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Hollywood’s actor strike has come to Arlington

Published August 3, 2023 at 10:30AM

Clark Furlong, left, and Jen Furlong, right, hand out fliers about the SAG-AFTRA strike at Amazon’s HQ2 in Pentagon City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington is not exactly the Hollywood of the East, pivotal West Wing episodes aside, but the strikes rocking tinseltown have a new local front here.

The Writers Guild of America and performers union SAG-AFTRA are both on strike this summer, demanding better compensation — particularly from streaming services — as well as protections from the use of artificial intelligence in TV and film production. While most of the picket lines you see on the news are in New York or Los Angeles, strikers are out in Arlington today.

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Amazon Fresh store in Crystal City closes temporarily

By ARLnow.com

Published July 18, 2023 at 10:30AM

A sign indicating a business closure in Crystal City in 2023 (courtesy anonymous)

The Amazon Fresh store in Crystal City is closed, though the company says the closure is temporary.

ARLnow first received a tip about the closure on Saturday. Subsequent tips fretted about whether the closure might be more than temporary.

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This Amazon Prime Day, save on merch that shows your Arlington pride

By Hallie LeTendre

Published July 11, 2023 at 9:30AM | Updated July 11, 2023 at 9:47AM

An Amazon delivery worker delivers packages in Ballston (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 9:45 a.m.) Amazon’s Prime Day begins today (Tuesday), meaning once-a-year deals on thousands of products for Prime members.

It can also be an excuse to throw in some merch that signals your Arlington pride, too.

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Amazon unveils first buildings in HQ2 with pomp and circumstance

By Hallie LeTendre

Published June 15, 2023 at 3:30PM | Updated June 15, 2023 at 4:10PM

Amazon HQ2 grand opening (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Following the lead of drummers with the Alexandria City High School marching band, an audience filed into a new auditorium Amazon built in Pentagon City.

Members of the Arlington County Board, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) and Amazon corporate employees filled the first few rows of seats.

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County Board member says delay of HQ2’s second phase likely only a year

By Jo DeVoe

Published May 30, 2023 at 2:45PM

Arlington County Board Vice-Chair Libby Garvey speaks at a press conference in 2023 (courtesy photo)

The delay in the second phase of Amazon’s HQ2 may not be for all that long, according to Arlington County Board Vice-Chair Libby Garvey.

Garvey appeared on WAMU’s The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi late last week, talking about whether Amazon is still good for Arlington County and defending the current number of flights out of Reagan National Airport against attempts to add more, particularly long-haul flights.

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Peter Chang set to open new restaurant in Crystal City

By Matt Blitz

Published May 30, 2023 at 1:30PM

The future location of NiHao, in May 2023 (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

Famed chef Peter Chang’s newest restaurant NiHao remains “on track” to open late this year or early next in Crystal City.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the 2022 James Beard Award finalist was planning on opening a second Arlington restaurant along Crystal Drive, right alongside Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and close to Amazon’s soon-to-open HQ2.

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Arlington public safety call center to start using Amazon AI system for non-emergency calls

By ARLnow.com

Published May 30, 2023 at 10:30AM

Arlington's Emergency Communications Center in 2013 (file photo)

Arlington County will soon start using an automated system developed by Amazon Web Services to answer non-emergency public safety calls.

Starting on Thursday (June 1), non-emergency callers to 703-558-2222 will go through Amazon Connect to address their issues, according to the county.

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Photos: Amazon HQ2’s first phase is basically complete

By ARLnow.com

Published May 22, 2023 at 10:45AM

Amazon HQ2 Phase 1 (photo courtesy Amazon)

We’re getting our first official look into the mostly completed first phase of Amazon’s HQ2 in Pentagon City.

Amazon shared photos this morning from inside the two-building, 2.1 million square foot office complex, located along S. Eads Street between 12th and 15th streets.

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Park next to Amazon HQ2 set to get a new farmers market

By Jo DeVoe

Published May 10, 2023 at 9:30AM

The new, public Metropolitan Park in the first phase of Amazon's HQ2 in Pentagon City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

When Amazon opens the first phase of its second headquarters in June, it is preparing to debut a new farmers market, too.

This farmers market is set to pop up four Saturdays a month starting June 24. It will be located inside the $14 million public park Amazon renovated as part of the Metropolitan Park or “Met Park” first phase of HQ2, at the corner of 13th Street S. and S. Eads Street.

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Pike fried chicken spot Queen Mother’s moving to revamped Crystal City Water Park

By Matt Blitz

Published May 4, 2023 at 9:00AM

An aerial rendering of the Water Park in Crystal City (image courtesy of JBG Smith)

The revamped Water Park in Crystal City is reopening this summer along with nearly a dozen new restaurants, including acclaimed local fried chicken spot Queen Mother’s.

The 1.6-acre park on Crystal Drive is reopening to the public this summer after a year-long construction effort, park owner JBG Smith announced this morning.

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Makers Union appears to be coming to Amazon HQ2

By Matt Blitz

Published April 26, 2023 at 3:30PM

Retail frontages in the Metropolitan Park or "Met Park" phase of Amazon HQ2 in Pentagon City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

It appears another new restaurant is coming to Amazon HQ2.

Makers Union has applied for a Virginia ABC permit for a location inside Amazon’s second headquarters at 510 14th Street S. in Pentagon City.

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NEW: Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream, Taqueria Xochi added to HQ2 retail roster

By Matt Blitz

Published April 21, 2023 at 3:45PM | Updated May 9, 2023 at 11:05AM

The first phase of Amazon's HQ2, dubbed Metropolitan Park, in Pentagon City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Taqueria Xochi and Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream are among another group of local businesses that are set to move into Amazon’s HQ2.

Amazon announced today that four more businesses will be opening up in Pentagon City, in the forthcoming first phase of the company’s second headquarters dubbed Metropolitan Park.