Westover Taco cut the ribbon on Northern Virginia’s first women’s sports bar last night (Thursday) with a little help from some of the region’s athletes.
Members of the professional women’s tackle football team D.C. Divas and nonprofit tackle football team DMV Queens showed up alongside professional ultimate frisbee players from DC Shadow Ultimate to help celebrate the grand opening of the bar with founder Sarah White.
Arlington County police are investigating a man’s death in the Buckingham neighborhood, but so far there’s no indication of foul play.
Police and medics were dispatched to a parking lot on the 4200 block of 2nd Road N., near the intersection with N. Thomas Street, around 7:45 a.m. today (Friday) for a report of a man in his 30s believed to be sleeping in a green Cadillac.
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.
Whether you’re dealing with flickering lights, upgrading your electrical panel or installing new fixtures and outlets, there’s no substitute for a knowledgeable electrician.
Here are the nominees for “Best Electrician Serving Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.
Did we miss your go-to electrician? Write them in!
Voting will close in two weeks.
Voting for Best Plumber 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 Handyman 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.
The number of jobless in Arlington rose 54.7% year-over-year in January, according to new state data.
A total of 5,148 county residents were reported as seeking jobs for the first month of 2026, up from 3,328 in January 2025.
Join us as Signature Theatre joins MoCA Arlington to create a space for mingling, art-making, and discovery! Guests can move through the galleries and enjoy a range of programmed activities, including:
Vintage rack hosted by local sellers — Nicole Lanteri Designs + Thrifted To Be Here
Shop curated selections of vintage art, homewares, clothing and jewelry. A mix of styles, eras + price points!
When no one else stepped forward to fill the void, years ago John Mingus made a one-season commitment to coach his young daughter’s Arlington Soccer Association recreation girls team.
Now, 25 years later, Mingus, 59, is still coaching recreation soccer teams in the league.
A local nonprofit working to help those facing the impacts of incarceration used a recent gathering to recommit to its advocacy and supportive services.
OAR of Arlington, Alexandria and Falls Church held its 17th annual Liberation Gathering yesterday (Thursday), providing both an update on activities and a call for future efforts.
A little-known park’s role in Civil War and aeronautics history may get a refresh as Falls Church celebrates the nation’s 250th birthday this year.
The Falls Church250 Committee is discussing options for sprucing up Fort Taylor Park, making it more accessible to the public and spotlighting the important history that took place in 1861.
Metro Hair Toucher Back in Jail — A man accused of recording himself touching women’s hair on Metro trains will remain jailed after a D.C. judge ordered him held for violating the terms of his bail. Bryan Betancur, 28, is facing two misdemeanor assault charges, a stalking charge, and a separate assault charge in Arlington County that can’t move forward while he’s in D.C. custody. [NBC Washington]
Beyer Revives Surtax Bill — “The Millionaires Surtax is an urgently needed plan to restore fairness to the tax code, fight accelerating inequality, and fund important priorities for the American people,” Rep. Don Beyer (D) said of legislation he reintroduced Tuesday with Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). The bill would add a 10-point surtax on income above $2 million for couples and $1 million for individuals. [Press Release]
Palooza Returns Next Month — Arlington Palooza is back Saturday, May 16 from 1–6 p.m. at Lubber Run Community Center and Park. The free festival will feature live music, local vendors, food trucks, and family activities. [Arlington County]
Best Boba Options — Arlington Magazine rounds up bubble tea spots in and around Arlington, including Best of Arlington winner Chill Zone Café near Yorktown, plus Bees & Tea, Kung Fu Tea, TNR Café and Spot of Tea. [Arlington Magazine]
Local Bakery Expands to Old Town — Rosslyn-based Eclairons, a family-owned bakery offering French pastries with Lebanese flavors, has expanded to Old Town Alexandria at 430 S. Washington Street. [ALXnow]
Bishop Responds to Trump — On his latest Walk Humbly podcast, Arlington Diocese Bishop Michael Burbidge “speaks clearly and firmly in response to recent social media attacks from President Trump directed at the Holy Father and the Church.” [Arlington Diocese]
Ex-Lt. Gov. Murder-Suicide — “Justin Fairfax shot several times and killed his wife, ran to a different part of the home and then killed himself with the same firearm,” Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said at a briefing Thursday. The former Virginia lieutenant governor, 47, and wife Dr. Cerina Wanzer Fairfax, 49, were in the midst of divorce proceedings. [FFXnow]
Dark Money Floods Referendum — “About 95 percent of the total $93 million raised so far in Virginia, as of a Monday night filing deadline, came from nonprofit groups not required to disclose their donors.” Democrats’ Virginians for Fair Elections has reported $64 million, including nearly $40 million from a House Democrats-aligned nonprofit. [Washington Post]
Another Statewide Poll — A State Navigate poll of 707 likely voters shows Virginia’s redistricting referendum leading 51-45, with Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s approval split at 47-47. State Sen. Louise Lucas (D) said on X: “The problem she has to correct is her policies don’t match her rhetoric from the campaign trail. Her issue is credibility.” [State Navigate, Sam Shirazi/X]
Spanberger Amends Data Center Bill — “We fully supported the legislation’s original goals of lowering costs for our customers, expanding energy assistance, and reducing outages. The amendments undermine these goals,” a Dominion Energy spokesperson said. The governor’s changes strike the bill’s explicit cost-shift onto data centers. [Virginia Mercury]
Marijuana Sales Delayed — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) has proposed amendments to retail marijuana legislation that would push the legal market’s launch from January to July 2027 and cut the number of permitted stores from 350 to 200. [FFXnow]
Virginia, Md. Diverge on AI — “Right now there’s a patchwork of regulations with states driving the conversation,” KFF Health News correspondent Lauren Sausser told WAMU. Maryland passed a law last year requiring a human reviewer when AI is used in coverage decisions; similar Virginia bills were vetoed by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), and most new AI legislation has been delayed until 2027. [WAMU]
It’s Friday — Expect a chance of rain showers before 1 p.m., then mostly sunny skies with a high near 83 and a northwest wind around 7 mph. Tonight will be mostly clear with a low around 62. [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 16, 2026.
Here is what’s going on Friday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
There is a 30% chance of showers mainly before 11 a.m., followed by mostly sunny skies with a high near 83°F. Winds will come from the northwest at about 7 mph. Overnight, expect mostly clear conditions with a low around 62°F and light, variable winds. See more from Weather.gov.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
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