Gateway Park in Rosslyn (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
The concept of creating a foundation to support county parks is coming a little closer into focus.
“It’s a really good time to talk about those options and to think about what might be the best way to move forward,” said Jane Rudolph, director of the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation, at the Nov. 18 meeting of the Park and Recreation Commission.
Raindrops falling in a puddle in Bluemont Park (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Winter Weather Driving Tips — “Weather impacts to the morning rush hour are more likely for those in western and northern Virginia. Use caution in locations where pavement freezes first, including higher elevations, bridges, overpasses and shaded areas. Avoid distractions and make sure everyone in the car wears their seatbelts.” [Press Release]
Large Crowd for Taco Bell 50k — “The rules of the first-ever Taco Bell DC 50k were pretty simple, organizers Phil Hargis, 54, and Mike Wardian, 51, explained to the hundreds of participants shivering in below-freezing temperatures outside a Taco Bell in Old Town Alexandria on Saturday morning. Each participant must run to nine Taco Bells scattered across Alexandria, Arlington, and the District. At each location, they must purchase and eat an item off the menu. Drinks don’t count.” [Washington Post]
Va. Dems Eye Leave Program — “Democratic lawmakers in Virginia are again attempting to create a paid family and medical leave program after several years of roadblocks, and this time, they appear to have an ally in Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger. Legislation introduced Nov. 17 would require the Virginia Employment Commission to establish the insurance program in the commonwealth for workers who need up to 12 weeks to care for new children, sick family members or their own serious health conditions.” [WBJ]
A Look at the F.C. Farmers Market — “Market Manager Jennifer Brady is responsible for the biggest attraction in the City of Falls Church – its award-winning Farmers Market. She lets us in on what it takes to maintain that reputation. From the selection of vendors to entertainment and children’s activities, the Farmers Market is a carefully orchestrated event that brings together hundreds of people every Saturday morning, year-round.” [Falls Church Pulse]
New Legal Notice — Arlington’s 2026–2027 Public Housing Agency Plan open for comment; hearing January 27. [Public Notices]
It’s Tuesday — Rain mixed with sleet is expected, transitioning to plain rain before drying out in the afternoon, with highs near 40°F. Winds will turn northwest at 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Precipitation chance is 100%, with minor sleet accumulation expected. Tuesday night will be mostly clear, with lows around 28°F and northwest winds at 10 to 13 mph. [NWS]
LadyBug Academy will officially open its newest location, LadyBug Academy Arlington, on June 1st, 2026, at 1915 N Uhle Street, Arlington, VA. (Ladybug Academy)
An Open House for the community is scheduled for May 30th, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Families and community members will have the opportunity to tour the facility, meet staff, and learn more about the programs offered at the new location. (Ladybug Academy)
The event will include family activities such as a bubble party, face painting, balloon twisting, and a petting zoo.
LadyBug Academy provides early childhood education programs focused on creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging learning environment for children. The school’s curriculum emphasizes language, literacy, math, science, social development, and hands-on learning experiences led by experienced educators. (Ladybug Academy)
The Arlington location will offer priority enrollment to Arlington County employees.
Rain mixed with sleet is expected until 2 pm, followed by a chance of rain between 2 pm and 4 pm, with highs near 40°F. Light and variable winds will turn northwest at 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Precipitation is guaranteed, but sleet accumulation will be minimal. Tuesday night will be mostly clear, with lows around 28°F and northwest winds at 10 to 13 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.” – Robert Frost
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.
Outgoing Attorney General Jason Miyares (R) (Mike Kropf/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP, Pool)
Virginia’s attorney general and 20 of his counterparts in other states are weighing in on a lawsuit over Arlington Public Schools’ policies around transgender students.
Outgoing Attorney General Jason Miyares and other Republican officials jointly filed a brief last Tuesday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, arguing that the U.S. Department of Education was right to label APS and Fairfax County Public Schools as “high risk” and place restrictions on their funding.
Join Jadin O’Brien, Olympic athlete, 3x NCAA pentathlon champion and 10x All-American (heptathlon) winner for this in-person and virtual 5K. This event is sponsored by The Alex Manfull Fund to raise awareness and advance research on debilitating infection-associated neuroimmune disorders (including PANS and PANDAS) that affect young people. The 5K is part of the organization’s 36 Hours for PANS and PANDAS Advocacy in Motion event. Runners will receive a Finisher’s Medal, Technical (Drifit) Event Shirt and A Chip Timed Event. The event commemorates the life of Alex Manfull, who died at age 26 due to PANDAS. Susan and William Manfull established the Fund in their daughter’s name with the vision that no life ever again be cut short—or interrupted—by these illnesses. Learn more at TheAlexManfullFund.org.
Arlington police and Virginia State Police on the Clarendon nightlife detail (file photo)
A 41-year-old man who allegedly drove the wrong way in Clarendon early Thursday morning, amid Thanksgiving Eve road closures, is facing charges.
The Alexandria man threatened a traffic safety specialist who confronted him while driving through a cone pattern, then accelerated his car towards the worker, according to the Arlington County Police Department. He was later pulled over in the Lyon Village neighborhood, arrested, and charged with assault on a law enforcement officer.
An event at Doorways' Community Services Center in Ballston (photo courtesy of Alex Sakes)
Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, an international day of donations that many nonprofits rely on for an end-of-year fundraising bump.
Arlington County is home to numerous nonprofits that depend on local residents’ donations, including over 200 community organizations listed on a county directory. Below is a selection of some noteworthy groups — selected based on a recent ARLnow Readers’ Choice poll and other sources — to consider contributing to this year.
Brine lines on N. George Mason Drive last winter (staff photo)
Brine trucks are out on the roads in Arlington ahead of expected winter weather this evening.
The National Weather Service predicts snowfall throughout much of Northern Virginia as a cold front tracks through the region beginning this evening (Monday). As of this afternoon, a small amount of accumulation is expected immediately to the west of Arlington, including in Falls Church.
Union Kitchen in Ballston (staff photo by Jared Serre)
A Ballston lunch spot and corner store has shuttered after five years.
D.C.-based Union Kitchen closed its lone Arlington location at 4104 Wilson Blvd last week. The business opened at 4104 Wilson Blvd, between Punch Bowl Social and Compass Coffee, in summer 2020.
Former County Board member Jay Fisette (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)
Several former elected officials in Arlington are expressing caution over moving too fast on potential changes to the county’s form of governance.
At issue at the moment is a proposal to form a working group to study possibilities. It has attracted skepticism from former County Board, School Board and General Assembly members advocating for restraint on embarking on change-of-government planning.