It’s that time again.
The beloved Hello Kitty Cafe Truck plans to make a pit stop in Pentagon City on Saturday as it tours the United States, selling its usual sweets and whimsical feline merchandise.
|
The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch and a Flood Watch for Arlington, much of Northern Virginia and the District.
Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible across the region, with thunderstorms later today capable of producing very heavy rain at rates of 1 to 2 inches in 30 minutes.
When your home no longer feels quite right, it can be hard to know what to do next.
Maybe your family needs more space, your layout no longer works, or your 1940s Cape Cod is simply ready for a modern update. Deciding whether to remodel, rebuild, or move requires thoughtful planning and a clear understanding of the costs, timelines, and trade-offs involved.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Every home, lot, and family is different, which is why working with an experienced local builder can help you make a more informed decision.
Here are four key questions to ask before you decide.
1. Is staying in your neighborhood a non-negotiable?
For many Arlington homeowners, the neighborhood is the reason they bought the home in the first place. If your neighbors, schools, walkability, or favorite local spots make Arlington feel like home, remodeling or rebuilding may be worth exploring before deciding to sell.
If you plan to stay for the next five years, a thoughtful remodel or addition can help preserve the location and character you love while improving the home’s functionality. However, if you truly see this as your “forever home”, a larger renovation or a teardown-and-rebuild might be a better option to give you the space and comfort you need, without trying to force an older home to work around its existing limitations.
Some homeowners choose to phase renovations over time. That approach can work well, as long as you start with a clear master plan to ensure each stage supports the next and avoids costly rework later.
On the flip side, if you plan to sell soon, a smaller-scale remodel, such as a kitchen renovation, might make more sense to avoid overinvesting in a project that may not recoup its full value.
2. Will the investment make sense for your home?
Arlington is unique because much of a home’s value comes from the land and location. This means that, in general, Arlington property values will always support just about anything you would like to do to your house or property. The real question is how much you want to invest.
A major renovation, addition, or new custom build may affect appraisal and financing differently. New construction often appraises higher initially than a similar remodeled home, but over time, a well-executed renovation can ultimately be worth more than a newly built home.
As you plan a renovation, you may reach a point where building new makes more sense than continuing to work around an older home’s limitations. A new build can provide a more functional layout, better efficiency, and stronger long-term value. On the other hand, some homeowners considering new construction may find that a thoughtful remodel and addition can accomplish everything they need while making their dollars go further.
That is why understanding the numbers early matters. (more…)
Army Upgrading Helo Navigation — “The Army unit involved in January’s deadly midair collision near Reagan National Airport received new navigation devices last month, as military officials take steps to improve pilots’ awareness of other aircraft around them. Some older Army helicopters, including the Black Hawk variant involved in the tragedy, lack a system that shows precise locations of other aircraft. Instead, pilots must rely on devices that integrate with the iPads they carry to provide such data in real time.” [Washington Post]
Rosslyn Company Sues Zillow — “CoStar Group Inc. has sued rival Zillow Group Inc. for “rampant copyright infringement,” the latest salvo in the real estate giants’ increasingly vitriolic battle. The suit, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in New York, accuses Seattle-based Zillow of displaying and profiting from nearly 47,000 copyrighted images owned by Arlington-based CoStar.” [WBJ]
Fmr. County Attorneys at VRE — “The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) is pleased to announce the appointment of MinhChau Corr as its new General Counsel, succeeding longtime General Counsel Steve MacIsaac, who will retire in September.” [VRE]
Solar Credits Ending — “Time is running out for [Virginia] homeowners to get a federal tax credit for adopting solar energy. The reconciliation bill passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump on July 4 will eliminate a residential clean energy credit that lets residential property owners deduct 30% of the cost of installing rooftop solar panels, solar water heaters, geothermal heat pumps and other clean energy systems from their federal income taxes.” [FFXnow]
Work on Northern GW Parkway — “Construction crews are scheduled to begin work this week on an extension of the northbound I-495 (Capital Beltway Inner Loop) ramp to southbound George Washington Memorial Parkway (GW Parkway), requiring the highway to be narrowed. To make room for construction, an approximately 600-foot-long jersey barrier will be installed at the base of the existing ramp starting around 10 p.m. today.” [FFXnow]
Kaine College Transparency Bill — “U.S. Senator Tim Kaine… joined a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in introducing the College Transparency Act (CTA), legislation to ensure students and families have better information as they consider higher education opportunities. The CTA would modernize the college reporting system for postsecondary data by providing accurate reporting on student outcomes such as enrollment, completion, and post-college earnings across colleges and majors.” [Press Release]
It’s Thursday — Expect a slight chance of showers, evolving into showers and thunderstorms after 2 pm, with increasing clouds and a high near 94. Heat index values could reach 103, with calm winds turning south at 5-7 mph in the afternoon. On Thursday night expect an 80% chance of precipitation, with showers and thunderstorms likely and a low around 70. [NWS]
This Memorial Weekend: Argentine Festival USA Returns May 23
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
Good Wednesday 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 — Jul 30, 2025.
- 5:30 am: Notice: Order of Publication for Civil Claim in General District Court | 🗣️ Comments
- 6:00 am: Notice: Virginia ABC permit application by Arlington 1983 LLC | 🗣️ Comments
- 7:30 am: Morning Notes for July 30, 2025 | 🗣️ Comments
- 8:30 am: Heat Advisory, Code Orange air quality alert in effect today | 🗣️ Comments
- 9:15 am: Referendum on Falls Church trash bills is unlikely but possible, officials say | 🗣️ Comments
- 10:00 am: Arlington County can’t regulate local ICE operations, legal staff say | 🗣️ Comments
- 11:45 am: New APS summer school programs seek to improve student outcomes | 🗣️ Comments
- 1:45 pm: Virginia’s sales tax holiday brings back-to-school discounts this weekend | 🗣️ Comments
- 2:45 pm: ‘National Night Out’ festivities with ACPD coming to Arlington next week | 🗣️ Comments
- 3:45 pm: High schooler uncovers history of Arlington’s first known Chinese restaurant | 🗣️ Comments
- 4:15 pm: NTSB finds Army chopper in fatal midair crash with plane was above altitude limit | 🗣️ Comments
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
- 12:00 pm: Ping Pong Power Hour
- 5:00 pm: MoCA on the Move: Suncatchers
- 5:30 pm: Rosslyn Rocks: Dueling Pianos
- 6:00 pm: Rhythm & Hues
- 6:30 pm: Thursday Night Live!
- 7:00 pm: Rachel Feinstein
⛈️ Thursday’s forecast
Expect a slight chance of showers, evolving into showers and thunderstorms after 2 pm, with increasing clouds and a high near 94. Heat index values could reach 103, with calm winds turning south at 5-7 mph in the afternoon. 60% chance of rain, with rainfall amounts up to a quarter of an inch. Thursday night’s forecast includes 80% chance of precipitation, with showers and thunderstorms likely before 7 pm, potentially transitioning into a thunderstorm between 7 pm and 2 am, followed by more showers and thunderstorms. Expect a low around 70, southeast winds at 6 mph becoming northeast after midnight, and possible rainfall amounts between three-quarters and one inch. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“I failed my way to success.”
– Thomas Edison
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
Join us in remembrance and celebrate our community at the City of Falls Church’s 44th Annual Memorial Day Parade and Festival on Monday, May 25, 2026. Honor our nation’s fallen heroes and our country’s rich history while marking the 250th anniversary of the United States of America!
Monday, May 25, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
By JOSH FUNK AP Transportation Writer
Investigators probing the January midair collision of a passenger plane and an Army helicopter over Washington that killed 67 people found the chopper was flying higher than it should have been and its altitude readings were inaccurate.
A new Arlington Historical Society exhibition looks at the life and legacy of what may have been Arlington’s first Chinese-inspired restaurant.
“The Family Tea House: Where Culture and Cuisine Met in Arlington” delves into the story of Family Tea House, the dishes it offered and the role it played in a brief but important episode in Virginia’s civil rights movement.
Live music, cookouts and other festivities are coming to neighborhoods around Arlington next week in an annual partnership with the Arlington County Police Department.
National Night Out, an event where police officers attend outdoor, community-building events in neighborhoods around their jurisdiction, is next Tuesday.
Virginia’s annual tax holiday returns this weekend, bringing three days of discounted shopping across the state.
Between Friday and Sunday, Arlington’s 6% sales tax will not apply to any of the following items, bought in-store or online.
New summer school programs at Arlington Public Schools are hoping to find success where other efforts have fallen short.
Two new pilot programs are meant to help measure the impact of different learning models — and perhaps improve on mediocre results from summer school programs in 2024.
This year’s Very Godly VBS, inspired by The Titan’s Curse, invites children into the world of Camp Half-Blood to explore faith, courage, belonging, and community through storytelling, music, crafts, games, science, and reflection in a fun and welcoming environment for all.
Location: The Falls Church