Around Town

This is a free preview of the restaurant tracker report sent monthly to ARLnow Press Club members. Join the club to get this and other exclusive features, like our Court Update monthly emails and the ad-free Pro Update daily newsletter.

Hi everyone, this is Katie Taranto, with more updates for ARLnow Press Club members on food and drink in Arlington and Falls Church.


News

As they gear up for a busy fall schedule, Falls Church city leaders are preparing to seek their share of a $6.5 billion national opioid settlement.

City Council members on Sept. 8 are slated to approve action notifying Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares that the city will participate in the state government’s proposed settlement with Purdue Pharma and its primary owner, the Sackler family.


News

Numerous affordable-housing advocates showed up at a recent local government meeting to push for county support in removing regulatory hurdles around construction.

The advocacy group Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE) is pressing for state-level changes to streamline the construction of affordable housing on land owned by faith-based and nonprofit organizations.


Around Town

Arlington’s largest free outdoor music festival is returning for its 33rd year this weekend at Rosslyn’s Gateway Park.

The 2025 Rosslyn Jazz Fest, run by the Rosslyn Business Improvement District (BID) and Arlington Arts, is scheduled for Saturday from 1-7 p.m. at 1300 Langston Blvd.


Event

Dreaming about your next vacation? Join Cruise Planners Beth Borrego and Rod Rodriguez for an inspiring day devoted to ocean and river cruises, guided tours, luxury travel and unforgettable destinations!

Meet representatives from AmaWaterways, Collette, Oceania Cruises and Premier World Discovery. Hear informative presentations, ask questions, explore exciting vacation possibilities and discover which travel experience may be the perfect fit for you.


Schools

A new report from Arlington Public Schools’ internal auditor is raising concerns about how the school system handles student and staff tech equipment.

Inventory control is “unsatisfactory and requires improvement,” the report, detailed to School Board members on Aug. 21, says.


Sports

It was by a slimmer margin than in 2024, but the Washington-Liberty Generals recently won the three-team Arlington County high-school golf championship for the second straight year.

The Generals finished first with a 9-hole score of 143 on the East Potomac Park Golf Links course in D.C. The Yorktown Patriots were second with 146 and the Wakefield Warriors third at 149.


Around Town

A new yarn shop and haven for fiber arts enthusiasts opens in Falls Church this weekend.

Entangled will sell supplies and host events for knitters and crocheters at 103 Rowell Court. Kelly Schnapp, a Coast Guard veteran, federal employee and longtime knitter from Falls Church, hopes to help customers “escape from everyday stress” and connect to art.


News

A second left-turn on Langston Blvd could help ease a major rush-hour traffic choke point in East Falls Church, county staff believe.

Later this month, County Board members will be asked to request $1.5 million from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for another turning lane from eastbound Langston Blvd onto westbound Washington Blvd adjacent to Interstate 66.


Opinion

Summer is ending but lottery fever is heating up.

The Powerball jackpot is now well above the $1 billion mark, with another drawing set for tonight.

From the Associated Press:

An estimated $1.4 billion lottery jackpot will be up for grabs Wednesday night thanks to dozens of drawings without a big winner.

The massive Powerball prize is the sixth-largest U.S. lottery jackpot. It’s a result of 40 consecutive drawings stretching over the summer without anyone matching all of the game’s six numbers.

No one has won the grand prize since May 31, and the 41st drawing on Wednesday will be just one fewer than the record set last year.

All of that losing stems from Powerball’s abysmal odds of 1 in 292.2 million, though lottery officials note that the odds are far better for the game’s many smaller prizes. There are three drawings each week.

The $1.4 billion jackpot is for a winner who opts to receive 30 payments over 29 years through an annuity. Winners almost always choose the game’s cash option, which for this drawing would be an estimated $634.3 million.

Powerball tickets cost $2, and the game is offered in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

ARLnow has conducted (unscientific) polls for previous billion-dollar plus jackpots, finding…

Today we’re simply wondering whether you’ve bought or are planning to buy a ticket for tonight’s big drawing.


Announcement

Wine & Food Tasting Event at Arrowine, Saturday, August 15, 1- 4 p.m.

Summer adventures are calling — whether you’re packing up for the Beach, escaping to the Shenandoah Mountains, planning a picnic, or heading out for a romantic night of music at Wolf Trap. And if you want those moments to be stress‑free, delicious, and perfectly paired, we’ve got just the tasting for you.