Around Town

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Mar 20, 2026

By ARLnow.com

Good Friday 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 — Mar 20, 2026.

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  1. Rep. Beyer introduces bill to eliminate federal income tax for Americans earning under $46,000 (1039221 views)
  2. Local restaurateur buying out Westover Taco to launch N. Va.’s first women’s sports bar (20169 views)
  3. DEVELOPING: Arlington Public Schools to dismiss early Monday due to storm risk (14924 views)
  4. UPDATED: Awaiting second round of storms after Arlington sees mostly rain from first wave (10579 views)
  5. UPDATED: Tornado Watch cancelled for Arlington (9820 views)
  6. County withholding nearly $1M from trash contractor due to missed collections (7953 views)
  7. Xi’an Famous Foods plans new Chinese restaurant in Clarendon (7071 views)
  8. ACPD officer steps in with pizza after APS charter bus gets stuck in mud (6278 views)
  9. Residents question proposal to leave a portion of DCA pedestrian bridge uncovered (5156 views)
  10. New ‘event-driven’ restaurant planned after Rooftop Recess closes in Courthouse (5073 views)
  11. NOW: Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for Arlington (4507 views)
  12. Service cutbacks, staff furloughs possible in Arlington depending on tax revenue (4281 views)
  13. Virginia Democrats pass full affordability agenda as General Assembly adjourns without a budget (3994 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

Here are the events planned for Sunday:

☀️ Saturday’s forecast

Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 66 degrees and a gentle north wind blowing at 6 to 8 mph. Saturday night will be partly cloudy with temperatures dropping to around 48 degrees, and winds shifting from the east to south at 6 mph after midnight. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
– Nelson Mandela

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! 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

JUST IN: House committee subpoenas Arlington prosecutor in bias investigation

By Dan Egitto
Commonwealth's Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti at an anti-ICE rally in Courthouse (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

The House Judiciary Committee has subpoenaed Arlington’s commonwealth’s attorney, the latest escalation in a months-long dispute over her handling of an ongoing criminal investigation.

Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has filed a subpoena seeking to compel Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti to release numerous documents related to a case involving the search and seizure of an activist’s cellphone.

Go to JUST IN: House committee subpoenas Arlington prosecutor in bias investigation Read more
News

ACPD: Alexandria man charged for “unprovoked” attack on officers this morning in Clarendon

By Dan Egitto
Police car at night (file photo courtesy Kevin Wolf)

A 26-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly assaulting two Arlington police officers without provocation early this morning (Friday).

Quinton Berry, an Alexandria resident, was “bloody and agitated” when he allegedly approached two officers whose police vehicle was stopped at a traffic light in Clarendon around 3 a.m., the Arlington County Police Department said in a press release.

Go to ACPD: Alexandria man charged for “unprovoked” attack on officers this morning in Clarendon Read more
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
Around Town

Thai restaurant Rien Tong closes for ‘complete transformation’ in Clarendon

By Katie Taranto
Rien Tong in Clarendon (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A longtime Thai restaurant and sushi bar has closed for business in Clarendon, but it appears the business won’t be gone for long.

Rien Tong Thai Asian Restaurant & Sushi Bar plans to spend the next 10 months rebranding at 3131 Wilson Blvd, located just across the street from the Clarendon Metro station. A message posted in the restaurant’s windows teases improvements under new management.

Go to Thai restaurant Rien Tong closes for ‘complete transformation’ in Clarendon Read more
Event

Presentation – The Marvels of the Cosmos – Seen Through NASA’s Eyes

Poster advertising a planetarium lecture: 'The Marvels of the Cosmos Seen through NASA's Eyes' with date, time, and venue at David M. Brown Planetarium (Sept 12, 7:30 p.m.).

Event location

David M. Brown Planetarium

1426 N Quincy St

Arlington, Virginia 22207

Add to Calendar

For over 400 years, humans have studied the cosmos through telescopes anchored to the ground. That changed with the rise of spaceflight; only in the last 50 years have telescopes escaped the Earth's atmosphere entirely and opened a new window on the universe.

Join us for a talk from two NASA astrophysicists on the space telescopes of yesterday, today, and tomorrow—from Hubble's nearly four decades of discovery to James Webb, Nancy Grace Roman, and more. Learn about some of their most striking discoveries and what the future holds.

Go to Presentation – The Marvels of the Cosmos – Seen Through NASA’s Eyes Read more
Traffic

GW Parkway to be resurfaced between Spout Run and Alexandria starting next week

By ARLnow.com
Traffic on the GW Parkway (file photo)

Lane closures are coming to the George Washington Memorial Parkway starting next week, for a resurfacing project.

Crews will remove the top layer of worn asphalt in both directions and repave the road in two sections: between Spout Run Parkway and I-395, and between Reagan National Airport and First Street in Alexandria, according to NPS. The work is expected to continue through mid-June, weather permitting.

Go to GW Parkway to be resurfaced between Spout Run and Alexandria starting next week Read more
Opinion

Poll: The best cleaning service in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

The arrival of spring brings flowers, sunshine, warm weather and — for some — spring cleaning.

For Arlingtonians looking for some help getting their homes sparkling clean this season or any time of year, a wide range of services can tackle everything from routine maintenance to thorough deep cleans.

Here are the nominees for “Best Cleaning Service in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your favorite service? Write it in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for Best Home Renovation Firm 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 Race for Runners in Arlington. The results are now official:

  1. Four Courts Four Miler
  2. Marine Corps Marathon
  3. Army Ten-Miler
News

NEW: Historical-review panel supports partial preservation of Melwood site

By Scott McCaffrey
The former Nelly Custis School, now owned by Melwood (via Google Maps)

A key county advisory panel has recommended giving historic protections to portions of the former Nelly Custis School in Aurora Highlands.

The 7-4 vote by the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board on March 18 sends the matter to the Planning Commission and County Board. And it complicates efforts by Melwood and Wesley Housing to redevelop the 1.7-acre site at 750 23rd Street S. for affordable housing.

Go to NEW: Historical-review panel supports partial preservation of Melwood site Read more
Around Town

Twins Ace Hardware plans to open in Crystal City next month

By Katie Taranto
Twins Ace Hardware "coming soon" in Crystal City (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

An Ace Hardware store is opening soon in Crystal City.

Arlington’s second Twins Ace Hardware is preparing to soft open at 2051 S. Bell Street on Tuesday, April 7, owner Jeff Smith told ARLnow. This will be followed by a three-day grand opening with “swag, gift bags, giveaways, and plenty of surprises” from May 29-31.

Go to Twins Ace Hardware plans to open in Crystal City next month Read more
News

‘Soft interview room’ for victims of crime to be installed at Arlington courthouse

By Dan Egitto
An example of a Project Beloved "soft interview" room (via Project Beloved/Facebook)

Victims of crime in Arlington will soon have a more soothing and intentionally designed space to speak with an attorney about their experiences.

A planned “soft interview room” from the Arlington County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office is intended to create a greater sense of ease and safety during victim interviews. With pleasant art, a couch, blankets and a soothing color palette, the room — created in partnership with the nonprofit Project Beloved — will finish installation next week on the fifth floor of the courthouse.

Go to ‘Soft interview room’ for victims of crime to be installed at Arlington courthouse Read more
Announcement

Fall Art Classes Are Here!

By Art House 7
Young girl paints at an easel in an art studio, with pumpkin-themed artwork and autumn leaf pottery on a red table nearby, Art House.

We love fall at Art House 7 and can’t wait for you to explore all our offerings. Painting, drawing, ceramics, and sewing/crocheting are our perennials, along with less traditional mediums. Kawaii Style Drawing and Digital Art are among our new classes for kids. We offer an excellent 6-week program for high schoolers preparing their college portfolios. Want something shorter? We have 3-week classes, including linocut notecards. Love ceramics? We have a dedicated studio that comfortably accommodates wheel and hand-building classes. 

Fall 1 Session begins Tue. Sep. 8.

Go to Fall Art Classes Are Here! Read more
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