Feature

This regularly-scheduled sponsored column is written by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy team (AIRE). This county program helps you make smart energy decisions that save you money and leaves a lighter footprint on the environment.

Arlington’s real estate market is very tight. Ask Eli‘s posts shed light on this with his analytical insights. Because of this short supply of housing, more and more Arlingtonians are staying in their homes and renovating or expanding them to accommodate growing families.


Sponsored

This column is sponsored by Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

The sound of summer is here in Arlington with free outdoor concerts and a music festival!

The Lubber Run Amphitheater Free Summer Concert Series kicks off on June 6 (continuing through August 2), and the 29th Annual Columbia Pike Blues Festival takes place on Saturday, June 13!

Free Summer Concerts at Lubber Run Amphitheater
June 8 – August 2

Both Country music icon Reba McIntyre and crooner Michael Bublé hit the red button for DMV Blues Diva Carly Harvey’s “blind audition” for NBC’s The Voice last fall. Now you can hear Carly Harvey Sing Amy Winehouse to kick off the Free LUBBER RUN AMPHITHEATER Summer Concert Series, at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2026.

The concert series continues with Afrobeat band Dogo Tu Togo (Fri., June 12); Latin-jazz from Rumba Club (Sat., June 13); and the majestic Arlington Philharmonic (Sun., June 14, *6:30pm start time); The Grandsons 40th Anniversary (Sat., June 20); and the educational ensemble Mama Elena (Sun., June 21, 11:00 a.m.), continuing our tradition of Sunday morning performances for the whole family; and a Simon & Garfunkel Tribute performance (Fri., June 26).                            

Presented by Arlington Arts in cooperation with the Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation and with the collaboration of the Lubber Run Amphitheater Foundation, the Lubber Run Amphitheater Concerts take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, June 6 through August 2. Concert times are 8:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with Sunday morning family performances beginning at 11:00 a.m. (unless otherwise noted), two of which are co-presented with Arlington Public Library. (more…)


Schools

(Updated at 4:30 p.m.) Interim Superintendent Cintia Johnson is recommending an elementary school swap involving four schools, a more modest of two proposals presented in October.

Both proposals have received considerable pushback from parents, but in a presentation to the Arlington School Board last night administrators said it’s the best option for dealing with projected increased in enrollment in certain parts of the county.


Event

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.


Around Town

Local homebuilder Classic Cottages is no longer just building large, custom homes — a new subsidiary will now build a high-end “backyard cottages” as well.

Responding to Arlington’s recent loosening of rules on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) — small structures built in backyards, also known as “in-law suites” — Classic Cottages (an ARLnow sponsor) launched a new venture called Backyard Cottages.


Around Town

A $1 million winning New Year’s Millionaire Raffle ticket from the Virginia Lottery was sold in Arlington — but as of Thursday afternoon no one has stepped forward to claim it.

The lottery says three winning $1 million tickets were sold — in Chesapeake, Arlington and Portsmouth. Another 5 tickets hit for the $100,000 prize, including one sold at the Pentagon City Harris Teeter store to an Alexandria man.


Opinion

Yesterday we told you about a new Clarendon cafe called This is Fine Coffee, but more importantly we told you about one of their signature drinks: an espresso, orange juice and caramel concoction called the Bumble Coffee.

It’s apparently popular in Eastern Europe, and fairly rare here stateside.