ARLnow - Arlington and Falls Church, Va. local news

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Feb 6, 2025

Published February 6, 2025 at 8:30PM

Good Thursday 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 — Feb 6, 2025.

7:30 am: Morning Notes for February 6, 2025 | 🗣️ Comments
9:00 am: Morning Poll: What is your favorite sugary harbinger of spring? | 🗣️ Comments
9:45 am: Democratic School Board contenders, challenger to Del. Hope kick off campaigns | 🗣️ Comments
10:55 am: Submit your local happening to ARLnow’s event calendar | 🗣️ Comments
11:15 am: Crystal City hotel renovation expected to finish by springtime | 🗣️ Comments
1:30 pm: NEW: AIM audit reveals ‘deeply concerning’ issues in handling of $2M from county | 🗣️ Comments
2:45 pm: Bill to ease liquor restrictions gets support from Arlington restaurateurs | 🗣️ Comments
3:55 pm: EXCLUSIVE: Arlington firefighters ’embarrassed’ by failure to send water rescue team to crash | 🗣️ Comments
5:00 pm: Arlington high school sports schedule for Feb. 7-13 | 🗣️ Comments

📅 Upcoming events

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

12:00 pm: Free classical music concerts
5:00 pm: Art Show and Sale (Original Art $150&under)-Valentine Sweetheart Deals
6:30 pm: First Friday Art House Party, February 7th, 6:30-8:30 at Art House 7
7:00 pm: W-L Theatre presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream

☀️ Friday’s forecast

Expect mostly sunny skies and a high of 47 degrees, accompanied by northwest winds between 8 to 11 mph and gusts reaching up to 20 mph. On Friday night, the sky will turn mostly cloudy with temperatures dropping to around 31 degrees. The north wind will blow at 5 to 7 mph, eventually calming as the evening progresses. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.”
– John Lennon

🌅 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.

Sports

Arlington high school sports schedule for Feb. 7-13

By Dave Facinoli

Published February 6, 2025 at 5:00PM

The region wrestling tourney starts Thursday (Feb. 13) (photo by Rena Schild)

High-school postseason competitions will be underway over the coming week for all winter sports teams in Arlington, with the exception of girls and boys basketball.

The Liberty District wrestling tournament is on tap, along with region competitions for swimming and diving, gymnastics and track-and-field teams.

A post from Schar School

Thinking about your next career move? Explore graduate programs near D.C.

Published July 2, 2026 at 12:45PM

Advance Your Career. Explore Graduate Programs Near D.C.

Are you looking to make a real impact in government or public service? Advanced education can be the key, and it’s closer than you think.

The Schar School offers master’s degrees and graduate certificates designed to help students build expertise, advance their careers, and make an impact in their communities and professions. Located just minutes from Washington, D.C., the Schar School combines rigorous academics with access to the institutions, organizations, and networks shaping policy and public service today.

Students benefit from:

• Renowned faculty with academic and real-world experience
• Hands-on learning through applied research and policy simulations
• Connections to government, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations
• Access to one of the nation’s most dynamic professional environments

Graduate programs are available in areas including:

• Public Policy
• International Affairs
• Public Administration
• National Security and Defense
• Government and Public Management

Explore programs, connect with admissions, and discover the graduate pathway that’s right for you.

Explore Programs

News

EXCLUSIVE: Arlington firefighters ’embarrassed’ by failure to send water rescue team to crash

By Dan Egitto

Published February 6, 2025 at 3:55PM | Updated February 7, 2025 at 8:28AM

A Prince William County fire boat searches the Potomac River the morning after the mid-air collision and crash (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Arlington County Fire Department’s water rescue team did not respond to last week’s fatal midair collision, against the wishes of local firefighters, ARLnow has learned.

While first responders from throughout the D.C. area descended on the site of the devastating collision that killed 67 people on Jan. 29, ACFD personnel trained to respond to water emergencies did not receive permission to act. That is according to internal materials that this news site obtained through an anonymous source.

News

Bill to ease liquor restrictions gets support from Arlington restaurateurs

By Katie Taranto and Scott McCaffrey

Published February 6, 2025 at 2:45PM

Drinks at Salt in Rosslyn in 2021 (courtesy of Salt)

A state bill that would loosen restrictions on liquor sales is picking up support from members of Arlington’s restaurant scene.

Restaurants with mixed beverage licenses in Virginia are mandated to make at least 45% of sales from food and no more than 55% of sales from liquor-based mixed beverages. Senate Bill 1163 would lower the food sale requirement to 30%, allowing higher revenue percentages from liquor — something multiple restaurant owners told ARLnow they would welcome.

Event

July 18 – Movie Night on the Pike: Miss Congeniality

July 18, 2026 8:00 pm -10:30 pm

Penrose Square

909 S Dinwiddie St

Arlington, Virginia 22204

Website Contact Social

Join us for a crown-worthy evening at Penrose Square as we celebrate Arlington’s own Sandra Bullock with a special outdoor screening of Miss Congeniality.

Before the movie, create your own tiara with our friends at MOCA Arlington, then settle in for a hilarious night under the stars with one of the most beloved comedies of the 2000s.

News

NEW: AIM audit reveals ‘deeply concerning’ issues in handling of $2M from county

By Dan Egitto

Published February 6, 2025 at 1:30PM | Updated February 6, 2025 at 5:38PM

Arlington Independent Media logo (via AIM)

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.

News

Crystal City hotel renovation expected to finish by springtime

By ARLnow.com

Published February 6, 2025 at 11:15AM

National Landing Hotel under renovations in December 2024 (via Google Maps)

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.”

News

Submit your local happening to ARLnow’s event calendar

By ARLnow.com

Published February 6, 2025 at 10:55AM

Screenshot of the ARLnow event calendar

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.

News

Democratic School Board contenders, challenger to Del. Hope kick off campaigns

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 6, 2025 at 9:45AM | Updated February 6, 2025 at 10:30AM

Monique Bryant (screenshot via Arlington Democrats)

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.

Opinion

Morning Poll: What is your favorite sugary harbinger of spring?

By ARLnow.com

Published February 6, 2025 at 9:00AM | Updated February 6, 2025 at 9:35AM

A Shamrock Shake purchased from an Arlington McDonald's on Feb. 5, 2025 (staff photo)

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?