Every weekday for the past seven weeks, a small but determined crew of anti-Trump protesters has gathered on a Fairlington overpass to greet rush hour commuters.
With signs, a banner reading “No Kings!” and flags of the United States, Ukraine and the European Union, the demonstrators on the S. Abingdon Street bridge wave at the crowded lanes of vehicles driving south on I-395.
Another developer is setting its sights on redeveloping a Ballston office building as a residential high-rise.
Aria Development Group filed plans last week to replace a five-story structure at 4420 Fairfax Drive with a 22-story tower. The new building would have 302 residential units, 5,017 square feet of retail and 86 parking spaces.
Arlington’s small business community is strong and resilient. However, local businesses continue to face challenges from economic uncertainty, drops in consumer confidence, losses in access to capital, and disruptions from artificial intelligence. BizLaunch, a division of Arlington Economic Development, continues to rise to the challenge by supporting over 6,000 small businesses in Arlington with one-on-one counseling, innovative programming and robust marketing to encourage consumers to shop locally.
During a recent presentation to the Small Business Coordinating Council, BizLaunch Director Tara Palacios highlighted fiscal year 2026 results that underscore both the impact of Arlington’s business support programs and the pressures ahead.
BizLaunch provided technical assistance to entrepreneurs at a level 56% above its annual goal, reflecting sustained demand for one-on-one advising and business guidance. The division also served a diverse business community, including 52% women-owned businesses and 45% minority-owned enterprises. Nearly a quarter — 24% — of clients were in food and retail, industries that continue to face heightened economic pressure.
Major marketing and PR campaigns drove engagement across Arlington. Small Business Saturday, one of BizLaunch’s signature programs, prompted more than 4,141 transactions and $211,862 in consumer spending through the Open Rewards incentive, supported by a $10,625 investment of County funds. A coordinated marketing campaign with the BIDs and Partnerships further amplified the effort, generating more than 56,000 organic social media impressions, 44,000 video views and 1,619 engagements, along with nearly 2,000 paid ad clicks.
Support for business development through programming has also expanded. The BizLaunch Transformational Challenge and Pitchfest drew 40 participants for a five-week training program covering strategic planning, marketing, artificial intelligence and financial management. Participants developed pitch decks and presented to a panel of private lenders and business leaders. In all $25,000 was awarded to local businesses through the pitch event which came from private donations and contributions from the Industrial Development Authority. (more…)
Virginia Square’s newly renovated American Legion Post 139 plans to host its first-ever veterans art exhibit over Memorial Day weekend.
Highlighting art by Northern Virginia veterans, the gallery opening on Saturday, May 24 at 3445 Washington Blvd will “explore themes of service, conflict, healing and duty,” Commander Richard L. Rodriguez, who served in the Marines, Navy and Navy Reserve, told ARLnow.
Clarendon’s Verizon store is preparing to relocate this summer as a new facial studio hopes to open there this fall.
The Verizon at 2930 Clarendon Blvd is moving less than a block away to Le Pain Quotidien’s former space at 2900 Clarendon Blvd. Meanwhile, skin care studio franchise Glowbar intends to open at Verizon’s current address later this year.
🫶✨ Calling all Swifties! ✨🫶
Get ready for a night celebrating every era as The Fearless Eras, DC’s only all-Taylor Swift cover band, takes over The Renegade in Arlington for more than 3 hours of Taylor’s biggest hits and fan-favorite deep cuts.
New interpretive panels have been installed honoring the Rouse estate, a historic home torn down in 2021 to the dismay of many preservationists.
The new signs, a collaborative effort between the Dominion Hills Civic Association, Toll Brothers and county government, highlight the Dominion Hills community and the building also known as the Febrey-Lothrop House. Funding came through the county’s Historic Preservation Fund.
The man who robbed a Wells Fargo bank in Clarendon nearly two years ago has entered a guilty plea, leaving him to face a maximum of three years behind bars.
Oscar Gonzalez Alvarenga will only be prosecuted over his abduction of the bank’s manager, who he forced to open a vault while pretending to possess a gun prior to a lengthy standoff with police, according to court documents.
The amount that the City of Falls Church pays Arlington County for fire and ambulance services could be about to surge.
Under a proposed new agreement, the projected cost of these services would increase by 20% — from an anticipated $3.24 million to $3.89 million.
Robbery in Pentagon City — “At approximately 2:47 p.m. on April 21, police were dispatched to the report of a robbery by force. Upon arrival, it was determined a witness observed Suspects One and Two approach the male victim, steal his backpack and push him to the ground. Suspect Three then approached and assaulted the victim before the three suspects fled the scene in a white sedan. No injuries were reported.” [ACPD]
Local Tree Preservation Efforts — “In Arlington, new construction projects—particularly those of 2,500 square feet or more—require landscape plans that include tree planting and protection measures. That’s where a volunteer army of tree lovers comes in.” [Arlington Magazine]
Diocese Official Remembers Pope — “Monsignor Paul deLadurantaye, the Chancellor of the Diocese of Arlington, served as an interpreter at the English section of the Vatican Secretariat of State for the late Pope Francis when he would meet with English-speaking pilgrims and guests. From late 2018 to 2024, deLadurantaye had a window into Francis’ life, whom he recalls was ‘very warm, he was very gracious.'” [WTOP]
Warner Calls for Hegseth Resignation — “U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) is calling for the resignation or removal of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following reports that Hegseth shared classified military information with family members on his personal phone.” [ALXnow]
More on SecDef Turmoil — “Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is locked in open warfare with his own Pentagon, a hotbed of distrust and dysfunction that commands the most powerful military on the face of the Earth… inside the Pentagon, the knives are out — testing Trump’s tolerance for chaos when it’s not his own.” [Axios]
Va. Student Loan Stats — “The Department of Education plans to begin collection next month on federal student loans that are in default, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of borrowers in Virginia… Federal student loan debt in Virginia totals $43.4 billion or about $40,137 per student, according to Education Department data. About 12.4 percent of Virginia residents have student loans.” [Patch]
It’s Wednesday — Expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures reaching around 76 degrees, accompanied by a northeast wind of 5 to 7 mph. The night will be mostly clear, with lows down to 55 degrees. [NWS]
AT&T Mobility, LLC is proposing to modify the existing 73-foot-tall (88-foot overall height) building telecommunications facility located at 815 South 18th Street Arlington, Arlington County, VA 22202 (N38° 51′ 26.4″ and W77° 03’ 36.1”). AT&T Mobility, LLC invites comments from any interested party on the impact the proposed undertaking may have on any districts, sites, buildings, structures, or objects significant in American history, archaeology, engineering, or culture that are listed or determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under National Historic Preservation Act Section 106. Parties interested in commenting on this Federal undertaking or with questions on the proposed facility should contact Eocene at 8951 Windsor Parkway, Johnston, IA 50131 or call 515-473-6256 and reference project #E 203/JC. Comments must be received within 30 days of the date of this notice.
