Events

A Pentagon City ice cream shop is hosting a meet-and-greet this weekend with a local, internet-famous toucan.

Chester, a 9-year-old toucan with nearly 850,000 followers on TikTok, will be posing for photos at Mimi’s Handmade Ice Cream (1201 S. Joyce Street) from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday.


News

County leaders are being urged to not forget about Virginia Highlands Park when planning facilities upgrades.

“The community would like that to happen on schedule,” Park and Recreation Commission chair William Way told County Board members during a July 9 work session.


News

The Planning Commission has unanimously supported a plan to convert two vacant, 1980s-era office buildings in Pentagon City into a major residential project.

The 8-0 vote on July 6 paves the way for July 18 County Board consideration of the plan by JM Zell Partners and Lincoln Equities Group for 601 and 701 12th Street S. The team seeks to create 607 residential units, plus nearly 30,000 square feet of retail space and ancillary office use.


Around Town

A high-end restaurant and bar with dry-aged meats, an extensive wine list and a series of curated rooms for dining and relaxing is preparing to open in Pentagon City.

Ember is looking toward a soft opening in late August at 1301 S. Joyce Street, followed by a grand opening in September, founder Nicholas Mounts told ARLnow. It brings food and drink inspired by European cuisines and five seating areas, including a VIP room, a banquet hall and a “secret lounge.”


Around Town

A new Japanese restaurant with a wide menu of sushi options, hot dishes and small plates is planning to open soon in Pentagon City.

Signage for Takumi, a bistro and bar that has been in the works since early 2025, has appeared at 1100 S. Hayes Street, next door to Tous les Jours bakery and cafe.


News

The driver’s-side windows of nine vehicles were smashed in the Forest Glen neighborhood early Sunday morning, police say.

Officers found the damaged vehicles in the 700 block of S. Florida Street, a few blocks north of Columbia Pike, after being called out around 4:15 a.m. on June 21. A witness saw three suspects try to force their way into a 10th vehicle and flee when they couldn’t get in, according to the Arlington County Police Department.


Around Town

A changeup in clothing retailers is coming to the Pentagon City mall.

The fast fashion retailer Primark is coming to the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City (1100 S. Hayes Street), replacing women’s retailer Fashion Q in the Metro level space formerly held by Forever 21. The new retail location is expected to open in late fall, according to a press release.


Around Town

Community leaders and neighborhood residents celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Aurora Hills branch library on Saturday.

Megan Wianecki, manager of the branch library, said the day’s events were not just a celebration of the centennial, but all those who support the library and community.


Events

The Michael J. Fox Foundation is hosting a race in the Pentagon City area this weekend, raising funds to support research on Parkinson’s disease.

The race, which participants can either run or walk, will kick off on Sunday morning at Virginia Highlands Park. The following road closures will be in effect:


News

The National Landing BID is refreshing its brand, rolling out a new look aimed at spotlighting the area’s amenities, events and connectivity.

The organization is debuting a new logo and a hummingbird mascot intended to reflect the area’s commercial transformation, plus a new tagline: “The everyday unexpected.”


Schools

School leaders are about to formally ink a deal to relocate Arlington Community High School to Amazon’s HQ2 campus.

Eight months after celebrating the upcoming move, Arlington Public Schools leaders plan to sign a 30-year lease with Amazon for more than 30,000 square feet of space at 1450 S. Eads Street in the Metropolitan Park complex in Pentagon City.


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