Around Town

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Dec 5, 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 5, 2025.

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

  1. What we know about the discount grocery store coming to Falls Church (10485 views)
  2. NEW: Another Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for Friday night (13764 views)
  3. Union Kitchen closes in Ballston after five years (8533 views)
  4. Long-delayed Columbia Pike redevelopment project moves toward final approval (8353 views)
  5. Feedback sought on 47-unit townhouse project off of Langston Blvd (7068 views)
  6. Decline in visitors at Arlington hotels raises concerns for local economy (6873 views)
  7. Clarendon code-enforcement efforts earn mixed reviews from neighbors (6293 views)
  8. Police: Alexandria man driving wrong way threatened traffic safety worker in Clarendon (5809 views)
  9. JUST IN: Two hour delay for Arlington Public Schools due to snow (5420 views)
  10. Car slams into bus shelter near Ballston, sending glass and trash flying (6246 views)
  11. Former elected officials raise concerns about moving too fast on Arlington governance changes (4248 views)
  12. New GOP challenger seeks to take on Beyer in 2026 (4087 views)
  13. Winter Weather Advisory issued ahead of “potential winter commuting hazard” Friday (4063 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

Patchy fog is expected to clear by 11am, making way for a partly sunny day with a high of around 42. Winds will be light and variable. For Saturday night, the sky will be mostly clear, and temperatures will drop to around 29 accompanied by light and variable winds. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
– 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. 👋

Schools

Students explore the lives of mother and son once enslaved near Gunston Middle School

By ARLnow.com
Students look over stumbling stones near Gunston Middle School (photo courtesy Jessica Kaplan)

A special “stumbling stone” unveiling last week taught Gunston Middle School sixth graders about the harsh lives of those enslaved across Arlington — and in their very neighborhoods.

The stones, the latest in a series being placed across the county, recognize the lives of Sina and George, a mother-son duo enslaved during the mid-1800s in the area where the school is now located. While the full story of their lives is not known, research has uncovered some information:

Go to Students explore the lives of mother and son once enslaved near Gunston Middle School Read more
Sponsored

Condominiums in Arlington Today: Understanding a 20 Year Evolution

By Kami Kraft

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.

To understand where the market is today, let’s look at how the condo market has changed. What began as an affordable housing alternative for first-time homebuyers has become the pinnacle of true luxury urban living typical of a world-class city. Let’s explore the 20-year evolution of new condos in Arlington.

Early 2000s: Affordability Focused. Condominiums in the early 2000s were aimed primarily at first-time homebuyers. Affordability was key and this type of housing in Arlington wasn’t glamorous quite yet. The market was steady and interest rates, at just under 7% in 2001, were deemed attractive. Most buildings had 100- 200 units and the average size for a new condominium in Arlington was 950 sq ft.

Mid-2000s: Market Heats Up. In 2003 the market began to pick up speed, fueled by the abundance of financing and essentially loans that required no documentation or proof of affordability. During this time Ballston saw several apartment to condo conversions. Condo units were generally designed as apartments so unit sizes were smaller among all unit types. Finishes were acceptable but not great. This is when granite countertops became the epitome of quality.

New builds like Liberty Center in Ballston shifted the average size down while finish quality and livability of design improved. It was probably the best building of that generation. Like many others at that time there was a rush to buy and buildings were very successful in pre-sale. (more…)

Sports

Wakefield boys basketball team opens with limited experience, big win

By Dave Facinoli
Wakefield's Dyson Beaty, left, and Jeremiah Poole (3) run the offense (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

With only two players with significant experience returning, questions proliferated for the Wakefield Warriors when the squad opened the boys high-school basketball season Tuesday night (Dec. 2).

Senior guards Jeremiah Poole and Dyson Beaty — a starter and top substitute, respectively, from last season — are those top returners. The duo and their teammates began answering those concerns when Wakefield routed the visiting Falls Church Jaguars, 70-39, in its first contest.

Go to Wakefield boys basketball team opens with limited experience, big win Read more
Sports

O’Connell hosts unique baseball camp for youth over Thanksgiving weekend

By Dave Facinoli
Campers participate in hitting drills (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

It’s nearly winter and the local prep basketball season has just begun. Yet the sport of baseball was front and center in a unique event held Nov. 30 at Bishop O’Connell High School.

Despite chilly and rainy weather, some 60 players ages 11 to 14 from throughout the metro area gathered at the Arlington private school for a free Thanksgiving-weekend instructional camp.

Go to O’Connell hosts unique baseball camp for youth over Thanksgiving weekend Read more
Event

Civic Jam

Cherry Hill Park

312 Park Avenue

Falls Church, Virginia 22046

Website Contact Social

Commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary of the United States of America at Civic Jam! Celebrate the City of Falls Church’s diverse community, civic engagement, and classic summer fun. Jam out to live, local music, sip on local brews, enjoy tasty treats and eats, and a full evening of festivities for all ages on Friday, July 3, 2026, from 6 to 10 p.m.

Play, connect, and earn points throughout the evening in the Civic Cup Competition with activities ranging from sack races and relays to collaborative community art and trivia in the beer garden. No pre-registration required, assemble a team of four, pick up a Civic Cup scorecard, and compete for the Civic Cup Trophy!

Go to Civic Jam Read more
News

Car slams into bus shelter near Ballston, sending glass and trash flying

By ARLnow.com
Car crashes into bus shelter near Ballston (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

A crash this afternoon near Ballston pulverized a bus shelter and littered a sidewalk with strewn trash.

The reported single-vehicle crash happened just before 1 p.m. Friday on the 3900 block of Wilson Blvd, at the entrance to the parking lot of the &pizza, Gold’s Gym and other businesses.

Go to Car slams into bus shelter near Ballston, sending glass and trash flying Read more
Weather

NEW: Another Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for Friday night

By ARLnow.com
Snow falling in Courthouse on Dec. 5, 2025 (courtesy George Brazier)

The snow may be mostly over but we’re not done with wintry hazards.

A light freezing rain is expected tonight between 7 p.m.-1 a.m., potentially leading to a “a light glaze of ice” and “very slippery sidewalks, roads and bridges,” according to the National Weather Service.

Go to NEW: Another Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for Friday night Read more
News

Health fair supports those facing a challenging winter in Arlington

By ARLnow.com
A health-education table at the 2025 PathForward health fair for Arlington's unhoused population (courtesy PathForward)

A recent health fair sponsored by a local nonprofit gave at-risk county residents valuable support going into the winter months.

The event, presented by PathForward, served 74 individuals, including those staying at the organization’s two 24-hour programs — the Homeless Services Center and Residential Program Center — along with clients using other PathForward services and those supported by other safety-net providers.

Go to Health fair supports those facing a challenging winter in Arlington Read more
Opinion

Poll: The best Middle Eastern restaurant in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

From Lebanese falafel and kabob to Turkish doner, Arlington’s Middle Eastern restaurants offer an array of flavors to match the county’s multicultural diversity.

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

Did we miss your favorite spot for Middle Eastern food? Write it in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Three weeks ago, we voted on Best Thai Restaurant in Arlington. The results are now official:

  1. Bangkok 54 Restaurant
  2. Soul Thai Kitchen & Bar
  3. Padaek
News

Economic concerns cloud budget planning in Falls Church

By Scott McCaffrey
Paragon Theaters in Falls Church (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Falls Church city and school leaders head into planning for the fiscal year 2027 budget with many unknowns to contend with.

David So, the city government’s new budget director, sketched out a number of budget scenarios at a Monday (Dec. 1) work session between members of the City Council and School Board. Depending on the scenario, his projections leave a budget gap of between $2.7 million and $5.4 million that will have to be addressed before a final budget is adopted next May.

Go to Economic concerns cloud budget planning in Falls Church Read more
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