A popular D.C. gastropub is bringing its acclaimed burgers to Arlington through a new fast-casual kiosk at Water Park.
Known for its East London-inspired pub fare, Duke’s Grocery is preparing a new spinoff, Duke’s Burgers, at the outdoor Crystal City venue. There, the restaurant — voted “Best Burger in DC” for 10 consecutive years in Washington City Paper’s ‘Best of DC’ — plans to serve up its signature burgers and bites in a fast-casual setting.
An office birthday party briefly prompted a massive police response after a 911 caller confused revelry for gunfire.
Police were dispatched to a report of an active shooter on the first floor of an office building on N. Kent Street in Rosslyn around 1:30 p.m. today (Thursday).
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.
For five straight seasons, the regular season has unfolded the same way for the Yorktown Patriots boys lacrosse team.
Almost by design, the high-school squad has compiled a losing record in the early going as it plays through a difficult schedule, then rebounds nicely and starts consistently winning matches.
Pentagon MMA has brought a special honor home to Arlington from the birthplace of Muay Thai.
The Arlington Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu Academy is now officially a certified and registered Muay Thai Gym Partner through the Sports Authority of Thailand and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, making Pentagon MMA the only Muay Thai academy on the East Coast to have earned this distinction.
Italian restaurant Carbonara is celebrating two years of business in Virginia Square, and its owner has some big plans for the next few months.
Chef Mike Cordero, the prolific restaurateur behind the acclaimed “old school” eatery at 3865 Wilson Blvd, told ARLnow he will soon roll out a new Italian cookbook, “Respect the Sauce,” while he prepares to expand with a second location in Prince William County this June.
Event location
Online event (see link)
*Mamistad Groups meet IN PERSON-only the introductory Zoom call is virtual. :)
Pregnancy and new mom groups are a lifesaver when it comes to normalizing those feelings we just can’t be prepared for.
At least one local high school will use artificial intelligence to provide clearer and faster name pronunciation during its graduation ceremony in June.
In an online letter to the school community, Washington-Liberty High School principal Alexander Duncan III said the school has partnered with Tassel to provide better announcements of graduates’ names as they cross the stage to collect diplomas.
The “Yes in God’s Backyard” movement is celebrating after the Faith in Housing bill, supporting expedited church-based affordable housing development, has been signed into law.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed state Sen. Jeremy McPike (D-29)’s SB 388 and Del. Joshua Cole (D-65)’s HB 1279, which will eliminate the rezoning step for faith-based organizations and other tax-exempt nonprofits to develop affordable housing on their properties. The law will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027 and will sunset on Jan. 1, 2031 unless reenacted by a future General Assembly.
Arlington’s median apartment rental rates remain modestly down year-over-year in one new national survey, while posting a slight uptick in another.
In each case, the county’s costs for renters are among the highest in the nation — fifth most expensive in one survey, seventh in the other.
Royals at Cemetery Today — “The Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery will be closed from 8 a.m. to approximately 10:30 a.m. due to preparations for a special event at ANC. Tram service will also be unavailable until 1 p.m.” King Charles III and Queen Camilla are visiting as part of a U.S. trip marking America’s 250th anniversary. [Arlington National Cemetery/X]
Tour de France Owner Joins Race — “Amaury Sports Organisation, the French company that operates the Tour de France, is joining the Amazon Armed Forces Cycling Classic with an eye on growing the profile of the D.C. region’s premier cycling event.” The race is run by the Arlington-based nonprofit Arlington Sports Inc., which has put on the event since 1998. The partnership may eventually lead to an ownership stake, organizers said. [WBJ]
ACPD Mourns Volunteer — “It is with deep sadness that the Arlington County Police Department announces the passing of Auxiliary Lieutenant Heather Hurlock. Lt. Hurlock began her service with our agency 30 years ago after retiring from a career as the U.S. House of Representatives Chief Clerk.” [ACPD/X]
Va. Low on Drug Use — Virginia ranks 46th out of 51 (sixth-lowest) for drug problems, according to a new WalletHub study. The personal finance site “compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 20 key metrics, ranging from arrest and overdose rates to opioid prescription use and employee drug testing laws.” New Mexico ranks first; Utah ranks last. [WalletHub]
It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high near 67. Northwest winds around 14 mph could gust as high as 24 mph. Skies should remain mostly clear overnight, with a low around 44. [NWS]
There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.
Good Wednesday 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 29, 2026.
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
It will be mostly sunny with a high near 67°F and a northwest wind blowing at about 15 mph, with gusts reaching up to 25 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 44°F and a lighter northwest wind at 7 to 10 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”
– Albert Schweitzer
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
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