The Village at Shirlington is planning to host another yacht-themed party this June to kick off the summer season.
The neighborhood is bringing back last year’s nautical bash “by popular demand.” Guests are invited to dress up and partake in the neighborhood shopping center’s sip and stroll policy, while enjoying live yacht rock and dining specials around 2700 S. Quincy Street.
The Washington-Liberty High School crew team gathered April 18 at Columbia Island Marina to celebrate the christening of the girls’ newest eight-person-plus-coxswain racing shell.
It’s named in honor of distinguished alumna and rowing pioneer Ellie Cochran.
When Maripili O’Connell launched Sun & Honey Grazing in spring 2026, she set out to do more than create beautiful charcuterie boards. Her goal was to make it easier for people to gather, celebrate and connect.
Based in Arlington, Sun & Honey Grazing creates custom charcuterie boards and grazing tables for events ranging from intimate family gatherings to corporate celebrations. Using fresh, thoughtfully selected ingredients, O’Connell handles the shopping, preparation and presentation, allowing hosts to focus on spending time with their guests.
“I really just want to help people gather more often by taking one more thing off their plate,” O’Connell said.
Although she officially launched the business this year, O’Connell began testing the concept during the 2025 holiday season. After spending her career in the corporate world, she turned to Arlington Economic Development’s BizLaunch program for guidance on navigating entrepreneurship.
“From the first day I walked into BizLaunch with just an idea, they supported me every step of the way,” she said.
Through BizLaunch, O’Connell connected with mentors, educational programs and organizations including the Latino Economic Development Center and SCORE. The experience helped her understand everything from licensing and business planning to marketing and networking.
One lesson, shared by a mentor through LEDC, continues to guide her approach today: Don’t wait for perfection.
“You can’t sell a product you haven’t tested,” she recalled. That advice encouraged her to launch, gather feedback and refine her offerings based on what customers wanted.
For O’Connell, the most memorable moments often have little to do with food itself. One customer in Colombia contacted her to send a sympathy board to a cousin in Maryland after the loss of a loved one. When the recipient shared how much comfort the gesture provided, O’Connell was reminded of the deeper purpose behind her work.
“Sometimes a charcuterie board becomes a way to say, ‘I’m thinking of you,’ ‘I love you,’ or ‘I’m here for you,” she said.
As an Arlington resident, O’Connell says the community was the natural place to build her business. Her neighbors became some of her first customers, helping spread the word and providing encouragement along the way.
Looking ahead, she hopes Sun & Honey Grazing becomes a trusted part of life’s milestones, from baby showers and quinceañeras to milestone birthdays and company celebrations. She is also expanding beyond catering through community-focused events, including a Paint, Sip & Graze experience this fall and upcoming charcuterie workshops.
“Creating beautiful boards is something I enjoy,” O’Connell said. “But what excites me most is creating opportunities for people to gather.”
For more information about Sun & Honey Grazing visit: www.sunandhoneygrazing.com or their Instagram page at @sunandhoneygrazing. For more information about BizLaunch visit www.bizlaunch.org and sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on small business resources in Arlington.
Arlington’s trusted pediatricians offer professional, compassionate care for children all the way from those first checkups on newborns to teenage sports physicals.
Here are the nominees for “Best Pediatrician in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.
Did we miss your favorite pediatrician? Write them in!
Voting will close in two weeks.
Voting for Best Electrician Serving Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 8:30 a.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Plumber Serving Arlington. The results are now official:
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).
PopUp Bagels is rolling into Ballston, joining an unusually crowded field of friendly bagel rivals in the neighborhood that had previously gone years without any such businesses.
The national bagel franchise, known for its unique “rip and dip” approach, confirmed it is planning a new shop at 4300 Wilson Blvd, where Which Wich closed. It’s a carb-heavy coincidence, as the storefront — now decked out in PopUp Bagels’ branded signs — is located within a mile of two other incoming bagel shops: Call Your Mother (4000 Wilson Blvd) and Bagel Uprising (901 N. Glebe Road).
Join us for a free, Virtual Home Buyer Seminar designed to help you feel informed, prepared, & confident as you consider buying a home in the months ahead. With more than half of 2026 behind us, now is a great time to take a closer look at where the housing market stands, what’s changed this year, and what buyers should know heading into the fall.
Whether you’re a first-time buyer, thinking about upsizing or downsizing, or simply looking for clarity on your options, this seminar will walk you through what’s happening in today’s market and how to position yourself for success.
The County Board has taken a step toward considering potential historic status for the Melwood site, despite vigorous opposition from the development team’s attorney.
Board members voted 5-0 to start consideration of the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board’s (HALRB) recommendation to designate a portion of the former Nelly Custis Elementary School at 750 23rd Street S. as historic. This is a procedural step and doesn’t indicate whether they support the recommendation or not.
A Republican legislator’s proposal to make Arlington and Alexandria part of D.C. has earned immediate condemnation from the region’s congressional representation.
U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) introduced the “Make DC Square Again Act” yesterday (Wednesday) in the wake of Virginia voters approving a redistricting referendum to benefit Democrats’ representation in Congress. McCormick’s legislation seeks to reunite Arlington, Alexandria and the District, which had been the case for 46 years in the 19th century.
Potomac Spill Lawsuits — The Justice Department and Maryland attorney general have both sued D.C. Water, alleging the utility knew for at least eight years that the Potomac Interceptor pipeline was severely corroded and needed immediate repair. The January collapse dumped more than 240 million gallons of sewage into the river, and scientists say contamination lingers in downstream waters. [NYT, Axios]
Columbia Pike Robbery — A man was robbed at knifepoint on Columbia Pike early Thursday after approaching four men and engaging them in conversation, according to ACPD. The group assaulted the victim just before 2:30 a.m. on the 4900 block of Columbia Pike, then threatened him with knives and stole his cellphone and backpack before fleeing the scene. The victim suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital. The investigation is ongoing. [ACPD]
BizLaunch PitchFest Winners — Arlington Economic Development’s BizLaunch handed out $25,000 in prizes at the PitchFest Finale on April 21, held at Amazon’s Visitor Landing at HQ2. Sun and Honey Grazing took the top $10,000 prize; District Bangle won $7,500; Amanda’s Churn got $5,000; and Persist Physical Therapy earned a $2,500 honorable mention. [Arlington County]
It’s Friday — Mostly sunny today with a high near 82 and a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Northeast wind around 5 mph with a 40% chance of precipitation. Overnight lows near 55 with a continued chance of storms. [NWS]
Good Thursday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Apr 23, 2026.
Here is what’s going on Friday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect mostly sunny weather with a high near 81, although there is a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms developing after 2 p.m. Winds will be from the northeast at 3 to 5 mph. Friday night will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 55 and a continued 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, with southeast winds around 6 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
“Our greatest fear should not be of failure… but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.”
– Francis Chan
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
Thanks for reading! If you have something to say about an issue of local note not covered today, feel free to post it as a letter to the editor on our new forum.
County Board members agreed to a significantly smaller fee increase for the local government’s competitive gymnastics programs in a last-minute budget change last night (Wednesday).
Instead of increasing by 44%, fees will rise by 25% in the coming year. It still appears that the full 44% increase — or more — could come into effect next year.
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