News

A new Arlington Historical Society exhibition looks at the life and legacy of what may have been Arlington’s first Chinese-inspired restaurant.

“The Family Tea House: Where Culture and Cuisine Met in Arlington” delves into the story of Family Tea House, the dishes it offered and the role it played in a brief but important episode in Virginia’s civil rights movement.


Around Town

Live music, cookouts and other festivities are coming to neighborhoods around Arlington next week in an annual partnership with the Arlington County Police Department.

National Night Out, an event where police officers attend outdoor, community-building events in neighborhoods around their jurisdiction, is next Tuesday.


Sponsored

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.

Thinking about selling your home and moving into a luxury condominium? For many empty nesters, the idea sounds wonderful in theory: less maintenance, better location, more time, lock-and-leave convenience. But then reality sets in. Where will all my stuff go? Will I have enough room? Can I still host Thanksgiving? What happens to my gorgeous furniture? And, most importantly, am I really ready to give up my house?

Most are worried about simplifying without feeling like they’ve diminished their life. Let’s explore some of the details you might look for to make that transition more exciting and less stressful. I’ll bet you have been comfortable in your house for three decades and now desire a lifestyle shift but don’t want to make a housing mistake.

There is an art to downsizing without downgrading.

Having sold thousands of new condominiums to Baby Boomers, I’ve learned that one of the biggest competitors for a new condominium isn’t another community. It’s the buyer’s existing home. There are certain elements which will help make this transition an enjoyable one where you don’t have to trade the things you love. In fact, finding a condominium that allows you to bring a lot of what you already value (while eliminating the parts of homeownership you no longer want) is the key to the perfect fit. 

Will I have enough space? Remember the basement, attic and garage you’ve accumulated over three decades? They’re not coming with you.

The right condominium can make you realize you didn’t actually need all that stuff. The wrong one will have you wondering where you are going to hide the Christmas decorations.

Most empty nester couples cannot fit in less than 1,400 square feet unless they have another home elsewhere (like a family house in Rehoboth or weekend cabin in West Virginia.) 1,400 sq ft gets you a larger than average 2 bedroom with walk-in closets, 2 bathrooms (so no one is in your primary bathroom), and perhaps an additional powder room, linen closet, pantry, or spacious utility room. Anything smaller means you are on top of one another and likely won’t have the storage capacity you need.

The ideal size for this demographic in Northern Virginia is a 1,700-2,200 square foot 2 bed plus den or 3 bedroom, with 2.5-3 baths. The den is critical and its placement should be an extension of the living room, not down the hall and cut off from the rest of the layout. During a party it expands the entertaining space while leaving the bedroom areas private…but on Tuesday it becomes a cozy spillover room to watch TV, read, and relax while your partner is cooking or watching videos of the grandkids on the laptop at the kitchen island. Don’t worry, you can still shout to one another. Some traditions shouldn’t be lost.

(more…)


News

Virginia’s annual tax holiday returns this weekend, bringing three days of discounted shopping across the state.

Between Friday and Sunday, Arlington’s 6% sales tax will not apply to any of the following items, bought in-store or online.


Announcement

Please join us in congratulating Benny Mirpuri, owner of Fast-Fix Jewelry and Watch Repair at Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, on reaching an incredible 35 years in business.

For three and a half decades, Benny has proudly served the Pentagon City and surrounding communities, providing quality jewelry and watch repair services along with the exceptional customer service that has made Fast-Fix a trusted local business.


Schools

New summer school programs at Arlington Public Schools are hoping to find success where other efforts have fallen short.

Two new pilot programs are meant to help measure the impact of different learning models — and perhaps improve on mediocre results from summer school programs in 2024.


Event

The 6th Annual Boulevard Manor Neighborhood Yard Sale returns on Saturday, October 3 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. More than 30 homes across the neighborhood will have items out for sale, from furniture and tools to kids' items, kitchen goods, vintage finds, and more. A free shopper map will be available at magnificentmanors.com/ysmap the week before the event so you can plan your route. This is one of South Arlington's favorite fall traditions and a wonderful morning for the whole family. No admission, no registration required to shop. Just come and enjoy the neighborhood.


News

Arlington officials have no authority to regulate how state or federal agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, conduct local operations, legal staff say.

This includes whether or not ICE officers wear masks while detaining people.


News

Falls Church is considering changes to trash and recycling services, but city leaders say a voter referendum is unlikely.

The changes could decrease the financial burden on some property owners while increasing fees for single-family homeowners.


News
Sun shining through the trees in Colonial Village (courtesy George Brazier)

Fmr. Nats Manager Selling House — “Former Washington Nationals Manager Dave Martinez is ready to say goodbye to his Arlington home. Martinez was fired July 7, along with General Manager Mike Rizzo. His Crystal City home is now listed as “coming soon” in Bright MLS, the region’s multiple listing service. The five-bedroom, four-and-a-half bath home, spanning 4,500 square feet, will list for $2.5 million as soon as Thursday.” [WBJ]

Move-Ins Start at The Wendy — “Greystar… recently welcomed residents to its newest high-rise community… The Wendy totals 231 residential units that average 913 square feet. While it offers studios, including 33 Ori furnished units, its mix focuses on multiple bedroom and bathroom units to accommodate families and empty nesters.” [Press Release]

New Library Exhibit — “To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, Arlington Public Library has partnered with community organizations for the exhibition “From Barriers to Ballots—The Fight for Equal Voting Rights in Virginia,” to tell the stories of activists in Arlington and Northern Virginia who fought for voting rights.” [Arlington County]

Hearings on Midair Crash — “The National Transportation Safety Board will hold three days of hearings starting Wednesday on January’s midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter over the nation’s capital that killed 67 people. The goal: Pinpoint exactly what went wrong and what can be done to avoid similar midair crashes between passenger planes and military aircraft. The accident was the nation’s deadliest plane crash since November 2001.” [Associated Press]

Robbery Near Langston Blvd — “2500 block of N. Harrison Street. At approximately 8:40 a.m. on July 26, police were dispatched to the report of a robbery. Upon arrival, it was determined the male suspect entered the business, concealed merchandise in bags and walked towards the exit of the store without payment. When the suspect was confronted by an employee, the suspect made threatening statements before fleeing the scene on foot with the merchandise.” [ACPD]

Local Nutmobile Sighting — “Corporal Bennett and K9 Beny heard there was a peanut butter burglar in Crystal City and tracked down a possible suspect vehicle this morning.”  [ACPD/X]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny, hot conditions with temperatures reaching a high near 98 and heat index values up to 103. A calm wind will shift to 5 to 7 mph from the south in the afternoon. For Wednesday night, it will be mostly clear with a low of around 77. [NWS]


Legal Notice

Arlington 1983 LLC

Trading as:

1983 CHINESE CUISINE

1101 S Joyce St B26, Arlington, Arlington County, VA 22202

The above establishment is applying to

the VIRGINIA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a

Restaurant – Wine, Beer and Mixed Beverages On and Off Premises license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Jie Ding, Member

NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.