News

(Updated at 9:55 p.m. on 2/3/23) A coalition of parents will be marching on Friday at Wakefield High School to encourage students not to use drugs and to demand a countywide response to in-school opioid use.

The planned silent demonstration responds to an apparent drug overdose on school grounds discovered yesterday morning (Tuesday). An unconscious student was found in a boys bathroom and taken to the hospital in critical condition. Medics evaluated four additional kids at the school and students were released early so police could conduct an investigation.


News

Renovations to a pair of office buildings in Crystal City, including the construction of a new pedestrian plaza, are set to wrap up this spring.

Work kicked off last year at the Century Center towers, located at the intersection of Crystal Drive and S. Clark Street. Some older retail space between the buildings, previously known as Century One (2450 Crystal Drive) and Century Two (2461 S. Clark Street), was torn down to make room for the plaza.


Sponsored

Tucked into the rolling hills of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival blends world-class music with small-town charm and breathtaking scenery. Held at historic Shrine Mont in Orkney Springs, this beloved summer tradition has brought live performances to the region for over six decades.

Each summer, audiences gather under the stars at the Festival’s open-air pavilion, surrounded by mountain views and fresh country air. As the sun sets over the Blue Ridge Mountains and the first notes rise, the setting becomes as memorable as the music.

The Festival offers a diverse lineup, from country and classic rock to Americana and symphonic performances, featuring nationally recognized artists in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.

This season’s lineup includes:

  • July 17 – Little River Band
  • July 18 – The Four Tops
  • July 24 – Diamond Rio (with special guest Voth)
  • July 25 – The LSO Big Band: A Big Band Birthday Celebrating America’s 250th
  • August 7 – Original Beach Boy Al Jardine & The Pet Sounds Band: A Tribute to Brian Wilson
  • August 8 – The Bacon Brothers: People In The World Tour
  • September 5 – Hotel California: The Original Eagles Tribute
  • September 6 – Hot Strings & Cool Breezes Americana Minifest, featuring:
    • Michael Cleveland & Jason Carter
    • Josh & Jenee of The Wood Box Heroes

(more…)


Around Town

After nearly four decades, Rincome Thai is set to serve its last pad thai this month.

The Columbia Pike mainstay is closing up shop in the coming weeks, co-owner Mihee Pansiri confirmed to ARLnow.


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.


News

Nearly six months after a rideshare vehicle plowed into Ireland’s Four Courts, seriously injuring several patrons and sparking a devastating fire, work is starting on its eventual reopening.

Following roof repairs last week, a weeklong interior demolition process is getting underway today, Four Courts managing partner Dave Cahill tells ARLnow.


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.


Opinion

Much has been written about Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter and what that means for the platform.

One thing we know for sure is all that drama caused interest in the open-source social network Mastodon to spike. Many who have tried out the network have not stuck around, and there’s skepticism about whether any new Twitter-like network will be able to supplant the original, but nonetheless some recent developments point to potential staying power for Mastodon.


News

Parenthood Is Expensive in Arlington — “Parents in Arlington County with young children are spending about 15.8 percent of their income on child care, according to a new report that calls prices “untenable for families,” even for those who live in areas where rates are lower. That’s about $27,220 a year in 2022 dollars, according to the National Database of Childcare Prices.” [Patch]

Narcan Training Today — From the Arlington Dept. of Human Service: “Special Narcan Training: Wednesday, Feb. 1. Drop in any time between 6 and 7:30 p.m. Learn how to administer it and get your free Naloxone!” [Twitter]


Around Town

(Updated at 5:20 p.m.) Two local chefs have been named semifinalists for a prestigious James Beard award.

Rahman “Rock” Harper of Queen Mother’s Fried Chicken on Columbia Pike and Kevin Tien, owner of Hot Lola’s in Rosslyn and Ballston, were both recognized as semifinalists for “Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic” in this year’s James Beard awards. The nominations were announced last week.


News

(Updated at 2:40 p.m.) The Ballston and East Falls Church Metro stations are among those set to be impacted by a multi-week closure starting in June.

WMATA recently announced that it is planning to shut down a significant portion of the Orange Line during the summer for “system maintenance and modernization.”