Around Town

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Aug 15, 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 — Aug 15, 2025.

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

  1. Commissioner of Revenue continues hunt for those hiding vehicles to evade car tax (55364 views)
  2. Arlington apartment dwellers get little bang for their buck, survey finds (13756 views)
  3. Columbia Pike water main break causes fish kill in Four Mile Run (10461 views)
  4. New Arlington program offers vouchers for e-bikes worth up to $1,650 (8066 views)
  5. Teens sought after bathrooms near Yorktown High School vandalized (6766 views)
  6. ‘The Cheese Cartel’ plans new Falls Church cheese and charcuterie shop (6055 views)
  7. Arlington isn’t obligated to help federal takeover of D.C. policing, Karantonis says (5699 views)
  8. As Arlington County Fair begins, workers share hints and tales of years past (5298 views)
  9. Beyer and DHS trade blows after congressman visits immigration detention center (5197 views)
  10. A Tex-Mex restaurant with a focus on seafood is coming to Courthouse (5077 views)
  11. Record demand for food and shaky economy leave $891K budget gap at AFAC (4908 views)
  12. Arlington home sales are up but prices are down amid economic anxieties (4443 views)
  13. DEVELOPING: APS holds firm to transgender policy, defying Dept. of Education (4865 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 patchy fog in the morning until 8am, followed by mostly cloudy skies which will gradually clear up to become sunny as the day progresses, with temperatures reaching around 88°F. East winds will blow at 3 to 6 mph. On Saturday night, the skies will remain mostly clear and the temperature will drop to around 71°F. South winds of 3 to 5 mph will take over during the night. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Love the life you live. Live the life you love.”
– Bob Marley

🌅 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! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋

Around Town

Podcast: Free e-bike money, the county fair and housing policy with Jane Green

By ARLnow.com
ARLnow podcast (August 15, 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, housing advocate Jane Green — discuss a few notable local news stories in Arlington from the past week, including:

Go to Podcast: Free e-bike money, the county fair and housing policy with Jane Green Read more
Sponsored

Synetic Theater presents: Synetic Teen Company’s Cyrano de Bergerac

By Sponsor
Image from Synetic Theater presents: Synetic Teen Company's Cyrano de Bergerac

“The show frolics in jewel tones, with movement, dance, ingenious prop use and piquant stage business” –The Washington Post

“Fuses acrobatics, mime, design, and music to provide a rich and novel re-interpretation of a classic tale.” –DCTheaterArts

Synetic Theater invites Arlington audiences to experience an evening of bold, inventive storytelling with its Teen Company’s production of Cyrano de Bergerac, paired on select evenings with a pre-show performance of The Boy Who Cried Wolf by the Pre-Teen Ensemble. With just six performances, this limited run offers a rare chance to see the next generation of Synetic artists in action. (more…)

Buy Tickets Now
Around Town

Mahjong group ‘Talk Tiles to Me’ plans new studio in Falls Church

By Katie Taranto
Tori Rittinger leads a game of mahjong (courtesy of Tori Rittinger)

A studio for all things mahjong is coming to Falls Church.

The Arlington-founded mahjong business Talk Tiles to Me is opening a new events space and shop at 113 Rowell Court. Founder Tori Rittinger hopes to debut the new studio sometime next month, offering a new home base for her group’s growing audience.

Go to Mahjong group ‘Talk Tiles to Me’ plans new studio in Falls Church Read more
Schools

DEVELOPING: APS holds firm to transgender policy, defying Dept. of Education

By Dan Egitto
Students at Washington-Liberty High School protest for transgender students' rights in 2022 (staff photo)

Defying demands from the U.S. Department of Education, Arlington Public Schools has announced plans to retain its current policy on transgender students’ access to facilities.

In a statement to parents and an accompanying letter to the federal agency, the school system argued that it cannot legally comply with federal attempts to stop letting transgender students use bathrooms and locker rooms corresponding with their gender identity.

Go to DEVELOPING: APS holds firm to transgender policy, defying Dept. of Education Read more
Event

Afternoon Matinee Movie – Under the Tuscan Sun (Germantown, MD)

BlackRock Center For The Arts

12901 Town Commons Dr

Germantown, Maryland 20874

Website Contact Social

Join us for a delightful Sunday afternoon at the BlackRock Center for the Arts as Cruise Planners Beth & Rod present a special travel-inspired matinee featuring the beloved film Under the Tuscan Sun.

Date & Time: Sunday, May 31 | 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Go to Afternoon Matinee Movie – Under the Tuscan Sun (Germantown, MD) Read more
News

New 422-unit pair of apartment towers receives its final beam in Rosslyn

By Katie Taranto
A crew raises the final beam for the J Rivelle development in Rosslyn (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

After three years of construction, workers have placed the final beam on the J Rivelle, a pair of new apartment buildings in Rosslyn.

County officials and project leaders gathered yesterday (Thursday) to sign the steel beam at the project’s topping out ceremony. The finished product by Jefferson Apartment Group and CBG Building Company encompasses 422 housing units across two 27-story towers at 1901 N. Moore Street.

Go to New 422-unit pair of apartment towers receives its final beam in Rosslyn Read more
Opinion

Poll: The best kid’s birthday party venue in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

In search of the perfect birthday party spot for your teen or little one? Arcades, bowling lanes and spacious recreational parks are just some of what Arlington has to offer.

Here are the nominees for “Best Venue for a Kid’s Birthday Party in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your favorite venue? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for the Best Live Music Venue 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 Seafood Restaurant in Arlington. The results are now official:

  1. Quarterdeck
  2. The Salt Line
  3. Seamore’s 
News

Falls Church officials strengthen affordable housing goals in updated comprehensive plan

By Scott McCaffrey
Falls Church Mayor Letty Hardi (screenshot via City of Falls Church)

The Falls Church City Council has updated the city’s comprehensive plan with an increased focus on affordable housing.

A new policy document, unanimously approved after more than 18 months of discussion on how to align the city’s inclusive vision with fiscal reality, calls for a “dedicated, annual and indexed” source of city funds for affordable-housing efforts.

Go to Falls Church officials strengthen affordable housing goals in updated comprehensive plan Read more
News

Arlington ballots will allow no more than three ranked-choice options in November

By Scott McCaffrey
Election Day in Arlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington voters will be able to select up to three County Board contenders, but no more, through ranked-choice voting this election season.

County elections director Gretchen Reinemeyer confirmed at an Electoral Board meeting on Tuesday that three will be the maximum number available to voters.

Go to Arlington ballots will allow no more than three ranked-choice options in November Read more
News

Morning Notes for August 15, 2025

By ARLnow.com
An office building in Courthouse that’s “So imposing… like an ocean liner of glass cutting through a wave of leaves” (courtesy George Brazier)

Guns to Sound This Morning — From AlertDC: “[Today] at 10AM, a total of 43 (LOUD) rounds will be fired from the Leutze Park Guns as part of a gun salute being conducted at the Washington Navy Yard.”

Another Pentagon City Crash — “Another crash with the misaligned traffic signals for eastbound Army Navy at S. Hayes in Pentagon City. The driver running the red light actually has a green light ahead of them over their lane. It’s a green arrow meant for the lane to their right. The red signal meant for their lane is over the lane to their left.” [Dave Statter/X]

Beyer Blasts Israel — “This move, on top of civilian starvation and killing in Gaza and a disastrous Gaza City attack plan, are proof of the Israeli government’s hostility to peaceful coexistence with Palestinians. I cosponsored the Block the Bombs Act in June because we can’t support this.” [Rep. Don Beyer/X]

Local Library History — “At first, small community libraries were formed by private organizations, beginning with a book collection in the 1890s stored in Carlin Hall in the Glencarlyn community. In 1923, a Cherrydale library was formed to operate in the Cherrydale School… Other community-initiated libraries were quickly formed, and in 1928 an alliance of 20 local organizations created the Arlington District Library Association. By 1936, a Department of Libraries was established by the County Board.” [FCNP]

School Starting Monday in F.C. — “The new school year is now upon us! Unlike even the more recent past when the year always began right after Labor Day, now it is commencing on Monday, August 18… FCCPS, it was noted on the second day of the convocation, has been ranked the Number One school division in the entire state of Virginia for six years in a row, as well as the Number One in the wider Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.” [FCNP]

It’s Friday — Expect mostly sunny skies with a high of 88 and light east winds of 6 mph. There’s a 30% chance of showers and storms, mostly in the afternoon. Friday night holds a slight chance of showers. The night will be otherwise partly cloudy with a low of 72 and a 20% chance of precipitation. [NWS]

Announcement

Arlington & Alexandria City/County Managers Public Meeting

By League of Women Voters of Arlington & Alexandria City (LWVAAC)

The League of Women Voters of Arlington and Alexandria City, in partnership with Arlington County Public Library, invites you to an open discussion on managing local government in a changing environment.

Join Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz and Alexandria City Manager Jim Parajon for a conversation about how local governments are adapting to shifts in federal funding and changes at the state level. The discussion will explore how these evolving conditions may impact local priorities, services, and decision-making in our communities.

Go to Arlington & Alexandria City/County Managers Public Meeting Read more
View More Stories