Around Town

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Dec 5, 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 — Dec 5, 2025.

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

  1. What we know about the discount grocery store coming to Falls Church (10485 views)
  2. NEW: Another Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for Friday night (13764 views)
  3. Union Kitchen closes in Ballston after five years (8533 views)
  4. Long-delayed Columbia Pike redevelopment project moves toward final approval (8353 views)
  5. Feedback sought on 47-unit townhouse project off of Langston Blvd (7068 views)
  6. Decline in visitors at Arlington hotels raises concerns for local economy (6873 views)
  7. Clarendon code-enforcement efforts earn mixed reviews from neighbors (6293 views)
  8. Police: Alexandria man driving wrong way threatened traffic safety worker in Clarendon (5809 views)
  9. JUST IN: Two hour delay for Arlington Public Schools due to snow (5420 views)
  10. Car slams into bus shelter near Ballston, sending glass and trash flying (6246 views)
  11. Former elected officials raise concerns about moving too fast on Arlington governance changes (4248 views)
  12. New GOP challenger seeks to take on Beyer in 2026 (4087 views)
  13. Winter Weather Advisory issued ahead of “potential winter commuting hazard” Friday (4063 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

Patchy fog is expected to clear by 11am, making way for a partly sunny day with a high of around 42. Winds will be light and variable. For Saturday night, the sky will be mostly clear, and temperatures will drop to around 29 accompanied by light and variable winds. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt

🌅 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

Students explore the lives of mother and son once enslaved near Gunston Middle School

By ARLnow.com
Students look over stumbling stones near Gunston Middle School (photo courtesy Jessica Kaplan)

A special “stumbling stone” unveiling last week taught Gunston Middle School sixth graders about the harsh lives of those enslaved across Arlington — and in their very neighborhoods.

The stones, the latest in a series being placed across the county, recognize the lives of Sina and George, a mother-son duo enslaved during the mid-1800s in the area where the school is now located. While the full story of their lives is not known, research has uncovered some information:

Go to Students explore the lives of mother and son once enslaved near Gunston Middle School Read more
Sponsored

Just Reduced Properties in Arlington: October 14, 2026

By Sponsor

Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose prices have been cut over the previous week. The market summary is crafted by Arlington Realty, Inc. Maximize your real estate investment with the team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6000 today!

Please note: The properties featured here may be listed with other brokerages– but that doesn’t limit your options. Arlington Realty, Inc. is ready to represent you, arrange showings, analyze value, and negotiate the best possible terms on your behalf. We understand the neighborhoods, pricing trends and market timing — and we use that knowledge to your advantage. 

As of October 12, there are 211 detached homes, 77 townhouses and 314 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 53 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:

Please note that this is solely a selection of Just Reduced properties available in Arlington County. For a complete list of properties within your target budget and specifications, contact Arlington Realty, Inc. 

Sports

Wakefield boys basketball team opens with limited experience, big win

By Dave Facinoli
Wakefield's Dyson Beaty, left, and Jeremiah Poole (3) run the offense (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

With only two players with significant experience returning, questions proliferated for the Wakefield Warriors when the squad opened the boys high-school basketball season Tuesday night (Dec. 2).

Senior guards Jeremiah Poole and Dyson Beaty — a starter and top substitute, respectively, from last season — are those top returners. The duo and their teammates began answering those concerns when Wakefield routed the visiting Falls Church Jaguars, 70-39, in its first contest.

Go to Wakefield boys basketball team opens with limited experience, big win Read more
Sports

O’Connell hosts unique baseball camp for youth over Thanksgiving weekend

By Dave Facinoli
Campers participate in hitting drills (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

It’s nearly winter and the local prep basketball season has just begun. Yet the sport of baseball was front and center in a unique event held Nov. 30 at Bishop O’Connell High School.

Despite chilly and rainy weather, some 60 players ages 11 to 14 from throughout the metro area gathered at the Arlington private school for a free Thanksgiving-weekend instructional camp.

Go to O’Connell hosts unique baseball camp for youth over Thanksgiving weekend Read more
Event

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

White pillar candles placed along a purple ledge with a white flower at the end, suggesting a memorial scene.

Event location

Woodson High School

9525 Main Street

Fairfax, Virginia 22031

Add to Calendar

Northern Virginia Fairfax Families for Safe Streets (NoVA FSS) cordially invites you to attend and support our upcoming World Day of Remembrance (WDoR) for Road Traffic Victims.

World Day of Remembrance is an annual event where we honor those whose lives were prematurely ended after being struck by a person driving. This year is particularly painful and sad as we think about the recent death of a 13-year-old Frost middle school student who was struck and killed by a person driving a truck on Pickett Road. We will also honor the nearly 30 other people (as of today’s date) who have been killed on Northern Virginia streets while, walking, biking, or rolling since last year’s day of remembrance.

Go to World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims Read more
News

Car slams into bus shelter near Ballston, sending glass and trash flying

By ARLnow.com
Car crashes into bus shelter near Ballston (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

A crash this afternoon near Ballston pulverized a bus shelter and littered a sidewalk with strewn trash.

The reported single-vehicle crash happened just before 1 p.m. Friday on the 3900 block of Wilson Blvd, at the entrance to the parking lot of the &pizza, Gold’s Gym and other businesses.

Go to Car slams into bus shelter near Ballston, sending glass and trash flying Read more
Weather

NEW: Another Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for Friday night

By ARLnow.com
Snow falling in Courthouse on Dec. 5, 2025 (courtesy George Brazier)

The snow may be mostly over but we’re not done with wintry hazards.

A light freezing rain is expected tonight between 7 p.m.-1 a.m., potentially leading to a “a light glaze of ice” and “very slippery sidewalks, roads and bridges,” according to the National Weather Service.

Go to NEW: Another Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for Friday night Read more
News

Health fair supports those facing a challenging winter in Arlington

By ARLnow.com
A health-education table at the 2025 PathForward health fair for Arlington's unhoused population (courtesy PathForward)

A recent health fair sponsored by a local nonprofit gave at-risk county residents valuable support going into the winter months.

The event, presented by PathForward, served 74 individuals, including those staying at the organization’s two 24-hour programs — the Homeless Services Center and Residential Program Center — along with clients using other PathForward services and those supported by other safety-net providers.

Go to Health fair supports those facing a challenging winter in Arlington Read more
Opinion

Poll: The best Middle Eastern restaurant in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

From Lebanese falafel and kabob to Turkish doner, Arlington’s Middle Eastern restaurants offer an array of flavors to match the county’s multicultural diversity.

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

Did we miss your favorite spot for Middle Eastern food? Write it in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Three weeks ago, we voted on Best Thai Restaurant in Arlington. The results are now official:

  1. Bangkok 54 Restaurant
  2. Soul Thai Kitchen & Bar
  3. Padaek
News

Economic concerns cloud budget planning in Falls Church

By Scott McCaffrey
Paragon Theaters in Falls Church (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Falls Church city and school leaders head into planning for the fiscal year 2027 budget with many unknowns to contend with.

David So, the city government’s new budget director, sketched out a number of budget scenarios at a Monday (Dec. 1) work session between members of the City Council and School Board. Depending on the scenario, his projections leave a budget gap of between $2.7 million and $5.4 million that will have to be addressed before a final budget is adopted next May.

Go to Economic concerns cloud budget planning in Falls Church Read more
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