Opinion

Warmer weather outside calls for a refreshing sweet treat. Whether you prefer it in a cone or a cup, ice cream shops across Arlington offer a variety of handmade, sugary confections.

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

Did we miss your favorite shop? Write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks.

Voting for the Best Lawn Care Services in Arlington 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 Roofing Company in Arlington. The results are now official:

1. Nest Exteriors

2. Augustine Roofing

3. Pond Roofing


News

Sponsorships for Arlington Pride’s annual LGBTQ+ pride events have plunged this year.

The number of sponsors for the group’s upcoming festivities at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City plummeted from 50 last year to two this year, organizer Lindsey Hinton told ARLnow.


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.

What defines luxury in housing? It’s perhaps the most overused word in the English language. I recently saw a sign for “Affordable Luxury Apartments” and smiled to myself. Arlington, particularly Rosslyn, with communities like Turnberry Tower, Pierce, and Gaslight Square, has achieved critical mass in luxury condominium options. The condo market in Arlington continues to get better, consumers demand more thoughtful design, and local product becomes more desirable. For new condominiums, luxury is really made up of two factors: price point of the offering (a reflection of location, unit finishes and quality of plan), and condo fees (amenities, level of service.)

Pricing is predominantly set by the location. A majority of value is determined by neighborhood desirability, socio-economics of its residents, quality of schools, convenience to employment, retail, transit, market factors, and social centers. Arlington has all of these in spades!

(more…)


News

County Board Chair Takis Karantonis has picked up the support of three of his four colleagues as he seeks to beat back a primary challenge.

The Karantonis campaign last week announced it had received endorsements from County Board members Matt de Ferranti, Maureen Coffey and JD Spain, Sr. Also announced as supporters were School Board members Mary Kadera and Zuraya Tapia-Hadley, and several environmental and labor organizations.


News
Raindrops on flowers in Virginia Square (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington Bishop on American Pope — From Bishop Michael F. Burbidge: “With profound gratitude to Almighty God, I join the universal Church in thanksgiving for Pope Leo XIV. As the Bishop of Rome and Successor of Saint Peter, our Holy Father is for the entire world the visible principle of Christian unity. I encourage everyone in our families, parishes and schools to offer prayers, sacrifices, and works of charity for Pope Leo XIV and his intentions.” [Diocese of Arlington]

Car Fire on I-395 — “Units have extinguished a fully involved car fire on 395 north by exit 8A. Expect delays on 395 NB. Fire Marshals will be investigating the cause.” [ACFD/X]

Car Fire at Gravelly Point — “Units are on scene of a fully involved vehicle fire at gravely point. Expect a large fire department response and possible delays on GW pkwy. FM’s office will be investigating the cause.” [ACFD/X, ARLnow/X]

Tariffs Hit Roses — “Mother’s Day bouquet orders keep coming at Company Flowers in Arlington for their busiest holiday of the year. “Before the tariffs, Ecuador, which is where we get most of our roses, had a 6.8% tariff on all the roses, and now you add that 10% tariff to it, so you’re talking about a 16.8% tariff on roses coming out of Ecuador,” said Nicholson. Nicholson worries she will have to pass the higher costs onto consumers.” [DC News Now]

Beyer Watching Tariff Impact — “This morning I was in a hearing with small business owners, including Northern Virginians I represent, who were talking about the existential threat Trump’s tariffs pose to their businesses. Higher prices. Layoffs. The threat of closure.” [Rep. Don Beyer/X]

Cheap Eats Around Arlington — “Food costs are rising and economic conditions are tenuous, leaving many of us in a budget-conscious state of mind. But there’s more to life than eating in. Our restaurant critic hit up 10 casual eateries for terrific meals that come in around $25 or less.” [Arlington Magazine]

AI Recommends Arlington Cocktails — “For gazing at the Arlington skyline at Rooftop Recess, try an Aperol Spritz—light, bubbly, and perfect for a warm May evening. A classic Margarita, on the rocks or frozen, would also suit the vibe.” [Grok/X]

Tesla Protest This Saturday — “As millions of families around the country prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day, Tesla Takedown will shine a spotlight on DOGE’s war on mothers and children. Since February, Elon Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency have slashed billions in funding for pregnant and nursing mothers and their children.” [Action Network]

LGBT Priorities in Budget — “Equality Arlington, an LGBTQ+ advocacy nonprofit, applauds the Arlington County Board for reaffirming its commitment to LGBTQ+ residents through key investments in public health and fair housing protections in the FY 2026 budget.” [Press Release]

It’s Friday — Expect showers and possibly a thunderstorm through early evening. The day will otherwise be cool and mostly cloudy with a high near 64, accompanied by a northwest wind at 6-10 mph. There is a 70% chance of precipitation. Mostly clear skies are on tap for Friday night, with a low around 50, and northwest wind around 9 mph. [NWS]


Event

Join us for a crown-worthy evening at Penrose Square as we celebrate Arlington’s own Sandra Bullock with a special outdoor screening of Miss Congeniality.

Before the movie, create your own tiara with our friends at MOCA Arlington, then settle in for a hilarious night under the stars with one of the most beloved comedies of the 2000s.


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 — May 8, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛈️ Friday’s forecast

Expect showers, possibly a thunderstorm before 2pm, followed by a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. The day will be mostly cloudy with a high near 64, accompanied by a northwest wind at 6-10 mph. Precipitation is 70% likely, with rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch and higher amounts in thunderstorms. Friday night brings a chance of showers up until 8pm, then mostly clear skies with a low around 50, and northwest wind around 9 mph. There is a 30% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Don’t count the days, make the days count.”
– Muhammad Ali

🌅 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.


Sports

The high-school regular-season sports schedules for Arlington’s teams wrap up this week and early next as postseason competition begins.

For the private-school Bishop O’Connell Knights, postseason action already is underway with conference and district action.


News

A possible beer garden at the Arlington County Fair and a proposed protected bike lane on Army Navy Drive are up for County Board consideration this weekend.

Other topics scheduled for consideration this Saturday include traffic signal upgrades on S. Carlin Springs Road and Richmond Highway, a pair of sports courts in Crystal City and $100,000 in arts grants.


Around Town

Acme Pie Co. has reopened for business in a new Columbia Pike storefront, with the same pinball machines and a new breakfast menu.

The longtime pie shop recently completed the move from 2803 Columbia Pike to 2406 Columbia Pike, where the Columbia Pike Deli closed earlier this year.


Around Town

National donut franchise Duck Donuts is coming to the Pentagon City mall.

A sign in the food court announces the North Carolina-founded donut shop is “coming soon” to the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City. The shop is known for its inventive donut flavors, from “PB&J” to lemon coconut.