We recently invited the candidates running for local office in the Nov. 3 General Election to write a post about why Arlington residents should vote for them. Find information on how and where to vote here.
Below is the unedited response from Aasim Rawoot, who is running for Treasurer.
As the days get cooler and darker, Arlington’s indoor attractions offer lots of ways to keep having fun through the gloomier parts of the year.
Here are the nominees for “Best Indoor Activity in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.
Did we miss your favorite indoor activity? Write it in!
Voting will close on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
Voting for Best Burger Spot in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Wednesday at 11:59 p.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Brewery Near Arlington. The full results are now official:
With a total of 1,078 votes cast, Port City Brewing Company remained in the No. 1 spot it held in 2024. The award-winning Alexandria brewery sells both seasonal and year-round options for IPAs, pilsners, lagers and more.
See every ARLnow Readers’ Choice winner, past and present, here.
By: Ross Goodwin, MD, psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente
Between email, text messages, social media feeds, breaking news alerts, and endless to-do lists, our attention is constantly being pulled in different directions. If that sounds familiar, you may have experienced what’s being called “popcorn brain.”
While popcorn brain is not an official medical diagnosis, the term has gained popularity as a way to describe a scattered, overstimulated mental state where thoughts seem to jump from one thing to the next, making it hard to focus, relax, or stay present. With digital devices and apps being integrated into daily lives, many of these challenges stem from passive screen time and constant digital stimulation.
What is popcorn brain?
To better understand popcorn brain, think about popcorn kernels popping in a bag. One moment your attention is on a work project. The next, you’re checking a text message, scrolling through social media, responding to an email, or reading a news alert.
Popcorn brain describes what happens when the brain becomes accustomed to constant stimulation and frequent interruptions. Over time, slower-paced activities such as reading a book, completing a work task, having a meaningful conversation, or simply sitting quietly can feel more difficult.
Here are some signs you may be dealing with popcorn brain:
It’s worth noting that many of these symptoms overlap with those of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. However, “popcorn brain” is not a diagnosable condition and should not be mistaken for ADHD, which is present from childhood and results from differences in the brain’s development. If these symptoms become overwhelming or disrupt your daily activities, reach out to your mental health provider or primary care doctor for help.
The connection between popcorn brain and anxiety
For many people, popcorn brain affects more than just focus. It can also increase feelings of stress and anxiety.
When the brain is constantly reacting to notifications, messages, and information, it has fewer opportunities to rest and process experiences. Many people report feeling mentally “on” all day long, leading to chronic exhaustion and fatigue.
This cycle can create a sense of information overload, making it harder to concentrate, sleep, and fully engage with the people around us.
Tips to regain focus and be more present
The good news is that to address popcorn brain, you don’t have to give up technology entirely. The goal is to use it more intentionally. Try these tips to reduce digital distraction on your brain and strengthen your focus:
Several get-out-the-vote rallies and marches will be taking place in Arlington tomorrow (Saturday).
Crowds are expected near Memorial Circle and in several residential neighborhoods in the morning. They’re among more than 2,000 events planned across the country as organizers from the “No Kings” movement encourage voter turnout in the midterms.
A popular sushi restaurant in East Falls Church has ranked among the top 10 best places to eat in Northern Virginia.
Yume Sushi (2121 N. Westmoreland Street) claimed the No. 8 spot in Northern Virginia Magazine’s latest ranking of the best restaurants in the region.
“This little composition…is, alas, the final mortal sin of my old age. A little technique, a little heart, that is all.”
Gioachino Rossini’s "Petite Messe Solennelle" is neither little nor entirely solemn. Yet beneath the wit and irony of its title lies one of Rossini’s most personal creations, which blends the theatrical brilliance and unforgettable melodies of his comic operas—including extraordinary and virtuosic arias—with an almost uncharacteristic tenderness and spiritual depth.
As a freshman, Emmett Spence wasn’t one of the best-scoring players on the Washington-Liberty Generals high-school golf team.
By the next fall, though, his play significantly improved. As a sophomore, Spence began consistently carding impressive low scores in postseason tournaments.
Falls Church’s new city manager says he will propose funding for two community organizations whose requests were rejected by a local advisory committee.
The Little City CATCH Foundation had sought $5,000 for part of its New Year’s Eve WATCH Night event, while the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation sought an equal amount for its Juneteenth event, plus another $5,000 for symposiums and workshops.
Hundreds of volunteers with a combined total of nearly 50,000 hours of community service over the past year were saluted at a recent celebration.
The “Arlington Cares” event, sponsored by Volunteer Arlington, honored 477 local volunteers on Oct. 13.
APS, FCPS Win on Appeal — “An appeals court delivered a victory Thursday to Fairfax and Arlington counties’ school systems, ruling that they can turn to the regular federal courts to defend their transgender student policies against the Department of Education.” The 2-1 decision sends the case back to a lower court judge. [Washington Times]
Behind the Enrollment Slide — Enrollment is falling at public schools across N. Va., prompting staff cuts at APS and rebalancing at FCPS. “The driving factors for that is folks having less babies, fertility rates are down nationwide… We’re seeing affordability issues of living in our area… So you’re seeing an outmigration,” Prince William County School Board Chair Babur Lateef said. [WJLA]
One piece of litigation over Arlington’s Missing Middle zoning ordinance is reaching the final leg of its journey, although the larger legal fight is far from over.
The Virginia Supreme Court has been reviewing a ruling from the Court of Appeals that allowed Arlington County to resume issuing permits under the Expanded Housing Options (EHO) in mid-2025 — a decision that has let developers continue building up to six-unit buildings in previously single-family-only neighborhoods. The high court is scheduled to hear arguments in that case on Oct. 28, which will inform a final ruling.
