With October finally here, a restaurant in Crystal City is transforming its outdoor patio and park space into an Oktoberfest-themed beer garden this weekend.
Festivities at Surreal will include long, communal picnic tables, refreshment kiosks and a central entertainment stage where DJs and live music will play throughout the day. Doors open at 2 p.m. for the celebration, which promises an “authentic beer selection,” live music, games and festival food.
Arlington’s Housing Commission is seeking more local leeway in addressing affordable housing and new formulas for determining the number of affordable units in new projects.
Commission Chair Kellen MacBeth included these recommendations in a letter to the County Board following a review of policies by the Affordable Housing Ordinance working group established earlier this year. County leaders are currently developing legislative priorities for the 2026 General Assembly session.
Address: 923 17th Street South
Neighborhood: Aurora Hills
Type: 5 BR, 4 (+1 half) BA single-family detached – 3931 sq. ft.
Open House: Saturday & Sunday 2-4
Listed: $2,299,900
Noteworthy: Designer kitchen, quartz countertops, soaking tub, pool and gym/bonus room.
Welcome to 923 17th Street South, a beautifully crafted new home by renowned Old Creek Homes in one of Arlington’s most connected and desirable neighborhoods. Offering 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, and a fully finished basement with a gym/bonus room, this home combines thoughtful design with modern luxury.
The heart of the home is a designer kitchen featuring quartz countertops, high-end appliances, custom cabinetry, and premium finishes—perfect for everyday living and entertaining. The light-filled main level showcases 10-foot ceilings, open-concept living spaces, a private home office, and a functional mudroom. Upstairs, the luxurious primary suite offers a spa-inspired bath with a soaking tub, creating the perfect place to unwind. Upper and lower levels feature 9-foot ceilings, spacious bedrooms, dedicated upstairs laundry, and beautifully tiled baths throughout.
Step outside to your own private backyard retreat. The inground pool creates an ideal setting for entertaining guests, relaxing on summer afternoons, or enjoying evenings with family and friends.
Conveniently located just minutes from Crystal City, you’ll enjoy walkable access to acclaimed restaurants, shops, and everyday conveniences. Metro access is nearby, providing easy commutes to Washington, DC, the Pentagon, Amazon HQ2, and destinations throughout Northern Virginia.
Listed by:
Steven Chen
[email protected]
(240) 418-2388
Falls Church city leaders are working to update a government website that they acknowledge has fallen behind the times.
Poor functionality on mobile devices, broken links and outdated information and contacts currently plague the website, according to Joshua Surprenant, who joined the communications staff in April and has been tasked with dissecting the site’s strengths and weaknesses.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington is bracing for what could be a prolonged federal shutdown after lawmakers deadlocked and missed the deadline for funding the government.
Republicans supported a short-term measure to fund the government generally at current levels through Nov. 21, but Democrats blocked it, insisting the measure address their concerns on health care. They want to reverse the Medicaid cuts in President Donald Trump’s mega-bill passed this summer and extend tax credits that make health insurance premiums more affordable for millions of people who purchase through the marketplaces established by the Affordable Care Act.
Commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary of the United States of America at Civic Jam! Celebrate the City of Falls Church’s diverse community, civic engagement, and classic summer fun. Jam out to live, local music, sip on local brews, enjoy tasty treats and eats, and a full evening of festivities for all ages on Friday, July 3, 2026, from 6 to 10 p.m.
Play, connect, and earn points throughout the evening in the Civic Cup Competition with activities ranging from sack races and relays to collaborative community art and trivia in the beer garden. No pre-registration required, assemble a team of four, pick up a Civic Cup scorecard, and compete for the Civic Cup Trophy!
Shutdown Politics in Va. — “Even as the president and his party tried to blame Democrats for what could happen next, some Republicans saw it as almost inevitable that Virginia voters would punish them somewhat. ‘I do think that blame will be laid at Republicans’ feet, no matter what,’ said Matthew Hurtt, the chairman of the Arlington County GOP. ‘It feels like the layoffs are exclusively going to Democrats, who were going to be voting for Spanberger anyway.'” [Semafor, Arlington Democrats/X, Matthew Hurtt/X]
Bill to Help Feds During Shutdown — “‘Americans join the federal workforce because they want to help provide essential services to communities across the country,’ said Senator Kaine. ‘They shouldn’t be punished for that, especially in the event of a government shutdown. That’s why I’m glad to join with my colleagues in introducing this legislation to help make it easier for these patriotic workers to pay their bills.'” [Press Release]
Credit Unions Offer Support — “Several financial institutions, including Navy Federal Credit Union and PenFed Credit Union, are offering paycheck assistance, interest-free personal loans and lines of credit to federal workers who need them in the event of a shutdown. Some are also waiving penalties for early withdrawals from retirement accounts or allowing customers affected by a shutdown to skip a loan payment or two.” [WBJ]
New Poet Laureate — “Jennifer Kronovet has been selected as the fourth Poet Laureate of Arlington County. During her two-year appointment, the award-winning poet will serve as an advocate for poetry and the literary arts and will work to raise Arlingtonians’ consciousness and appreciation of poetry in its written and spoken forms.” [Arlington County]
Pre-Planning for Bridge Project — “Members of the Fireboat are pre-planning the construction site for the new Long railway bridge across the Potomac. This project is scheduled to go through year 2030 and has the potential for both water and technical rescues.” [DCFEMS/X]
Man Killed By Train Was Chased — “The man who was struck by a train at the Potomac Yard Metro station on Sept. 22 succumbed to his injuries that evening at George Washington University Hospital, according to the Alexandria Police Department. Metro Transit Police said at the time that the man trespassed onto the tracks, and an investigation has found that he was being chased by two alleged fare evaders, a 17-year-old female and an 18-year-old female, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.” [ALXnow]
It’s October — Expect partly sunny skies to transition to sunnier conditions, with temperatures reaching around 72°F and a 10 mph north wind. Wednesday night will be clear and cool with a low near 51°F, accompanied by a 6 mph northeast breeze. [NWS]
WASHINGTON (AP) — Plunged into a government shutdown, the U.S. is confronting a fresh cycle of uncertainty after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government programs and services running by Wednesday’s deadline.
Roughly 750,000 federal workers are expected to be furloughed, some potentially fired by the Trump administration. Many offices will be shuttered, perhaps permanently, as Trump vows to “do things that are irreversible, that are bad” as retribution. His deportation agenda is expected to run full speed ahead, while education, environmental and other services sputter. The economic fallout is expected to ripple nationwide.
Good Tuesday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Sep 30, 2025.
Here is what’s going on Wednesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect partly sunny skies to transition to sunnier conditions, with temperatures reaching around 72°F and a 10 mph north wind. Wednesday night will be clear and cool with a low near 51°F, accompanied by a 6 mph northeast breeze. See more from Weather.gov.
“We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.”
– Jimmy Carter
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
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The League of Women Voters of Arlington was established by a coalition of 17 founding members in January 1944, and for more than 80 years has been a force in the county’s civic life.
Concept designs for improved bike routes running parallel to Columbia Pike are now available, aiming to make certain side streets safer and more inviting to bicyclists.
Arlington County is currently seeking feedback — due this Sunday, Oct. 5 — on the possible upgrades to the Columbia Pike Bike Boulevards. The proposal includes a variety of signage, intersection changes and streetscape adjustments on either side of the Pike.
