County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti says he is providing steady leadership in uncertain times, while primary challengers say he has much to answer for.
Julie Farnam and James DeVita are attempting to unseat de Ferranti in the primary next Tuesday, Aug. 4. The winner becomes the odds-on favorite in the Nov. 3 general election against independents Audrey Clement and David Sisson.
A statewide environmental advocacy group has praised Arlington’s recent decision to phase out gas-powered leaf blowers.
The Quiet Clean Virginia Foundation sees the County Board’s vote on July 18 as a model for other localities across the state.
Every year, for just a few minutes, one of Arlington’s most iconic works of public art comes to life exactly as its artist intended.
On Saturday, Aug. 1, at approximately 9:32 a.m., visitors will gather in Rosslyn to witness the annual shadow alignment at Nancy Holt’s Dark Star Park (1979–84). At that precise moment, the shadows cast by the sculpture’s spheres and poles align with permanent shadow forms embedded in the ground—a phenomenon Holt designed to commemorate the anniversary of Rosslyn’s founding.
The alignment lasts only a few moments, but it has become a beloved Arlington tradition, drawing residents, visitors, artists and architecture enthusiasts alike to experience the intersection of art, astronomy, and history. If the weather cooperates, the park transforms into a striking demonstration of how light, time and place can become part of a work of art.
Created between 1979 and 1984, Dark Star Park was Arlington’s first County-commissioned public artwork and remains one of the nation’s earliest examples of integrated public art—where sculpture, landscape architecture and the surrounding environment function as a single work. Rather than placing an object within a park, Holt made the entire park the artwork, incorporating spheres, pools, steel poles, tunnels, earthworks and carefully positioned plantings into an immersive landscape.
Nancy Holt (1938–2014) was a pioneering artist whose work spanned poetry, film, photography, land art and large-scale public sculpture. Throughout her career, she explored perception, time and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Dark Star Park remains her most significant urban installation and one of the few major works by the artist that can be experienced in an accessible city setting.
Whether you’ve attended for years or have never visited before, Dark Star Park Day offers a rare opportunity to experience a public artwork that changes with the movement of the sun—and reminds us that some of the most memorable moments in art happen not inside a museum, but out in the world around us.
Dark Star Park Day
When: Saturday, Aug. 1, beginning around 9 a.m.; shadow alignment at approximately 9:32 a.m.
Where: Dark Star Park, 1655 N. Fort Myer Drive, Rosslyn
After decades of trying to return to Romania, the last four of which he spent homeless in Arlington, a 77-year-old man is finally going home.
Ion Chilom arrived in the United States 44 years ago, fleeing a communist dictatorship in Romania. Since then, he has made several attempts to return home, but political conditions and financial insecurity dashed those hopes until a neighbor set up a GoFundMe campaign last month.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Arlington County Fair is returning next month with its ever-popular assortment of carnival rides, treats and events, plus some new additions.
The fair will take place from Wednesday, Aug. 12 to Sunday, Aug. 16 at Thomas Jefferson Community Center, bringing back attractions like the fun slide, the double Ferris wheel and the “super shot” drop tower, paired with reliable fair bites such as fried Oreos, funnel cake and tacos.
Join the Rosslyn BID and Arlington Arts at the 34th Rosslyn Jazz Fest 2026 featuring live jazz, food trucks, local vendors, and family-friendly activities in the heart of Rosslyn! This year’s lineup is bringing a diverse mix of performers and bands redefining the jazz music genre including Plena Libre, Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, Parlor Greens, and Dogo du Togo & the Alagaa Beat Band.
Police are investigating a series of burglaries and attempted burglaries that took place in two neighborhoods near Rosslyn over the weekend.
A male suspect is described as entering or trying to enter at least six homes and rummaging through belongings. Police say he stole a wallet and keys on one occasion, but in most cases, no items were reported stolen, according to preliminary incident reports.
Arlington Republicans are being encouraged by party leadership to cast ballots in next Tuesday’s U.S. Senate primary.
While the campaign involving Republicans Bert Mizusawa, Kim Farington and David Williams has flown largely under the radar in mostly Democratic Northern Virginia, participating in the selection of a nominee is important, GOP Chair Matthew Hurtt said.
Arlington Public Schools is developing a new policy to address the use of AI and other emerging technologies.
The new “academic integrity policy” will contribute to “a broader framework for academic honesty and responsible learning” as APS continues efforts to navigate the possibilities and challenges of new tools, Christina Arpante, interim assistant superintendent for school and community relations, told ARLnow. She added:
NTSB Chair Presses Congress — “Every day that passes without implementation of all 50 NTSB recommendations represents a continued and unacceptable risk to public safety,” NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said Monday, six months after the board issued its final report on the 2025 midair collision near Reagan National. [WTOP]
Leonardo DRS Lands $450M Deal — “Arlington defense contractor Leonardo DRS Inc. will buy McLean military software developer Raft LLC in a $450 million all-cash deal announced Tuesday.” The company said Raft’s software will organize raw field data collected by its sensors into a single platform. Raft employs about 350 workers. [WBJ]
Students’ AI Business Launcher — Arlington students Leo Fall, Chase Rosen and Carter Eckle built LaunchBridge, which uses AI to deliver an LLC, tax identification number, website and Stripe account within three days for a one-time $350 fee. The trio built it for Google’s Build with Gemini XPRIZE contest. [WTOP]
F.C. Firm Files for IPO — “Lyntris Inc., a newly formed defense technology company headquartered in Falls Church, filed plans to IPO on July 23.” It plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker LYNX. Revenue totaled $240.9 million in the first half of 2026. [WBJ]
Va. Is a Measles Hot Spot — “Virginia had only six cases in 2025, but has now seen 176 in 2026.” The state is one of seven accounting for more than 84% of a record national count of 2,318 cases. An outbreak is confirmed in Buckingham and Cumberland counties. [Axios]
It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies today with a high near 85 and northwest winds of 9–13 mph, gusting as high as 23 mph. Skies stay mostly clear tonight with a low around 68. [NWS]
New Legal Notice — Brewery seeks ABC license in Ballston; objections due within 30 days. [Public Notices]
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Good Tuesday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Jul 28, 2026.
Here is what’s going on Wednesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
It will be sunny and warm with a high of 84°F. Expect northwest winds of 10 to 13 mph, with gusts reaching up to 25 mph. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy with a low of 68°F, and northwest winds around 11 mph, gusting up to 20 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”
– Albert Schweitzer
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
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