Around Town

Presidents Day weekend is upon us and if you’re new to town or have visitors to entertain, you might be seeking some ideas for things to do around Arlington.

There’s no shortage of tourism and restaurant guides out there, but we decided to pose the question to ChatGPT, the AI chatbot, and request a daily itinerary.


News

Smart Parking Pilot Vendor Selected — “eleven-x, a global leader providing complete, high-performance, wireless IoT and Smart City solutions, today announced it was selected by Arlington County, Virginia for one of the largest municipal smart parking installations in North America.” [Press Release, CBC]

DARPA Lease Renewal — “The GSA has also forwarded a new lease for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, headquartered at 675 N. Randolph St. in Ballston… Under the current lease, which expires in December 2026, DARPA pays $14.3 million annually. The new 20-year lease is estimated to cost $13.8 million a year.” [Washington Business Journal]


Sponsored

May is Business Appreciation Month,, and the BizLaunch team is recognizing Arlington’s small business community with opportunities to connect, learn and discover new pathways for growth. Entrepreneurs are invited to take part in two upcoming events designed to foster collaboration and open doors to new business opportunities.

AANHPI Entrepreneurs Gather for Brunch and Business: Power in Unity

Arlington’s Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) business community will come together for Brunch and Business: Power in Unity on Monday, May 18, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, 2799 Richmond Hwy. in Arlington.

Hosted by Arlington Economic Development’s BizLaunch team, the event brings AANHPI entrepreneurs, small business advocates and community leaders together for conversation, connection and shared learning. Guided by the theme Power in Unity, the gathering highlights how diverse cultures, perspectives and experiences strengthen Arlington’s small business ecosystem.

Attendees will hear from four local business owners during a moderated panel discussion, engage in meaningful dialogue and expand their professional networks. The event is designed to foster collaboration, celebrate AANHPI leadership and support continued growth across Arlington’s business community.

Continue the Momentum: Learn How to Do Business with GSA (more…)


Announcement

Local rising kindergartener, Phin, has advanced to the Top 5 in his group in the national Jr. Ranger Contest, a competition that celebrates children who are passionate about nature, wildlife, and exploration. After making it through earlier rounds with strong community support, Phin is now in 4th place and working toward the top spot needed to move on to the quarterfinals.

The contest encourages kids to engage with the outdoors and highlights their curiosity and love for learning about the natural world. For Phin and his family, this experience has been both exciting and meaningful, made even more special by the encouragement from friends, neighbors, and the broader community.


Event

Join us for the 12th Arlington Triathlon in Memory of Anne Viviani. This youth-only swim-bike-run event for ages 7-15 takes place Sunday, June 7th at Washington-Liberty Aquatics Center. It features a time-trial pool swim, a circuit bike course on closed streets, and an on-road run to the finish on the track. For registration, sponsorship information and more, please visit our website at www.triathlonfamilyusa.com. The race benefits the Arlington Triathlon Club, Arlington’s award-winning, elementary school-based multi-sport training program, the longest-running youth triathlon program of its kind in the country.


Schools

The following report was funded, in part, by the ARLnow Press Club. Become a member today and support in-depth local journalism.

From 2019 until 2022, there were no reported juvenile overdoses on Arlington Public Schools grounds. In the first six weeks of 2023, there have been three, including one that was fatal.


News

(Updated on 2/17/23) A ramp from S. Glebe Road to I-395 was blocked Thursday afternoon due to a report of a man with a gun.

Shortly before 3:30 p.m., a 911 caller told police that another driver was pointing a long gun at them after a crash. Numerous Arlington County police units rushed to the scene, detained those involved and are now sorting out what exactly happened.


News

(Updated at 3:50 p.m.) When Arlington Economic Development tried to help a local tech business take advantage of a county tax incentive program some 2.5 years ago, it hit a snag.

The Commissioner of Revenue denied the company’s application to be recognized as a “qualified technology business,” per a county report. Under this designation, as part of the county’s “Technology Zone” program, it would have paid half the rate normal rate for the Business, Professional, Occupational License (BPOL) tax.


Schools

Arlington Public Schools is changing the way it verifies that students live within the county and will unenroll students who live outside its boundaries.

The new Home Address Confirmation Process is aimed at updating, improving and systematizing how APS keeps track of where students live. Individual schools used to conduct home checks and review proofs of residency, such as leases, as necessary when there were concerns about a family’s living situation.


Traffic

Safety signage and markings are coming this spring to a long-troubled intersection near Lubber Run Community Center.

The intersection of N. Park Drive and N. George Mason Drive in the Arlington Forest neighborhood will be getting updated signage and street markings reading “SLOW SCHOOL XING” within the next few months, a county official has confirmed to ARLnow.