Around Town

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.


Weather

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.


Sponsored

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…)


Around Town

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.


News

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.


Event

Tree Steward Fall Training Applications Open

Residents worried about our urban forest, their neighbor’s tree, or the declining oak in their own yard can apply now for a seven-week course to learn about trees and become a volunteer Tree Steward with Tree Stewards of Arlington and Alexandria.


News

The Falls Church city government continues to chip away at its staff vacancies, but faces ongoing challenges with public safety recruitment.

The 8% vacancy rate recorded across all city departments in early November “is, I think, the lowest we’ve been since the pandemic,” City Manager Wyatt Shields told members of the City Council’s government-operations committee on Nov. 26.


News

Members of the Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC) are looking for ways to stay relevant despite new limitations on their responsibilities.

After County Manager Mark Schwartz directed the committee to focus less on individual capital projects, members are discussing working through commissions that report to the County Board to provide input on issues they deem important.


News
Williamsburg Civic Association’s 7th year of lighting the American Holly tree at Williamsburg Circle in North Arlington (courtesy John Seymour)

I-66 Crash on Camera — “Not sure how this happened. It’s on westbound I-66 underneath the ramp coming from Glebe Rd./Fairfax Dr. @VSPPIO and @ArlingtonVaFD still working to clear the scene.” [Dave Statter/X]

Art Sale This Weekend — “Looking for one-of-a-kind gifts this holiday season?  The studio artists of The Studios at Arlington Arts (formerly LAC Studios) will hold their Annual Holiday Sale & Open House on Saturday (10:00am – 4:00pm) December 6, 2025. The Studios at Arlington Arts are located at 3700 South Four Mile Run Drive.” [Arlington County]

Delays at DCA — “Air passengers are slowly getting to their destinations following a weekend winter storm in the Midwest that created nightmares for those who traveled by air… As of Sunday night, Reagan National alone had over 450 delays, according to industry tracker Flightaware.” [DC News Now]

Bad Brains from Inner Ear — “The explosive power of D.C. punk rockers Bad Brains is legendary, and newly discovered live recordings from 45 years ago are adding to the legend. In a full-circle moment, the soon-to-be released double album has ties to Don Zientara’s Inner Ear Studio, in Arlington, Virginia, where Bad Brains did their first demo session.” [WTOP]

It’s Monday — Expect sunny skies and a high around 43 today, with winds from the northwest at 5-10 mph becoming lighter in the afternoon, and possible gusts up to 18 mph. Monday night could bring snow and sleet between 1am and 4am, transitioning to rain and sleet, with a 70% chance of precipitation, clouds increasing, and lows around 30. Southeast winds will be 3-5 mph, and there may be less than half an inch of snow and sleet accumulation. [NWS]

Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.


Sports

The month of December is the busiest time of the long campaign for girls and boys varsity basketball teams across Arlington and Northern Virginia.

During those 31 days, some squads will play as many as 10 to 12 games, including contests in a variety of tournaments.


Events

Holiday wreaths are returning to the graves of fallen service members in Arlington National Cemetery next month.

This year’s Wreaths Across America Day is on Saturday, Dec. 13. Beginning at 8 a.m., the annual event is expected to bring crowds around the cemetery as volunteers lay wreaths at thousands of headstones and columbarium niches.