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USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation honors local leaders at Tennis Creates Gala

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Image from USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation honors local leaders at Tennis Creates Gala
Malika Andrews, 2026 Tennis Creates Gala Host
Gabrielle Berg, Northern Virginia Tennis for Fun Chapter Founder, 2026 Youth Leader of the Year Awardee
Khoi Truong, Lake Braddock Boys Tennis Coach, 2026 Coach of the Year Awardee
Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck, U.S. Navy (ret.), 2026 Tennis Creates Impact Honoree
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Game, set, Gala! On Saturday, Nov. 14, the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation’s annual Tennis Creates Gala, presented by QTS, comes to The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, celebrating the transformative power of tennis.

The evening raises critical funds to make the sport accessible to all across Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia and eastern/southern West Virginia.

Every dollar goes back into local communities through programs like Girls Rule the Court™, which has served more than 2,000 girls, along with Junior Player Scholarships and Tennis in Schools. Gala funds also help restore public courts. Over the last three years, the Foundation has invested $505,000 across 17 public facilities.

Emceeing the evening is Emmy Award-winning ESPN journalist Malika Andrews, host of NBA Today and NBA Countdown, who joined ESPN’s tennis coverage this year for the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.

Andrews has pointed to the electric moment American tennis is having, with stars like the DMV’s own Frances Tiafoe reaching the 2026 US Open men’s semifinals, and says she’s grateful for the chance to support the sport at the local level.

Joining the celebration is new USTA CEO Craig Tiley, who took the helm of the national governing body in July after over 20 years at Tennis Australia. As he leads the USTA toward its goal of 35 million players by 2035, the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation drives the grassroots work to grow the sport right here in the region.

The Foundation will present its Tennis Creates Impact Award to Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck, U.S. Navy (ret.), 63rd Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, recognizing his leadership in fostering character, community, and well-being through tennis.

The heart of the night is the 2026 Tennis Creates Awards, honoring local changemakers. Alexandria’s Leigh Ann Jackson receives the Adult Leader Award for coaching Girls Rule the Court at Groveton Elementary, where she has served 130 students over five seasons and championed the program’s expansion to Hybla Valley.

Arlington’s Gabrielle Berg earns the Youth Leader Award for founding a Northern Virginia chapter of Tennis For Fun, which runs free year-round clinics for people with special needs in partnership with the Arlington YMCA. Burke’s Khoi Truong, head coach at Lake Braddock Secondary School, is the 2026 Coach of the Year.

They’ll be joined by fellow honorees Dr. Ellen Markowitz (Community Champion), James Skinner (Provider Champion), and Janelle Nichols (Tennis in the Classroom Awardee).

Tickets and tables are now available. Can’t make it? Make a gift to USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation or bid in the silent auction to help put a racquet in the hands of the next generation of players.

The Tennis Creates Gala takes place Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, from 6:00 – 11:00 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, 1700 Tysons Blvd., McLean, VA 22102.

For more information, visit TennisCreatesGala.com.

Around Town

One Falls Church restaurant makes new Washington Post ranking, but none from Arlington

By Dan Egitto
Restaurant storefront in a mall corridor with wooden paneling, red display window showcasing blue-and-white porcelain, and hanging lanterns overhead. A few small stools sit outside the entrance.
Truong Tien at the Eden Center (via Eden Center/Instagram)

Restaurants in Arlington may have to do some work to win the favor of The Washington Post’s new food critic.

Elazar Sontag, who moved to D.C. to replace longtime critic Tom Sietsema in late 2025, dined at 189 restaurants to compile a new ranking of the 40 best restaurants in the D.C. area. Not a single Arlington restaurant made his list — although in Falls Church, the Eden Center’s Truong Tien made a strong showing to rank as No. 10.

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Just Reduced Properties in Arlington: October 14, 2026

By Sponsor

Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose prices have been cut over the previous week. The market summary is crafted by Arlington Realty, Inc. Maximize your real estate investment with the team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6000 today!

Please note: The properties featured here may be listed with other brokerages– but that doesn’t limit your options. Arlington Realty, Inc. is ready to represent you, arrange showings, analyze value, and negotiate the best possible terms on your behalf. We understand the neighborhoods, pricing trends and market timing — and we use that knowledge to your advantage. 

As of October 12, there are 211 detached homes, 77 townhouses and 314 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 53 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:

Please note that this is solely a selection of Just Reduced properties available in Arlington County. For a complete list of properties within your target budget and specifications, contact Arlington Realty, Inc. 

Around Town

The big clock in Pentagon City is broken, frozen at 10:17

By Nolan Stout
Brick building with a prominent clock tower, surrounded by trees and a sidewalk cafe.
The clock at Westpost at National Landing (staff photo by Nolan Stout)

The face with no eyes silently keeps watch as the world moves below it.

It stayed, unmoving, a sentinel frozen in time on a recent morning at the Westpost at National Landing shopping center in Pentagon City. One hand stuck between the 10 and 11. The other between 3 and 4.

Go to The big clock in Pentagon City is broken, frozen at 10:17 Read more
Event

11th Annual Walk to Bust Cancer

Poster for Walk to Bust Cancer fundraiser featuring smiling diverse women walking; event date Oct 18, 2026 at Fort Hunt Park, Alexandria VA; register at WalkToBustCancer.org.

Event location

Fort Hunt Park

8999 Fort Hunt Rd

Alexandria, Virginia 22308

Add to Calendar

Join Breast Cancer Collective for the 2026 Walk to Bust Cancer on Sunday, October 18, at Fort Hunt Park in Alexandria.
Walk alongside survivors, caregivers, friends, families, and neighbors for an uplifting community event supporting access to breast cancer screening and care across the DMV.
Walk to Bust Cancer brings our community together to turn hope into action and help expand access to timely breast health care. Register to walk, gather your team, and join us at Fort Hunt Park.

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News

Falls Church homeless shelter will reopen for the winter next month

By Scott McCaffrey
Nighttime urban sidewalk with a group of volunteers in high-visibility vests walking along a row of storefronts; snow along the edge of the path.
Volunteers during recent Point in Time regional homelessness count (Montgomery County via COG)

Falls Church leaders have ratified the city’s contract supporting homeless shelter operations during the winter months.

The City Council approved the agreement with Friends of the Falls Church Homeless Shelter as part of the consent agenda on Tuesday night, with no comment by members.

Go to Falls Church homeless shelter will reopen for the winter next month Read more
News

Morning Notes for October 15, 2026

By ARLnow.com
City skyline with modern glass buildings along a riverfront, a solitary street lamp in the foreground, and graffiti on a wall/ railing in front.
Rosslyn, as seen from the Whitehurst Freeway in D.C. (courtesy anonymous)

Memo Details Responder Trauma — An internal Arlington fire department memo cites “critically inadequate post-incident personnel support” for the 20 ACFD members who responded to the January 2025 midair collision near DCA, saying many have since experienced depression, family strain and alcohol use. A department spokesman disputed the claims. [WTOP]

More School Speed Cameras — “Dozens of the devices are now monitoring drivers in school zones around the county.” Ten locations were added this school year, for a total of 35. Police said drivers must be going at least 11 mph over the limit to get the $100 ticket. [NBC 4]

Go to Morning Notes for October 15, 2026 Read more
News

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Oct 14, 2026

By ARLnow.com
ARL Now branding with the title 'Daily Debrief for Oct 14, 2026' on a glass-office interior background.

Good Wednesday evening, Arlington. Here’s a look back at today’s most-read stories and a look ahead to tomorrow.

📈 Today’s most-read stories

  1. Federal scorecard lists 11 APS schools as ‘approaching expectations’ or below (5,430 views)
  2. How Rosslyn’s ‘Dead Man’s Hollow’ earned a reputation for tragedy and gruesome crime (2,073 views)
  3. Average sales price of Arlington single-family homes drops 15% year over year (1,976 views)

🕗 More from today

Everything else we published today, Oct 14, 2026.

📣 Announcements

❄️ Be a Snow Hero this winter! Volunteer to be a Snow Buddy
Pumpkin spice season is here, but winter is closer than you think. When winter weather arrives… [Announcement]

Classes start Monday! Nova’s next beginner fencing session kicks off October 12th and 13th.
Train. Compete. Achieve. Repeat. Classes start Monday! Nova’s next beginner fencing session… [Announcement]

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

⭐ Featured events

Powering the AI Decade: Data Center Policy Forum
Oct 15: AI is driving data center growth faster than the power grid was built to handle, and Northern Virginia, home to the world’s largest concentr [Event]

⚽ Fund Her Game Charity Launch
Oct 15: Join us for the Fund Her Game Charity Launch, supporting girls’ and women’s sports across the DMV through community, connection, and giving. [Event]

🚲 Used Bicycle Drive
Oct 17: Put your old bikes to good use donating to Bikes for the World at Arlington ECARE [Event]

Rally for Marriage Equality
Oct 17: Get-out-the-vote rally for the Marriage Equality constitutional amendment. [Event]

11th Annual Walk to Bust Cancer
Oct 18: Walk with us at Fort Hunt Park to support access to breast cancer screening and care across the DMV. [Event]

Big, Bold, Rich Red Wine Super Tasting at Arrowine
Oct 18: Big, Bold, Rich Red Wine, Cheese and Charcuterie Tasting! [Event]

🏃 Run, Recline + Recreate with Liberty
Oct 24: 5K fun run + outdoor yoga beside Reclining Liberty, with a live DJ, coffee, vendors & art making. Register for a shirt by Zaq Landsberg! [Event]

🎃 Annual Community Trunk-or-Treat at Pentagon MMA
Oct 24: Family friendly Muay Thai & Jiu Jitsu class followed by spooky trunks, candy, and tons of fun! [Event]

Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle
Oct 25: Join CCS for this intimate and optimistic reflection on mortality, which served as Gioachino Rossini’s final plea for paradise. [Event]

Submit events, announcements, or home listings to ARLnow.

🌧️ Weather update

Today: Arlington and Falls Church saw a high of 90° at 3:15 p.m., a low of 64° at 4:05 a.m. and no rain.

Tonight: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9pm and 10pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. North wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday: Rain showers after 7am. Cloudy, with a high near 64. Northeast wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Wednesday’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

Thanks for reading! Get the latest Arlington news on your phone with the free ARLnow app for iPhone and Android.

News

How Rosslyn’s ‘Dead Man’s Hollow’ earned a reputation for tragedy and gruesome crime

By Scott McCaffrey
Narrow rocky creek winding through a dense green forest, with branches overhanging the water.
Dead Man's Hollow today (via Arlington Historical Society)

A wooded inlet known as “Dead Man’s Hollow” once carried a reputation for gruesome and bizarre occurrences near present-day Rosslyn.

Local historian Michael Schaffner shared his research on the notorious place, located northwest of what is now Gateway Park, at a recent Arlington Historical Society event. He delved into available records to see if it lived up to its reputation as sometimes being the site of a murder a month or even more frequently.

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Around Town

Halloween in Arlington: When to expect trick-or-treaters and upcoming events

By ARLnow.com
Halloween skeleton decor at N. Jackson Street and N. Pershing Drive, October 2025 (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so trick-or-treaters won’t have to share the streets with rush-hour traffic.

Before the big night, Arlington and Falls Church have a full slate of costume contests, trunk-or-treats and spooky-themed events over the next two-and-a-half weeks.

Go to Halloween in Arlington: When to expect trick-or-treaters and upcoming events Read more
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