Numerous county programs will be closed or operating on modified schedules for Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 1.
Arlington Public Library locations will be closed, and so will all community centers except for Long Bridge Aquatics and Fitness Center, which is open from 6 a.m.-2 p.m.
Not many memorial services have a set list.
Friends, family, fans and fellow musicians gathered at Renegade in Clarendon yesterday (Thursday) said it was exactly the way John “Jay” Jenc would have wanted to be remembered — a gathering that blended rock music, community gathering and good food.
For Tessa Cannon, books are more than stories. They’re a way to build community.
As the owner of The Wandering Shelf, an independent mobile bookstore that launched in Arlington in May 2025, Cannon brings books directly to readers across the community. Operating out of a bookstore van, she sells new and used books for all ages, along with book-themed merchandise, at events and locations throughout Arlington.
The idea grew from both her love of Arlington and her desire to expand access to independent bookstores.
“There are two main reasons I chose Arlington,” Cannon said. “First, I love Arlington and am one of its biggest fans. Second, Arlington is near communities with an incredible array of independent bookstores, yet at the time Arlington had only one bookstore selling new books. I wanted to grow our independent bookstore network and bring books to more Arlingtonians.”
As she prepared to launch the business, Cannon worked with Arlington Economic Development’s BizLaunch program, which connected her with a SCORE mentor and provided guidance through the startup process.
“BizLaunch was helpful in many ways,” she said. “They connected me with a mentor from SCORE, provided guidance on county-specific licenses and shared a fantastic Small Business Checklist. The BizLaunch website is filled with helpful resources.”
One customer interaction stands out as Cannon’s favorite business memory. A customer purchased a copy of I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman and returned a few weeks later to share how much she enjoyed it. Weeks after that, she came back with friends and the same copy of the book, now covered with notes and annotations from everyone who had borrowed and discussed it.
“It was a wonderful reminder of the gift that comes with sharing books with your community and how we are each impacted differently through the stories we read,” Cannon said.
Community remains at the heart of The Wandering Shelf’s mission. Cannon describes the business as “hyperlocal,” with charitable giving and community engagement focused on supporting Arlington residents.
Looking ahead, she hopes to grow the business into a small brick-and-mortar bookstore while keeping the mobile operation on the road.
“We dream of having a third space where people can rest, learn and connect with others,” Cannon said. “We plan to always keep the van running so we can continue meeting people in all the different pockets of Arlington.”
For now, The Wandering Shelf continues bringing books directly to Arlington readers, one stop at a time. For more information about The Wandering Shelf visit www.wanderingshelf.com or their Instagram @thewanderingshelf.va.
BizLaunch Update: Applications Open for the Arlington Growth Accelerator
Ready to take your business to the next level? The Arlington Growth Accelerator is designed for established small businesses looking to scale, strengthen operations and accelerate growth.
This hands-on program connects business owners with expert guidance, practical tools and a network of peers navigating similar growth challenges. Participants will gain insights on strategic planning, financial management, marketing, leadership and long-term business sustainability.
Whether you’re looking to expand your customer base, hire employees or position your business for its next phase of growth, the Arlington Growth Accelerator can help you build a roadmap for success.
Applications are now open. Learn more and apply at www.bizlaunch.org.
Fall is regarded as one of the ideal seasons to schedule HVAC maintenance, and there are plenty of service providers in and around Arlington to choose from as temperatures start to cool.
Here are the nominees for “Best HVAC Company in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.
Did we miss your favorite provider? Write them in!
Voting will close in two weeks.
Voting for the Best Preschool in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Venue for a Kid’s Birthday Party in Arlington. The results are now official:
Pentagon MMA has brought a special honor home to Arlington from the birthplace of Muay Thai.
The Arlington Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu Academy is now officially a certified and registered Muay Thai Gym Partner through the Sports Authority of Thailand and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, making Pentagon MMA the only Muay Thai academy on the East Coast to have earned this distinction.
An 18-year-old has been arrested in connection to a “suspicious” apartment fire near Columbia Pike earlier this year.
Marvin Adelso Hernandez Lopez is accused of using a 7-Eleven cup filled with gasoline during the May 15 blaze at a garden apartment building in Douglas Park.
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.
Labor Day Protests — “Labor Day, a holiday honoring the contributions of workers, will be met with two planned protests against the Trump administration in Arlington. Arlington is one of the locations across the U.S. holding protests against the ‘billionaire takeover.'” [Patch]
Columbia Pike Robbery — “Suspect One entered the business and began concealing merchandise during which an employee started to take photos of him with their cellphone. When the suspect went to exit the store without payment, he took the employee’s phone and threw it across the business before fleeing the scene in a black sedan driven by Suspect Two.” [ACPD]
Missing Teen Sought — “ACPD is seeking the public’s assistance locating 14-year-old Brianna… She is described as a Hispanic female, 5’0” tall with black hair. She was last seen in the 4200 block of 16th Road S. wearing a black shirt, white pants and a gold necklace with a B pendant.” [ACPD/X, Patch]
Beyer Blasts RFK Jr. — “President Trump must fire Robert F. Kennedy Jr. before he further endangers millions of American children, mothers, and families. If Trump does not remove Kennedy before this kook fully unleashes his crackpot conspiracy theories on America’s vaccination efforts, Trump will bear the responsibility for the unnecessary and preventable illnesses and deaths that result.” [Press Release]
Labor Day Travel — “Labor Day weekend travel is expected to surpass last year’s record levels, with the Transportation Security Administration preparing to screen hundreds of thousands more passengers than during the 2024 holiday.” [Axios]
Record Freshman Class at MU — “Marymount University in Arlington is one of two universities in Northern Virginia celebrating a record freshman class — here it numbers 538. At Marymount, it’s the fourth consecutive year the freshman class has grown.” [NBC 4]
Pizza Honor for Local Chain — “The verdict is in: An eatery with multiple Northern Virginia and D.C. locations is serving up the best slice of pizza in Virginia, according to a new list compiled by Food Network. Wiseguy Pizza was recently featured on Food Network’s 50 Best Pizza Slices By State 2025.” [Patch]
It’s Friday — Expect sunny conditions and a high temperature near 80 degrees during the day, accompanied by a northwest wind at 5 to 9 mph. By Friday night, the skies will turn partly cloudy, while the temperature dips to a low around 57 degrees. [NWS]
Good Thursday 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 — Aug 28, 2025.
Here is what’s going on Friday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect sunny conditions and a high temperature near 80 degrees during the day, accompanied by a northwest wind at 5 to 9 mph. By Friday night, the skies will turn partly cloudy, while the temperature dips to a low around 57 degrees. A 6 mph north wind is anticipated throughout the night. See more from Weather.gov.
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”
– Albert Einstein
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.
The following in-depth local history feature was supported by the ARLnow Press Club. Join to support local journalism and to get an exclusive version of our afternoon newsletter, plus an early look at what we’re covering each day.
To Northern Virginia Democrats, 1952 will be remembered as the year victory slipped narrowly away.
Arlington’s unemployment rate ticked up once again in July, continuing a months-long trend that has paralleled federal downsizing across the region.
The county’s unemployment rate stood at 3.5% last month, slightly above 3.4% in June and a major increase from 2.5% in July 2024.
A new golf-inspired tavern is teeing up to replace Bartaco’s vacant space at Ballston Quarter.
Loopers Tavern, a restaurant and bar “inspired by the traditions and camaraderie of golf caddies” is Arlington restaurateur Reese Gardner’s newest project, fresh off the opening of Nettie’s Tavern earlier this month. He hopes to open Loopers at 4238 Wilson Blvd, where Bartaco exited in March, he told ARLnow.
