Pumpkins for sale at the Whole Foods in Clarendon in September 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Signs of fall abound around Arlington.
Oktoberfest beers and pumpkin spice lattes have been on offer at local stores and cafes for a little while now. Kids are back in school and fall sports are underway. The weather has turned cooler following long stretches of blast furnace heat. We’re now past Labor Day, considered the unofficial end of summer. Most summer vacations have ended and many commutes are getting longer. And, technically, it is now meteorological fall.
On the other hand, there are also signs that summer is hanging on.
The traditional Labor Day closure of many local pools has been pushed back by a week or two. Some folks are still on their Labor Day vacations. The NFL regular season has not started yet. Temperatures in the 80s are expected this week. Astronomical fall doesn’t start until Sept. 22. And, typically, ARLnow’s daily readership does not recover from its summer doldrums until the week after Labor Day (this is also true about rush hour traffic, which will get worse next week.)
Given these contrasting signals, we’re wondering whether our readers consider us now to be in the fall season — or if it comes later.
Capitol Hill and the Pentagon, seen through construction fencing along Columbia Pike (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Video: Police Response at Mall — Video posted on social media shows heavily armed police officers in the Pentagon City mall after a smash-and-grab robbery that some 911 callers initially mistook for an active shooter incident. [Twitter]
Another Pentagon City Incident — From Dave Statter: “[Arlington police] officers believe a person in the blue car had just escaped from security at Target two blocks back on Army-Navy Drive. One of many shoplifters who frequent the store. The goods were left behind but not before the suspect apparently claimed he had a gun. The driver took off when officers approached. With no verified weapon or robbery the pursuit was ended as the car sped into DC.” [Twitter]
Trump Response to Cemetery Controversy — “Donald Trump’s campaign issued a statement Sunday from the Gold Star military families who invited him to Arlington National Cemetery as they defended the Republican presidential nominee and insisted that Vice President Kamala Harris is the candidate politicizing fallen U.S. service members.” [Associated Press]
Road Closures for Upcoming 5K — “The 22nd Annual Arlington Police, Fire, Sheriff, & ECC 9/11 Memorial 5k race will take place on the evening of Saturday, September 7, 2024. The Arlington County Police Department will close the following roadways around the Pentagon and in Crystal City to accommodate the event.” [ACPD]
New CEO for Arlington Company — “Matt Hulett, the former president of language learning mainstay Rosetta Stone Inc., has been tapped as the new CEO of Arlington online education firm StraighterLine Inc. Hulett replaces Heather Combs as StraighterLine’s chief exec. Combs left StraighterLine in January, according to her LinkedIn profile, and is today the CEO of Ripple, a crew optimization platform for the maritime industry.” [Washington Business Journal]
High School Football Kicks Off — “It took an extra day – because storms postponed their opening game – but the Yorktown Patriots began the 2024 varsity football season Aug. 30 with a lopsided victory. Yorktown won comfortably on the road, defeating the Woodson Cavaliers, 44-27, in a non-district contest in Fairfax.” [Gazette Leader]
It’s Tuesday — Expect sunshine and a high near 75, accompanied by a gentle 6-8 mph northeast wind. As nighttime falls on Tuesday, watch for increasing clouds and a low around 56. [NWS]
The wait is almost over! This weekend, the heart of Clarendon transforms into an open-air gallery for the 12th Annual Arlington Festival of the Arts and Craft Marketplace.
Whether you’re hunting for the perfect piece to complete your living room, looking for unique handmade jewelry, or just wanting to enjoy a beautiful spring weekend surrounded by creativity, this is the place to be.
Stroll through booths featuring stunning, handmade-in-the-USA artwork—all rigorously vetted by HAE to ensure top-tier quality. Their artists have traveled from near and far to showcase a breathtaking variety of mediums, including:
Police are investigating gunfire in the Arlington View neighborhood, along Columbia Pike.
The shots were fired just before 2 p.m. along the 1200 block of S. Ross Street, near the Trove Apartments and the edge of Army Navy Country Club. There are no reports of anyone or anything being struck by the gunfire, though initial reports suggest that the shooting might have targeted at least one person who later talked with police.
Is your summer camp calendar still open? Consider Art House 7 for your kids, a creative, well-loved space with a fabulous range of quality summer camps for ages 5-14. Your kids will love the imaginative themes and fun teachers. We’ll be making pottery, painting, drawing, printmaking, and sculpting. Among our camp themes: modern masters of art, “green” art, animals, fairytales, and folk stories. Our weekly camps are morning or afternoon, Monday-Friday.
Art House 7 is near the Lee Harrison Shopping Center in Arlington. We have a 2-story studio and free parking.
Aftermath of smash-and-grab robbery at Pentagon City mall (courtesy Steve Brusk)
A robbery at the Pentagon City mall Sunday afternoon caused a panic that sent shoppers fleeing and prompted a massive police response.
The incident started around 3:30 p.m. after Arlington County police received multiple reports of shots fired and smoke seen inside the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City. Arriving officers found people running from the mall and broken glass in front of the Tourneau watch and jewelry store.
Gathering was held outdoors for the second straight year
The Optimist Club of Arlington hosted its annual Coaches Night Out under the outdoor pavilion at the Knights of Columbus on Aug. 28 for the second straight summer.
Patchy drizzle expected before 10am, followed by possible showers after 5pm and fog before 9am. Gradual clearing to mostly sunny skies with a high near 87 and a south wind at 3-7 mph. The evening brings a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms, primarily between 8pm and 5am, with mostly cloudy conditions and a low around 72. South wind will be around 6 mph before becoming light and variable after midnight. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“The only thing standing between you and your goal is the story you keep telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it.” – Jordan Belfort
We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋
Investigation involving bomb squad underway in Westover in August 2024 (staff photo by Jared Serre)
Arlington police, firefighters and the county’s bomb squad conducted a major investigation in the Westover neighborhood today.
Law enforcement personnel, some in heavy protective gear, could be seen hauling items out of the Fisher House Apartments at 5705 Washington Blvd. Shortly before 3:45 p.m., an arrest was announced in connection to the case.
Say hello to the perfect snuggle buddy and the newest Adoptable Pet of the Week!
Fiona is a brown and white adult dog up for adoption through the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. This girl is currently at the shelter while she awaits her forever home.
