfax officials went in two different directions in adopting their fiscal year 2027 budgets.
The Arlington County Board on April 22 approved a 2-cent increase in the real estate tax rate, to $1.053 per $100 assessed valuation, to help fund the county’s $1.7 billion budget.
