Around Town

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Feb 27, 2026

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 — Feb 27, 2026.

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

  1. Arlington budget proposes tax increase, closure of gymnastics program and library (17608 views)
  2. NEW: Call Your Mother bagel spot to replace departed Starbucks in Ballston (10885 views)
  3. If ICE surge comes to Arlington, county leaders hope to be ‘prepared’ (8791 views)
  4. Sharpshooters begin culling deer in eight Arlington parks (8723 views)
  5. D.C. man charged with striking two pedestrians in Ballston-area road rage incident (6674 views)
  6. BREAKING: Arlington Public Schools closed Monday as snow continues to fall (6029 views)
  7. Buffalo Wild Wings closes in Crystal City after 15 years (5659 views)
  8. Driver trapped after car flips in crash near East Falls Church Metro station (5652 views)
  9. NEW: Arlington County police investigating series of armed robberies at local businesses (5251 views)
  10. Joyce Motors redevelopment gets underway in Clarendon (5025 views)
  11. Biden flies commercial from Reagan National Airport and winds up stuck in delays like everyone else (5943 views)
  12. D.C. man charged with string of break-ins at Bill’s Ace Hardware, other businesses (3880 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 sunshine and a high of around 62 during the day, accompanied by calm winds shifting to the south at about 5 mph. As for Saturday night, the skies will remain mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to approximately 42 and a gentle breeze coming from the southeast. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.”
– Mark Twain

🌅 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. 👋

Schools

APS budget plan leaves a gap of almost $19M in unfunded needs

By Scott McCaffrey
Superintendent Francisco Durán (screenshot via Arlington Public Schools)

Arlington Public Schools’ proposed fiscal year 2027 budget reflects challenging economic conditions and uncertainty over state and federal education funding commitments.

Superintendent Francisco Durán’s $856 million proposal represents an increase of 1.3% from the current budget, one of the smallest year-over-year rates of growth in recent years.

Go to APS budget plan leaves a gap of almost $19M in unfunded needs Read more
Sponsored

Ask Eli: Three charts highlight our current real estate market

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: Can you highlight the key market trends you’re seeing in the housing market?

Answer: Today we’ll look at three charts that describe what I’m currently seeing in the DC Metro, Northern VA, and Arlington housing market.

Showing Volume Down Significantly in the DC Metro

Weekly showing volume in the DC Metro has been running at its lowest rate in 5+ years since the beginning of September. Last week, showings were down 16% year-over-year (YoY).

Most Detached Homes Available in Seven Years in Northern VA

There haven’t been this many single-family detached homes available for sale in Northern VA since October 2019. The number of detached homes for sale in Q3 increased by 38% YoY in 2025 and another 17% in 2026.

That said, detached inventory levels are still well below pre-pandemic levels.

Months of Supply at Ten-Year High for Arlington Condos

The Arlington condo market has the highest Months of Supply (a measure of supply and demand) readings and lowest absorption readings in over ten years. Expect these trends to continue at least through the end of the year, with MoS going higher and Absorption dropping further.

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 anyone who asks.

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

  • Arlington VA (Barcroft) – 4BR/2BA/2,500 sqft – Detached Single Family – 4th St S Arlington VA 22204

  • Arlington VA (Chain Bridge Forest) – 6BR/6.5BA/7,000 sqft – Detached Single Family (2027) – River St Arlington VA 22207

  • Fairfax VA – 6BR/6.2BA/7,000 sqft – Detached Single Family (2027) – Taylor Dr Fairfax VA 22032

  • Mclean VA – 5BR/4.5BA/3,700 sqft – Detached Single Family (2023) – Randolph Rd Mclean VA 22101

  • Annandale VA – 4BR/3.5BA/2,000 sqft – Townhouse – Aspen Hill Ct Annandale VA 22003

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.

Around Town

Freddie’s Beach Bar to mark 25 years in Crystal City with anniversary celebration

By ARLnow.com
Snow falling on Freddie's and the 23rd Street restaurant row in Crystal City (Flickr pool photo by Jason Gooljar)

Freddie’s Beach Bar, the long-running LGBTQ+ bar on Crystal City’s 23rd Street S. restaurant row, is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a party this Sunday.

The March 1 celebration at 555 23rd Street S. is set for 7-9 p.m. and will include music, food, drinks and giveaways, according to a press release.

Go to Freddie’s Beach Bar to mark 25 years in Crystal City with anniversary celebration Read more
Announcement

Chalice Theatre Presents Copenhagen | Performances November 6–15, 2026

By Unitarian Universalist Church
Poster for Copenhagen by Michael Frayn — Chalice Theatre Presents, with atomic symbol and theatre logo at center on a red background.

Chalice Theatre presents the Tony-award winning play Copenhagen, by Michael Frayn, Nov 6-15, 2026, at UUCA, 4444 Arlington Blvd. In Autumn 1941, Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg, the two presiding geniuses of quantum physics, meet for the first time since the breakout of war. Danish physicist Bohr and his wife, Margrethe, live in Nazi-occupied Denmark; their visitor, Heisenberg, is German. The two old friends, now on opposing sides, have between them the potential to change the course of history. Frayn’s play imagines the three characters re-drafting the events of 1941 in an attempt to make sense of what happened. Run time: 2hr 30min with one intermission. Free discussion panels exploring questions raised by the play accompany the Sunday matinees. For more details and tickets, visit https://uuca-526363.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3948982  Questions? [email protected] Chalice Theatre is a community theatre ministry of UUCA.

Go to Chalice Theatre Presents Copenhagen | Performances November 6–15, 2026 Read more
Sports

Yorktown gymnast second in state tournament as team finishes third overall

By Dave Facinoli
Yorktown gymnastics team at the state meet (courtesy of Yorktown athletics)

Having switched sports for her junior year, Teagan Wielechowski is enjoying far greater success at the highest level of girls high-school gymnastics.

Individually, the standout for the Yorktown Patriots capped her initial season in prep gymnastics by finishing second in the all-around at the Virginia High School League (VHSL) state championship Feb. 21 in Virginia Beach with a 38.350 score.

Go to Yorktown gymnast second in state tournament as team finishes third overall Read more
Event

How Do Retirement Communities Work? – Free Workshop

Event location

Long & Foster Arlington

4600 Cherry Hill Rd.

Arlington , Virginia 22207

Add to Calendar

If you are interested in learning more about Continuing Care Retirement Communities (also known as "Life Plan Communities"), whether for yourself or for a loved one, please join our free workshop on Wednesday, November 4 from 5:00-7:00 at the Arlington office of Long & Foster. We are hosting this workshop in conjunction with Lisa Bates of the Williamsburg Landing community, which is a particularly excellent model of the way these communities work, and one you may wish to consider!

– How do Continuing Care Retirement Communities work?
– What do they offer?
– How much do they cost, and what are the financial models offered?
– How do you how to evaluate them, and choose the one that's right for you?
– How do you make a plan for a move like this?
– How do you handle a lifetime's worth of possessions?

Go to How Do Retirement Communities Work? – Free Workshop Read more
News

Biden flies commercial from Reagan National Airport and winds up stuck in delays like everyone else

By The Associated Press
President Joe Biden is seen on a plane before takeoff traveling from Washington to South Carolina, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)

WASHINGTON (AP) — A crowd gathered at a commuter gate at Reagan National Airport on Friday as fog-laden Washington skies caused an hourlong ground stop that backed up passengers hoping to head out from American Airlines’ Terminal D.

But soon the already densely packed area swelled even more, as word spread across nearby gates that, of the hundreds of air travelers coming and going, only one among them was accompanied by a U.S. Secret Service detail, along with uniformed local police officers: former President Joe Biden.

Go to Biden flies commercial from Reagan National Airport and winds up stuck in delays like everyone else Read more
News

Staff seek to improve snow response after mixed grades from County Board

By Scott McCaffrey
County crews clear snow in January 2026 (via Arlington County/X)

Local residents will be roasting under the midsummer sun when county staff bring forward plans to improve snow response in the 2026-27 winter season.

County Manager Mark Schwartz told County Board members on Feb. 24 that he would be back in July with new plans. And he wasn’t kidding about the timing.

Go to Staff seek to improve snow response after mixed grades from County Board Read more
News

Senators Warner and Kaine endorse Beyer’s reelection

By ARLnow.com
Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Virginia’s two U.S. senators have endorsed Rep. Don Beyer (D) in his bid for reelection in Virginia’s 8th Congressional District.

Senators Mark Warner (D) and Tim Kaine (D) both announced their support for Beyer yesterday (Wednesday), according to a press release from Beyer’s campaign.

Go to Senators Warner and Kaine endorse Beyer’s reelection Read more
Opinion

Poll: The best orthopaedist in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Arlington’s orthopaedists provide expert care for bones, joints, ligaments and muscles, offering both surgical and non-surgical solutions to all manner of issues.

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

Did we miss your favorite spot? Write it in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for Best Dermatologist 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 Eye Doctor in Arlington. The results are now official:

  1. Northern Virginia Doctors of Optometry
  2. Arlington Eye Center
  3. NOVA Optique Eyecare
News

Winter electric bill spikes spark scrutiny of Va. data centers’ power usage

By Emily Leayman
CoreSite’s Reston data center campus (staff photo by James Jarvis)

High-than-usual electric bills in Virginia this winter have prompted discussion about the role data centers could play in driving up costs.

Dominion Energy, the commonwealth’s largest electric utility company, has said that new rates in 2026 and unusually cold weather could be responsible for many customers’ higher bills.

Go to Winter electric bill spikes spark scrutiny of Va. data centers’ power usage Read more
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