Around Town

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Apr 1, 2026

By ARLnow.com

Good Wednesday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Apr 1, 2026.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

🌦️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect a chance of showers and thunderstorms primarily after 3 PM, with patchy fog clearing before 11 AM. The day will be partly sunny, reaching a high of about 76°F, with an east wind at 5 to 8 mph. There is a 30% chance of precipitation. Thursday night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 54°F and east winds between 7 to 10 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.”
– Jimmy Dean

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

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.

News

Misleading anti-redistricting mailers prompt outcry from AG Jones, Virginia NAACP

By Dan Egitto
An anti-redistricting mailer sent to Arlington households (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A public messaging brawl over Virginia’s upcoming redistricting referendum has gotten even messier with new mailers prominently displaying out-of-context quotes from former President Barack Obama.

The front of the mailers, which some Arlington households received last week, urges residents to vote against redistricting and quotes Obama as saying, “Let voters decide, not politicians.” Obama actually supports redistricting, and his quote is taken from a pro-redistricting ad released a few weeks ago.

Go to Misleading anti-redistricting mailers prompt outcry from AG Jones, Virginia NAACP Read more
Around Town

Pupuseria prepares to reopen after fire damage in Ashton Heights strip mall

By Katie Taranto
Pupuseria Doña Azucena is preparing to reopen on N. Glebe Road (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Renovations are underway at a fire-damaged pupuseria in the Ashton Heights neighborhood, with the goal of reopening this summer.

Pupuseria Doña Azucena has been shuttered at 71 N. Glebe Road since August 2024, when a fire at the strip mall ravaged the space, requiring structural repairs. An exact reopening date has not been set, but “we’re aiming for the second week of June,” owner Heriberto Hernandez said.

Go to Pupuseria prepares to reopen after fire damage in Ashton Heights strip mall Read more
Announcement

Ever Wanted to Duel with a Sword or Hit a Bullseye? Fall Registration Is Open at Nova Fencing & Arch

By Nova Fencing & Archery Club
Two young athletes in sport gear: a child fencer in white on the left and a girl drawing a bow in archery on the right, with NOVA Fencing & Archery Club logo

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.

Go to Ever Wanted to Duel with a Sword or Hit a Bullseye? Fall Registration Is Open at Nova Fencing & Arch Read more
News

Amazon’s HQ2 workforce increases slightly, despite company-wide layoffs

By Dan Egitto
The grand opening of HQ2 in 2023 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Total employment at HQ2 has increased slightly since 2024, despite multiple rounds of corporate layoffs at Amazon in recent months.

Around 8,500 employees currently work out of Amazon’s headquarters in Pentagon City, the company announced in a blog post this afternoon. That’s a modest increase from 8,330 employees reported at the end of 2024.

Go to Amazon’s HQ2 workforce increases slightly, despite company-wide layoffs Read more
Event

Old Friends, Vintage Glam + Figure Drawing

Three smiling people in retro clothing run together, arms linked, against a circular studio backdrop.

Event location

Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington

3550 Wilson Blvd.

Arlington, Virginia 22201

Add to Calendar

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!

Go to Old Friends, Vintage Glam + Figure Drawing Read more
Around Town

Brazilian-Lebanese chicken spot Tio Pelé opens on Langston Blvd

By Katie Taranto
Crowds show up to Tio Pelé's grand opening day at 3110 Langston Blvd (courtesy of Tio Pelé)

A Brazilian and Lebanese-inspired charcoal chicken shop is now open for business on Langston Blvd.

Tio Pelé celebrated its grand opening last week at 3110 Langston Blvd in Lyon Village, slinging whole and half chickens, sandwiches, bowls and fresh juice. Customers lined up around the property to get a taste of the family-owned spot, located at the former site of The Block Oven, a Mediterranean restaurant and hookah lounge.

Go to Brazilian-Lebanese chicken spot Tio Pelé opens on Langston Blvd Read more
News

Construction begins on 42 new townhouses near Crystal City

By Dan Egitto
Construction on the Highlands Row development along S. Fern Street (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

Construction on a row of new townhomes is getting underway at Crystal House Apartments, with completion expected in about a year.

The Highlands Row development of 42 townhouses along S. Fern Street — each with three bedrooms, two and a half baths and a price tag of about $1.2 million — is currently expected to begin foundation work next month and finish in May 2027, ARLnow is told.

Go to Construction begins on 42 new townhouses near Crystal City Read more
News

Arlington apartment rents tick upward, but remain down year over year

By Scott McCaffrey
The Grace and Reva apartment buildings in Crystal City (courtesy Jason Gooljar)

The median rent remains down year over year in Arlington, though the local market is showing price upticks as winter transitions to spring.

The county’s median apartment rent of $2,585 in March was up 1.4% month over month, contributing to a cumulative 2.4% from the start of the year, Apartment List said in its monthly report, released earlier this week. Nevertheless, the median rental rate remains down 1.7% from a year before.

Go to Arlington apartment rents tick upward, but remain down year over year Read more
News

Falls Church leaders seek smooth transition to next city manager

By Scott McCaffrey
Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields (screenshot via City of Falls Church)

Falls Church City Council members are hoping to have a new city manager ready to go just when their current one retires in just over five months.

Council members at a March 25 government-operations committee meeting outlined general plans and a hoped-for timetable in finding a successor to Wyatt Shields.

Go to Falls Church leaders seek smooth transition to next city manager Read more
News

Morning Notes for April 1, 2026

By ARLnow.com
A worker scaling one of the arms of the Air Force Memorial on March 30, 2026 (courtesy Peter Roof)

Lucky Lockbox Find — An Arlington woman claimed the final $1 million prize in Virginia’s New Year’s Millionaire Raffle after discovering a forgotten ticket in her lock box. The ticket, purchased at the 7-Eleven on Mt. Vernon Avenue in Alexandria, was a Christmas gift from a friend. [Patch]

Driver Flees Into Pentagon Lot — A minor crash on S. Fern Street at Army Navy Drive in Pentagon City reportedly became a hit-and-run after the driver fled north on Fern, onto the Pentagon reservation. [Dave Statter/X]

Warner Sounds Election Alarm — Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) argued in a New York Times op-ed that the greatest threat to American elections now comes from inside the federal government, citing a reported draft executive order that would invoke emergency powers to override state election authority. [New York Times]

It’s Wednesday — Mostly sunny this morning with a high near 86 degrees, but showers and thunderstorms become likely by mid-afternoon with a 50% chance of precipitation. Overnight lows drop to around 59 as storms continue, with a 70% chance of rain. [NWS]

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Announcement

Local Muay Thai Academy Earns Prestigious Muay Thai Certification from Thailand

Two men pose in an office holding a plaque with the Thailand flag and SMG 2026 seal/emblem.

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.

Go to Local Muay Thai Academy Earns Prestigious Muay Thai Certification from Thailand Read more
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