With their own candidates far ahead in early returns, Arlington Democrats spent the first hours of election night in Shirlington watching the rest of the country.
The Associated Press projected Sen. Mark Warner (D) the winner minutes after Virginia polls closed at 7 p.m. It called Rep. Don Beyer’s (D) race shortly after 8 p.m., and the party’s local slate held wide leads.
A Lyon Village church is entering a new phase of visioning for its future after halting plans to redevelop as an affordable housing project last year.
Clarendon Presbyterian Church, which backed away from ambitions to tear down and rebuild as a 102-unit housing project amid financial and logistical difficulties in spring 2025, now plans to put out an all-call for offers regarding its property at 1305 N. Jackson Street.
November kicks off with many opportunities to celebrate creativity, local artists and the arts in Arlington.
On Sunday, November 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., SPARK! Not Your Usual Art Market wraps up its 2026 season at 2700 Art Space with art, music, food and hands-on fun.
And don’t leave your four-legged friends at home. The final SPARK! will include a pet parade, adding a little extra fun to the season finale.
Visitors can create a pocket-sized “crankie” with The Crafty Carny, take home a customized poem from Arlington Poet Laureate Emeritus Courtney LeBlanc, and shop for handmade work from local artists and teens participating in Arlington County Parks & Recreation’s StART-Up Studio program.
DJ Cinema Hearts will provide the soundtrack while artists and makers offer pottery, jewelry, paintings, fiber art, prints, clothing and more. Additionally, Mariachi Los Amigos will commemorate Día de los Muertos with special strolling performances from 12:00 –1:30 pm. Artists from the Studios at Arlington Arts will also be on hand with ceramics and prints, alongside live tufting demonstrations and three-minute pet portraits.
Come hungry, too. Arlington-based food and drink vendors include Rossana, Mango Mama, and Tang and Sizzle.
Continue the Celebration at MoCA Arlington
The celebration continues Sunday evening at MoCA Arlington with its Día de los Muertos Celebration – An Evening Picnic, from 5–8 p.m. on the museum lawn. Arlington Arts is proud to sponsor this free, family-friendly celebration featuring art activities, an ofrenda by artist David Amoroso, mariachi music, folklórico dance, food, vendors and a Catrina Parade. The museum will also stay open late so visitors can explore its fall exhibitions.
Arlington Printmakers Head to DC
The creativity continues the following weekend when artists from Arlington’s Printmaking Studio participate in the DC Print Fair, November 7–8 at Eastern Market’s North Hall in Washington, DC.
The free indoor fair celebrates contemporary printmaking, including woodblock, linocut, letterpress, screen printing and RISO, bringing together independent artists, print collectives and arts organizations from the region and beyond.
From SPARK! and Día de los Muertos celebrations across Arlington to the DC Print Fair, November begins with plenty of ways to discover local artists, find something handmade and celebrate our creative community.
SPARK! Season Finale
Sunday, November 1 | 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
2700 Art Space | 2700 S. Nelson St.
Learn more about SPARK!
Día de los Muertos Celebration – An Evening Picnic
Sunday, November 1 | 5–8 p.m.
MoCA Arlington
Free | No registration required
Learn more about the Día de los Muertos celebration
DC Print Fair
November 7–8 | Eastern Market’s North Hall, Washington, DC
Learn more about the DC Print Fair
Falls Church officials say they are making process changes that are helping to reduce vacant positions in the city government, although retention challenges have persisted.
Efforts to address both issues are “moving in the right direction,” City Manager Seth Hendler-Voss said at the Oct. 28 meeting of the City Council’s government operations committee.
A new breakfast concept is coming to a Japanese restaurant on Columbia Pike next week.
Motto Cafe is hosting a soft opening inside Ryu Izakaya on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The cafe plans to bring a Japanese twist to classic breakfast and brunch options, along with a variety of Japanese-inspired smoothies, lattes and matcha drinks.
Event location
Central Place Plaza
1800 N Lynn St
Arlington, Virginia 22209
The most wonderful time of the year is back! Shop local this holiday season at the Rosslyn Holiday Market, happening Saturday, Nov. 21, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Central Place Plaza. Discover one-of-a-kind gifts, handmade goods, and festive finds from small business vendors across the region. Plus, there will be tons of fun, family-friendly holiday programming, including a special visit from Santa.
Bonsai Sushi has closed in Crystal City and the property owner is looking for a new tenant.
The sushi spot on Restaurant Row appears to have closed a couple months ago, shortly before the closure of nearby Los Tios Grill in late August. Both properties are currently listed for lease.
As voters head to the polls for Election Day today (Tuesday), an unusually large portion of Arlington residents have already cast their ballots.
Early voting numbers in Arlington were up more than 50% from 2022, with local voters favoring in-person ballots over those cast by mail, according to data from the Virginia Public Access Project.
Two senior-living facilities located just outside of Arlington are among the best in the state, according to a new Newsweek ranking.
Goodwin House Alexandria ranked No. 2 and Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads ranked No. 3 in Virginia in the magazine’s newly released list of America’s Best Nursing Homes.
Arlington’s top tree official has aspirations but isn’t sounding confident that the community will attain, and then maintain, its goal of a 40% tree canopy.
“I really hope we get to that — this is a critical target,” Vincent Verweij, the county’s urban forestry manager, said at an Oct. 29 community forum.
Polls Open Today — All 54 Arlington polling places are open from 6 a.m.-7 p.m. for Election Day. On the ballot: races for U.S. Senate, Congress, County Board, School Board and treasurer, plus three state constitutional amendments and five county bond referendums totaling $264 million. [ARLnow]
Courthouse Firm’s Exec Shakeup — “Arlington energy storage company Fluence Energy Inc. has shaken up its top leadership, replacing both its CEO and chief financial officer in a bid to improve efficiency and boost its sagging share price.” The stock fell 83% from late January through the end of October. [WBJ]
Teen Union Soldier’s Funeral — The remains of a Union soldier, about 17, found at Manassas National Battlefield Park in 2024 “are scheduled to be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery” tomorrow (Wednesday), more than 160 years after he was killed in the Second Battle of Bull Run. [Washington Post]
County Parks Win State Awards — The county’s parks department won two statewide awards last week: one for an urban agriculture program with the local juvenile court’s Girls’ Outreach Program, and another for marketing Festival Latinoamericano, which “resulted in 1,200+ attendees, doubling the audience from the year prior.” [Arlington County]
Robotaxi Foes Top D.C. Ad Spending — An anti-robotaxi group with undisclosed funders “has spent more than $2.6 million on ads in the D.C. area this year,” outspending both top candidates for mayor. FCC filings list the address of the firm that bought many of its ads as a P.O. box in Arlington. [Washington Post]
Tysons AMC Adds 4DX — AMC Theatres at Tysons Corner Center “has unveiled a 4DX option as part of a multi-million-dollar overhaul that was substantially completed last Friday (Oct. 30).” The format features moving seats and effects like water sprays, snow and scents synced to the movie. [FFXnow]
Spanberger Eyes School Funding Fix — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) said she aims to overhaul Virginia’s K-12 funding formula before her term ends in 2029. “The existing formula is over 50 years old…and has forced local governments to spend far more on K-12 education than the state.” [Virginia Mercury]
Beyer Wants Tech Office Back — Rep. Don Beyer (D) is among five House members behind a bipartisan bill to create a Congressional Office of Technology, reviving an agency defunded in 1995. “Our bill would restore and update this key resource and bolster Congress’ independence and knowledge in a key area for years to come,” Beyer said. [Press Release]
Mild Winter Predicted — “Our forecast calls for temperatures roughly 3 degrees above normal, potentially putting this winter among Washington’s 10 warmest on record. We predict 5 to 8 inches of snow at Reagan National Airport, compared with the seasonal average of 13.7 inches.” [Capital Weather]
It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high near 73 and a light south wind of 1–8 mph. Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low around 52. [NWS]
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