A local man has been arrested and accused of setting a series of small fires outside of restaurants along Crystal City’s 23rd Street restaurant row.
The Arlington County Fire Department announced the arrest Thursday afternoon, identifying the suspect as Timothy C. Pollock.
An Arlington educator has received the nation’s highest honor for teachers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Geraldine “Gerri” Maskelony, a statistics teacher at Arlington Tech, has earned the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the White House announced this week. With the award, she received $10,000 from the National Science Foundation and a certificate signed by President Joe Biden.
Every year, for just a few minutes, one of Arlington’s most iconic works of public art comes to life exactly as its artist intended.
On Saturday, Aug. 1, at approximately 9:32 a.m., visitors will gather in Rosslyn to witness the annual shadow alignment at Nancy Holt’s Dark Star Park (1979–84). At that precise moment, the shadows cast by the sculpture’s spheres and poles align with permanent shadow forms embedded in the ground—a phenomenon Holt designed to commemorate the anniversary of Rosslyn’s founding.
The alignment lasts only a few moments, but it has become a beloved Arlington tradition, drawing residents, visitors, artists and architecture enthusiasts alike to experience the intersection of art, astronomy, and history. If the weather cooperates, the park transforms into a striking demonstration of how light, time and place can become part of a work of art.
Created between 1979 and 1984, Dark Star Park was Arlington’s first County-commissioned public artwork and remains one of the nation’s earliest examples of integrated public art—where sculpture, landscape architecture and the surrounding environment function as a single work. Rather than placing an object within a park, Holt made the entire park the artwork, incorporating spheres, pools, steel poles, tunnels, earthworks and carefully positioned plantings into an immersive landscape.
Nancy Holt (1938–2014) was a pioneering artist whose work spanned poetry, film, photography, land art and large-scale public sculpture. Throughout her career, she explored perception, time and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Dark Star Park remains her most significant urban installation and one of the few major works by the artist that can be experienced in an accessible city setting.
Whether you’ve attended for years or have never visited before, Dark Star Park Day offers a rare opportunity to experience a public artwork that changes with the movement of the sun—and reminds us that some of the most memorable moments in art happen not inside a museum, but out in the world around us.
Dark Star Park Day
When: Saturday, Aug. 1, beginning around 9 a.m.; shadow alignment at approximately 9:32 a.m.
Where: Dark Star Park, 1655 N. Fort Myer Drive, Rosslyn
Fluctuating temperatures in recent weeks have led to a spate of water main breaks in Arlington.
Between Jan. 1 and Jan. 15 alone, the county saw 33 breaks, county spokesperson Katie O’Brien told ARLnow. The county’s water main break map shows issues scattered across numerous neighborhoods, some affecting well over 100 people.
Call Your Mother has arrived in Crystal City, offering bagel sandwiches and “Jew-ish” deli classics.
The D.C.-born deli opened Monday at Water Park on 1601 Crystal Drive, touting its unmistakable spunky aesthetic and hardy offerings.
Live standup comedy in Arlington on Friday July 31 starring Jim Bryan, Kim Villamera, and Greg Billet.
Friday, July 31, 2026
It could be a treacherous evening commute today (Thursday) due to potential snow showers.
The National Weather Service this morning issued a Special Weather Statement — covering Arlington, the District and most of the D.C. area — warning of hazards on the roads should this 30-50% chance of snow materialize.
Inauguration Day is just four days away.
With president-elect Trump about to take the oath of office for the second time, we were wondering how many people in Arlington were planning to watch — or attend.
Those attending will have to be a hardy bunch, given the forecasted wind chill in the teens on Monday. On the other hand, there should be no shortage of options for watching on TV or online (including clips).
So what’s your plan?
Don’t miss what’s happening in Arlington.
Our free Afternoon Update newsletter keeps nearly 20,000 locals in the know with the day’s most important stories — from breaking news and development updates to restaurant openings and community events.
Local Minister Accused of Sex Abuse — “The alumnus was one of three Falls Church Episcopal youth group members who an independent investigation revealed in April were allegedly sexually abused by Taylor in the 1990s or the early 2000s when they attended the church. The report found that Taylor’s behavior during his employment there constituted ‘sexual grooming or sexual abuse.'” [Washington Post]
Suspicious Package Investigation — From ARLnow yesterday: “Arlington’s bomb squad responded to a suspicious package today on N. Sycamore Street near Tuckahoe Park. Initial reports suggest it was a parcel addressed to the White House with odd labeling. ‘Nothing was found and the incident was cleared with good intent,’ ACFD spokesman tells ARLnow.” [Twitter]
Beyer on Israel-Gaza Ceasefire — From Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.): “I am glad that this agreement has finally been reached, and that the hostages who have endured horrific captivity will be coming home. All parties must implement this ceasefire and abide by its terms to prevent any resumption of bloodshed.” [Press Release]
Federal Prosecutor Stepping Down — “Jessica D. Aber said she will resign as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia upon President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, capping a term leading a high-profile office that was shaped by prosecutions of terrorism cases, violent gang crimes and leaks of classified documents.” [Washington Post]
Record Gun Haul for TSA — “Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport were two of the four airports in Virginia to set new records for detecting firearms at security checkpoints, according to the Transportation Security Administration… TSA officers at Washington National detected 41 in 2024, which was two more than the 39 stopped in 2023.” [Patch]
Expect Crowds at Local Airports — “Passengers at Reagan National and Dulles International Airports should be prepared for additional crowds and congestion from Friday, January 17, through Tuesday, January 21. The 2025 presidential inauguration is expected to bring an influx of passengers to both Washington, D.C., airports.” [MWAA]
Pike Spot Makes ‘Hand Pie’ List — “Ask the Mpanadas crew about their favorite handhelds, and fissures suddenly appear within the tight-knit co-founders of the Latin American restaurant. Husband and wife Jesse Correa and Paola Herbas prefer feasting on tangy barbecue pork and pico de gallo-zapped sausage, egg and cheese, respectively, while marketing whiz Gabriela Rojas remains firmly entrenched in the cheeseburger camp.” [Washington Post]
More Cold and Possible Snow — “Next week, a lobe of the polar vortex will plunge into the Lower 48 states, delivering a brutal blast of Arctic air. The chill will arrive in the District on Sunday, setting the stage for the coldest presidential inauguration since President Ronald Reagan’s in 1985. Some snow is possible Sunday as the cold air moves in, and there may be more opportunities for frozen precipitation next week.” [Capital Weather Gang]
It’s Thursday — There’s a 30% chance of snow showers after 1pm, with increasing clouds and a high near 34 degrees. Expect a south wind of 3 to 8 mph. In the evening, it’ll be cloudy before gradually clearing, and the temperature will drop to around 25 degrees. A calm wind will become northwest at 5 to 8 mph later in the night. [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 — Jan 15, 2025.
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
There’s a 30% chance of snow showers after 1pm, with increasing clouds and a high near 34 degrees. Expect a south wind of 3 to 8 mph. In the evening, it’ll be cloudy before gradually clearing, and the temperature will drop to around 25 degrees. A calm wind will become northwest at 5 to 8 mph later in the night. See more from Weather.gov.
“Creativity is intelligence having fun.”
– Albert Einstein
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.
