The results of an audit on Arlington Independent Media are out, revealing substantial gaps and errors in how the nonprofit handled some $2 million in county-provided funds.
The audit report appears to have been uploaded by Arlington County yesterday, the day after ARLnow reported on delays in its release. It suggests that AIM failed to provide adequate documentation for over $1 million in expenditures, including payments to dozens of third-party contractors.
The former Marriott Crystal City at Reagan National Airport is emerging from renovations as the National Landing Hotel Crystal City.
The hotel, part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, “is slated to complete its transformative renovation and rebranding in May 2025.”
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.
Many of you have asked about best practices when it comes to buying a new condominium. Some of us only want new and are willing to pay a premium for the best in current design. There are several recommendations and insights here that will help you get what you want.
First decide what type of condominium you need… size, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, parking needs, or separate office, followed by a list of wants such as level of building service, amenities on-site, space for dining for six, balcony, open floor plan, and natural light. (Here she goes again.) Not to be sexist about it, but females generally are better shoppers and come with a preconceived set of non-negotiables.
Identify the areas you would consider living, such as Arlington or Old Town… but not wanting to go as far as Tysons, Reston, or DC. People don’t buy condominiums in places they aren’t familiar with or already spend time in, unless relocating entirely. Many upcoming communities put up signage and a website first which makes early interest hyperlocal. Register as a VIP on the website early and you will get regular communication, time to consider the offering, and learn when pre-sale will begin.
Once open, come early in pre-sale. You’ll get the pick of the litter. This is particularly important if you want something larger and are interested in the best views. Prospects are smart and pick the best floorplans first. If you have some idea of your ideal size and price point it makes good use of everyone’s time. Once you make a selection, expect to leave a 10% deposit as this is pretty standard in the industry. The developer generally has their own contract and it’s written much in their favor but not unreasonably so. Pricing this early is usually not negotiable… the price is the price. But you can purchase with some confidence since all buyers are getting the same terms and the developer has a shared interest in protecting values through delivery while sales are ongoing.
You do not need to be fully qualified for financing to come out and look but it’s wise to have some idea of what you can afford. Most builders give incentives for paying cash or using their title company and lenders. Often your contract might even offer a short financing contingency in exchange for considering them.
Once firmly under contract, a buyer might have 12- 18 months to prepare for the move. How blissful. This is one of the best parts of buying early in pre-sale. Moving is daunting, especially if you have been in your current homes for 30 years and the thought of moving seems excruciating. Decide what to take, sell/donate, and hire a proper interior designer to space plan and create a unique home that reflects your tastes. All with the time to do it properly.
Something to note. Finishes have gotten more high end, brands carry weight, and there is less customization offered these days. Gone are the days of going to a design center. If you know you are getting a Sub Zero refrigerator included you probably won’t ask if there are other options available. (more…)
Here’s a little secret: dollar for dollar, promoted events on ARLnow are probably the best advertising value we offer.
Promoted events are highlighted in our event calendar, promoted on our homepage and also appear in our email newsletter starting about two weeks prior to the event.
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Arlington Democrats now have two candidates vying for an open School Board seat.
Monique “Moe” Bryant and June Prakash formally kicked off campaigns Wednesday night (Feb. 5) at the monthly Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting.
*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.
Big news: the Shamrock Shake is back.
McDonald’s may try to tell you it’s returning on Monday, Feb. 10, but ARLnow obtained an early edition of the minty green milkshake from the set-for-replacement McD’s on Langston Blvd around lunchtime yesterday.
Apparently Uncle O’Grimacey is making up for lost time.
The Shamrock Shake is back on 2.10 at McDonald’s.
And so is the icon and legend : Uncle O’Grimacey. pic.twitter.com/24EJeJ2VWp— Guillaume Huin (@HuinGuillaume) February 4, 2025
The Shamrock Shake’s triumphant return, and the imminent return of Girl Scout cookie booths in Arlington, got us thinking about other sugary, seasonal treats that seem to herald the coming of spring.
Which is your favorite of the following four?
Tribute Event for Crash Victims — “Figure skating champions and legends will glide across Capital One Arena ice next month as headliners of an exhibition to raise funds to support families of the victims of a midair collision near Reagan National Airport that killed 67, officials announced Wednesday. The March 2 tribute, titled “Legacy on Ice,” will be co-hosted by 1988 Olympic champion Brian Boitano.” [Washington Post]
Group Wants Trump to Investigate APS — “America First Legal (AFL) sent a formal complaint to the U.S. Department of Education to investigate five Northern Virginia school districts for Title IX violations against female students. AFL argues that Alexandria City Public Schools, Arlington Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, Loudoun County Public Schools, and Prince William County Public Schools have bathroom and locker room policies that violate Title IX and President Donald Trump’s Executive Order.” [WJLA]
Armed Standoff in Arna Valley — “ACPD has taken a suspect into custody in the 2600 block of 27th Road S. following an earlier report of a person with a firearm. No injuries were reported. Police remain in the area investigating the incident.” [ACPD/X]
Sen. Warner Sounds Alarm — “Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence… wrote to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles about the risks to our national security of allowing unvetted DOGE staff and representatives to access classified and sensitive government materials.” [Press Release]
Gov’t Leases in Question — “The General Services Administration and Department of Government Efficiency are reaching out to all agencies with ‘non-firm term leases’ in an initial step toward chopping the feds’ massive leased portfolio, a major D.C. law firm told its clients Tuesday.” [WBJ]
Federal Layoffs Likely — “The Trump administration is planning widespread layoffs among the federal workforce soon, leaving employees who don’t accept its deferred resignation offer at risk of losing their jobs.” [CNN]
Va. Bracing for Gov’t Downsizing — “House Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) on Tuesday evening announced the formation of an Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions, a bipartisan panel tasked with assessing the economic fallout and crafting solutions to protect the commonwealth.” [Virginia Mercury/FFXnow]
Rosslyn-Based Politico Targeted — “The executive branch will stop spending money on Politico subscriptions after paying millions of dollars to the news outlet last year, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing Wednesday.” [Axios]
It’s Thursday — Expect rain mainly before 1pm, with a high temperature near 49°F. Light southeast winds will shift to southwest at 5-10 mph in the morning, and may gust up to 20 mph. There’s a 90% chance of precipitation, with new amounts between a tenth to a quarter of an inch possible. For Thursday night, it’ll be mostly cloudy with a low around 40°F. Southwest winds at 6-8 mph will become northwest after midnight. [NWS]
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 — Feb 5, 2025.
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect rain mainly before 1pm, with a high temperature near 49°F. Light southeast winds will shift to southwest at 5-10 mph in the morning, and may gust up to 20 mph. There’s a 90% chance of precipitation, with new amounts between a tenth to a quarter of an inch possible. For Thursday night, it’ll be mostly cloudy with a low around 40°F. Southwest winds at 6-8 mph will become northwest after midnight. See more from Weather.gov.
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
– Steve Jobs
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.
Arlington Public Schools will open on a two-hour delay Thursday morning due to expected sleet and freezing rain overnight.
The school system joins other D.C. area districts, including Fairfax and Montgomery counties, in announcing a delay.
ARLnow and sister site ALXnow were unable to post to Facebook most of the day today.
The issue cropped up Wednesday morning without warning or explanation. When we tried to post a link to one of our articles on the network, either directly or through our social media management system, it produced an error message (below).
