Get a climb in — suit not required. | Photo by A. Custis via Flickr
Who said workouts can’t be fun? If you’re sick of regular workout classes or tired of your normal run route, consider these six ways to get a sweat on in Northern Virginia while also having a good time.
Aqua Fitness Classes
Fan of the pool, but getting bored swimming laps? Many of the recreation departments around Northern Virginia offer aquatic fitness classes. Make sure to check out Arlington’s, Alexandria’s, and Fairfax’s classes.
I’m intrigued by the S’WET Deep class at the Franconia Rec Center, which emphasizes suspended work in the deep end of the pool to reduce impact.
Rock Climbing + Bouldering
Ditch the weights and head to these local climbing gyms to build up your strength. Movement in Arlington offers 217 climbing routes for you to try out. Another option in NOVA is Vertical Rock Climbing & Fitness Center in Manassas.
Quadrangle Development Corp. submitted plans for Potomac Overlook, a new development that includes 1,700 housing units across five buildings. This site is in Arlington’s Rosslyn neighborhood, on the former Key Bridge Marriott site. (InsideNOVA)
Drink
This glass of wine is worth the trip. A red blend from Barboursville Vineyards, about two hours from downtown Arlington, has made Decanter’s list of Top 50 US Wines of the Year. The wine is called Octagon 2017, and it’s the first Virginia wine to ever make the list. (Northern Virginia Magazine)
Civic
Falls Church is expected to get new voting equipment as early as 2027. This refreshed equipment would allow the city to have ranked-choice voting for the 2027 elections, if the switch were to be made. (ARLnow)
Eat
Arlington’s restaurant scene is continually growing. Here are some new restaurants coming to the city in 2026. I’m looking forward to Rocoto’s Restaurant and Bakery, a Tex-Mex restaurant coming to Arlington’s Court House neighborhood. (ARLnow)
Closing
Say goodbye to this Compass Coffee location. Located at 4300 Wilson Blvd. in Arlington’s Ballston neighborhood, this coffee shop will close its doors after filing for bankruptcy. There are also rumblings that the West Falls Church location at 7393 Lee Highway may also close. (ARLnow)
Outdoors
Trail and waterfront upgrades have been proposed in Old Town North in Alexandria, and your input is wanted. There will be a meeting on Monday, Jan. 12 at 6 p.m., and you’ll have from Jan. 12 to Feb. 12 to share your feedback. (ALXnow)
Environment
Are you or someone you know ages 16-18? Applications for the Teen Park Corps are open, and these roles allow teens to work with Arlington’s natural resource professionals. This session lasts from March 30 to April 3, and also includes a $200 stipend. Applications close Monday, Jan. 12, so make sure to sign up.
Fun Fact
Did you know that 30 years ago was the Historic Blizzard of 1996? This storm blew through the East Coast, including much of Virginia. Leesburg saw a whopping 36 inches of snow, and Fairfax County saw about 25 inches. Do you have photos from this blizzard?Send them our way. (Northern Virginia Magazine)
State
Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger has selected Jeffery Smith as Virginia’s next Secretary of Education. Smith has worked in public education for 32 years, primarily in both Hampton City and the Town of West Point. See what the role entails. (Virginia Mercury)
Beauty
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Edu
Calling all K-12 public school students. Enter the Virginia Lottery’s Thank a Teacher Art Contest for a chance to win prizes for you and your school while recognizing a deserving teacher. Know a teacher who made a difference?Learn more.*
Alright, this is a test for my friends and family. Many of my friends claim to read NOVAtoday, but I want to put that to the test. Soooo, if you’re reading this, send me a snail emoji. And to all of our dedicated readers, thanks for being here, and have a happy Thursday.
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