Around Town

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Sep 19, 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 — Sep 19, 2025.

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

  1. UPDATED: Body found in wooded area near Columbia Pike (62091 views)
  2. Arlington’s oldest elementary school celebrates its 100th birthday this Friday (10678 views)
  3. Caps hosting charity ‘garage sale’ at Ballston’s Iceplex this weekend (9802 views)
  4. Chalk messages at Arlington home of top White House official strike a nerve with GOP heavyweights (8825 views)
  5. County Board approves one redevelopment in Clarendon, defers another near Rosslyn (6378 views)
  6. Former Vice President Mike Pence joins faculty at GMU (6180 views)
  7. ‘Simply Banh Mi’ flourishes in Ballston after unexpected relocation (5375 views)
  8. County Board considers ban on gas-powered leaf blowers in Arlington (5098 views)
  9. Increased police presence coming to local high school after ‘non-credible’ bomb threat (5057 views)
  10. Clarendon Day returns this month with over 150 vendors and booths (3943 views)
  11. Two more suspects accused of arson after apartment fire near Columbia Pike (3903 views)
  12. Terminal 1 rebuild at Reagan National looks to clear key hurdle in 2026 (3324 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 mostly sunny skies with a high temperature close to 78 and a northeast breeze of 8 mph. As the night progresses, clouds will increase, lowering the temperature to approximately 63 with an eastern wind blowing at about 7 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
– Henry David Thoreau

🌅 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. 👋

Around Town

Podcast: Leaf blower controversy and dessert talk with Acme Pie

By ARLnow.com
ARLnow podcast (September 19, 2025) screenshot

The weekend is here and so is a new episode of the ARLnow podcast.

In the latest episode, Vernon, Dan and Lene — and a special guest, Sol Schott from Acme Pie on Columbia Pike — discuss a few notable local news stories in Arlington from the past week, including:

Go to Podcast: Leaf blower controversy and dessert talk with Acme Pie Read more
Sponsored

Q1 market trends in Northern VA and Washington DC

By Eli Tucker

This regularly scheduled column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. If you would like to work with Eli and his team in Northern Virginia and the greater D.C. Metro area, you can reach him directly at [email protected].

Question: How has the local real estate market performed so far this year?

Answer: After a year where market conditions softened in favor of buyers, the Northern VA real estate market became more favorable for sellers in the first quarter of 2026, while the Washington DC condo market continued to reel.

What is in this article:

  • Northern VA, Arlington, and Washington DC Absorption Trends (demand)
  • Northern VA, Arlington, and Washington DC Inventory Trends (supply)
  • Washington DC List Price Trends (market values)

Northern VA & Arlington Inventory is Being Absorbed Faster

After four straight quarters of double-digit decreases in year-over-year absorption, the Northern VA and Arlington markets saw a ~8% increase in absorption rate.

What this means: Demand increased in Q1

Northern VA & Arlington New Listing Volume is Declining

After a promising trend of six straight quarters of year-over-year increases in the number of homes listed for sale in Northern VA, new listing activity fell by ~1% each of the previous two quarters.

What this means: Sellers have less competition, buyers have fewer choices

Washington DC Condo Absorption is Plummeting

The absorption rate for DC condos has declined year-over-year for 16 quarters straight and 23 out of the past 26 quarters.

What this means: It is difficult to find buyers for DC condos

Washington DC Condo Inventory Declined Slightly

Total inventory declined by 3.4% year-over-year, the first quarterly drop since Q4 2023. Still, there were great than 2x more condos for sale in DC in Q1 2026 than Q1 2020

What this means: Motivated sellers must compete aggressively with each other for buyers

Washington DC Condos Keep Getting Cheaper

The average price of a DC condo listed for sale is 9.4% less than it was in Q1 2025 and ~9% less than it was ten years ago.

What this means: Even lowering the price won’t guarantee a buyer

If you’d like to discuss buying, selling, investing, or renting, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].

We have access to the most pre and off-market listings across the DMV of any brokerage and are happy to share what’s available with anybody who asks.

Below are some of our team’s pre/off-market listings, details and additional listings available by request:

  • Westover – 4BR/2BA/2,000sqft – Detached Single Family (2000) – 23rd St N Arlington VA 22205
  • Green Valley – 5BR/4.5BA/3,000sqft – Detached Single Family (2020) – 24th St S Arlington VA 22206
  • Ballston – 4BR/3.5BA/2,400sqft – Townhouse (2008) – N George Mason Dr Arlington VA 22203
  • Ballston – 4BR/3.5BA+office/4,000 sqft – Four Townhouses (2026/2027) – 11th St N Arlington VA 22201
  • Rosslyn – 2BR/2BA/1,800sqft – Condo (2021) – 1781 N Pierce St Arlington VA 22209
  • Rosslyn – 3BR/2.5BA/2,400sqft – Condo (1986) – 1530 Key Blvd Arlington VA 22209
  • Williamsburg – 6BR/5.5BA/5,500 sqft – Detached Single Family (2026) – 27th St N Arlington VA 22207
  • Yorktown – 6BR/6.5BA/6,000+ sqft – Detached Single Family (2026) – N Greencastle St Arlington VA 22207

Eli and his team believe that your real estate needs should be managed by advisors, not salespeople. Their mission is to guide, educate, and advocate for their clients through real advice, hands-on support, and personalized service.

News

Parties try to win over the electorate as early voting kicks off in Arlington

By Scott McCaffrey
Sen. Mark Warner at start of early voting in 2025 (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Democrats, Republicans and the Forward Party made their case to the electorate this morning (Friday) as early voting kicked off across Arlington and statewide.

“When we vote, we win,” County Board Chair Takis Karantonis said at the Arlington Democrats early-voting kickoff event held at Courthouse Plaza. It attracted about 65 attendees.

Go to Parties try to win over the electorate as early voting kicks off in Arlington Read more
Announcement

Cool, Creative Summer Camps

By Art House 7

Is your summer camp calendar still open? Consider Art House 7 for your kids, a creative, well-loved space with a fabulous range of quality summer camps for ages 5-14. Your kids will love the imaginative themes and fun teachers. We’ll be making pottery, painting, drawing, printmaking, and sculpting. Among our camp themes: modern masters of art, “green” art, animals, fairytales, and folk stories. Our weekly camps are morning or afternoon, Monday-Friday.

Art House 7 is near the Lee Harrison Shopping Center in Arlington. We have a 2-story studio and free parking.

Go to Cool, Creative Summer Camps Read more
News

Chalk messages at Arlington home of top White House official strike a nerve with GOP heavyweights

By Dan Egitto
Messages around the home of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller (courtesy anonymous)

A sidewalk chalk protest at the North Arlington home of a top Trump administration official became a talking point for powerful Republican voices this week.

The Sunday demonstration around the home of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller involved a handful of activists writing in chalk on sidewalk slabs with messages like “hate has no home in Arlington,” “no white nationalism” and “Stephen Miller is destroying democracy.”

Go to Chalk messages at Arlington home of top White House official strike a nerve with GOP heavyweights Read more
Around Town

‘Pink Saffron’ Indian restaurant to replace Bun’d Up in Pentagon City

By Katie Taranto
Bun'd Up in Pentagon City (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Bun’d Up is closing next month at the Westpost shopping center, making way for a new Indian restaurant led by longtime chefs.

The last day for the Taiwanese restaurant and its speakeasy, Noonchi, is Sunday, Oct. 19, owner Scott Chung told ARLnow. The space at 1201 S. Joyce Street will make way for Pink Saffron, an eatery promising Awadhi cuisine and Indian street food.

Go to ‘Pink Saffron’ Indian restaurant to replace Bun’d Up in Pentagon City Read more
Opinion

Poll: The best Japanese restaurant in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Arlington is home to some must-try spots for Japanese cuisine with delicious options for ramen, sushi and more.

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

Did we miss your favorite restaurant? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for the Best Hardware Store 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 New Restaurant in Arlington. The results are now official:

  1. Andy’s Pizza
  2. La Posada
  3. Bar Colline
Around Town

Country-themed bar ‘BOE’ opens this weekend in Clarendon with mechanical bull

By Katie Taranto
BOE's mechanical bull (courtesy of @slumpedfilms)

A country-themed bar with a mechanical bull opens tonight (Friday) in Clarendon, aiming to bring a piece of Nashville to the neighborhood.

With antique fixtures, crocodile leather accents and country-inspired bar fare, BOE debuts this weekend in part of Coco B’s former space at 2854 Wilson Blvd. The new honky-tonk is named after Bodacious, a storied bucking bull, and will soon introduce mechanical bull riding contests, according to its website.

Go to Country-themed bar ‘BOE’ opens this weekend in Clarendon with mechanical bull Read more
News

‘Reclining Liberty’ is now a permanent fixture in front of Museum of Contemporary Art

By Scott McCaffrey
"Reclining Liberty" lowered by crane onto the front lawn of Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington in August 2023 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

“Reclining Liberty,” the iconic artwork gracing the front lawn of the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington for the past two years, is staying put.

Members of the county’s Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) on Sept. 17 voted 9-0 to allow the 25-foot work featuring the Statue of Liberty in repose to remain in front of the circa-1910 former school building at 3550 Wilson Blvd.

Go to ‘Reclining Liberty’ is now a permanent fixture in front of Museum of Contemporary Art Read more
News

Morning Notes for September 19, 2025

By ARLnow.com
A cleaning crew vacuums a large number of spotted lanternflies in front of a Ballston building (staff photo)

Flyover Planned This Morning — From AlertDC: “The U.S. Military will conduct an aircraft flyover in the National Capital Region (NCR) over The Pentagon on Friday, September 19, 2025, at 10:45AM.”

Federal Prosecutor Being Fired? — “President Donald Trump is expected to fire the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia after his office was unable to find incriminating evidence of mortgage fraud against New York Attorney General Letitia James, according to sources… Administration officials have told Siebert of Trump’s intention to fire him, sources familiar with the matter said. Siebert’s last day on the job is expected to be Friday.” [ABC News]

Defense Firm Opens New Office — “Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY), held an opening event yesterday for its new office in the Crystal City area of Arlington, Virginia, minutes from the Pentagon.” [BusinessWire, WBJ]

Crystal City-Based PBS ‘Optimistic’ — “PBS CEO Paula Kerger told Axios Media Trends Live on Thursday she is optimistic about government funding after being included in a continuing resolution proposal.” [Axios, Axios/X]

Profile of a Six-Plex Project — “In spite of an ongoing court challenge brought by nine single-family homeowners, some EHO permits have been allowed to continue due to separate individual court rulings. One of the most promising EHO examples under construction is a six-plex on 3802 14th Street North.” [GGW]

Beyer Blasts Trump TV Threat — “The Trump Administration has declared war on the First Amendment. They’re getting people fired for expressing opinions. He’s bullying the press with lawsuits and government powers to silence critics, and targeting political opposition. Americans’ freedom of speech is at risk.” [Rep. Don Beyer/X]

Digital Equity Grants — “At its September Meeting, the Arlington County Board voted to award $500,000 in the inaugural round of digital equity grants to seven community organizations. Through these community partners, the County will realize key recommendations of the 2024 Broadband Study and key goals of the Digital Equity Initiative.” [Arlington County]

July’s Passenger Count Down at DCA — July’s passenger enplanements of 1.09 million at Reagan National Airport were down 6.5% year-over-year and off 7.6% from budget projections, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority officials said this week. Weather issues and the economic impact of federal-government downsizing were largely to blame, officials said. Traffic was up 5.7% to 1.4 million at Dulles. –Scott McCaffrey

Poor Marks for Local Airports — “Airline passengers traveling in and out of the D.C. region’s two main airports are not all that happy with their experience these days. That’s according to a passenger survey released this week by J.D. Power, which found that among 27 large airports in North America, Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport ranked among the lowest in customer satisfaction.” [WBJ]

It’s Friday — Expect sunny conditions and a high of 87 degrees accompanied by a light northwest wind. Moving into Friday night, skies will turn partly cloudy with a low of 64 degrees. [NWS]

View More Stories