Yesterday’s winter storm brought quiet streets and winter fun to Arlington, even as fluffy snowfall turned to icy sleet.
Snow blanketed the streets, which were mostly empty except for the occasional car or snowplow, and iconic views, including those in Arlington National Cemetery. At the same time, local kids — who have the day off from school today (Monday) — took to the parks for sledding and other merriment.
A cafe from the team behind Sfoglina is opening in Rosslyn, in the same office building as the Italian restaurant.
Signage for the all-day cafe by Michelin-starred chef Fabio Trabocchi, first reported by the Washington Business Journal, has appeared in the lobby at The Towers at 1100 Wilson Blvd.
Game, set, Gala! On Saturday, Nov. 14, the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation’s annual Tennis Creates Gala, presented by QTS, comes to The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, celebrating the transformative power of tennis.
The evening raises critical funds to make the sport accessible to all across Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia and eastern/southern West Virginia.
Every dollar goes back into local communities through programs like Girls Rule the Court™, which has served more than 2,000 girls, along with Junior Player Scholarships and Tennis in Schools. Gala funds also help restore public courts. Over the last three years, the Foundation has invested $505,000 across 17 public facilities.
Emceeing the evening is Emmy Award-winning ESPN journalist Malika Andrews, host of NBA Today and NBA Countdown, who joined ESPN’s tennis coverage this year for the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
Andrews has pointed to the electric moment American tennis is having, with stars like the DMV’s own Frances Tiafoe reaching the 2026 US Open men’s semifinals, and says she’s grateful for the chance to support the sport at the local level.
Joining the celebration is new USTA CEO Craig Tiley, who took the helm of the national governing body in July after over 20 years at Tennis Australia. As he leads the USTA toward its goal of 35 million players by 2035, the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation drives the grassroots work to grow the sport right here in the region.
The Foundation will present its Tennis Creates Impact Award to Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck, U.S. Navy (ret.), 63rd Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, recognizing his leadership in fostering character, community, and well-being through tennis.
The heart of the night is the 2026 Tennis Creates Awards, honoring local changemakers. Alexandria’s Leigh Ann Jackson receives the Adult Leader Award for coaching Girls Rule the Court at Groveton Elementary, where she has served 130 students over five seasons and championed the program’s expansion to Hybla Valley.
Arlington’s Gabrielle Berg earns the Youth Leader Award for founding a Northern Virginia chapter of Tennis For Fun, which runs free year-round clinics for people with special needs in partnership with the Arlington YMCA. Burke’s Khoi Truong, head coach at Lake Braddock Secondary School, is the 2026 Coach of the Year.
They’ll be joined by fellow honorees Dr. Ellen Markowitz (Community Champion), James Skinner (Provider Champion), and Janelle Nichols (Tennis in the Classroom Awardee).
Tickets and tables are now available. Can’t make it? Make a gift to USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation or bid in the silent auction to help put a racquet in the hands of the next generation of players.
The Tennis Creates Gala takes place Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, from 6:00 – 11:00 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, 1700 Tysons Blvd., McLean, VA 22102.
For more information, visit TennisCreatesGala.com.
A drunk driver who struck and killed a woman in a head-on collision on GW Parkway has been sentenced to 8 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
Carlos Hernandez Romero — who did not have a driver’s license and who was driving 80 mph in the wrong direction the night of Jan. 1, 2025 — admitted to aggravated DWI manslaughter, according to a press release from the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for Arlington and Falls Church.
Explore exciting fall workshops at Art House 7! Coming up October 24–25, master artist Teresa Oaxaca returns for a special 2-day Painting a Child’s Portrait in Oils workshop for ages 16–adult. Looking for something shorter? Try the pottery wheel, create a ceramic leaf plate or keepsake ornaments, or explore drawing, printmaking, and Suminagashi. We also offer parent-child workshops and special art workshops for kids on Veterans Day and Election Day!
Art House 7 offers classes throughout the year, taught by a range of fantastic teachers. You can buy art supplies next door. We’re near the Lee Harrison Shopping Center.
Two Virginia ABC stores, one in Crystal City and one just off of Langston Blvd, are closing their doors.
The first is expected to close in February and the other will close in March.
“This little composition…is, alas, the final mortal sin of my old age. A little technique, a little heart, that is all.”
Gioachino Rossini’s "Petite Messe Solennelle" is neither little nor entirely solemn. Yet beneath the wit and irony of its title lies one of Rossini’s most personal creations, which blends the theatrical brilliance and unforgettable melodies of his comic operas—including extraordinary and virtuosic arias—with an almost uncharacteristic tenderness and spiritual depth.
If Arlington residents see immigration enforcement operating in the county, some local elected officials are advising them to call 911.
County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti and Board member Takis Karantonis encouraged calling the emergency number. De Ferranti noted at a meeting on Saturday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents “have no legal requirement to tell us when they come into our community.”
County Board members voted unanimously on Saturday (Jan. 24) to approve redevelopment of the vacant Inn of Rosslyn motel site for new apartments.
“We are facing a housing crisis. This crisis is today,” Board member Takis Karantonis said in support of the proposal by Monument Realty to construct an eight-story building totaling 141 units, including 13 committed-affordable units.
Don’t drive this morning unless you absolutely have to.
That’s the message from local and state officials who are still working to clear roads amid freezing conditions.
Flights Resuming at DCA — “Great news! Flights will gradually return to DCA on Monday. Confirm your itinerary directly with your airline. Thanks to our hard-working snow team who drove around the clock to plow, broom and de-ice the airfield.” [Reagan Airport/X]
Burglaries on Columbia Pike — “The suspect broke a window of a closed business in the 5500 block of Columbia Pike before fleeing the scene. A short time later, police were dispatched to another closed business in the 5000 block of Columbia Pike for a burglary alarm. It was determined at approximately 3:32 a.m., the suspect forced entry into the business by shattering a window, rummaged through the interior, stole merchandise and fled the scene.” [ACPD]
Robbery Suspects Arrested — “@ArlingtonVaPD looking for a pair of robbery suspects last night, quickly found them sitting at a bus stop six blocks away.” [Dave Statter/X]
Officers Go Sledding — “From assisting disabled motorists to braving a seriously gnarly sledding hill, ACPD has been hard at work today ensuring the weather doesn’t disrupt our commitment to caring for and connecting with our neighbors.” [ACPD/X]
Firefighters Help Motorist — “On the way back from a call, R109 stopped to give a helping hand. Looking out for our community, on and off the call.” [ACFD/X]
Possible Buyer for Compass — “Caffè Nero, a London-based chain of coffee houses, has cast a $2.9 million bid to acquire substantially all of Compass Coffee’s assets, ending more than two weeks of speculation about the identity of the stalking horse bidder following the D.C. company’s Jan. 6 Chapter 11 filing.” [WBJ]
WAMU Reporter Departing — “Just heard on “The Politics Hour” that WAMU Northern Virginia reporter @margaretbarthel is leaving to head abroad. Such a loss.” [Martin Austermuhle/X, Margaret Barthel/X]
Post Layoffs Coming — “Massive layoffs coming to Washington Post… rumor inside Post is that sports desk could be shuttered entirely… foreign desk will be hit hard too.” [Dylan Byers/X, Natalie Korach/X]
Alexandria Eatery on Yelp’s Top 100 — “A Del Ray restaurant is one of three Virginia eateries to make Yelp’s annual list of the “Top US Restaurants” released earlier this week. Matt and Tony’s All Day Kitchen + Bar just made the rankings, coming in at No. 100 out of the 100 spots featured.” [ALXnow]
Tysons Casino Bill Advances — “A Virginia Senate subcommittee has advanced the Tysons casino bill, setting it up for further consideration after its 2025 defeat in a House of Delegates committee. The Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology voted 5-3 today (Friday) in favor of the legislation from Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34) to add Fairfax County as an eligible host for a casino.” [FFXnow, Sen. Scott Surovell/X]
It’s Monday — Expect a mostly sunny day with highs around 27 degrees and northwest winds from 11 to 16 mph, potentially reaching 28 mph. Monday night will be mostly clear and dangerously cold, with lows near 2 degrees and wind chills as low as -7, due to a west wind of 7 to 10 mph and gusts up to 20 mph. [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.
Flickr pool photo by Brian Gannon
Arlington County community centers, libraries and other facilities will be closed Monday as the cleanup continues from today’s winter storm.
About 7-8 inches of snow and sleet fell in Arlington. Hours of sleet has resulted in an especially dense and heavy covering over local roads and sidewalks, making plowing and shoveling more difficult.
