Local food security organizations are seeking donations and urging caution as uncertainty continues to hang over food assistance in Virginia during the government shutdown.
While federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is expected to come to a halt on Saturday unless lawmakers strike a deal, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) announced a plan yesterday for a stopgap measure to make sure people can still eat.
Dogma Bakery & Boutique will celebrate its 25th anniversary next month, marking over two decades of charity and tail wags across Arlington.
Since 2000, the business has offered signature store-baked dog treats and pet supplies while lending support to animal rescue organizations. Giving back to the community is owner Sheila Raebel’s proudest achievement and has been part of Dogma’s mission since its origins as a bakery-cafe at the Lee Harrison Shopping Center.
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.
Many of you have asked about best practices when it comes to buying a new condominium. Some of us only want new and are willing to pay a premium for the best in current design. There are several recommendations and insights here that will help you get what you want.
First decide what type of condominium you need… size, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, parking needs, or separate office, followed by a list of wants such as level of building service, amenities on-site, space for dining for six, balcony, open floor plan, and natural light. (Here she goes again.) Not to be sexist about it, but females generally are better shoppers and come with a preconceived set of non-negotiables.
Identify the areas you would consider living, such as Arlington or Old Town… but not wanting to go as far as Tysons, Reston, or DC. People don’t buy condominiums in places they aren’t familiar with or already spend time in, unless relocating entirely. Many upcoming communities put up signage and a website first which makes early interest hyperlocal. Register as a VIP on the website early and you will get regular communication, time to consider the offering, and learn when pre-sale will begin.
Once open, come early in pre-sale. You’ll get the pick of the litter. This is particularly important if you want something larger and are interested in the best views. Prospects are smart and pick the best floorplans first. If you have some idea of your ideal size and price point it makes good use of everyone’s time. Once you make a selection, expect to leave a 10% deposit as this is pretty standard in the industry. The developer generally has their own contract and it’s written much in their favor but not unreasonably so. Pricing this early is usually not negotiable… the price is the price. But you can purchase with some confidence since all buyers are getting the same terms and the developer has a shared interest in protecting values through delivery while sales are ongoing.
You do not need to be fully qualified for financing to come out and look but it’s wise to have some idea of what you can afford. Most builders give incentives for paying cash or using their title company and lenders. Often your contract might even offer a short financing contingency in exchange for considering them.
Once firmly under contract, a buyer might have 12- 18 months to prepare for the move. How blissful. This is one of the best parts of buying early in pre-sale. Moving is daunting, especially if you have been in your current homes for 30 years and the thought of moving seems excruciating. Decide what to take, sell/donate, and hire a proper interior designer to space plan and create a unique home that reflects your tastes. All with the time to do it properly.
Something to note. Finishes have gotten more high end, brands carry weight, and there is less customization offered these days. Gone are the days of going to a design center. If you know you are getting a Sub Zero refrigerator included you probably won’t ask if there are other options available. (more…)
Arlington County police are investigating another series of airbag thefts.
The thefts were reported Tuesday morning on the 2000 block of S. Eads Street in Crystal City. Police say the suspect — or suspects — smashed windows on six parked Hondas overnight and stole the vehicles’ airbags.
The ARLnow Shop is back open for the holiday season and we need to stock it with new items.
Unfortunately, inside jokes about the gondola and brown flip flops are getting a bit long in the tooth, so we’re in need of new ideas. That’s where you come in — this year we’re asking readers to help us with design ideas.
St. Agnes Catholic Church in Arlington is hosting its monthly run & walk social on June 18th (Thursday) at 6:30pm. The 3 or 4 mile run (or walk) will start in the back parking lot (off N. Stafford St.) and end at St. Agnes. Participants can enjoy complimentary pizza afterwards. Drinks are BYOB. Extra points if you wear Catholic school swag. Thank you Father Oetjen, who started off our May run from Court House to/from the Marine Corps War Memorial with a prayer (and ran a competitive pace). Also, thank you to the Notre Dame and Georgetown alumni who wore their schools’ colors!
Please RSVP at the link, so we know how much pizza to get. Thank you!
Even if it’s just for bragging rights, there always is a lot on the line when hometown rivals Washington-Liberty Generals and Yorktown Patriots meet annually in high-school football action.
This fall, though, there will be much more at stake than just chest-thumping pride. The winner of Thursday night’s 7 p.m. showdown at Yorktown could end up being the outright Liberty District champion.
Falls Church officials plan to start looking into options for limiting or banning the use of gas-powered leaf blowers within city limits.
Among the issues remaining to be determined, likely early next year, is whether city leaders already have the power to enact a prohibition — or if they must wait for approval from the state government.
Surprise Blue Angels Flyover — “The Blue Angels were spotted over parts of D.C. and surrounding areas midday on Tuesday… D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the flyover was to celebrate the Navy’s 250th Birthday, which was on October 13.” [Fox 5, Andrew Leyden/X, ARLnow/X]
Latest on Redistricting Battle — “The amendment’s release followed hours of heated debate in the state Senate earlier on Tuesday, where Democrats and Republicans clashed over the timing and legality of advancing the proposal, introduced after more than a million Virginians have already voted… Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares on Tuesday argued that the Democratic proposal violates the state Constitution’s intent that voters have a meaningful say before such measures move forward.” [Virginia Mercury, Press Release, Press Release]
Feds Facing Financial Strains — “The federal government shutdown led 658,000 civilian employees to miss out on their first full paychecks on Friday. The average federal worker makes more than the average U.S. worker, but many are still struggling financially.” [Axios]
Va. Emergency SNAP Plan — “VENA benefits will be issued weekly, not monthly, in hopes the federal shutdown will end soon. For example: If a household normally receives $200 for a monthly benefit, a $50 benefit will be issued on a weekly basis. Recipients and households should adjust to this new schedule and plan accordingly.” [Press Release]
Bus Brandishing in Buckingham — “Between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on October 20, the male suspect boarded a transit bus and engaged the driver in a verbal dispute. As the suspect was exiting the bus, he made threatening statements and displayed what appeared to be a firearm before fleeing the scene on foot.” [ACPD]
Acquisition for AI Firm — “Istari Digital, an Arlington-based developer of infrastructure enabling AI-directed workflows across teams, tools and classification levels, said it has acquired Dgraph, a graph database most commonly used for building knowledge graphs, from San Francisco-based owner Hypermode.” [Potomac Tech Wire]
Rosslyn’s CoStar Keeps Growing — “CoStar Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSGP), a leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information, analytics, and 3D digital twin technology in the property markets, announced today that revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2025 was $834 million, up 20% over revenue of $693 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. Net loss was $31 million.” [BusinessWire]
It’s Wednesday — Isolated showers are expected before 10am and after 2pm, with otherwise partly sunny skies and a high of 57°F. Winds from the northeast at 8-10 mph, gusting up to 18 mph, and a 20% chance of precipitation. On Wednesday night, expect rain and possible thunderstorms after 5am, a low of 51°F, east winds at 9-13 mph with gusts up to 21 mph, and a 90% chance of precipitation. [NWS]
Good Tuesday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Oct 28, 2025.
Here is what’s going on Wednesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Isolated showers are expected before 10am and after 2pm, with partly sunny skies and a high of 57°F. Winds from the northeast at 8-10 mph, gusting up to 18 mph, and a 20% chance of precipitation. On Wednesday night, expect rain and possible thunderstorms after 5am, a low of 51°F, east winds at 9-13 mph with gusts up to 21 mph, and a 90% chance of precipitation. New rainfall could measure between three quarters and one inch. See more from Weather.gov.
“Success is not in what you have, but who you are.”
– Bo Bennett
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
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.
Halloween is Friday, bringing trick-or-treaters, free Lyft rides and lots of thematic events to Arlington.
Here’s a look at what county newcomers can expect and where to go locally on the spookiest night of the year.
