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🄯 Your Weekend in ARL: One of D.C.’s top 40 restaurants is right here in Arlington(October 9-12)

Plus empanadas, wine, and new flavor popping up all weekend long.

Happy Thursday from Tezza!

Happy Thursday Bagel Bites,

Arlington’s dining scene is on a roll. Ruthie’s All-Day just made The Washington Post’s list of the 40 Best Restaurants in and around D.C., putting local comfort food on the regional map. Meanwhile, Pink Saffron Indian is prepping to open, Sloppy Mama’s Barbeque has a $10 burger deal worth the detour, and The Celtic House keeps the pub tunes flowing. Add in NaLa Noches, the Reggae Wine Festival, Empanada Fest, and Sunday’s Sazón Latin Food Market, and you’ve got the recipe for a deliciously packed weekend.

Scroll on to plan your weekend right.
– Billy

šŸ“… Your Weekend in Arlington

Thursday

šŸŽ¶ NaLa Noches: Fran Vielma – Metropolitan Park @ 5–7 PM (Thursday, Oct 9)
Kick off the weekend early with NaLa Noches, where Venezuelan jazz artist Fran Vielma headlines an evening of Latin beats, outdoor art, and community energy. Expect pop-ups from Taqueria Xochi, free Topo Chico, and hands-on art activations by MoCA Arlington. It’s free, lively, and the perfect post-work unwind.

Friday

šŸ· International Reggae Wine Festival – Arlington Beer Garden @5 PM–1 AM (Friday, Oct 10)
Start the weekend with a global twist—this happy-hour-meets-reggae-bash runs from 5 PM all the way to 1 AM. Sip wines from around the world, dance to live reggae and DJ sets, and dig into Jamaican jerk and island bites. Expect good vibes, great music, and a crowd that knows how to move. $12.51

Saturday

🄟 Empanada Fest Arlington – Ballston Patio @12–8 PM (Saturday, Oct 11)
All the empanadas, all day: Empanada Fest brings a smorgasbord of sweet, savory, and global flavors to Ballston. Expect food vendors, music, family-friendly vibes, and serious empanada love from noon through evening. Free

Sunday

🌮 Sazón Latin Food Market – Courthouse @3–8 PM (Sunday, Oct 12)
Sazón Latin Food Market brings a fiesta of flavors to Courthouse—think casual eats, Latin street food, dessert stalls, and live music to match. The perfect Sunday lineup for anyone still in a weekend mood. Free

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šŸ½ļø Restaurant News

šŸ½ Arlington Restaurant Week – Oct 13–20, 2025
Mark your calendars—Arlington Restaurant Week returns Oct 13–20, with local eateries rolling out special prix-fixe menus from fast-casual to higher-end spots. It’s your week to dig into dishes you’ve been eyeing without overspending. Look at which restaurants are involved here.

šŸ” Sloppy Mama’s Barbeque – Langston Blvd (Wednesday Deal Alert!)
Sure, the ribs and pulled pork get all the love—but the cheeseburgers here are the real sleeper hit. Made with 4-ounce beef brisket patties (single or double) on a toasted Martin’s roll, they come stacked with cheese, grilled onion, pickles, and special sauce. Add house-made hot sweet pickles, coleslaw, or baked beans for the full spread. Bonus: Wednesdays = single cheeseburger + fries for $10 when you dine in.

šŸ› Pink Saffron Indian – Arlington (Coming Soon)
A new spot called Pink Saffron is gearing up to open at 1201 S Joyce St, bringing ā€œbeat dishes from different parts of Indiaā€ and plans for inventive cocktails. They’ve already filed for their liquor license—expect spice, style, and something fresh on the Arlington dining scene soon. 

šŸ”„ Ruthie’s All-Day – Columbia Pike (Named One of D.C.’s 40 Best!)
Big win for Arlington dining: Ruthie’s All-Day just landed a spot on The Washington Post’s ā€œTop 40 Restaurants in and around D.C.ā€ list. Known for its all-day Southern-inspired menu—think wood-smoked brisket, fried chicken biscuits, and buttermilk pie—Ruthie’s nails comfort food with polish. Whether you’re stopping in for brunch or lingering over dinner, it’s the kind of local gem that keeps Arlington on the culinary map. Info here

🄯 Get Involved

šŸŽ‰ Birthday Shoutouts for Next Week!

Happy birthday Kirsten (11th)!!! 🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳

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šŸ™ Thank you!

Thank you for reading!

P.S. If you know someone who wants to automate their business or who has a really good app idea they want built, please send them to my new agency I started: stupid-simple-apps.com!

-Billy