Author: ARLnow.com

Launched in January 2010, ARLnow.com is the place for the latest news, views and things to do around Arlington, Virginia. Started by a Pentagon City resident who has spent the past several years working in local TV news, ARLnow.com seeks to distinguish itself with original, enterprising, up-to-the-minute local coverage.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Arlington

By ARLnow.com
Weather radar as of 5:10 p.m. (via National Weather Service)

Northern portions of Arlington County are now under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.

A line of strong storms is approaching the area and may pack damaging wind gusts.

More from the National Weather Service:

BULLETIN – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
502 PM EDT Mon Jun 21 2021

The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning…

* Until 545 PM EDT.

* At 501 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from Ballenger Creek to Leesburg to near The Plains, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE…Radar indicated.

IMPACT…Damaging winds will cause some trees and large branches to fall. This could injure those outdoors, as well as damage homes and vehicles. Roadways may become blocked by downed trees. Localized power outages are possible. Unsecured light objects may become projectiles.

* Locations impacted include… Arlington, Columbia, Germantown, Centreville, Rockville, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Reston, Leesburg, Annandale, Olney, Springfield, South Riding, Herndon, Fairfax, Vienna, Damascus, Falls Church, Broadlands and Lansdowne.

Whitlow’s Is Being Auctioned Off, Piece by Piece

By ARLnow.com

This is the final week for Whitlow’s, at least in its current Clarendon location, but you can now bring a piece of the iconic local business home.

The long-time watering hole is auctioning off much of its decor and equipment online.

“Fans can still own a piece of Whitlow’s to keep the memories alive,” auction firm Capital Online Auctions said today in a press release. “Nearly 300 pieces of décor that gave the popular Arlington watering hole its iconic ‘funky charm’ are up for auction.”

Among the items hitting the virtual auction block are:

Whitlow’s is closing for good after one last bash this Saturday, June 26, though its owners have floated the possibility of opening in a new location down the road.

The auctions are set to start closing Thursday morning (June 24).

Strong Storms Possible Tonight, Forecasters Say

By ARLnow.com

Update at 5:10 p.m. — A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has now been issued.

Update at 2:20 p.m. — A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has now been issued for Arlington and much of the region.

Earlier: Strong storms may roll through the area between 5-7 p.m. this evening.

The National Weather Service released a Special Weather Statement this afternoon, warning of the potential for damaging wind gusts, large hail and perhaps even an isolated tornado.

More from NWS:

108 PM EDT MON JUN 21 2021

…SEVERE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING…

A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IS EXPECTED TO SWEEP EAST ACROSS OUR REGION THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING.

THE RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS INCREASES FROM MARGINAL RISK OVER CENTRAL VIRGINIA, TO SLIGHT RISK GENERALLY NORTH OF I-66 AND US-50, TO ENHANCED RISK ALONG AND NEAR THE MASON-DIXON LINE. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS ARE THE PRIMARY THREAT, ALTHOUGH LARGE HAIL AND AN ISOLATED TORNADO ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

THE INITIAL LINE OF STORMS SHOULD ENTER WESTERN MARYLAND AND THE EASTERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA BETWEEN 1 AND 4 PM. IT IS THEN EXPECTED TO MOVE EAST ACROSS THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY AND WEST CENTRAL MARYLAND BETWEEN 3 AND 5 PM. THE LINE SHOULD REACH THE BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON METRO AREAS AND SOUTHERN MD BETWEEN 5 AND 8 PM. ALL TIMES ARE CURRENT BEST ESTIMATES, AND PEOPLE SHOULD BE READY TO SEEK SHELTER WHEN STORMS THREATEN OR WARNINGS ARE ISSUED.

ARLnow Welcomes New Team Members

By ARLnow.com

Two new full-time employees and a summer intern have joined the ARLnow team, helping to produce a greater breadth and depth of local news coverage on our sites.

David Taube started last month and is primarily focused on reporting for our Fairfax County news sites: Reston Now and Tysons Reporter. He joins us from the Hearst Television national desk in Pittsburgh.

Dana Munro started last week as ARLnow’s first-ever Evening Editor. She will report stories, assist with breaking news coverage on weekday evenings, and work on our forthcoming premium membership offering, the ARLnow Press Club. Dana was previously a newscast producer for WBAY in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Anuj Khemka is ARLnow’s summer intern. Anuj, an Arlington resident, attends Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology and is editor-in-chief of the student publication tjTODAY.org. He will report stories for ARLnow and our Fairfax County sites, in addition with assisting with special projects, including the launch of the ARLnow Press Club.

With the new hires our company now has 11 full-time employees, in addition to freelance contributors and interns.

Thank you to our advertisers, business partners, and Patreon members — who will be transitioned over to the Press Club once it launches — for your ongoing support, allowing us to sustainably grow and produce even more local journalism.

ACPD Investigating Car-Buying Fraud

By ARLnow.com

A woman used a fraudulent cashier’s check to steal a vehicle from an Arlington resident who was offering it for sale, according to police.

A woman who identified herself as “Stacy James” showed up at a home with the fake check in hand earlier this month, ostensibly to buy a used vehicle that was listed on Facebook Marketplace, police say. Five days later, the victim was notified by her bank that the check was fraudulent.

Police are now asking for the public’s help in identifying the alleged fraudster, who was wearing sunglasses and a mask but who had distinctive piercings in one ear.

More from ACPD:

The Arlington County Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division is investigating a larceny from false pretenses and is seeking the public’s assistance identifying the suspect captured in home surveillances images.

On June 11, the victim filed an online police report regarding a fraud. The investigation determined the victim was selling a used car on Facebook Marketplace when the suspect, who identified herself as ‘Stacy James,’ made contact with him. On June 5, the suspect arrived at the victim’s home, inspected the vehicle and provided the victim with what appeared to be a cashier’s check for the purchase. On June 10, the victim was notified by their bank that the check was fraudulent.

The suspect is described as a white female, approximately 5’2″ tall and weighing 155 lbs. She has long, red/purple hair and multiple piercings on her left ear.

Anyone with information related to this incident and/or the suspect’s identity is asked to contact Detective L. Bello at 703-228-4166 or [email protected]. Information may also be reported anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Lee Highway Planning Update — “Arlington county staff have produced different future land use scenarios for five sections, or neighborhood areas, of the [Lee Highway] corridor. These scenarios offer different visions for the route that note anticipated intensity and uses of land as well as potential future transportation and public space improvements. Ultimately, the initiative will culminate in an area plan that will guide future development along the corridor over the next 30 years.” [GGWash]

Postal Flexibility for Route 29 — “To borrow from a phrase of Barack Obama: If you like your Lee Highway address, you can keep your Lee Highway address. Arlington County officials say they do not expect the pending renaming of the 5.2-mile stretch of U.S. Route 29 in the county to impact delivery of mail addressed to the old ‘Lee Highway’ address when the roadway becomes ‘Langston Boulevard.'” [InsideNova]

Blood Drive in Courthouse Today — “Fire Works American Pizzeria and Bar… is working with INOVA Blood Donor Services to host an Arlington Community Blood Drive with an INOVA Bloodmobile, which will be located near the intersection of Clarendon Boulevard and North Adams Street, on Monday, June 21, 2021, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.” [Press Release]

A-SPAN Buys Westover Apartments — “This eight-unit apartment building, originally built in the 1940s for Pentagon workers, looks modest. But it’s the centerpiece of an ambitious pilot program from the Arlington-based non-profit A-SPAN. ‘This is for people who have too many housing barriers, [meaning] felonies, no credit, no rental history, immigration status,’ says A-SPAN’s director of development Scott Miller.” [DCist]

Police Pride Event at Freddie’s — “In recognition of Pride Month and the significant contributions of Arlington’s LGBTQ+ communities, the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) will host Pride with the Police… on Friday, June 25.” [Arlington County]

Last Week: Protest Outside Boeing HQ — “Supporters of Palestine demonstrate outside of Boeing’s office building in Crystal City, 6/16/21.” [Instagram]

Trump Official Trying to Sell D.C. Condo — “The condo was then taken off the market, and re-listed in April at the same price. In mid-May, the listing was withdrawn for a second time, and it remains off the market. [Stephen] Miller, meanwhile, has reportedly moved to Arlington with his wife, Katie Miller, another former Trump administration official.” [Washingtonian]

Reminder: This Week’s Arlies Vote — There’s one day left to vote for your favorite Arlington food truck. [ARLnow]

ARLnow Holiday Weekend Discussion

By ARLnow.com

It only became official yesterday afternoon, but this is now a long federal holiday weekend.

We join the rest of the Arlington community in commemorating and reflecting on Juneteenth today and tomorrow.

Given the new holiday, we’re ending the day a bit early. Below are the most-read ARLnow articles of the week.

  1. Arlington’s Torri Huske Going to Tokyo After Setting Record at Olympic Trials
  2. Authorities Advise Removing Bird Feeders, Still Stumped By Reports of Sick and Dead Birds
  3. RCA Redevelopment in Rosslyn Gets Green Light
  4. Popular NYC Bakery Mah-Ze-Dahr Opening in Crystal City This Weekend
  5. Combo Sandwich and Flower Shop to Replace Buzz Bakery in Ballston
  6. Noise Complaints Drown Out Discussion of Forthcoming Cherrydale Farmers Market
  7. Progressive Voice: Spreading “Gentle” Density Across Arlington Benefits Everyone
  8. County Board Drills Into AHC About Serrano Apartments Conditions
  9. ACPD Reports More Thefts Involving Unlocked Vehicles
  10. County Board Approves $16 Million Loan for Affordable Apartment Building in Ballston
  11. Whitlow’s Is Closing Next Week and Throwing Itself a Going-Away Party

Feel free to discuss those or any other local topics in the comments. Have a nice weekend!

Open Houses in Arlington This Weekend

By ARLnow.com
3600 14th Street S.

If you’re looking to buy a home in Arlington, you’ll find plenty of open houses taking place throughout the area this weekend.

Before diving into some of your options, let’s take a look at the numbers… There are currently 746 homes listed for sale in Arlington, according to Homesnap. That includes 498 condos, 204 detached homes and 44 townhomes. The median list price is $584,900.

Here are a few noteworthy open houses coming up this weekend:

  • 6429 27th Street N.
    5 BD/4.5+ BA single-family home
    Noteworthy: Roof deck lounge, white oak floors, clawfoot tub
    Listed: $1,799,000
    Open: Saturday, 1-3 p.m.
  • 2815 11th Street N.
    3 BD/3.5 BA townhome
    Noteworthy: Park view from front porch, spacious deck, two-car garage
    Listed: $1,289,000
    Open: Saturday and Sunday, 2-4 p.m.
  • 2620 S. Fern Street
    5 BD/3 BA single-family home
    Noteworthy: Sunroom, lower level with separate entrance
    Listed: $1,075,000
    Open: Saturday, 2-4:30 p.m.
  • 2015 N. Quantico Street
    4 BD/4 BA single-family home
    Noteworthy: Corner lot, covered patio, award-winning garden
    Listed: $984,900
    Open: Sunday, 12-2 p.m.
  • 3600 14th Street S.
    3 BD/3 BA single-family home
    Noteworthy: Updated kitchen, custom built-ins, screened porch
    Listed: $850,000
    Open: Saturday, 1-3 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • 1200 Crystal Drive #312
    2 BD/2 BA condo
    Noteworthy: Floor-to-ceiling windows, expansive balcony, 24-hour concierge
    Listed: $739,900
    Open: Saturday, 1-3 p.m.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Big Ballston Restaurant Opening Today — WHINO, a 150-seat restaurant, craft cocktail bar and art gallery, is set to open its doors at Ballston Quarter today. [ARLnow]

County Considering Green Valley Curfew — “No arrests yet, but Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz says police are making progress after a June 6 shoot-’em-up in the Green Valley neighborhood… The matter became the topic of discussion at the June 12 County Board meeting, when one neighbor called on county leaders to impose a curfew at dusk for the park and school area. County Board member Katie Cristol has asked staff to return with an opinion on whether such an approach would be legal.” [Sun Gazette]

Police Planning for ‘National Night Out’ — “The Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) invites community members and organizations to celebrate outdoor National Night Out (NNO) events on Tuesday, August 3, 2021 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. NNO is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our communities safer and improve quality of life.” [Arlington County]

APS Animal-Science Program Dwindling — “I am an 11th-grader at Washington-Liberty High School and a technical-animal-science student at the Arlington Career Center. The animal-science program is at risk. The number of animals in the program has been dwindling for years. The program has not been permitted to replace the recently deceased miniature horse. Only one goat is left, and he’s 17. The sole surviving ferret, at nine, is living on borrowed time. However, the administration wants to cut our programs even more, taking away our only goat and our four chickens.” [Sun Gazette]

W-L Student’s Vax Effort Lauded — “Before graduation, McBride spent countless hours convincing her classmates to get vaccinated against COVID-19. ‘I was making sure if vaccines were available for some of my friends, they were going to be able to get it and access it,’ she said. ‘I was very compelled by the thought that I want to be able to see my friends in the future, I want to make sure my friends are healthy, and the community is healthy, and their family is healthy in the future.'” [WJLA]

Man Arrested for Columbia Pike Robbery — “The female victim was walking to her parked vehicle when she observed the suspect sitting near by. As she approached the vehicle, the suspect allegedly ran towards her with his arms outstretched and demanded money. The victim backed away and the suspect ran across the street and approached another victim in a similar manner. Arriving officers canvassed the area and located the suspect.” [ACPD]

Do You Plan to Visit the Long Bridge Park Aquatics Center After It Opens?

By ARLnow.com
1/8

The long-planned and long-debated Long Bridge Park Aquatics and Fitness Center is set to open this summer, perhaps as early as July.

The $60 million facility, construction of which was approved in 2017, is located north of Crystal City and south of the 14th Street Bridge, offering monumental views across the Potomac. It features a 50-meter competition pool with diving towers, a whirlpool, a family pool with a splash pad, a water slide, water volleyball and basketball areas, and a lazy river — in addition to an 8,000-square-foot fitness center and rooms for for classes, parties and events.

A multi-million-dollar donation from Boeing will help cover the facility’s operating costs, and will also make admission free for local, active duty military families, in return for naming rights to the 50-meter pool and the park’s existing outdoor fields.

In the years-long discussion about the merits of the aquatics center, prior to it being built, there was some debate over how much of a local need it was filling, at a relatively high cost. Will it be something mostly used by Speedo-clad swimming enthusiasts, or will it be widely used by the community, particularly during cold weather months when recreation options are limited?

With the aquatics center close to opening, let’s revisit that question. Do you plan on checking out the facility at some point this year, after it opens?

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Bye Bye, Brood X — “Have you noticed dead cicadas on the ground, or that the bugs are not chorusing as loud as during past weeks? It’s because cicadas reached peak numbers last week in and around the D.C. area and are starting to die at a rapid rate. In some places, you may be smelling them as they rot away.” [Washington Post, Washingtonian]

Firefighters Awarded for Daring Rescue — “On October 31, 2020, Arlington County Fire Department units, including the technical rescue team, were dispatched to Windy Run Trail for an injured person. Communications reported that a female hiker had sustained injuries after falling approximately 30 to 40 feet down an embankment. Initial reports were unclear as to the exact location of the injured person.” [WJLA]

Arlington Man Sentenced for Fraud — “An Arlington businessman was sentenced today to 21 months in prison with three years of supervised release for making false statements to multiple federal agencies in order to fraudulently obtain multimillion-dollar government contracts, COVID-19 emergency relief loans, and undeserved military service benefits.” [Dept. of Justice]

Reminder: Pike Blues Fest This Weekend — “This year a hybrid three-day Columbia Pike Blues Festival Weekend (Friday to Sunday, June 18, 19 and 20) combines live-streaming concerts and ticketed outdoor performances that will get you back into your summer groove.” [ARLnow]

Update on Local Reality Show Contestant — “What is Bachelorette [contestant] Jason from Arlington up to right this very second? Well, last night he crossed the river into DC to host Zac Clark, his friend and fellow former Bachelorette contestant.” [Washingtonian]

Amazon Helping to Fund Housing — “Amazon will provide $125 million in financing to build or preserve an estimated 1,000 units of affordable housing on Metro-owned land in the D.C. region, the company announced Wednesday. The online retail giant, which stands to receive up to $750 million in cash grants from Virginia if it hires at least 37,850 workers at its new corporate headquarters in Arlington, says it will commit below-market loans, lines of credit, and grants to developers who have joint development agreements with WMATA.” [DCist, Washington Post]

Rent Still Below Pre-Pandemic Levels — “In the D.C. region, rents rose 20.1 percent from March 2020 to May 2021 in Fredericksburg, Va.; by 16.4 percent in Frederick, Md., and by 9.6 percent in Laurel, Md. But rents declined by 7.8 percent in D.C., year-over-year, by 10.5 percent in Chevy Chase, Md., and by 5.2 percent in Arlington, Va. Clearly, the flight to the suburbs meant increased rents in areas farther from D.C.” [Washington Post]

Fairfax County’s Namesake Questioned — “The [Fairfax County] seal is of a different time. Adopted seven decades ago, it bears a version of the coat of arms belonging to Thomas Fairfax, the sixth Lord Fairfax and a slaveholding British loyalist who once owned much of the land that makes up Fairfax County today. As neighboring counties and cities reexamine their logos and symbols, it seems like only a matter of time before Fairfax County faces its own questions.” [Tysons Reporter]

View More Stories