Around Town

Good Friday 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 — Aug 30, 2024.

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  1. NEW: Man armed with rifle robbed people of watches in Pentagon City (15028 views)
  2. Arlington man, 22, killed in Sterling double homicide ‘never held a grudge’ (14597 views)
  3. Bikers swarm Arlington, rumbling past startled Rosslyn restaurant patrons (13701 views)
  4. NEW: Donald Trump makes stops at Arlington National Cemetery and Eden Center (13419 views)
  5. After 56 years in business, a film and camera shop in Falls Church is closing (12134 views)
  6. Fire in strip mall prompts Glebe Road closure (9756 views)
  7. Driver cited after striking teen near Washington-Liberty HS (7832 views)
  8. Falls Church Festival, now in 48th year, returns next month (7027 views)
  9. Photos: Arlington crowds deliver hero’s welcome to Olympic gold medalist Torri Huske (6545 views)
  10. Yorktown High School alumna earns prestigious public service scholarship (6364 views)
  11. RNC hosts event in Clarendon to train volunteer voter fraud lookouts (5397 views)
  12. ACPD: Two officers injured by theft suspect in Pentagon City (4501 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

Here are the events planned for Sunday:

🌦️ Saturday’s forecast

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

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

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. 👋


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News

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.


Announcement

ConnectJew LIVE! is a social discovery night where 20+ local Jewish organizations, clubs, dinners, and communities come together so you can explore the DMV young adult Jewish scene in one evening. A mixer for Jewish life, friends, and community — meet people, discover social clubs, find Shabbat dinners, and plug in at whatever level feels right. Tickets required; exact address sent 24 hours before the event (Metro Center / Chinatown area).


Event

Join us for Pike Fest, Columbia Pike’s signature fall festival, on Saturday, October 10!

Celebrate everything that makes Columbia Pike one of Arlington’s most vibrant and diverse communities with an afternoon full of live music, delicious food, family fun, and local shopping. From incredible restaurants and food vendors to artisan makers, community organizations, and small businesses, Pike Fest is your chance to experience the very best of the Pike all in one place.


Around Town

A longstanding auto repair shop and attached gas station along Langston Blvd have shuttered.

Westover Service Center and the Liberty gas station at 5618 Langston Blvd have closed “for good,” according to a sign affixed to the convenience store door.


Around Town

The Liberty Tavern is closed as it undergoes maintenance on the floors and ceilings, among other repairs.

The Clarendon mainstay, open for 17 years, will reopen in about two weeks — around mid-September — after floors, ceiling tiles and bathroom surfaces are updated, co-owner Stephen Fedorchak told ARLnow.


Opinion

Aside from the week between Christmas and New Year’s, the Friday before Labor Day is one of the quietest days of the year in the D.C. area.

Many are on vacation, but even those still here and working might be, well, checked out for the weekend. On top of that, there’s no school today for Arlington Public Schools and, traditionally, it’s a very slow day for readership on ARLnow.


News
The cloudline is illuminated by the setting sun as storm clouds move over Ballston (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Labor Day Holiday Closures — County government offices, courts, community centers, schools and other facilities will be closed Monday for the Labor Day holiday. Parking meters will not be enforced. But trash and recycling will be collected as usual. [Arlington County]

Survey Supports Deer Sharpshooting — “Maybe there has been a major change of opinion. Or maybe it was just a different group of people responding. But a new survey of residents by the Arlington County government, focused on the best ways to control the deer population in the county, has come out strongly in favor of the government’s preferred option.” [Gazette Leader]

More Trump Cemetery Fallout — From Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.): “Our local community knows the Arlington National Cemetery is a place of respect, and attacking people here who are just doing their jobs to protect the dignity of one our most hallowed sites is beyond the pale.” [Twitter, Axios]

Police Investigating Armed Robbery — “At approximately 10:45 p.m. on August 28, police were dispatched to the report of an armed robbery. Upon arrival it was determined that the two female victims were each at their parked vehicles when the male suspect approached Victim One, brandished a firearm and stole her cash. The suspect then approached Victim Two, brandished a firearm and demanded cash. Victim Two yelled and the suspect fled the scene on foot. No injuries were reported.” [ACPD]

Change in Ordinance Wording — “One outgrowth of the Arlington County Board’s Aug. 27 rewrite of its human-rights ordinance was to exorcise the word ‘handicapped’ and replace it with ‘disabled’ throughout the text. The latter word is seen as more appropriate today than the former, County Board member Matt de Ferranti said.” [Gazette Leader]

Airport Catering Layoffs — “LSG Sky Chefs Americas, a caterer and retail provider operating in the aviation industry, plans to lay off 100 workers based out of its office near Reagan National Airport in Arlington. According to a WARN notice filed with the Virginia Employment Commission, Sky Chefs Inc. will terminate the jobs by the end of September.” [Washington Business Journal]

New Owner for Local Restaurant — “Panagiotis Fotopoulos, the new owner of the region’s storied Anthony’s Restaurant on Annandale Road just outside the City of Falls Church, has been running the establishment since June 1 while the long-time previous owners, Tony and Fay Yannionakis, after 52 years running the restaurant, have been taking their first-ever extended visit to their Greek place of birth.” [Falls Church News-Press]

It’s Friday — Showers and possible thunderstorms are expected after 2pm, with otherwise cloudy skies and a high temperature near 78 degrees, accompanied by an east wind blowing at 6 to 9 mph. There is a 30% chance of precipitation. As for Friday night, there is another 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mostly before 8pm, with mostly cloudy skies and a low of around 70 degrees. [NWS]


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 — Aug 29, 2024.

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛈️ Friday’s forecast

Showers and possible thunderstorms are expected after 2pm, with a cloudy sky and a high temperature near 78 degrees, accompanied by an east wind blowing at 6 to 9 mph. There is a 30% chance of precipitation. As for Friday night, there is a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, followed by a slight chance of showers. The sky will be mostly cloudy with a low temperature around 70 degrees and an east wind at 3 to 7 mph, also having a 30% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.”
– Oprah Winfrey

🌅 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.