The founder of a beloved LGBTQ+ bar in Crystal City is getting married to his longtime partner on a float at D.C.’s WorldPride Parade this Saturday.
Freddie’s Beach Bar owner Freddie Lutz and his partner of 28 years, Johnny Cervantes, plan to tie the knot in bride-and-groom-inspired tuxedos atop a special Freddie’s display featuring a chapel.
A new charity fundraiser is calling for pet owners to submit pictures of their furry friends for a chance to be featured on limited-edition beer cans.
The Animal Welfare League of Arlington is teaming up with The Board Room brewery in Lyon Park to host a pet photo competition. Through Monday, June 30, the Rescue Brew Pet Photo Contest will accept pictures in the categories of cats, dogs and other “small companions.”
Welcome to Kami’s Korner where we’ll take a deep dive into Arlington’s condominium market by focusing on what’s coming next. From emerging developments to shifting trends, this space will spotlight the opportunities and insights shaping the future of condo living in Arlington.
Many of you have asked about best practices when it comes to buying a new condominium. Some of us only want new and are willing to pay a premium for the best in current design. There are several recommendations and insights here that will help you get what you want.
First decide what type of condominium you need… size, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, parking needs, or separate office, followed by a list of wants such as level of building service, amenities on-site, space for dining for six, balcony, open floor plan, and natural light. (Here she goes again.) Not to be sexist about it, but females generally are better shoppers and come with a preconceived set of non-negotiables.
Identify the areas you would consider living, such as Arlington or Old Town… but not wanting to go as far as Tysons, Reston, or DC. People don’t buy condominiums in places they aren’t familiar with or already spend time in, unless relocating entirely. Many upcoming communities put up signage and a website first which makes early interest hyperlocal. Register as a VIP on the website early and you will get regular communication, time to consider the offering, and learn when pre-sale will begin.
Once open, come early in pre-sale. You’ll get the pick of the litter. This is particularly important if you want something larger and are interested in the best views. Prospects are smart and pick the best floorplans first. If you have some idea of your ideal size and price point it makes good use of everyone’s time. Once you make a selection, expect to leave a 10% deposit as this is pretty standard in the industry. The developer generally has their own contract and it’s written much in their favor but not unreasonably so. Pricing this early is usually not negotiable… the price is the price. But you can purchase with some confidence since all buyers are getting the same terms and the developer has a shared interest in protecting values through delivery while sales are ongoing.
You do not need to be fully qualified for financing to come out and look but it’s wise to have some idea of what you can afford. Most builders give incentives for paying cash or using their title company and lenders. Often your contract might even offer a short financing contingency in exchange for considering them.
Once firmly under contract, a buyer might have 12- 18 months to prepare for the move. How blissful. This is one of the best parts of buying early in pre-sale. Moving is daunting, especially if you have been in your current homes for 30 years and the thought of moving seems excruciating. Decide what to take, sell/donate, and hire a proper interior designer to space plan and create a unique home that reflects your tastes. All with the time to do it properly.
Something to note. Finishes have gotten more high end, brands carry weight, and there is less customization offered these days. Gone are the days of going to a design center. If you know you are getting a Sub Zero refrigerator included you probably won’t ask if there are other options available. (more…)
A townhouse is on fire in the Douglas Park neighborhood, sending a plume of dark smoke into the otherwise clear blue sky.
Firefighters from Arlington and other neighboring jurisdictions are battling the blaze on the 1600 block of S. Taylor Street, north of Shirlington, trying to prevent it from spreading to adjacent units. Initial reports suggest a fire outside of the home spread inside.
Revised plans for a massive development project at Pentagon City’s RiverHouse site are slowly moving forward, but some neighbors still aren’t on board.
At a meeting last month, developer JBG Smith presented a new proposal to place 738 apartment and townhouse units on three parcels, while deferring final action on more than 2,000 other planned units.
Join Kaiser Permanente for Healthy at the Harbor, a free community health and wellness event taking place Saturday, June 6, from 11 am to 4 pm at National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Bring your family and friends for free full day of fun, fitness, and preventive care along the waterfront.
Throughout the day, Kaiser Permanente nurses and physicians will offer no-cost health screenings, alongside a health and wellness expo focused on preventive care education. A lively Kids’ Zone will keep children active and entertained with spin-art bikes, face painting, balloon art, games, and more.
The City of Falls Church spent 240% more than it budgeted for this fiscal year on outside legal services.
The city, which had budgeted $125,000 in Fiscal Year 2025 for outside legal support, actually ended up spending $425,000.
De Ferranti to Join Metro Board — County Board member Matt de Ferranti is expected to be appointed Thursday as an alternate Virginia director on the Metro system’s board of directors. The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, which de Ferranti chaired in 2024, will make the appointment. –Scott McCaffrey
Police Dept. Pride Event — “The Arlington County Police Department (ACPD), including members of the Community Engagement Division (CED) and the LGBTQ+ Liaison Team, are proud to host the 5th annual Pride with the Police event at Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant… Thursday, June 26, 2025 [from] 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.” [ACPD]
Stolen Car Blocked In — “Watch: @ArlingtonVaPD block in a stolen car and detain the driver. This happened around 5:15 p.m. [Monday] on Langston Blvd. at N. Highland St.” [Dave Statter/X]
Federal Turmoil Fading — “Hundreds of soft-term leases were terminated in Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency blitz to halve the federal real estate footprint. More than 100 federal buildings in or near D.C. were marked for disposition. The GSA said it would slash its own headcount, and the agency instituted a contracting freeze. Now, just as Musk departs from the White House, the bombast seems be subsiding, according to federal real estate experts.” [WBJ]
It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies and a high of around 87 degrees, accompanied by a south wind at 6 to 10 mph. Wednesday night will bring partly cloudy conditions and a low temperature near 67 degrees, with a south wind at 6 to 8 mph. [NWS]
Notice is hereby given that Healingland Medical Transport LLC, 7217 Lockport Pl, Ste 104, Lorton, Virginia 22079, has filed an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity that would authorize: 1. Passenger transportation as a Common Carrier over Irregular Routes, providing service in the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Manassas, and Manassas Park, Virginia, and the Counties of Arlington, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Spotsylvania, and Stafford, Virginia and; 2. The transportation of Medicaid recipients throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Carrier as defined in Section 46.2-2000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia.
Any person who desires to protest the application and be a party to the matter must submit a signed and dated written request setting forth (1) a precise statement of the party’s interest and how the party could be aggrieved if the application was granted; (2) a full and clear statement of the facts that the person is prepared to provide by competent evidence; (3) a statement of the specific relief sought; (4) the name of the applicant and case number assigned to the application; and (5) a certification that a copy of the protest was sent to the applicant. The case number assigned to this application is MC2500317BW.
Written protests must be mailed to DMV Motor Carrier Services, Attn: Operating Authority, P. O. Box 27412, Richmond, VA 23269-0001 and must be postmarked on or before June 23, 2025.
Any protest filed with competent evidence will be carefully considered by DMV, however, DMV will have full discretion as to whether a hearing is warranted based on the merits of the protest filed.
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 — Jun 3, 2025.
Here is what’s going on Wednesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect sunny skies and a high of around 87 degrees, accompanied by a south wind at 6 to 10 mph. Wednesday night will bring partly cloudy conditions and a low temperature near 67 degrees, with a south wind at 6 to 8 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”
– Steve Jobs
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.
Yeatts Mewborne Jones, of Arlington, Virginia, passed away on Saturday, May 24, 2025, on a scuba diving vacation in Monterey, California, at the age of 55. He was born September 27, 1969, in Newport News, Virginia. He graduated from Hampton Roads Academy and obtained a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Washington and Lee University.
He was preceded in death by his mother Jonzennie Mewborne Jones and his father Ray Yeatts Jones.
