A local chocolatier and baker have teamed up to open a new sweet shop in Rosslyn.
The Sweet District officially opened yesterday (Wednesday) at the Upside on Moore food hall at 1700 N. Moore Street, in between Lili’s and Tony Boloney’s.
|
|
A summer of free outdoor movies is kicking off in Arlington, with screenings planned at George Mason University and along Columbia Pike.
GMU will get the season rolling with a showing of “National Treasure” this Saturday night, and more movie nights will come to Arlington Mill and Penrose Square next month through the Columbia Pike Partnership.
Every year, for just a few minutes, one of Arlington’s most iconic works of public art comes to life exactly as its artist intended.
On Saturday, Aug. 1, at approximately 9:32 a.m., visitors will gather in Rosslyn to witness the annual shadow alignment at Nancy Holt’s Dark Star Park (1979–84). At that precise moment, the shadows cast by the sculpture’s spheres and poles align with permanent shadow forms embedded in the ground—a phenomenon Holt designed to commemorate the anniversary of Rosslyn’s founding.
The alignment lasts only a few moments, but it has become a beloved Arlington tradition, drawing residents, visitors, artists and architecture enthusiasts alike to experience the intersection of art, astronomy, and history. If the weather cooperates, the park transforms into a striking demonstration of how light, time and place can become part of a work of art.
Created between 1979 and 1984, Dark Star Park was Arlington’s first County-commissioned public artwork and remains one of the nation’s earliest examples of integrated public art—where sculpture, landscape architecture and the surrounding environment function as a single work. Rather than placing an object within a park, Holt made the entire park the artwork, incorporating spheres, pools, steel poles, tunnels, earthworks and carefully positioned plantings into an immersive landscape.
Nancy Holt (1938–2014) was a pioneering artist whose work spanned poetry, film, photography, land art and large-scale public sculpture. Throughout her career, she explored perception, time and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Dark Star Park remains her most significant urban installation and one of the few major works by the artist that can be experienced in an accessible city setting.
Whether you’ve attended for years or have never visited before, Dark Star Park Day offers a rare opportunity to experience a public artwork that changes with the movement of the sun—and reminds us that some of the most memorable moments in art happen not inside a museum, but out in the world around us.
Dark Star Park Day
When: Saturday, Aug. 1, beginning around 9 a.m.; shadow alignment at approximately 9:32 a.m.
Where: Dark Star Park, 1655 N. Fort Myer Drive, Rosslyn
Those with $1,500 to spend monthly on apartment rent in Arlington can expect either a tight squeeze or, more likely, finding roommates to share the burden.
A new national survey finds that $1,500 will result in an average 478 square feet of rentable apartment space in the county, the equivalent of a studio apartment.
The incumbent County Board chair and four candidates seeking to oust him each say the county government needs less bureaucracy and more creativity in supporting the business and development communities.
“Our processes are not efficient enough,” Board Chair Matt de Ferranti acknowledged at a June 23 candidate forum sponsored by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce.
Live standup comedy in Arlington on Friday July 31 starring Jim Bryan, Kim Villamera, and Greg Billet.
Friday, July 31, 2026
Arlington leaders fear that federal cuts could threaten local and region-wide efforts that have helped prevent homelessness from ballooning in challenging economic times.
Arlington typically receives about $4.2 million in annual federal “continuum-of-care” grants. “If we have reduced federal support, it could risk a lot,” County Board member Julius “JD” Spain, Sr. said in a June 17 meeting.
Flyover Showcase Today — Following last night’s flyovers, eight military aircraft are set to fly in formation over the National Mall today, including the B-52 Stratofortress, F-15 Eagle, F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-35C Lightning II. The flyover opens the second night of the Great American State Fair’s celebrations for the nation’s 250th and will bring added air traffic noise to Arlington. [ARLnow]
Longtime Recovery CEO Stepping Down — Arlington-based National Capital Treatment and Recovery has announced a search for a successor to Debby Taylor, who has served as president/CEO for 37 years. “This is not a moment of abrupt change, but rather a carefully planned and strategic transition,” Taylor said in an email to supporters of the organization, founded in 1962. — Scott McCaffrey
LibraryFest Marks the 250th — Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street) will host LibraryFest, a free all-ages celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary, on Saturday, July 18 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The day includes a U.S. Marine Band brass quintet, a large-scale LEGO sculpture of the Constitution, live music, food trucks and historical demonstrations. [Arlington County]
W-L Hosting Stop on ‘Relay for America’ — Washington-Liberty High School will be a stop on the 20-day, 3,000-mile Relay for America as it moves across the nation, with hundreds of runners carrying the U.S. flag a portion of the way. The high school will host the event on Saturday, July 4 from midnight to 9 a.m., before it completes the cross-country journey finishing in front of the U.S. Capitol. [RunWashington]
Pole Down Since January — A concrete light pole knocked down during snowstorm cleanup on Jan. 26 is still lying at 3829 N. Stafford Street five months later, a resident says, tagging Dominion Energy in a plea for removal: “Concrete base is not repairable.” [Jay Hoffman/X]
Better Than New York? — A local creator’s Instagram reel, set to “Empire State of Mind” and featuring Rosslyn skyscrapers, makes a tongue-in-cheek case that the area beats New York. The clip has drawn more than 4,400 likes. [Instagram]
Region Asked to Save Water — With the D.C. region under a drought watch, Spanberger has asked Virginians to voluntarily conserve water amid the state’s driest stretch since 1941. The Potomac River hit its lowest level in 130 years this spring. Maryland and a regional council are also urging cutbacks, though restrictions remain voluntary for now. [Axios]
Hope Backs Prison Reforms — Gov. Spanberger has created a new Community Partnership Council on Corrections and touted early results, including a 39% drop in use of force across state prisons since January. Del. Patrick Hope (D-Arlington) welcomed the moves, calling them “a strong step toward reform” while urging that improvements also reach local jails. [Virginia Mercury, Patrick Hope/X]
Ex-Felon Voting in Limbo — The ACLU of Virginia filed a motion to enforce a court order it won this year, accusing officials of leaving thousands of Virginians with past felony convictions in voter-registration limbo. Registrars have been told since June not to fully process such registrations. This fall, voters will weigh a constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to those who’ve served their sentences. [Virginia Mercury]
It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high near 88 and winds out of the south at 2–9 mph. It turns partly cloudy overnight, with a low around 69. [NWS]
There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.
Moudkaii Cagee El (Age 64)
Moudkaii Cagee El, age 64, passed away June 14, 2026 in residence amongst family and friends at Berkeley County in Charleston, South Carolina.
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 — Jun 24, 2026.
- 7:30 am: Morning Notes for June 24, 2026 | 🗣️ Comments
- 8:30 am: Arlington GOP to oppose abortion access, other Virginia ballot measures | 🗣️ Comments
- 9:15 am: ACPD: Another car-window spree in South Arlington, armed man arrested at apartment complex | 🗣️ Comments
- 10:00 am: Woman, 77, dies after house fire near East Falls Church | 🗣️ Comments
- 11:45 am: New cafe and wine bar plans to open in Shirlington later this year | 🗣️ Comments
- 1:45 pm: Concepts for new park in Crystal City focus on pedestrians and green space | 🗣️ Comments
- 2:45 pm: Marymount hosting free fireworks viewing with food on Fourth of July | 🗣️ Comments
- 3:45 pm: Arlington’s new delivery robots prompt mix of curiosity, annoyance from locals | 🗣️ Comments
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
- 12:00 pm: Yoga & Flow with SPENGA
- 3:00 pm: Ping Pong
- 6:00 pm: Pilates with Mind the Mat
- 9:00 pm: World Cup Soccer Game USA vs. Turkiye @ Arlington Drafthouse
☀️ Thursday’s forecast
The weather will be mostly sunny with a high of about 87°F, accompanied by a light south wind picking up to 5 to 9 mph in the morning. By Thursday night, expect partly cloudy skies with a low around 69°F and a south wind blowing at 6 to 8 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”
– Steve Jobs
🌅 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! 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.
A new fleet of robots delivering food in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor is turning heads and sparking some community debate.
Since they began carrying their first Uber Eats orders last week, the self-driving bots from the company Avride have mostly earned curious glances and photos from local residents, who can now select a robot delivery option from establishments like TNR Cafe in Courthouse and Bakeshop in Clarendon.