Around Town

Shortly after California Tortilla closed in Courthouse last month, another restaurant has opened in its place.

Offering casual “American and Mexican food” at affordable prices, Wilson Great Eats is currently soft opening at 2057 Wilson Blvd, next to Brooklyn Bagel Bakery. The restaurant is owned by the same family that previously operated California Tortilla, employees told ARLnow.


Around Town

With thick blankets and twinkling lights, a Crystal City oyster and cocktail bar is attempting to capture the charm of a cozy ski lodge this winter.

Water Bar is debuting après-ski themed decorations alongside its seasonal treats this month at Water Park (1601 Crystal Drive). The wintry decor accompanies the park’s ongoing cold-weather activities.


News

The Arlington County Board’s newest member is asking supporters for assistance in paying off remaining campaign debt.

JD Spain, Sr., who took out $32,000 in loans a few weeks before the Democratic primary in June, emailed supporters on Dec. 30 asking them to contribute to a “final push” for funding. As of the end of December, Spain told ARLnow, he had paid off 85% of campaign loans.


News

The safety of residents is on the minds of Arlington  law enforcement following last week’s terror attack and the upcoming presidential inauguration.

There are currently no known threats in the county, ACPD spokesperson Kiyah Daniell confirmed with ARLnow. However, residents should expect to see increased law enforcement presence in Arlington around the swearing-in ceremony for President-elect Donald Trump on Monday, Jan. 20.


Event

Join the Rosslyn BID and Arlington Arts at the 34th Rosslyn Jazz Fest 2026 featuring live jazz, food trucks, local vendors, and family-friendly activities in the heart of Rosslyn! This year’s lineup is bringing a diverse mix of performers and bands redefining the jazz music genre including Plena Libre, Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, Parlor Greens, and Dogo du Togo & the Alagaa Beat Band.


News

An update to the Falls Church Bicycle Master Plan has the potential to remake some city streets.

But only if there is more effort put into turning aspirations to reality than has been the case with the existing plan, adopted in 2015, according to some members of a key advisory panel.


News
Rosslyn Plaza’s Christmas tree stands adorned with snow (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Feds, County Both Open — The federal government and Arlington County government are both opening on time today. Arlington Public Schools, like other Northern Virginia districts, is closed — though D.C. schools are open. [Twitter, Twitter, ARLnow]

Snow Removal Now in Phase 4 — From Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services: “County winter storm response has shifted to Phase 4: aka ‘the cleanup.’ Areas still needing attention can be flagged for crews with the online form, which also includes other contact options.” [Twitter]

Falls Church Trash Pickup Delayed — “No curbside services will be provided on Wednesday, January 8. Services for trash, recycling, yard waste, and curbside composting will be provided on Thursday, January 9.” [City of Falls Church]

Rosslyn Offices Change Hands — “After defaulting on loans in 2023, Monday Properties has lost a seven-building Rosslyn office portfolio, including the marquee two-building project known as The Towers, to Beacon Capital Partners. The details about what happened aren’t clear, but multiple sources confirm that Monday is out.” [WBJ]

Public Safety Encryption Bill — From Dave Statter: “As a strong believer in government transparency – particularly public safety agencies – I’m happy to report that Del. Marcus Simon introduced a bill to look at law-enforcement radio encryption in Virginia.” [Twitter]

It’s Wednesday — Expect partly sunny skies with a high near 30 degrees, and a west wind ranging between 10-14 mph, gusting up to 24 mph. The night will be partly cloudy with temperatures dropping to around 17 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind of 10-14 mph, gusting as high as 22 mph. [NWS]


Around Town

Good Tuesday 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 — Jan 7, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

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

🌤️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect partly sunny skies with a high near 30 degrees, and a west wind ranging between 10-14 mph, gusting up to 24 mph. The night will be partly cloudy with temperatures dropping to around 17 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind of 10-14 mph, gusting as high as 22 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”
– Aristotle Onassis

🌅 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.


Schools

Arlington Public Schools students will enjoy their third snow day in a row Wednesday.

APS parents, meanwhile, will have their kids at home for yet another day. They’ve been off since Dec. 20, the last day of classes before winter break.


Sports

Led by Grace Armitage for the girls and Travon Buckner for the boys, Wakefield High School teams posted strong showings at a recent track-and-field meet.

The boys team placed third and the girls fourth at a multi-team indoor meet at Episcopal High School in Alexandria.