A new cafe featuring Hawaiian coffees and breakfast items is set to open in Virginia Square next week.
Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii plans to open for business on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 3701 N. Fairfax Drive. The cafe has been in development since the fall and is the second Northern Virginia location by franchisees Michelle and Richard Lee.
A taste of France is preparing to come to Arlington and Falls Church later this year.
French-inspired bakery and cafe Paris Baguette is planning to open locations in Clarendon and the Little City several months from now, franchisee Sean Kim told ARLnow. The expanding business has 200 North American locations and a goal of opening 1,000 United States stores by 2030.
While summer is often a slower season for many businesses, BizLaunch has been hard at work supporting Arlington entrepreneurs and preparing an exciting lineup of fall programs. From business growth strategies to inspiring founder stories, there are plenty of opportunities ahead for small business owners looking to learn, connect and grow.
Arlington Growth Accelerator
Ready to take your business to the next level?
The Arlington Growth Accelerator is a selective, cohort-based leadership program designed for established businesses poised for growth. Offered in partnership with SCORE, the program features six hybrid half-day sessions that guide participants through the development of a practical four-year growth strategy focused on operations, financing and long-term success.
Participants will leave with:
Whether you’re planning your next phase of expansion or looking to strengthen your business foundation, this program provides the tools and support to help you grow with confidence. Join us for an info session about the program on Aug. 5 at 12:00 p.m. Program kicks off Sept. 25.
Chefpreneur Chat: Unidos Somos Más (Together We Are More)
Join us Oct. 13 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. for a special Chefpreneur Chat celebrating this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month theme, Unidos Somos Más (Together We Are More).
Hosted by BizLaunch in partnership with Arlington Public Libraries, this interactive event will spotlight the entrepreneur behind Panamericana Bakery. Attendees will enjoy a live fish preparation demonstration while hearing firsthand how the business was built and grown in Arlington.
The conversation, moderated by Dov & Company, will explore entrepreneurship, culture, community and resilience. Guests will gain practical insights from a successful business owner while celebrating the contributions of Hispanic entrepreneurs who help shape Arlington’s vibrant business community.
To continue the celebration, BizLaunch will also launch a social media campaign highlighting stories of collaboration, partnership and the collective impact of Hispanic-owned businesses across Arlington. Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when registration for this event opens.
Stay Connected
Fall is just getting started.
In addition to a full lineup of educational programs and networking opportunities, BizLaunch will soon open registration for its annual, 2027 BizLaunch Transformational and PitchFest program, a five-week cohort experience where participants compete for cash prizes while strengthening their businesses.
Stay up to date on upcoming events, workshops and resources by subscribing to the BizLaunch newsletter. Learn more at www.bizlaunch.org.
Can’t find parking at Reagan National Airport? Pentagon City’s mall may have a solution.
The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City is advertising its parking spots to travelers as substantial parking reductions go into effect at the nearby airport.
Arlington County is currently seeking feedback on three development projects with a total of 1,255 proposed units.
Online engagement periods for all three proposals, located in Rosslyn, Ballston and Shirlington, are wrapping up soon. A list of the projects and their locations is below.
Join DC Road Runners and Potomac Valley Track Club for our annual Family Night at the Track and Meet of Miles. The event is open to runners of all ages and paces as well as nonmembers.
This event hosts 400 meter and 800 meter races for kids ages 1-8, as well as multiple 1-mile heats for participants of all ages. There is also a 3K race that is open to participants of all ages.
Falls Church city officials continue to do their best to evaluate the local impacts of federal downscaling and a barrage of other decisions coming out of the White House.
“It’s different every day,” said Cindy Mester, the city’s community relations and legislative affairs director.
First DCA Crash Legal Claim — “The family of one of the 67 people killed in the deadly collision between an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport late last month has taken steps to sue both the federal government and the private airline.” [Washington Post]
Pentagon Firings Imminent — “The Trump administration has directed defense agencies to turn over a list of their probationary employees by the end of Tuesday, with the expectation that many could be fired as soon as this week, according to five people familiar with the matter. The directive coincides with the arrival at the Pentagon of personnel from billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service.” [Washington Post]
Another Local Musk Protest — “On a cold Tuesday afternoon, protesters bundled up and held up signs during a demonstration outside a Tesla dealership in Arlington, Virginia. The anti-Elon Musk protest is one of hundreds happening across the nation targeting the Musk-owned car company locations.” [WTOP]
Store Robbed By Six Men — “200 block of S. Glebe Road. At approximately 9:02 p.m. on February 17, police were dispatched to the report of a robbery by force. Upon arrival, it was determined the six male suspects entered the business, collected merchandise and exited the store without payment. As the suspects left the business, one struck an employee before fleeing the scene on foot.” [ACPD]
Library Wedding Winners — “Getting a free wedding at an Arlington County Public Library sounds pretty great! On Wednesday, the winning couple of the giveaway joined Good Morning Washington to talk about their application. This comes after last week’s interview with a librarian ahead of the giveaway.” [WJLA]
Girl Scout Cookie Sales Underway — “At publication time, least 16 cookie booths are planned across the county, with at least six more in the Little City. They’ll appear on sidewalks outside local grocery stores, apartment buildings and more, beginning Friday, Feb. 7 and continuing through mid-March.” [ARLnow]
Reminder: Feel the Heritage Fest — “Get ready for Arlington’s 31st annual Feel the Heritage Festival on Sat., Feb. 22, noon-5 p.m. at Charles Drew Community Center. Celebrate Black History Month and Arlington’s rich African-American history as you groove to live music, savor delicious food, and explore an amazing lineup of vendors!” [Arlington County, Event Calendar]
It’s Thursday — Snow showers are expected mainly before 1pm, with a high near 29. The day will be blustery as the northwest wind increases from 9-14 mph to 15-20 mph in the afternoon, and gusts may reach 33 mph. There’s an 80% chance of precipitation, and new snow accumulation could be less than one inch. Thursday evening will be partly cloudy and continue to be blustery, with a low around 22 and northwest winds of 17-20 mph; gusts may still be as high as 33 mph. [NWS]
Announcements ABC LICENSE BOE CLARENDON LLC, trading as BOE.
2854 Wilson Blvd. Suite B., Arlington VA 22201.
The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) for a Restaurant, Wine, Beer, Mixed Beverage license, On and Off Premises to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.
NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 dates from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.
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 19, 2025.
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Snow showers are expected mainly before 1pm, with a high near 29. The day will be blustery as the northwest wind increases from 9-14 mph to 15-20 mph in the afternoon, and gusts may reach 33 mph. There’s an 80% chance of precipitation, and new snow accumulation could be less than one inch. Thursday evening will be partly cloudy and continue to be blustery, with a low around 22 and northwest winds of 17-20 mph; gusts may still be as high as 33 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
– Wayne Gretzky
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.
An LGBTQ+ advocacy group is calling for Arlington Public Schools to take a more aggressive stance in support of transgender students.
Equality Arlington released a letter this week urging the school system to “stand up for the rights of transgender athletes and oppose all discriminatory policies from whatever source they come.”
