News

Despite a rainy forecast and a military parade shutting down some Arlington streets, the Columbia Pike Blues Festival is still a go tomorrow.

The annual summer celebration and showcase of local talent will take place from 1-8:30 p.m., bringing live blues music, food, drinks and vendors to S. Walter Reed Drive from 9th Street S. to Columbia Pike.


Around Town

Snuggly mixed-breed dog Pickles McButterpants is looking for a new home and, thanks to a donation, his adoption fee is free.

The whimsically named dog is two years old and is described by the Animal Welfare League of Arlington (AWLA) as very affectionate, though he would prefer to be the only pet in the house.


Weather

After a week of hot and humid weather, heavy rain is on the way to cool things down a bit.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for Arlington and the immediate D.C. area. It will be in effect from 6 p.m. tonight through 2 a.m. Saturday.


Opinion

Whether you’re craving an egg sandwich or a bagel piled high with your favorite toppings, there are quite a few spots around Arlington to get your fix.

Here are the nominees for “Best Bagel Shop in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.

Did we miss your favorite bagel spot? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for the Best Longtime Arlington Institution is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m.

Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Food Truck in Arlington. The results are now official:

  1. A Toda Madre
  2. Rossana
  3. Portal Maya

Event

Due to the extended period of extreme heat forecasted for the next several days in our area, the Civic Jam event originally scheduled for Friday, July 3, 2026, has been postponed to Friday, July 24, 2026.

Commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary of the United States of America at Civic Jam! Celebrate the City of Falls Church’s diverse community, civic engagement, and classic summer fun. Jam out to live, local music, sip on local brews, enjoy tasty treats and eats, and a full evening of festivities for all ages on Friday, July 3, 2026, from 6 to 10 p.m.


Schools

The Arlington School Board appointed a new principal at Washington-Liberty High School last night (Thursday) in a controversial vote.

The unanimous decision to select Alexander Duncan III — currently the executive principal of Alexandria City High School, Virginia’s largest public high school — came despite efforts to keep interim principal Christian Willmore.


News

Real-estate sales data for May paint a mixed picture but show no signs of impending doom for the Arlington and Falls Church markets.

The average sales price per square foot for both jurisdictions was up year-over-year, according to new figures, although May’s rate was running below the year-to-date average in each case.


News
Chalk art from the senior class outside of Washington-Liberty HS (courtesy anonymous)

Possible ICE Activity — “We are aware of reports of ICE agents harassing Arlington residents on S Glebe Rd. yesterday. This kind of over-policing of hard-working residents does not make us safer. Our community is not a prop for Saturday’s parade.” [Arlington Democrats/X]

Beyer Statement on Padilla Incident — “This is another disgraceful episode in a long train of abuses from a thuggish administration that has repeatedly incited and encouraged violence. What happened to Senator Padilla today is horrifying. This incident must be investigated, and everyone involved held accountable.” [Press Release]

Warner Statement on Israel-Iran — “This is a rapidly evolving situation, and it’s critical that the United States work with our allies and avoid steps that will cause further escalation across the region.” [Press Release]

Local Juneteenth Celebrations — “June 19—aka Juneteenth—is a federal holiday marking the end of slavery in the U.S. in 1865. Celebrate the spirit of freedom and resilience with book talks, film screenings, concerts, historic tours and plenty of family fun.” [Arlington Magazine]

Verizon First Responder Network — “Today, Verizon is doubling down by launching [its first responder service] in more than 20 new markets, officially making the offering available nationwide wherever Verizon offers 5G Ultra Wideband service. Newly-added metropolitan areas, which bring the total to 50 major markets, with access to the Verizon Frontline Network Slice include… Arlington, Va.” [Verizon]

Storms Could Disrupt Parade — “Huge crowds are anticipated Saturday in D.C. for events marking the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary — but the weather may not fully cooperate. A sluggish front drifting southward could spark showers and thunderstorms that threaten to disrupt the celebrations.” [CWG]

It’s Friday — Expect showers and storms mainly after 3pm, with a partly sunny high of 89°F and south winds of 3-6 mph. Friday night features a 60% chance of precipitation, including likely showers and potential thunderstorms. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low of 71°F. [NWS]


Around Town

Good Thursday 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 12, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Friday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

⛈️ Friday’s forecast

Expect showers and thunderstorms mainly after 3pm, with a partly sunny high of 89°F and south winds of 3-6 mph. Friday night features a 60% chance of precipitation, including likely showers and potential thunderstorms before 8pm, continuing intermittently until after 2am. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low of 71°F, southeast winds of 3-6 mph, and new rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, with higher amounts during thunderstorms. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”
– Pablo Picasso

🌅 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! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.


News

After nearly two years of inactivity, a new developer has taken over a stalled redevelopment project in Clarendon.

Donohoe Companies, which got the greenlight to build a new apartment building and hotel at 3200 Wilson Blvd back in 2023, has backed out, a company spokesperson told ARLnow.