Thousands of Arlington residents remain without power this afternoon (Friday) after a storm swept through the county last night, pummeling trees and power lines.
Almost 4,000 Dominion Energy customers remained without power as of 3:30 p.m., some of whom may not see power restored until around midnight or later, spokesperson Aisha Khan told ARLnow.
Arlington police have opened an investigation into an immigration arrest on Columbia Pike that reportedly left a man with serious injuries.
Detectives met with the man, José Mejía Hernandez, last week, NBC4 reported. This prompted a swift response from Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner and Reps. Don Beyer, Suhas Subramanyam and James Walkinshaw today (Friday).
For Tessa Cannon, books are more than stories. They’re a way to build community.
As the owner of The Wandering Shelf, an independent mobile bookstore that launched in Arlington in May 2025, Cannon brings books directly to readers across the community. Operating out of a bookstore van, she sells new and used books for all ages, along with book-themed merchandise, at events and locations throughout Arlington.
The idea grew from both her love of Arlington and her desire to expand access to independent bookstores.
“There are two main reasons I chose Arlington,” Cannon said. “First, I love Arlington and am one of its biggest fans. Second, Arlington is near communities with an incredible array of independent bookstores, yet at the time Arlington had only one bookstore selling new books. I wanted to grow our independent bookstore network and bring books to more Arlingtonians.”
As she prepared to launch the business, Cannon worked with Arlington Economic Development’s BizLaunch program, which connected her with a SCORE mentor and provided guidance through the startup process.
“BizLaunch was helpful in many ways,” she said. “They connected me with a mentor from SCORE, provided guidance on county-specific licenses and shared a fantastic Small Business Checklist. The BizLaunch website is filled with helpful resources.”
One customer interaction stands out as Cannon’s favorite business memory. A customer purchased a copy of I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman and returned a few weeks later to share how much she enjoyed it. Weeks after that, she came back with friends and the same copy of the book, now covered with notes and annotations from everyone who had borrowed and discussed it.
“It was a wonderful reminder of the gift that comes with sharing books with your community and how we are each impacted differently through the stories we read,” Cannon said.
Community remains at the heart of The Wandering Shelf’s mission. Cannon describes the business as “hyperlocal,” with charitable giving and community engagement focused on supporting Arlington residents.
Looking ahead, she hopes to grow the business into a small brick-and-mortar bookstore while keeping the mobile operation on the road.
“We dream of having a third space where people can rest, learn and connect with others,” Cannon said. “We plan to always keep the van running so we can continue meeting people in all the different pockets of Arlington.”
For now, The Wandering Shelf continues bringing books directly to Arlington readers, one stop at a time. For more information about The Wandering Shelf visit www.wanderingshelf.com or their Instagram @thewanderingshelf.va.
BizLaunch Update: Applications Open for the Arlington Growth Accelerator
Ready to take your business to the next level? The Arlington Growth Accelerator is designed for established small businesses looking to scale, strengthen operations and accelerate growth.
This hands-on program connects business owners with expert guidance, practical tools and a network of peers navigating similar growth challenges. Participants will gain insights on strategic planning, financial management, marketing, leadership and long-term business sustainability.
Whether you’re looking to expand your customer base, hire employees or position your business for its next phase of growth, the Arlington Growth Accelerator can help you build a roadmap for success.
Applications are now open. Learn more and apply at www.bizlaunch.org.
Get ready for more storms.
While thousands of people are still without power in Arlington and Falls Church, another round of stormy and potentially damaging weather is on the way.
Pentagon MMA has brought a special honor home to Arlington from the birthplace of Muay Thai.
The Arlington Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu Academy is now officially a certified and registered Muay Thai Gym Partner through the Sports Authority of Thailand and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, making Pentagon MMA the only Muay Thai academy on the East Coast to have earned this distinction.
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters saluted Del. Alfonso Lopez this week for his legislative work on water quality this year.
Lopez (D-3) was honored alongside Sen. Richard Stuart, a Westmoreland County Republican, on Sept. 1 for joint efforts on legislation requiring testing for PFAS on biosolids applied to farmland.
Whether autumn means sipping local ciders, decorating pumpkins with the kids, or enjoying live music, Fall Fest is packed with festive fun for all ages and the perfect way to spend a crisp October afternoon in Rosslyn!
Roughly 1,500 shoppers are expected at the I-66 parking garage tomorrow (Saturday) for Arlington’s monthly flea market.
More than 150 vendors will set up across multiple levels of the covered garage, next to Washington-Liberty High School at 15th Street N. and N. Stafford Street, according to the Arlington Civitan Club. The market runs from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., and admission and parking are free.
A fresh array of new restaurants opened across Arlington over the past year, offering dishes from culinary traditions from around the world.
Here are the nominees for “Best New Restaurant in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.
Did we miss your favorite new spot? Write it in!
Voting will close in two weeks.
Voting for Best Mechanic in 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 Orthodontist in Arlington. The results are now official:
Six sculptures made from thousands of canned goods are about to go up at the Pentagon City mall.
Next Friday, Sept. 11, a half dozen architecture firms with a can-do attitude will set up shop at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City in a charity event to combat food insecurity.
Many local government facilities in Arlington and Falls Church will be closed on Monday in honor of Labor Day.
In Arlington, closures include all Arlington Public Library branches, the Cultural Affairs building, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and all community centers except for the Long Bridge Aquatics and Fitness Center.
The Arlington NAACP has begun laying the groundwork for leadership elections for 2027-28.
“We welcome anyone and everyone who would like to serve,” incumbent president Rev. DeLishia Davis said at the organization’s monthly meeting on Monday night.
We love fall at Art House 7 and can’t wait for you to explore all our offerings. Painting, drawing, ceramics, and sewing/crocheting are our perennials, along with less traditional mediums. Kawaii Style Drawing and Digital Art are among our new classes for kids. We offer an excellent 6-week program for high schoolers preparing their college portfolios. Want something shorter? We have 3-week classes, including linocut notecards. Love ceramics? We have a dedicated studio that comfortably accommodates wheel and hand-building classes.
Fall 1 Session begins Tue. Sep. 8.
