Whether you like them with blueberries, cinnamon swirls or lots of syrup on top, you can get some fresh hotcakes at plenty of Arlington’s diners and breakfast spots.
Here are the nominees for “The Best Pancakes You Can Get in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.
Did we miss your favorite spot for pancakes? Write them in!
Arlington Economic Development director Ryan Touhill (screenshot via Arlington County)
For the second time in three years, Arlington is on the hunt for a new economic development director.
Ryan Touhill will be departing Arlington Economic Development (AED) in early November. Katharine Ange, currently deputy director, will serve as acting director during the search for a successor.
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: Do you expect the housing market to continue at its current pace through the summer?
Answer: Buyers throughout Northern VA have faced stiff competition so far in 2026, especially for detached homes and townhomes. Some relief is coming to buyers still searching for a home, although it will come at the cost of seeing fewer homes hit the market.
The data below is based on homes sold in Arlington VA that went under contract in 2023-2025, but the seasonal trends apply across most Northern VA markets.
Second Half Market is Slower, Less Competitive
When you buy a home affects the way you experience the housing market. Buyers who are active in the first half of the year experience a constant flow of new listings, homes going under contract quickly, frequent competition, and rising prices. Buyers who are active in the second half of the year see fewer listings, homes take longer to sell, less competition, and more stable prices.
Slower market: Homes sell about 30% slower in the second half of the year
More negotiations: Buyers negotiate ~2% more off the original asking price in the second half of the year
Harder to find what you want: 25-30% fewer homes come to market during the second half of the year
Prices stabilize: Prices tend to appreciate during the first half of the year and stabilize in the second half of the year
Caution on misreading the data: The 3% and 7% drop in average sold price in the second half of 2024 and 2025 does not necessarily mean home values were 3% and 7% lower during that time, the drop is more correlated to less expensive homes being listed for sale in the second half of the year than the first half
A person operates a leaf blower (via Callum Hill/Unsplash)
A key county advisory panel likes the proposal to ban gas-powered leaf blowers countywide, but doesn’t want to get too far into the weeds on specifics right now.
Members of the Arlington Park and Recreation Commission on Oct. 28 agreed to send a letter to County Board members, expressing support for the concept of outlawing gas blowers.
Halloween decor at East West Coffee and Wine in Clarendon (Flickr pool photo by Jason Gooljar)
Reminder: Drive Safely Tonight — “To help spread the message that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving, the Arlington County Police Department, in partnership with the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP), is hosting a Halloween anti-drunk driving event to highlight the impact alcohol has on motor skills. This free event is open to the public and will take place on Friday, October 31 at the intersection of N. Hudson Street and Wilson Boulevard, beginning at 8:00 p.m.” [ACPD, ARLnow]
FAA Staffing Shortage at DCA — “A ground stop at Reagan National Airport has been canceled on Thursday afternoon, but ground delays are averaging 90 minutes due to “staffing,” per the FAA.” [Fox 5, WJLA]
Robbery on Langston Blvd — “4700 block of Langston Boulevard. At approximately 8:00 p.m. on October 29, police were dispatched to the report of a robbery by force. Upon arrival, it was determined the male suspect entered the business and asked an employee for cigarettes behind the counter. The suspect then allegedly grabbed the cigarettes from the employee’s hand and fled the scene on foot with the merchandise. No injuries were reported.” [ACPD]
Statewide Vape Store Bust — “VSP had observed an alarming increase in criminal activity occurring within and around businesses publicly focused on the sale of electronic cigarettes. In response, VSP initiated a multi-month investigation into these establishments in western Virginia, uncovering extensive illegal drug activity and illegal weapons offenses.” [Press Release]
F.C. Approves More Aid — “The Falls Church City Council last night shifted an additional $25,000 toward an emergency aid fund, now to total $50,000, in light of the heightened food insecurity facing the entire region due to federal and contractor employee layoffs and the ongoing federal government shutdown.” [FCNP]
Awards for Parks Dept. — “Arlington County’s Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) received four honors at the Virginia Parks and Recreation Society (VRPS) annual conference, winning awards for Best New Special Event, Best New Program, Most Creative Marketing Strategy, and Best Health and Wellness Initiative in the population category of 200,000 and above.” [Arlington County]
Concern About Left Turns — “As a parent of two children attending Key Escuela, I want to highlight an ongoing issue that affects not only parents but also all Arlington commuters—the lack of left turn traffic signals at several key intersections. Many other parents share my concerns, as these conditions create dangerous situations daily.” [Letters to the Editor]
Tech Firms Leasing More Space — “The tech industry — and its defense-focused subsector — are placing more importance on securing office space in and around D.C., fueled by a perception the federal government, especially the Pentagon, is more willing to work with emerging startups and established tech firms than in the past. The trend started last year, but it has accelerated under the Trump administration.” [WBJ]
D.C. Streetcar Service Ending — “If you’ve come to depend on the D.C. Streetcar to get around the H Street corridor, you might not be able to for much longer. The District Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that the service is ending on March 31, 2026. The closure comes a year earlier than initially planned, for March 2027.” [WTOP, PoPville]
Soaking Rain Measures Up — “After less than 1″ of rain over the last 40 days, DC area picked up 1-2″ since Wednesday night. (A few lingering showers could fall thru midday, but it’s mostly over) This will help lessen the drought a bit.” [CWG/X]
It’s Friday — Expect a sunny but breezy day, with a high near 59, accompanied by a west wind blowing at 15 to 20 mph and gusting up to 38 mph. For Halloween night, the sky will be mostly clear with temperatures dropping to around 42. The west wind will remain persistent, blowing at 8 to 11 mph and gusting as high as 24 mph. [NWS]
Join us for a special Movie Night on the Pike as we transform Arlington Mill into an outdoor World Cup watch party!
Watch the FIFA World Cup Quarterfinals on a giant screen alongside neighbors from around the globe while enjoying the excitement, energy, and community spirit that make Columbia Pike one of the most diverse places in the region.
Expect sunny skies and a high near 59, accompanied by a breezy west wind blowing at 15 to 20 mph and gusting up to 38 mph. For Friday night, the sky will be mostly clear with temperatures dropping to around 42. The west wind will remain persistent, blowing at 8 to 11 mph and gusting as high as 24 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Victory belongs to the most persevering.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
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.
Hatfield Gate at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington (file photo)
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and his family moved from their home in Arlington to military housing in D.C.
That’s according to new reporting by The Atlantic and a source with knowledge of the situation who spoke to ARLnow after our exclusive reporting that Miller’s north Arlington home was listed for sale.
Arlingtonians wait in line at Arlington Food Assistance Center (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)
Arlington County is sending $350,000 to the county’s largest food pantry in response to possible disruptions in food aid for thousands of residents.
The funding transfer is intended to expand the Arlington Food Assistance Center’s capacity to help the roughly 10,000 local residents who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is expected to go on pause beginning Saturday because of the government shutdown.
Outside Pi BBQ and Bar (courtesy of Scott Goodson)
A new Korean barbecue restaurant has opened for business near Crystal City’s Restaurant Row with grilling options aplenty.
Pi BBQ and Bar, located at 420 23rd Street S., promises “an extensive menu featuring premium cuts of meat, fresh seafood and a variety of traditional Korean dishes” in a modern atmosphere. The restaurant replaces a vacancy left by the Chinese restaurant Young Chow in 2023.
Police responding to tobacco store stabbing in Virginia Square on Sept. 11, 2025 (via SafetyVid)
A 21-year-old man is behind bars after police say he robbed the same tobacco shop in Virginia Square multiple times.
Arlington County police made the announcement early Thursday afternoon. Police say the suspect robbed the store — understood to be the Tobacco Hut at 3528 Wilson Blvd — and stabbed an employee last month, resulting in serious injuries.
