A Five Guys employee welcomes a line of customers into the chain's new Columbia Pike location (staff photo by Katie Taranto)
Five Guys has made a triumphant return to the Columbia Pike location where the hamburger franchise got its start 39 years ago.
About a dozen customers lined up outside Westmont Apartments to be the first ones inside the burger joint, which opened for business at 11 a.m. today (Monday). It’s on the same spot where Five Guys opened its very first location in a former strip mall in 1986.
What could a different form of local government mean for Arlington and the people who live here?
Arlington is growing and evolving, and soon, the County will begin an internal assessment to determine if our 93-year-old government structure is still the best fit for our future. Because everything from property taxes to neighborhood infrastructure is shaped by this structure, understanding our options is the first step in shaping what comes next. As the County begins its review, now is the time to get informed about how different models work.
Join Advance Arlington on September 9 for a timely discussion featuring leaders from Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax. Hear how different forms of local government work in practice, what each can offer, and what potential changes could mean for Arlington.
Whether you join us in person at Lubber Run Community Center or virtually via Zoom, this is an opportunity to get informed, hear perspectives from across the region, and better understand an issue that could shape Arlington’s future.
Livewell Animal Hospital signs at Modera Falls Church (staff photo by Katie Taranto)
Two new retail tenants have signed leases to join the ground floor of an apartment building in Falls Church.
Livewell Animal Hospital and laser hair removal studio SEV Laser are the newest additions to Modera Falls Church at 1033 W. Broad Street. The apartment began welcoming residential tenants in April and expects to open a cafe and Thai restaurant later this year.
There’s something a little bit magical about picking up a foil for the first time — or drawing back a bow and watching your arrow fly true. It’s why fencing and archery have such a hold on kids and adults alike: real focus, real skill, and a thrill you don’t get from the usual sports lineup.
This fall, Nova Fencing & Archery Club in Bailey’s Crossroads is opening registration for both, with beginner classes for every age starting the week of September 12th. Fencing welcomes ages 7 to 12 and teens and adults 13 and up. Explore Archery, coached by USA Archery certified instructors, welcomes ages 8 to 12 and meets Tuesdays or Saturdays. And for our youngest fencers, ages 4 to 6, ABC’s of Fencing meets on Saturdays. All classes run eight sessions for $195, equipment provided, no experience needed — yes, even for grown-ups who’ve never held a sword or a bow before.
2025 Arlington Chamber of Commerce Public-Safety Awards (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)
The Arlington Chamber of Commerce saluted public safety responses to this winter’s deadly mid-air crash over the Potomac River at an event last week.
A special Excellence Award was bestowed on the Arlington County Police Department, Arlington County Fire Department, Arlington County Department of Public Safety Communications and Emergency Management and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority for their efforts at the scene of the crash.
Spend an evening discovering exceptional wines, live acoustic music, and community at Rosslyn’s newest event: Rosslyn Reserved. Enjoy a tasting experience with a sommelier from Screwtop Wine Bar, savory bites from local Charcuterie business, Graze Craze, and more!
Job seekers line up at career day in Crystal City (staff file photo by Jay Westcott)
Local employment conditions appear to be holding up better than expected given federal-government cutbacks and their ripple effects across the broader economy.
2025 Arlington Foster Parents of the Year Drew and Melanie Bond (via COG)
The Arlington County Board is celebrating the commitment of Arlington’s foster parents of the year and praising the efforts of a leader in the local art world.
At a June 18 meeting, Board members also commemorated the life of a civic leader who died earlier in the month and thanked two retiring advisory commission members for their service.
Playground and water feature at The Crossing Clarendon on a summer weekend (courtesy George Brazier)
Amazon Van Fire in Crystal City — “Units responded to a fully involved vehicle fire on the 2200 block of S Clark St that was extending into the bushes. E105 quickly extinguished the delivery vehicle fire. No injuries to the driver or firefighters. Fire marshals will be investigating the cause… This was a gas-powered vehicle that caught fire due to a malfunctioning engine. There was no explosion, and no packages were involved.” [ACFD/X]
Arrest After Fight on the Pike — “Columbia Pike at S. Four Mile Run Drive… The male victim and suspect were outside when they became engaged in a verbal dispute during which the suspect allegedly threatened the victim, threw a rock towards him and attempted to steal his personal belongings. Responding officers took the suspect into custody on scene.” [ACPD]
Fourth of July Road Closures — “The Arlington County Police Department, Virginia State Police, United States Park Police, and Virginia Department of Transportation will close multiple roadways on Friday, July 4th, 2025, to facilitate the safe passage of large crowds for the Independence Day events and fireworks.” [ACPD]
Dem Candidates Visit Freddie’s — “Freddie’s, you’re a blast — especially during Pride Month! Proud to visit this historic space for Virginia’s LGBTQ+ community here in Arlington.” [Abigail Spanberger/X]
Dem Candidates at Eden Center — “Eden Center in Falls Church, the center of the Vietnamese community in Fairfax County, is an example of the diversity that makes VA so great. As AG, I’ll be sure that no matter who you are or where you come from, you will have a fair shake in our justice system.” [Jay Jones/X]
It’s Monday — Showers and thunderstorms are likely after in the afternoon, with otherwise mostly sunny skies and a high near 90. Heat index values may reach up to 100, and a calm wind will become south around 6 mph in the afternoon. For Monday night, showers and potential thunderstorms are expected, with mostly cloudy conditions and a low around 76. A south wind will blow around 7 mph, and there’s a 60% chance of precipitation throughout the day. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has called an Industrious workspace home for years and we appreciate the ease — you can concentrate on projects instead of brewing coffee or maintaining office equipment. Industrious has multiple Metro-accessible shared offices throughout Arlington.
Patchy fog will clear by 9am, making way for a mostly sunny day with a high of 92 and heat index reaching 102. Light south winds at 5-7 mph are expected in the afternoon. For Saturday night, there’s a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, with mostly cloudy skies, a low around 73, and calm winds. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” – Henry David Thoreau
We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋
Looking for a fall activity that gets you moving and builds real confidence? EvolveAll Martial Arts and Training Studio is offer free classes for youth and adults during it’s upcoming Intro Week, September 14-19.
EvolveAll, Arlington’s martial arts and fitness community off Columbia Pike, is once again opening its doors for a full week of free trial classes — and youth classes are one of the highlights. Kids ages 5-15 will get to try hands-on martial arts instruction designed to build discipline, focus, and self-defense skills in a supportive, age-appropriate environment.