It won’t be completed until about 2030, but a pedestrian/bicyclist bridge over the Potomac River could bring more people to the Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center in Crystal City.
“It’s going to be a huge boost,” predicted Hamilton Humes of the Arlington Sports Commission, speaking at the body’s Dec. 18 meeting.
‘Fire Station 8 Saved My House’ — “Before anyone could call 911, a firefighter, Lt. Murphy, at Fire Station 8 saw the flames at my house from the glass-enclosed stairwell of the station. He alerted the rest of the firefighters and they jumped in the truck and headed down Langston Boulevard to find the fire. Before they even received the call!” [Wilma Jones]
Bipartisan Report on DCA Crash — “A congressional panel examining January’s fatal midair collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet found fault with the military’s procedures for operating in the airspace around D.C., according to a report issued Monday.” [Washington Post]
Role of City Lights in Crash — “Though a cause has yet to be determined, and investigators expect to release their findings early next year, one factor could have been the bright skyline around the airport. The National Transportation Safety Board has examined whether those lights could have made it more difficult for the helicopter crew to keep tabs on the plane and whether night vision goggles it believes the crew was using could have made their difficult task even more challenging.” [Washington Post]
Funding for Legal AI Tool — “BriefCatch, an Arlington startup, is hoping to change that narrative with its legal writing assistant tool, and it just scored $6 million in new funding to ramp up hiring and product development centered on its flagship product. BriefCatch embeds directly into Microsoft Word or Outlook to offer real‑time editing suggestions tailored to legal prose. It also offers optional features designed to help lawyers sharpen arguments and improve clarity.” [WBJ]
Burglary in Arlington Heights — “At approximately 12:09 p.m. on December 22, police were dispatched to the report of a burglary. Upon arrival, it was determined the male suspect forced entry into the residence, causing property damage, stole jewelry and electronics and subsequently fled the scene. Responding officers conducted a canvass of the area for the suspect yielding negative results.” [ACPD]
ACPD Captain Gets FBI Training — “#FBIWFO congratulates @ArlingtonVaPD Capt. Matthew Puia on his recent graduation from the FBI National Academy.” [FBI WFO/X]
F.C. Affordable Housing — “To us, the greatest achievement of the City of Falls Church government in the last period has been its resolve around affordable housing such that units in new mixed use and residential projects designated as “affordable” in the proffering process not only now approach 10 percent or even higher of all the units in a project, but that, even more importantly, that they are maintained as “affordable” in perpetuity, and not just for 10 or 15 years.” [FCNP]
Decline in DUI Deaths — “Across Northern Virginia, alcohol/drug-related fatalities decreased from 40 in 2023 to 34 in 2024, according to the 22-page report. Among other major Northern Virginia jurisdictions: Alexandria saw no fatalities in that category in 2023 or 2024. Arlington’s rate declined from six to one.” [FFXnow]
It’s Friday — Rain is likely between noon and 4pm, followed by a chance of sleet after 4pm. The day will be mostly cloudy with a high near 35. Friday night, expect rain mixed with sleet before 10pm, turning to rain until 1am, with a slight chance of drizzle afterwards. The low will be around 35. [NWS]
Welcome to Kami’s Korner where we’ll take a deep dive into Arlington’s condominium market by focusing on what’s coming next. From emerging developments to shifting trends, this space will spotlight the opportunities and insights shaping the future of condo living in Arlington.
Many of you have asked about best practices when it comes to buying a new condominium. Some of us only want new and are willing to pay a premium for the best in current design. There are several recommendations and insights here that will help you get what you want.
First decide what type of condominium you need… size, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, parking needs, or separate office, followed by a list of wants such as level of building service, amenities on-site, space for dining for six, balcony, open floor plan, and natural light. (Here she goes again.) Not to be sexist about it, but females generally are better shoppers and come with a preconceived set of non-negotiables.
Identify the areas you would consider living, such as Arlington or Old Town… but not wanting to go as far as Tysons, Reston, or DC. People don’t buy condominiums in places they aren’t familiar with or already spend time in, unless relocating entirely. Many upcoming communities put up signage and a website first which makes early interest hyperlocal. Register as a VIP on the website early and you will get regular communication, time to consider the offering, and learn when pre-sale will begin.
Once open, come early in pre-sale. You’ll get the pick of the litter. This is particularly important if you want something larger and are interested in the best views. Prospects are smart and pick the best floorplans first. If you have some idea of your ideal size and price point it makes good use of everyone’s time. Once you make a selection, expect to leave a 10% deposit as this is pretty standard in the industry. The developer generally has their own contract and it’s written much in their favor but not unreasonably so. Pricing this early is usually not negotiable… the price is the price. But you can purchase with some confidence since all buyers are getting the same terms and the developer has a shared interest in protecting values through delivery while sales are ongoing.
You do not need to be fully qualified for financing to come out and look but it’s wise to have some idea of what you can afford. Most builders give incentives for paying cash or using their title company and lenders. Often your contract might even offer a short financing contingency in exchange for considering them.
Once firmly under contract, a buyer might have 12- 18 months to prepare for the move. How blissful. This is one of the best parts of buying early in pre-sale. Moving is daunting, especially if you have been in your current homes for 30 years and the thought of moving seems excruciating. Decide what to take, sell/donate, and hire a proper interior designer to space plan and create a unique home that reflects your tastes. All with the time to do it properly.
Something to note. Finishes have gotten more high end, brands carry weight, and there is less customization offered these days. Gone are the days of going to a design center. If you know you are getting a Sub Zero refrigerator included you probably won’t ask if there are other options available. (more…)
Good Tuesday 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 — Dec 23, 2025.
Here is what’s going on Wednesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect sunny skies and a high of 51 today, with northwest winds at 6-14 mph and gusts up to 25 mph. Tonight, there’s a 30% chance of rain and snow from 1am to 4am, followed by a chance of rain after 4am, with temperatures around 35 and light southerly winds. On Christmas Day, the chance of rain continues until 1pm, and the high will be near 53, with winds shifting from south to northwest during the afternoon. See more from Weather.gov.
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”
– Aristotle
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.
This year’s Very Godly VBS, inspired by The Titan’s Curse, invites children into the world of Camp Half-Blood to explore faith, courage, belonging, and community through storytelling, music, crafts, games, science, and reflection in a fun and welcoming environment for all.
Location: The Falls Church
Changes to a law restricting liquor sales at Virginia restaurants are still on the mind of at least one state legislator representing Arlington.
As Del. Patrick Hope (D-1) prepares for the General Assembly in 2026, he told ARLnow that he is “open to revisiting” a law that mandates that no more than 55% of a restaurant’s sales can come from liquor or mixed drinks.
Friday, May 29, 2026
8pm (Doors open at 7)
A holiday boys basketball competition is set to tip off in Arlington this Friday at Wakefield High School.
The eight-team George Long Holiday Hoops Tournament, which will run through Monday, Dec. 29, is under the leadership of Warriors’ head coach Tony Bentley. He founded it and has served as event director the past 23 years.
A rapidly expanding brand offering prepared meal deliveries is launching in Arlington and Falls Church in the new year.
Feast & Fettle will begin working with customers in and around Arlington starting on Jan. 3, selling a rotating list of entrees, plus sides and options for kids.
Friends and family of a pedestrian badly injured in an apparent road rage incident in Ballston are seeking help covering steep medical bills.
As of this morning (Tuesday), a GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $15,000 to support Nick Battista. The personal trainer at the Onelife Fitness in Ballston Quarter was struck by a driver while he crossed the street near the intersection of N. Wakefield Street and N. Glebe Street last Thursday.
Members of the county’s Disability Advisory Commission are hoping to become better known in the broader community during 2026, while also having more impact on public policy.
Outreach efforts will aim to increase public visibility and collaborate with other arms of the county government. Concrete goals include a 25% increase in the number of public speakers at commission meetings, plus the recruitment of two additional commission members.
The Arlington Community Foundation “Holiday Wish Catalog” needs a final push to break last year’s giving total.
Just over $170,000 had been donated in support of safety-net providers through today (Tuesday). In 2024, the effort raised $176,000, “so there is a real chance to top that,” foundation officials said.
