Satisfy your sweet tooth this National Ice Cream Day, and every day. | Photo by Lukas via Pexels
National Ice Cream Day falls on Sunday, July 20 — the perfect excuse to treat yourself. From rich, creamy custards to refreshing dairy-free delights, we’ve rounded up the best spots to satisfy your sweet tooth. Grab a spoon and celebrate accordingly.
Arlington
Nicecream | 2831 Clarendon Blvd. Sweet treats and a science experiment? Located in Clarendon, this local shop makes its ice cream with local ingredients and liquid nitrogen. Nicecream is open daily, and flavors continually rotate, so you’ll never get bored. We highly recommend a milkshake with dairy-free mocha cookies + cream ice cream.
Alexandria
Pop’s Old Fashion Ice Cream | 109 King St.
The founder, Ray “Pop” Giovanni, had been in the ice cream business since the 1940s. You can get any flavor of your dreams, from chocolate peanut butter cup to carrot cake. Pop’s also offers specialty sundaes like the Cup O’ Dirt made with chocolate ice cream, whipped cream, Oreo crumble, chocolate sprinkles, and gummy worms.
Friday Night Dating Mixer | 6:30-11:30 p.m. | Barrel & Bushel, Tysons | Price of purchase | Mix and mingle at this dating event to meet fellow singles.
Rock the Block! | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Old Town Square, Fairfax | Free | End the week right with a rockin’ concert as you sip on a beer and munch on snacks from local vendors.
Saturday, July 19
Family Fun Entertainment Series: Rocknoceros | 10-10:45 a.m. | Reston Town Square Park, Reston | Free | Enjoy clowns, magicians, live music, and interactive games — fun for the whole family.
Didgeridoo Down Under | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | City of Fairfax Regional Library, Fairfax | Free | Learn about Aussie culture, animals, and more while also getting to hear a didgeridoo.
Sunday, July 20
Todd Rundgren: Still Me (Still We) | 8 p.m. | Capital One Hall, Tysons | $65+ | Hear this pop-rock artist as he takes the stage on his “Still Me, Still We” tour.
Hubert Laws | 7:30 p.m. | The Birchmere, Alexandria | $55 | Hear this renowned flutist, who has mastered many genres including jazz, pop, and rhythm and blues, live.
Sassanova, a Maryland-based fashion boutique, opened its first Virginia location. Located in McLean’s Chesterbrook Shopping Center, you can shop for clothing, shoes, accessories, and more. (FFXnow)
Coming Soon
Get excited, Pentagon City, a new Spanish tapas restaurant is coming to town. The second location of El Mercat Bar de Tapas is expected to open mid-August at 1301 S. Joyce St. We’re already eyeing the bacon-wrapped dates.(ARLnow)
Travel
2080. That’s the year Dulles Airport could hit 90 million annual passengers, according to the latest master plan. Approved Wednesday, July 16, by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority board, the plan outlines multi-phase expansions. But honestly, won’t we have flying cars by then? (FFXnow)
Eat
Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax is now home to Ugly Dumpling, a restaurant serving up soup dumplings, noodle dishes, fried rice, and more. Naturally, I’m opting for the Ugly Dumpling Sampler — five unique dumplings in one delicious lineup. (FFXnow)
Biz
Good Brows LLC will be moving from Old Town, Alexandria, to Arlington on Friday, Aug. 1. The business is moving to the Black-owned beauty collective called The Beauté Co-Op Suites at 4830 31st St. S. (ALXnow)
Development
The East Falls Church Metro station is about to get a much-needed makeover, and an expensive one at that. The multi-million dollar project to update sidewalks, crosswalks, bus shelters, and utilities begins next week. This is the first part of a multi-phase redevelopment. (ARLnow)
Drink
Looking for a little buzz without drinking alcohol? Bronson Bierhall is now the first bar in Arlington to serve THC drinks. The restaurant serves four flavors of these hemp-infused beverages from the brand Anytime Seltzer: strawberry kiwi, raspberry lemonade, mango, and lime. (ARLnow)
Mailbag
A reader just asked if we cover Loudoun County. Heck yeah we do. In fact, there’s an event this Saturday, July 19 at Breaux Vineyards, in Purcellville, called Key West Festival. Enjoy Caribbean-themed music, island-themed food, and of course, wine.
Asked
Have you had a chance to fill out our readers’ survey? We are still collecting feedback, so we can best curate NOVAtoday for our audience. It should only take you a couple of minutes.
Cause
The Virginia Lottery’s mission has one focus: giving back to Virginia public schools. Since 1999, all Lottery profits — totaling more than $12 billion — have gone to support local students and teachers in grades K-12. Follow the money.*
20,614. That’s how many potential candidates are looking at this right now. Ready to promote your job listing to find your dream hire? It’s absolutely free on our NOVAtoday Job Board. List it now.
Post of the Day
Outside of hot dogs, this spot serves breakfast all day, sandwiches, and subs. | Photo via StayArlington
Did you miss National Hot Dog Day on Wednesday, July 16? Don’t fret, you can still celebrate by stopping at Weenie Beenie, an Arlington staple founded in 1954.
No more gatekeeping. These are our top five summer essentials we wish we’d purchased sooner:
🩴 A pair of comfy + versatile Crocs sandals. Pro tip: Keep them by the front door for last-minute errands, walking the dog, and more.
🧊This No. 1 best-selling cooler backpack that features a built-in bottle opener and can fit up to 40 cans.
🧺 A waterproof blanket that’s perfect for beach days, family picnics, baby playtime, and more.
☀️ La Roche-Posay’s award-winning tinted sunscreen that’s non-greasy and fast-absorbing.
👗This flowy sundress that’s available in 20+ colors and patterns like blue floral, pink, khaki polka dot, and purple.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
More Northern Virginians support allowing pets at outdoor dining spots — but not overwhelmingly. About 62.5% say they welcome furry friends on patios, while 37.5% prefer a pet-free dining experience. Where do you stand?
A massive new waterpark and spa is coming to DC’s Anacostia waterfront. The $500 million project, Therme, is set to open in 2028. What do you think about this upcoming addition? Let us know.
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