A combination halal steakhouse and peri peri chicken shop is closing in Crystal City, leaving its space to a Nashville-inspired chicken and burger chain.
Peri Peri Original & Kallisto Steakhouse plans to shutter sometime next month, owner Zayan Abbasi told ARLnow. Soon after, it will be converted into a new location for Abbasi’s expanding Nash and Smashed franchise.
Asked to name national political figures they admire, aspirants for the County Board cast a wide net from left to right across the political spectrum.
The question was posed by former Board member John Vihstadt at the Sept. 2 Arlington County Civic Federation debate. A Republican and three independents are challenging incumbent Democrat Takis Karantonis in the Nov. 4 election.
A colorful new landmark is bringing fresh energy to Columbia Pike while celebrating the people, cultures and stories that define one of Arlington’s most vibrant neighborhoods.
On Saturday, October 24, Arlington Public Art, the Columbia Pike Partnership, and the community will celebrate the completion of the first County-sponsored mural on Columbia Pike, a striking new work by artist Rowan Bathurst located on the side of the Goodwill building at 4714 Columbia Pike.
The mural, commissioned through Arlington Public Art and Arlington Economic Development, is part of ongoing creative placemaking efforts designed to strengthen neighborhood identity, enhance public spaces and create welcoming experiences for residents, visitors and local businesses.
For Bathurst, an artist whose work explores the relationships among people, nature and cultural heritage, Columbia Pike offered a rich source of inspiration. The mural features portraits of women representing cultures reflected throughout the neighborhood, surrounded by imagery drawn from local history, global artistic traditions and the natural environment of Four Mile Run.
What makes the project especially meaningful is the community’s role in shaping it. Public input gathered at the Barcroft Resource Fair and Columbia Pike Farmers Market revealed a strong desire for artwork that reflected the neighborhood’s diversity, vibrant character and connection to nature. A community advisory panel helped guide the project from concept through completion, ensuring the final design reflected the voices and experiences of the community it serves.
The resulting artwork is both a visual landmark and a celebration of the people who make Columbia Pike unique. It highlights the corridor’s longstanding role as a welcoming and multicultural community while creating a vibrant new point of interest along one of Arlington’s most traveled commercial corridors.
The project was made possible through a partnership with Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners, which provided the highly visible wall for the mural. Located on the Goodwill building at 4714 Columbia Pike, the artwork transforms an everyday streetscape into a destination that invites residents and visitors to pause, reflect and connect with the neighborhood’s identity.
As Arlington continues investing in public art and placemaking initiatives, projects like this demonstrate how art can strengthen community pride, foster connection and contribute to vibrant public spaces. Public art not only enriches the visual landscape, but also helps tell the stories of Arlington’s neighborhoods and the people who call them home.
The community is invited to join the celebration on Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The free event will feature remarks from the artist and community representatives, music, refreshments and family-friendly activities. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience the mural up close and learn more about the community stories, cultural influences and local inspiration behind its creation.
For Columbia Pike, the mural represents more than a new work of art. It is a lasting reflection of the corridor’s creativity, diversity and community spirit, and a vibrant new symbol of the neighborhood’s past, present and future.
Art Focus is a regular series highlighting the artists, organizations, public art projects and creative initiatives that enrich Arlington’s cultural landscape.
Two redevelopment proposals, $4.9 million for street improvements and planned renovations at Lacey Woods Park are all on the agenda for an upcoming County Board meeting.
Other agenda items include $365,810 in arts grants, $500,000 for “digital equity grants” and $150,000 in funding for local food security initiatives.
After months of discussion, the Falls Church City Council has unanimously voted to change how the city funds residential trash collection and recycling.
City Council members voted 7-0 yesterday (Monday) to shift from a trash system funded through general taxes by all property owners, to one where only those in single-family homes and townhouses pay the cost.
Have old bikes or bike accessories lying about? Donations welcome of serviceable bicycles of any model, bike parts & accessories including tools & clothing. Also portable sewing machines in operating condition. Items will support community programs around the globe providing access to jobs, education, health care, & youth development. A suggested $10 per bike helps defray the expenses of getting a serviceable bike & supplies to a qualifying destination. Bikes for the World is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit agency & provides a receipt good for tax purposes for all donations.
Separately, Arlington County will accept residents’ old electronics & batteries, household hazardous materials, scrap metal & other items. Details for the County event are at https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Recycling-and-Trash/Household-Hazardous-Materials-HHM/E-CARE
9/11 Memorial Event Tomorrow — “Arlington County Government invites the community to join neighbors, County leaders and staff, and first responders as we commemorate the lives lost in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and express gratitude to those who responded that day. The County’s wreath-laying ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m.” [Arlington County]
Sexual Battery in Ballston — “4200 block of Fairfax Drive. On September 8, police received an online report for a late sexual battery. It was determined at approximately 11:10 a.m. on September 5, the male victim was inside a business when the male suspect approached him from behind, grabbed his buttocks and fled the scene.” [ACPD]
Traffic Issue in East Falls Church — “While this area has always been busy, the situation deteriorated several months ago after a flashing yellow light was added to the turn lane for eastbound Route 29 drivers turning onto North Fairfax to access the I-66 westbound ramp… The flashing yellow works adequately at other times of day, when there are breaks in westbound Route 29 traffic. However, during the morning rush, such breaks do not exist, and the brief green arrow is the only safe time to turn.” [Letter to the Editor]
Readers’ Choice Voting FYI — Our “Best HVAC Company” poll is getting a ton of votes! Unfortunately, many are a result of inauthentic voting patterns. As with all Reader Choice polls, those votes will be discarded before the final results are announced… If your business is nominated, you’re welcome to encourage your customers to vote, but repeat voting will not work.” [ARLnow/X]
Eatery Catches Flak for WH Catering — “Good Company Doughnuts posted this earlier today about catering for the White House, but it appears to have since been deleted.” [Jessica Sidman/X, Reddit, Jessica Sidman/X]
Beyer Blasts Qatar Blast — “Netanyahu is so hellbent on sabotaging peace talks designed to stop the killing and free hostages that he is now literally blowing up negotiations. The U.S. should not support what Israel is doing. Trump is either complicit in this strike and lying, or was played for a fool.” [Rep. Don Beyer/X]
Insulin Cost Investigation — “Attorney General Jason Miyares today announced that his Office is investigating several insulin manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) for potential violations of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act related to the manufacture, promotion, reimbursement, and sale of insulin.” [Office of the Attorney General]
Morning Chill Returns — “Both Reagan National and Washington Dulles International airports had their coldest low temperatures of the season so far. National dipped to 56 degrees and Dulles 46 this morning.” [CWG/X]
It’s Wednesday — Showers are likely in the morning, followed by mostly cloudy skies and a high near 72 with a north wind around 7 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%. For Wednesday night, expect partly cloudy conditions, a low around 60, and a north wind between 3 to 5 mph. [NWS]
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 — Sep 9, 2025.
Here is what’s going on Wednesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Showers are likely mainly before 9am, followed by mostly cloudy skies and a high near 72 with a north wind around 7 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%. For Wednesday night, expect partly cloudy conditions, a low around 60, and a north wind between 3 to 5 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
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.
Look, we get it – there are a million podcasts out there.
But how many of them will tell you about a TikTok-famous toucan getting stuck behind a Pentagon City dishwasher? Or dive deep into why that Waymo self-driving car was seen parked in Arlington?
A new mahjong studio for both established players and those hoping to learn the popular game has opened in Falls Church.
Local mahjong player Tori Rittinger, who launched Talk Tiles to Me at 113 Rowell Court last week, said she fell in love with the game when a friend got her hooked in 2021.
Two men allegedly tried to rob a mail carrier in Arlington this past Friday afternoon.
Arlington County police were dispatched to N. Columbus Street just north of Route 50 — in the Arlington Forest neighborhood — around 12:45 p.m. on Sept. 5, for reports of an attempted robbery by two men, one of whom implied having a gun.
