Around Town

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Dec 12, 2025

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 — Dec 12, 2025.

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

  1. Sharpshooters to begin Arlington deer cull in February (40684 views)
  2. ‘Arlington Sauna’ seeks to launch Finnish-style wellness spot in 2026 (9202 views)
  3. Man sentenced for setting fires at three Crystal City restaurants (8080 views)
  4. Change in plans for new Career Center facility angers Arlington Tech parents (7675 views)
  5. New bus route will reconnect Shirlington to D.C. starting next week (6362 views)
  6. New affordable housing building near Rosslyn celebrated with ribbon cutting (6349 views)
  7. Demolition beginning soon at townhouse development planned near Columbia Pike (5539 views)
  8. County manager punts on questions of local takeover of Glebe Road and Langston Blvd (5131 views)
  9. Officer’s request for man to remove mask leads to arrests in Pentagon City (5760 views)
  10. Local ‘Geezers’ use lunch gatherings to keep tabs on Arlington politics (4573 views)
  11. Proposal to add 700+ more housing units to RiverHouse heads to County Board (4225 views)
  12. Mae’s Market and Cafe closes in Pentagon City, making way for new Maman (3661 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 a mostly cloudy day with a high near 45 and a southwest wind around 6 mph. On Saturday night, snow showers are likely, possibly mixed with rain, before turning into all snow after 4am. The low will be around 29, with calm winds shifting to north at 5 to 8 mph after midnight. The chance of precipitation stands at 80% with new snow accumulations of 1 to 2 inches possible. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt

🌅 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

After cancer battle, Favola steps into role leading Senate health committee

By Jared Serre
State Sen. Barbara Favola (courtesy photo)

State Sen. Barbara Favola (D) is stepping into a new role as chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee on the other side of a recent battle with cancer.

When the Virginia General Assembly convenes in January, Favola, who announced in May that she had been diagnosed with uterine cancer, will be only two months removed from the end of chemotherapy treatments.

Go to After cancer battle, Favola steps into role leading Senate health committee Read more
Sponsored

Synetic Theater kicks off summer camp with scholarships available!

By Sponsor
Image from Synetic Theater kicks off Summer Camp with Scholarships Available!

Synetic has recently received a $10,000 award from the George Preston Marshall Fund to provide scholarships to our summer programs, both our summer camps and the Teen Conservatory. We are thrilled to provide need-based scholarships for physical theater education to students who cannot otherwise afford to attend camps.

If you wish to apply for a scholarship, click below!

APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP HERE!

Synetic Theater’s award-winning physical theater company brings its signature blend of movement, storytelling, and creativity to young artists ages 7-13 in ten one-week, fun-filled, repeatable sessions. No previous experience is required—just curiosity, energy, and a willingness to leap into the fun.

At Synetic, every child is a storyteller. Through dance, pantomime, stage movement, ensemble games, and world-building activities, campers learn to express themselves using their bodies, voices, and imaginations. Synetic’s experienced teaching artists guide students through an immersive process that builds confidence, collaboration skills, and creative problem-solving—all while having a blast.

Each session ends with a showcase where campers proudly share their original work with family and friends.

REGISTER FOR CAMP HERE!

We hope you join us for camp this summer! For further scholarship, registration, or general information, please email [email protected] directly.

Sports

Yorktown wins opening county rivalry game of basketball season

By Dave Facinoli
Wakefield moves the ball against Yorktown’s defense (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Between them, girls and boys varsity public high-school basketball teams in Arlington have six regular-season rivalry games scheduled this season.

The first contest was a boys clash Thursday night, Dec. 11, when the host Wakefield Warriors (3-1) lost to the Yorktown Patriots (4-1) by a 73-41 score in Liberty District action.

Go to Yorktown wins opening county rivalry game of basketball season Read more
News

Healthier meals, eco-friendly living among this year’s highlights at university extension

By Scott McCaffrey
Staff members of the Arlington office of Virginia Cooperative Extension (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Staff and volunteers at Virginia Cooperative Extension put on a showcase of the year gone by and plans for the future last week.

From healthier meals to more energy-efficient living, those serving Arlington out of the Fairlington Community Center shared their experience helping thousands of local residents this year and every year.

Go to Healthier meals, eco-friendly living among this year’s highlights at university extension Read more
Event

First Baby? Connect with other New Moms!

Online event (see link)

Website Contact Social

Since 2005, Mamistad has helped 1000’s of first-time moms find their new mom tribes. Let’s connect you with yours! Join us for a quick FREE virtual call and you’ll be all set to join your group – sometimes even the same day!

When you’re expecting or just had your first baby, you can be blindsided by all the newness that comes with it. All those feelings you’re having are normal – it’s NOT JUST YOU! Pregnancy and new mom groups are a lifesaver when it comes to normalizing those feelings we just can’t be prepared for – mainly the changes YOU will go through as a mother.

Go to First Baby? Connect with other New Moms! Read more
News

GW Parkway construction approaches big milestone, but more is yet to come

By Dan Egitto
Crews work to prepare GW Parkway for reversible lanes (via NPS)

While a major portion of GW Parkway construction work is wrapping up in Arlington, another is scheduled to get underway next year.

From Spout Run Parkway up to the Beltway in McLean, paving is done and mainline construction is on track to conclude by the end of the month as a major rehab project announced in 2021 draws toward a close.

Go to GW Parkway construction approaches big milestone, but more is yet to come Read more
News

Officer’s request for man to remove mask leads to arrests in Pentagon City

By ARLnow.com
The entrance to the Pentagon City Metro station (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Two D.C. men are facing charges after an incident that started with a request to remove a mask in the Pentagon City Metro station.

It happened Thursday night around 5:45 p.m., with holiday shopping in full swing at the Pentagon City mall and the evening commute underway.

Go to Officer’s request for man to remove mask leads to arrests in Pentagon City Read more
Opinion

Poll: The best spa in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Whether you’re looking to unwind with a massage, refresh with a facial or treat yourself to a full day of pampering, Arlington has plenty of spas ready to melt your stress away.

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

Did we miss your favorite spa? Write it in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for Best Middle Eastern Restaurant in 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 Beer/Wine Shop in Arlington. The results are now official:

  1. Flight Wine Shop
  2. Arrowine & Cheese
  3. Beauty Champagne & Sugar Boutique
Weather

Expected snow this weekend prompts Arlington and VDOT to pretreat roads

By Dan Egitto
A fork in the brine lines, in a north Arlington neighborhood (staff photo)

Preparations are underway for a wintry weekend in Arlington, with at least 1-3 inches of snow looking likely Saturday night into Sunday.

While some snow flurries are possible today (Friday), the accumulating snow in the forecast for later this weekend has brine trucks out on the roads in Arlington.

Go to Expected snow this weekend prompts Arlington and VDOT to pretreat roads Read more
Sports

W-L girls basketball team starts strong with first-year coach, new players

By Dave Facinoli
Kathryn Wagener takes a foul shot for Washington-Liberty (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

The Washington-Liberty Generals girls varsity basketball team is adjusting well to a new coach, the loss of key players and the arrival of new faces.

In addition, first-year coach Horace “Buck” Willis is adapting to the new experience of leading a girls squad.

Go to W-L girls basketball team starts strong with first-year coach, new players Read more
View More Stories