News

A busy road is closed, multiple schools have closed, and a boil water advisory is in effect after a large water main break.

The break happened in a 16-inch water main early Friday morning — before 6 a.m. — near the intersection of S. Walter Reed Drive and S. Randolph Street, sending a large amount of water down the hill to S. Four Mile Run Drive.


News
Towering clouds yesterday, as seen from Arlington (courtesy Gale Harris)

House Explosion Update Today — “Arlington County, along with federal law enforcement partners, will provide an update on the investigative findings into the December 4, 2023 home explosion on N. Burlington Street. The press conference will be streamed live on Arlington County Government’s YouTube channel.” [Arlington County]

APS Budget Discussion — From former School Board member Barbara Kanninen: “Flashy headline from our friends at the Gazette Leader — APS on road to a $1B budget! Increasing by 26% over next 10 years! Another way of putting it: APS budget anticipated to increase by exactly the Fed’s estimated 10-year inflation rate.” [Twitter, Gazette Leader]

Local Happy Hours — “Sometimes there’s nothing like capping the end of a long workday—or just a day—with a cold drink and a warm bite to eat. Whether you’re on the hunt for $4 brisket dumplings or wallet-friendly cocktails on the patio, here are some great places to visit for boozy bargains and late afternoon snack specials.” [Arlington Magazine]

Hot Car Reminder — From the Animal Welfare League of Arlington: “Summer has arrived here in Arlington, so we need to remind our community about the dangers of leaving pets in cars. DO NOT leave your pets in the car when the temperature is over 65 degrees outside. If you see a pet in a car on a hot day, please call AWLA at (703) 931-9241.” [Twitter]

Cybersecurity Clinic at GMU Law — ” The National Security Institute’s Cyber and Tech Center (CTC) at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School and Howard University School of Business (HUSB) have been selected to receive $1 million in support from Google’s Cybersecurity Clinics Fund to establish the NSI CTC – HUSB Cybersecurity Clinic.” [Press Release]

Gun Buyback This Weekend — “Local residents will be able to receive upwards of $250 in gift cards as part of a gun buyback this weekend. The drive-thru event, held at Arlington Assembly of God church at 4501 N. Pershing Drive in Buckingham, will run from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, June 8.” [ARLnow]

It’s Friday — Expect mostly sunny conditions with a high near 83 and west winds between 5 to 10 mph. For Friday night, it will be mostly clear with a low around 60 and west winds at 6 to 9 mph. [NWS]


Sponsored

This column is sponsored by Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

Arlington’s Four Mile Run corridor is home to an inspiring new happening. The new art market called SPARK! launches on Sunday, May 3, 2026, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and continues every first Sunday of the month through November.

A fun inclusive outdoor market with handpicked art and food vendors and programming including poetry, music and art making, it’s the kickoff activity for the new outdoor venue 2700 Art Space, located at 2700 S. Nelson St., Arlington, Virginia 22206. Meet your neighbors, build community and be inspired.

At the first event, “Spark” your creativity with a smooth jolt of coffee from Rossana Coffee. Browse the stacks at the mobile bookstore Wandering Shelf. Get a massage from the licensed therapists from Zen27 Healing and Body Works. Peruse artwork by artists David Amoroso, Kate Rosendale or the printmakers and ceramicists from The Studios at Arlington Arts. Have a poem composed especially for you at The Poet is IN booth. Stop by Tigerflight and put the squeeze on a plush animal made from repurposed wool sweaters. Enjoy a Thai-inspired dessert from Mango Mama while listening to tropical sounds from the DJ’s of Leon City Sounds! Every month will offer something new and unusual. Visit the website for the full list!

Artist Roxana Alger Geffen will be the interactive artist at the first SPARK! bringing her popular Arlington Art Truck project “Patch or Swap: A Textile Rescue Lab” to the market! Fans of the Art Truck, which brought artists-in-residence to every corner of the County from 2018 through 2025, will be glad to know that SPARK! is curated with a similar vision by Arlington Arts’ programming team including Special Projects Curator, Cynthia Connolly.

Located adjacent to Jennie Dean Park, busy auto repair shops, a food assistance outlet and one of the region’s most popular “destination” dog parks, it is only a four-minute walk across Four Mile Run to the Tony Award-winning Signature Theater. The area is bustling all day.

Anchored by SPARK!, the venue now known as 2700 Art Space is at the nexus of several communities. It’s directly opposite Arlington Arts’ headquarters featuring Theatre On the Run, an 90-seat black box theater, rehearsal rooms, dance studios, and new printmaking and ceramics studios for the resident artists of The Studios at Arlington Arts (formerly LAC Arts Center on Langston Boulevard), which will hold its Spring Show and Sale on Saturday, May 2.

Music and merch aren’t the only types of art that will surround you at SPARK! As shown in this reel, even the tables and benches are fun! Film nights and other activities are in the making for the fall, and two works of temporary public art are currently being installed. Artist Adam Henry is creating a 10-foot tall sculpture of a golden retriever replete with a QR-code dog collar inviting you to upload selfies and stories about your pets. Directly adjacent to the outdoor space (on three sides of the Arlington Arts headquarters at 3700 S. Four Mile Run Dr.) will be a sweeping new mural by nationally acclaimed artist MasPaz. Both works grew out of a special Artist In Residence (AIR) Grant from Arlington Arts, made possible by a top-tier award from the National Endowment for the Arts, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Visit our website for more information about SPARK!


Around Town

Good Thursday 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 — Jun 6, 2024.

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Friday’s forecast

Expect mostly sunny conditions with a high near 83 and west winds between 5 to 10 mph. For Friday night, it will be mostly clear with a low around 60 and west winds at 6 to 9 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
– Wayne Gretzky

🌅 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.


Announcement

The Rosslyn Farmers Market brings fresh, locally grown food to the heart of the neighborhood on Wednesdays from 2-6 p.m. beginning on May 6. Located at Central Place Plaza (1800 N Lynn St) and operated in partnership with FRESHFARM, this thoughtfully curated mid-week market connects the community with regional farmers and food producers offering seasonal produce, baked goods, ready-to-eat items, and other local essentials.

Just steps from the Rosslyn Metro station, the market is a convenient destination for Arlington residents, commuters, and visitors searching for a farmers market near Washington, D.C. From farm-fresh vegetables to artisanal breads, the Rosslyn Farmers Market makes it easy to restock your pantry or fridge with dinner-ready staples right in the middle of the workweek.


News

A food delivery driver has been arrested and charged with a pair of felonies after a serious hit-and-run pedestrian crash last month.

Police say 33-year-old Ronnell Blakeney was arrested Wednesday and is now in jail, facing charges of Aggravated Malicious Wounding and Felony Hit and Run. They say that Blakeney struck the victim with his car during a dispute over Blakeney allegedly driving too fast in the neighborhood.


Event

Join us at Surfside Tenleytown for a Cinco de Mayo celebration you won’t want to miss! 🌮✨ An event for the whole family! Enjoy classic margaritas, Happy Hour specials, and buy two, get one free tacos (all day, dine-in only), along with face painting and balloon twisting from 3:30–7:30pm and live music from 5–10pm. Reserve your table today on Resy!


News

Though media reports are buzzing with tales of an invasive, parachuting arachnid with four-inch legs, the Joro spider doesn’t appear to have landed yet in Arlington.

The bug, a native of East Asia introduced to Georgia in the 2010s, has generated headlines across the Eastern seaboard this week. Though of minimal threat to humans, the creature’s size and its spiderlings’ habit of gliding for miles on strands of web have raised cries of disgust and alarm.


Weather

Arlington County and most of the D.C. area is now under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

Arlington is at a lower risk of severe storms than points to the south and east, according to the National Weather Service, but is nonetheless included in the watch, along with D.C. and neighboring Virginia counties.


Events

It will be a busy summer at George Mason University’s Virginia Square campus.

Joining the slate of events held at The Plaza at Mason Square — located at 3351 Fairfax Drive — this year is an outdoor music series, as well as a reading series and weekly tai chi.


News

The company managing a residential space in a Crystal City office building has filed for bankruptcy.

Common Living — the company in charge of the Common co-living space at 2221 S. Clark Street — filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Friday, indicating plans to liquidate its assets. All company operations have been suspended, according to a news release.


Around Town

Arlington’s food scene never stops evolving.

In recent weeks and months, plans have been made to not only revive a once-popular local watering hole but also to welcome new outposts of some national and local restaurant groups.