ARLnow - Arlington and Falls Church, Va. local news

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Jun 25, 2025

Published June 25, 2025 at 8:30PM

Good Wednesday 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 25, 2025.

7:30 am: Morning Notes for June 25, 2025 | 🗣️ Comments
8:30 am: Warning signs accelerate as local homes market is hit by uncertainty | 🗣️ Comments
9:15 am: Arlington Public Library warns of longer wait times after budget cuts | 🗣️ Comments
10:00 am: Heat Advisory in effect today, though some relief is in sight | 🗣️ Comments
11:25 am: BREAKING: Appeals Court puts Missing Middle back on the books in Arlington | 🗣️ Comments
1:15 pm: November’s County Board field appears set with Karantonis facing four challengers | 🗣️ Comments
1:45 pm: Steakhouse and raw bar ‘GrillMarX’ plans summer opening in Falls Church | 🗣️ Comments
2:45 pm: New program will send free meals to D.C.-area first responders | 🗣️ Comments
3:45 pm: Future of Rosslyn’s last skywalk still up in the air as development gets new deadline | 🗣️ Comments

📅 Upcoming events

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

12:00 pm: Ping Pong Power hour
👉 5:00 pm: LANCO ft. Dalton & The Sheriffs
6:00 pm: Rhythm & Hues
6:30 pm: Thursday Night Live!
7:00 pm: Summer Nights – Live Music at Westpost, June 26 – Uncle Jesse
7:30 pm: Proud Voices, Brave Journeys- A celebration of healing

⛈️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect showers and thunderstorms mainly after 5pm with mostly sunny conditions, a high near 96, and heat index values up to 106. Winds will become south around 5 mph in the afternoon, and there’s a 60% chance of precipitation with new rainfall amounts between a quarter and half an inch. Thursday Night, showers and thunderstorms are likely before 8pm, transitioning to showers and possible thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am, followed by a chance of showers after 2am. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 72, east winds around 5 mph, and a 60% chance of precipitation with similar rainfall amounts expected. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
– Nelson Mandela

🌅 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

Future of Rosslyn’s last skywalk still up in the air as development gets new deadline

By Scott McCaffrey

Published June 25, 2025 at 3:45PM

Renderings of the proposed One Rosslyn project at 1901 and 1911 Fort Myer Drive (via Arlington County)

The Arlington County Board has once again pushed back the deadline for a Rosslyn development project by three years.

The Board last week unanimously approved a three-year extension of development plans at Penzance’s One Rosslyn site, which date back to 2012.

A post from Advance Arlington

What Could a Different Form of Government Mean for Arlington?

Published September 4, 2026 at 10:45AM

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.

Register today and join the conversation.

Click to Register

Around Town

New program will send free meals to D.C.-area first responders

By Ryan Cole

Published June 25, 2025 at 2:45PM

Muscle Cell Health founder Fernando Arceo graduates from Training Academy. (courtesy of Fernando Arceo)

A D.C.-area meal prep company is launching a new initiative to feed first responders going through financial hardship.

Beginning on the Fourth of July, Muscle Cell Health’s “Operation Fuel The Force” will deliver one free meal per day to first responders, including military members.

Announcement

Mark Your Calendar: EvolveAll’s Free Intro Week Returns September 14-19 — Including a Full Slate of Youth Martial Arts Classes

By EvolveAll

Published August 31, 2026

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.

Around Town

Steakhouse and raw bar ‘GrillMarX’ plans summer opening in Falls Church

By Katie Taranto

Published June 25, 2025 at 1:45PM

GrillMarX's restaurant space in Falls Church (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

A family-owned steakhouse plans on opening its first Northern Virginia location in Falls Church later this summer.

The owners of Maryland-based GrillMarX are preparing to open their fourth restaurant on the ground floor at 510 S. Washington Street. After aiming for an early summer opening, the steakhouse now expects to open by late July or early August, operations manager Victoria Harvey told ARLnow.

Event

Takoma Park Folk Festival

September 27, 2026 10:30 am -5:30 pm

Event location

Takoma Park Middle School

7611 Piney Branch Rd.

Takoma Park, Maryland 20912

Add to Calendar

Music. Art. Food. Community. The Takoma Park Folk Festival brings it all together for one free, unforgettable day. Discover six stages of live music from around the world, shop an acclaimed juried craft show, enjoy international cuisine, connect with local community organizations, and let the kids explore crafts and activities in the Children's Nook. It's one of the region's most beloved traditions, and a celebration of the creativity, diversity, and welcoming spirit that has long defined Takoma Park.

New this year! Jam at the Crossroads is a place for musicians of all levels to come together and be part of the music.

News

November’s County Board field appears set with Karantonis facing four challengers

By Scott McCaffrey

Published June 25, 2025 at 1:15PM

An election worker talks to voters at Arlington County's Wakefield High School precinct during the 2024 general election (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Barring an appeal from one candidate who failed to qualify, Arlington’s County Board field for November is set at five.

County election officials have confirmed to ARLnow that a prospective sixth candidate narrowly missed meeting the 125-signature threshold for ballot access.

News

BREAKING: Appeals Court puts Missing Middle back on the books in Arlington

By Dan Egitto

Published June 25, 2025 at 11:25AM | Updated June 25, 2025 at 5:21PM

An approved EHO project at 5041 25th Street S. in the Claremont neighborhood in October 2024 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Arlington’s Missing Middle zoning ordinance is back on the books, at least for the time being, following a ruling in the Virginia Court of Appeals.

In the latest development in the dramatic legal battle over the county’s Expanded Housing Options (EHO), three appeals court judges issued a ruling yesterday (Tuesday) that reverses a circuit court decision declaring the zoning change void.

Weather

Heat Advisory in effect today, though some relief is in sight

By ARLnow.com

Published June 25, 2025 at 10:00AM

Walking in the heat at Long Bridge Park (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Today’s sweltering conditions are just shy of the threshold for “extreme heat,” as we’ve seen for the past couple of days, but have still prompted a Heat Advisory.

Temperatures are expected to reach into the mid-to-high 90s today, with heat index values up to 108, forecasters say. Anyone spending significant time or exertion outside potentially runs the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

News

Arlington Public Library warns of longer wait times after budget cuts

By Vernon Miles

Published June 25, 2025 at 9:15AM

Birds reflected in the windows of the Shirlington Library (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington Public Library is warning local readers to expect longer wait times for popular titles after the collections budget was slashed.

In a release, the library said the collections budget was decreased by 21% in fiscal year.

News

Warning signs accelerate as local homes market is hit by uncertainty

By Scott McCaffrey

Published June 25, 2025 at 8:30AM

Home for sale in Falls Church (staff file photo by Scott McCaffrey)

The local real-estate market is beginning to feel the impact of federal-government downsizing, new data suggests.

By autumn, the impacts may be even more pronounced, according to Bright MLS, the region’s multiple-listing service.

Announcement

Local Muay Thai Academy Earns Prestigious Muay Thai Certification from Thailand

Published September 2, 2026

Pentagon MMA has brought a special honor home to Arlington from the birthplace of Muay Thai.

The Arlington Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu Academy is now officially a certified and registered Muay Thai Gym Partner through the Sports Authority of Thailand and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, making Pentagon MMA the only Muay Thai academy on the East Coast to have earned this distinction.