This time of year can be stressful, but Arlington is home to a number of places to relax your body and mind.
Here are the top spots for “Best Place to Get a Massage in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards. These spots are sure to destress and detox your body this season. Is your favorite place not listed? Write it in!
Don’t wait to vote as polls will close in two weeks.
Voting for Best Bakery 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 Arlington’s best local shop. The results are now official:
The events were originally scheduled to happen on different days, with the tree lighting taking place yesterday evening — but it got pushed back due to strong winds. The twinkling Tannenbaum will now be celebrated in tandem with a “Santa Paws Yappy Hour” at Central Place Plaza, located at 1800 N. Lynn Street.
National IQ is designed to connect industry, startups, academia and government around shared challenges tied to national competitiveness and emerging technology.
Arlington-based CLEATUS raised $4 million in a seed funding round. The AI-powered platform automates government contracting workflows, helping small businesses find, manage and win contracts.
Arlington-based GenLogs closed a $60 million Series B funding round earlier this year to grow its AI-driven platform for tracking truck movements nationwide.
Arlington’s startup ecosystem is off to a strong start in 2026, with a wave of new funding, growing innovation spaces and expanding tech companies reinforcing the area’s role in next-generation and national security-focused industries.
From early-stage startups to more established companies, the activity points to a broad and active ecosystem, one increasingly shaped by applied artificial intelligence and “dual-use” technologies with both commercial and government applications.
Big raises highlight AI-driven innovation
Several Arlington-based startups have already landed significant funding this year, led by two of the region’s largest recent deals.
Maritime intelligence company Quartermaster raised a $43 million Series A to expand its “SmartMast” system, which equips ships with sensors and AI-powered analytics to create real-time visibility across global waterways. The company describes the platform as a distributed sensing network designed to improve maritime awareness for commercial operators and governments alike.
Meanwhile, freight intelligence firm GenLogs closed a $60 million Series B earlier this year to grow its AI-driven platform for tracking truck movements nationwide. Using a combination of roadside sensors, satellite data and analytics, the Arlington-based startup aims to reduce fraud and improve efficiency across the logistics industry.
Alongside these larger raises, smaller seed and Series A rounds, including companies like CLEATUS and BriefCatch, continue to drive activity locally. The sectors may differ, but the throughline is similar: companies using advanced technology to tackle practical, real-world problems.
New innovation spaces bring ecosystem together
The momentum isn’t just showing up in funding. It is also visible in new spaces and programming designed to bring people together.
In April, Arlington hosted the kickoff of DMV Deep Tech Week, a region-wide series of events connecting founders, investors and public-sector leaders working across emerging technologies. The first day’s activities took place at JBG Smith’s new Concorde Conference Center in National Landing, a purpose-built venue for convening the innovation community.
Events like these reflect a broader push to build density in the ecosystem by bringing companies, capital and institutions together.
That same idea is behind the launch of National Innovation Quarter (National IQ) earlier this year. Announced in February, the new district spans Arlington and Alexandria and is designed to connect industry, startups, academia and government around shared challenges tied to national competitiveness and emerging technology.
Backed by partners including Amazon, Virginia Tech and Arlington Economic Development, National IQ will host accelerators, investor summits and other programs aimed at helping companies scale.
Additional spaces are also coming online. The Virtus Innovation Hub opened this spring in National Landing, adding another place for startups, investors and ecosystem partners to gather and collaborate.
Corporate expansion reinforces Arlington’s appeal
It’s not just startups driving activity, more established companies are continuing to grow their presence in Arlington, often for the same reasons.
Scale AI, for example, recently opened a significantly larger office in National Landing, leasing about 22,000 square feet with capacity for roughly 100 employees. The move reflects the company’s interest in closer collaboration with federal and defense partners, as well as access to the region’s talent pool.
And just last week, Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT) announced a headquarters expansion in Ballston, a $19 million investment expected to create 210 jobs. The company similarly pointed to access to technical talent and proximity to customers as key factors.
A connected, growing ecosystem
Taken together, the activity shows an ecosystem that continues to build on itself.
Startups are finding early support, while growth-stage companies are scaling. At the same time, new venues, programs and partnerships are making it easier for companies to connect with customers, investors and each other.
While much of the activity is rooted in AI, its applications span logistics, data analytics and government contracting, a reminder that Arlington’s innovation economy isn’t tied to a single factor.
With continued investment, more places to collaborate and a steady flow of new companies, Arlington is becoming a place where technology is both built and applied to the real-world.
Arlington County courthouse on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023 (staff photo by James Jarvis)
A clinic for Arlington and Falls Church residents seeking to get criminal charges expunged is taking place this weekend.
The clinic is for people who have been arrested and charged with a crime, but never convicted. It will take place at Arlington Presbyterian Church (918 S. Lincoln Street) from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday (Dec. 7).
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Four Mile Run near Shirlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Dems Pick Primary for County Board Race — Arlington Democrats on Wednesday opted to use a state-run primary rather than party-run caucus to select their 2025 County Board nominee. The primary will take place in June if it is needed. Incumbent Board member Takis Karantonis has informally indicated he will seek re-election, but no other candidates have yet stepped forward. –Scott McCaffrey
Gas Leak on the Pike — Traffic restrictions are in effect at the intersection of Columbia Pike and S. Barton Street following the discovery of a gas leak. Crews from Washington Gas discovered the leak on Wednesday while switching service from the existing pipe to a new pipe. No evacuation is needed, but only one travel lane will be open at S. Barton Street between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. today. –Dan Egitto
Crashes Caught on Camera — From Dave Statter: “Two crashes, same intersection: The intersection of Langston, Kirkwood, and Spout Run this afternoon.” [Twitter]
Arlington Company Eyes Expansion — “An Arlington-based company backed by funding from the United Arab Emirates hopes to become a dominant player in the growing padel sports craze sweeping the country. Epic Padel is focused both nationally and in Greater Washington, where it has identified a pair of Northern Virginia sites for new venues featuring the fast-growing racket sport, considered a cross between tennis and squash. And zooming out, it aims to have courts in 50 metro areas by 2030.” [WBJ]
Axios HQ Makes Acquisition — “[Clarendon-based] Axios HQ, the leading internal comms solution powered by Smart Brevity® and AI, has acquired Mixing Board, a community of the nation’s top comms, brand, and marketing leaders focused on advancing their industries.” [BusinessWire, WBJ]
New CEO for Rosslyn-Based Nestle — “Nestle USA, the Rosslyn-based U.S. division of Swiss global food and pet care giant Nestle SA, has tapped Marty Thompson to be its new CEO and U.S. market head. He will start in his new role in January, according to Thursday’s announcement. Thompson will assume Nestle USA’s top spot after serving as the president of Nestle Coffee Partners.” [WBJ]
F.C. Facing Budget Gap — “While a lot of variables and as-yet-unknown factors prevail for now, the Falls Church City Council and School Board got together for their annual early-December launch of a new annual budget cycle at City Hall Monday, and learned that, at least for now, to meet current projections will require about a 4 cent increase in the real estate tax rate next year.” [FCNP]
Nearby: Amazon Fresh Opening Soon — “Amazon Fresh is coming to Bailey’s Crossroads. The e-commerce giant announced today that the newest location of its grocery store chain will open in the Crossroads Center shopping center next Thursday, Dec. 12. Located at 5811 Crossroads Center Way, the 40,000-square-foot store will feature Amazon’s ‘Just Walk Out’ shopping.” [FFXnow]
It’s Friday — Expect sunny skies and temperatures reaching a high of 37 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 11 to 14 mph and gusts as high as 23 mph. During Friday night, the skies will be mostly clear, and temperatures will drop to a low of around 24 degrees. A west wind of 6 to 8 mph will also be present. [NWS]
Expect sunny skies and temperatures reaching a high of 37 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 11 to 14 mph and gusts as high as 23 mph. During Friday night, the skies will be mostly clear, and temperatures will drop to a low of around 24 degrees. A west wind of 6 to 8 mph will also be present. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Molly Weithman, middle, runs for the College of William and Mary (courtesy of William and Mary athletics)
Molly Weithman made a strong and quick adjustment from high school to collegiate cross-country this fall as a freshman for the College of William and Mary women’s team.
The high-school swimming season is underway (file photo)
Arlington high schools have a full week of sports action starting Friday (Dec. 6) as the winter season is underway following conclusion of fall campaigns.
There are basketball games, a big wrestling tournament, swim-and-dive meets, girls gymnastics action, ice-hockey matches and more coming up.
Arlington property owners next year likely will have a number of new ways to claim rebates against the government’s new stormwater fees.
County staff have proposed two additions to existing opportunities to lessen the annual stormwater fee, which is based on a property’s impermeable surface and for residential properties averaged $258 this year.
