The Arlington County Civic Federation opened its 2026-27 year with a salute to personnel of the Arlington County Fire Department.
More than two dozen firefighters were on hand for the Sept. 8 presentation. Civic Federation president Nicholas Giacobbe said the event was designed to show “how much the Arlington community appreciates and supports the fire department.”
The El Rey taqueria and margarita bar is no more, but Ballston locals can find solace in a new watering hole.
Solace Outpost opened yesterday (Wednesday) at 4201 Wilson Blvd, offering beer, burgers, bowls and bratwurst in a relaxed, sporty atmosphere.
Incredibly excited to wrap up an awesome first summer. I’ve learned a lot, and I thought I’d share some of those lessons with you.
1. Hiring a JMU intern is a great idea.
This summer we were lucky enough to hire a young man from Woodbridge named Owen, who is a rising senior at JMU. He was exactly the spark we needed to help us push through our first busy summer season. We’ve already made him a job offer for next summer when he graduates, and we’re hopeful he’ll join us full-time.
2. People are generally helpful and want to see you succeed when you’re first starting out.
Over the summer, I was amazed by how many people wanted to help me get a strong start in my business. There were definitely times when I knew folks might not need a new roof, but they were still kind enough to let me come by, take a look, and give them a free estimate just in case. It was inspiring and motivating to know that there are strangers out there who don’t even know me but still want to see me win.
3. Hard work solves most problems.
From the beginning, I’ve been honest about having a lot to learn in this industry. What I’ve come to find is that even when I don’t know exactly what I’m doing, hard work will still often get me to the right result. When in doubt, just keep pushing. This is something I’ll remember as more hard times come and as we get ready to go through the cold winter season.
4. Working with property managers and realtors can be a win-win for everyone.
This year, we’ve built some great relationships with property managers and realtors. These folks are hardworking and busy, and the last thing they have time to worry about is a roof for their clients. We’ve worked with them to install new roofs, windows, gutters, doors, and siding on multiple occasions.
5. Some folks will slam the door in your face without thinking twice.
Things aren’t always easy in this game, and I don’t want to paint an overly rosy picture without talking about some of the hard stuff too. As a new person working hard to get your name out there, it can definitely be a little daunting when someone yells at you or slams the door in your face. Luckily, most people are warm and will at least talk to you, and we’ve appreciated that as we navigate these bumps along the way.
6. Most homeowners just want transparency and great customer service.
It’s wild how many contractors out there really can’t be trusted. We’ve come to learn quickly that homeowners just want fantastic customer service and transparency throughout the process. If you can honestly show someone how the process is going to take place and hold their hand a little along the way, you can make almost all of your customers pretty happy.
7. Homeowners taught me more than any training could have.
Nash & Smashed has finally opened its Glebe Road location, serving up Nashville-style fried chicken and smash burgers.
The rapidly growing chain plans to hold a grand opening at 310 N. Glebe Road in about a month, but it is already selling its signature sandwiches along with mocktail-style mojitos, milkshakes and desserts, Chief Operating Officer Lamaan Malik told ARLnow.
When I moved back to Northern Virginia after several years in New York, most of my old friends had moved away. I found myself rebuilding a social circle from scratch.
I had plenty of people I could connect with online, but that wasn’t translating into anyone to grab a beer with after work, play trivia with, or text when I wanted to get out of the house. Making new friends as an adult required far more deliberate effort than I remembered.
An Arlington-based FM radio station survived a hard deadline this summer and is back on the airwaves, but it has yet to become fully operational.
WERA 96.7 returned to broadcasting on July 28 after getting special temporary authority from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and has been broadcasting only music.
Event location
Online event (see link)
*Mamistad Groups meet IN PERSON-only the introductory Zoom call is virtual. :)
Pregnancy and new mom groups are a lifesaver when it comes to normalizing those feelings we just can’t be prepared for.
Rosslyn Jazz Fest is back for its 34th year this weekend, bringing food trucks, local vendors and live performances to Gateway Park.
With a lineup featuring Americana, Latin Jazz, funk and global sounds, Arlington’s largest free outdoor music festival is expected to bring big crowds from 1-7 p.m. on Saturday.
A former Walgreens on Langston Blvd is being converted to host a seven-week arts extravaganza.
The 5,000 square feet of space will provide the backdrop for a succession of mini-galleries featuring the work of dozens of Arlington Artists Alliance members, plus discussion areas, workshop spaces and dining/shopping options.
Crystal City Tire Thefts — Thieves stole tires and rims from six vehicles in two separate parking garages during overnight hours, police say. The thefts were reported Tuesday morning in the 1300 and 2000 blocks of S. Eads Street. The investigation is ongoing. [ACPD]
GOP Chair Slams Relief Fund — Arlington County GOP chairman Matthew Hurtt is blasting the County Board’s newly approved $50,000 fund for families of detained immigrants, calling it a “slush fund.” [Fox News]
Free Books for Arlington Kids — Nonprofit Read Early and Daily is now the local partner for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, mailing a free book each month to kids from birth to age 5. Enrollment begins in October. [WJLA]
Falls Church Festival Turns 50 — The 50th Annual Falls Church Festival returns Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. on the City Hall grounds (300 Park Avenue). Admission is free, with more than 85 vendors, live music, rides, a beer garden and the Taste of Falls Church. [City of Falls Church]
New Rules at Area Schools — Phones are sidelined region-wide as the new school year brings fresh rules and security measures. Fairfax County students now tap IDs boarding buses, and Alexandria’s new elementary and middle school boundaries affect 1,400 students. [Axios]
Sotheby’s Buys TTR Brokerage — The Georgetown-based brokerage behind many of the region’s priciest home sales has been acquired by Sotheby’s International Realty, ending nearly four decades of local ownership. Terms were not disclosed, and the TTR name will be dropped. [WBJ]
Virginia Plates, Worse Drivers? — An analysis of a decade of D.C. crash data found drivers with Virginia plates are “over 20% more likely to be at fault” than those from Maryland or D.C. More than a third of them hold licenses from other states. [Washington Sun, Tara Golshan/X]
It’s Thursday — Mostly sunny today with a high near 90 and a west wind of 6–9 mph. There’s a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mostly after 2 p.m. Storms become likely overnight, with a low around 69. [NWS]
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Good Wednesday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Sep 9, 2026.
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 89°F, a slight chance of showers early, and a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm, with southwest winds at 6 to 8 mph. Thursday night will see showers and thunderstorms before 3am, then likely showers, with a low around 68°F and northwest winds at 3 to 5 mph. There’s an 80% chance of precipitation, with new rainfall between a quarter and half an inch possible. See more from Weather.gov.
“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
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Taxes, housing and pedestrian safety were among the issues that County Board candidates debated in their first debate of the general election season.
“We are in a fiscal challenge,” said County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti, a Democrat who is being challenged by independents Audrey Clement and David Sisson. The three took part in a candidate forum sponsored by the Arlington County Civic Federation yesterday (Tuesday).
Virginia is under new leadership—and with it comes a renewed commitment to fighting housing discrimination. Join the NAACP Arlington Branch, Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of Virginia, and the Equal Rights Center for the 5th Annual Arlington Fair Housing Conference, a series of three virtual events. You’ll hear about the fair housing work of the Virginia Office of the Attorney General and Arlington County’s progress in advancing fair and equitable housing for all.
Monday, September 14, 2026 – 6:00 – 7:00 pm
