As the local figure skating community grieves last month’s mid-air crash over the Potomac, MedStar Capitals Iceplex has enlisted therapy dogs to offer comfort and support.
Dogs from the nationwide nonprofit Canine Companions paid skaters a visit to the facility in Ballston last week and have planned another visit planned this Sunday, program manager Caitlin Bradley told ARLnow.
Sara Catherine DeWalt, a resident of Arlington, Virginia, passed away peacefully on February 15, 2025, following a brief but courageous battle with cancer. She was 81 years old.
Born on March 25, 1943, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Sara was the daughter of Ural and Elise Pettigrew and the sixth of seven children. She graduated from Central High School in Cape Girardeau before earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri.
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…)
The oldest surviving business in Falls Church, Brown’s Hardware, is selling off the last of its wares as it prepares to close for good after 142 years.
The past few weeks have been busy but somber as patrons shuffle in to say goodbye, owner John Taylor told ARLnow. With about a fifth of all inventory remaining and an across-the-board 50% off sale, the store is on track to close at 100 W. Broad Street by the third week of March.
Firefighters from Arlington and Alexandria battled a blaze in the Arlington Ridge neighborhood this morning.
The fire, in the attic area of at least two adjacent townhomes, was reported around 11 a.m. Friday on the 2300 block of S. Queen Street.
🫶✨ 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.
The first Arlington location of a popular D.C.-area pizzeria is on track to open next month.
Andy’s Pizza signage has gone up at 901 N. Pollard Street in Virginia Square as the restaurant plans to open by late March, Chris Cutler, director of operations, told ARLnow.
Meet Dazymae, the newest Adoptable Pet of the Week!
This all black pup is in need of a forever home and is up for adoption through the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. She is currently in foster.
Craving hand-crafted pasta, risotto or wood-fired pizzas? Arlington’s vibrant dining scene is flourishing with ristorantes serving up mouth watering Italian cuisine.
We’ve complied the top picks for “Best Italian Restaurant in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards. Your favorite restaurant not listed? Write it in!
Don’t delay — voting will close in two weeks.
Voting for Best Place to Get a Facial in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on Best Happy Hour Spot in Arlington. The results are now official:
The Arlington Housing Commission plans to spend the year exploring ways to include more diverse voices in conversations about housing policy.
But trying to get fuller representation of residents of color and those at the lower end of the economic scale will not necessarily be easy, the commission’s chair said.
Arlington Public Schools is abandoning X for Bluesky.
The school system announced Wednesday that it will no longer post updates on X — formerly Twitter — although its account will “remain open.”
