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Defense Department Expected to Study Helicopter Noise

Published December 5, 2016 at 2:00PM | Updated December 5, 2016 at 2:34PM

On Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act, pushing an amendment on helicopter noise from Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) closer to becoming law.

The amendment was proposed by Beyer in response to frequent complaints from Northern Virginia residents about excess noise from military helicopters. It directs the Dept. of Defense to work with the Federal Aviation Administration “to study changes to the region’s helicopter flight routes, operating procedures, and even the types of helicopters flown in the national capital airspace to mitigate the effect of noise on the region’s neighborhoods.”

With Friday’s 375-34 House vote, the measure is now set to be voted on by the Senate this week, prior to heading to the president’s desk to become law.

Beyer said the language in the bill will force the DoD to take responsibility for its role in creating noise that affects quality of life in local neighborhoods.

“My constituents understand and appreciate the military’s mission in the National Capital Region, but that does not absolve the Pentagon’s responsibility to minimize helicopter flights over residential neighborhoods,” Beyer told ARLnow.com Friday, in a statement. “I offered this amendment out of frustration after Department officials rebuffed my attempts to work together to quiet the noise. Today’s vote ensures the DoD will work with the FAA and local community groups to find ways to reduce the din.”

Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman

Arlington Agenda: Dec. 5-11

By ARLnow.com

Published December 5, 2016 at 1:00PM | Updated December 5, 2016 at 2:04PM

Arlington Agenda is a listing of interesting events for the week ahead in Arlington County. If you’d like to see your event featured, fill out the event submission form.

Also, be sure to check out our event calendar.

Monday

Conversations with Tyler: A Conversation with Jhumpa Lahiri*
George Mason University Founders Hall (3351 Fairfax Dr.)
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.

Jhumpa Lahiri, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and commentator on the lives of immigrant families, will join Tyler Cowen for a discussion as part of the Conversations with Tyler event series.

Free Home Buyer Seminar*
Orange Line Living Team (1600 Wilson Blvd, Suite 101)
Time: 6-8 p.m.

The Orange Line Living Team is hosting a Home Buying Seminar event at their Rosslyn office. Drinks and appetizers will be provided and specialists will be on hand to give overviews of the buying process.

Tuesday

~~Shirlie Lights Up The Village Holiday Celebration~~
Update at 2 p.m. — The event has been cancelled due to rain in the forecast.

Wednesday

Hindsight 20/20
MakeOffices Clarendon (3100 Clarendon Blvd, Suite 200)
Time: 8:30-10 a.m.

This free event features Anna Mason, Director of Investments for Revolutions’s LLC’s “Rise of the Rest” platform and Co-Director of The Vinetta Project. RSVP is required and a complimentary breakfast will be served.

Police Fill the Cruiser Holiday Toy Drive
Our Lady of Lourdes (830 23rd Street S.)
Time: 6-8 p.m.

The Arlington County Police Department is asking community members to help bring holiday cheer to local children in need by donating new and unwrapped toys. Donations will be distributed throughout the month of December.

Friday

In the Garden Of Live Flowers
Wakefield High School (1325 S. Dinwiddie St.)
Time: 7-9 p.m.

This event will feature Attilio Favorini and Lynne Conner’s play based on Rachel Carson’s world-changing book, Silent Spring. Carson, who was diagnosed with breast cancer while writing her book, is at a crossroads where her own life story meets a landscape uplifted by cultural references that bring the revolutionary science of Silent Spring to the stage.

The Second City’s Nut-Cracking Holiday Revue
Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike)
Time: 7:15 and 1o p.m.

The Chicago sketch comedy troupe presents a blend of hysterical scenes, songs, improv and holiday mischief on Friday and Saturday, and from December 16-18. Second City is the famous training ground for legendary comedians like John Belushi, Mike Myers and Tina Fey.

Saturday

National Chamber Ensemble — Happy Holidays!*
Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre (1611 N. Kent St.)
Time: 7:30-9:30 p.m.

This annual holiday concert features the music of Mozart, Bach and Schumann, as well as holiday favorites by Leroy Anderson’s Sleighride, a Hanukkah Fantasy and more. The concert concludes with Carol’s Sing-Along with a reception to follow.

Winter Wonderland
Market Common Clarendon (2800 Clarendon Blvd.)
Time: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

This annual community event will be held on Saturday and Sunday and celebrates the winter season with live carolers, crafts, face painting, holiday treats and more. Donating any unused toy can earn you a free picture with Santa through the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation.

The Hot Club of DC at Bistro 29 Swing
Bistro 29 (3911 Lee Highway)
Time: 7:30-9:30 p.m.

The Hot Club of DC celebrates the gypsy jazz music of the 1920s-1950s and features the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli and covers of the American Jazz Standards, Classic French songs and a few Eastern European Tunes.

Sunday

Nutcracker Tea at the Ritz
Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City (1250 S. Hayes St.)
Time: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Guests will enjoy a high tea, pictures with the Sugar Plum Fairy, crafts, prizes and a mini-performance from the Nutcracker. Single reservations and special VIP Tables are available and proceeds from this fundraiser will support BalletNova’s Free Ticket and Scholarship Programs.

2016 Christmas Movie Festival
Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike)
Time: 12 p.m.

Films include How The Grinch Stole Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Elf, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, A Christmas Story, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Scrooged and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Tickets are $8.

* Denotes featured (sponsored) content

#Arlington Agenda

Arlington Drafthouse to Add Art-House Films

By ARLnow.com

Published December 5, 2016 at 11:55AM

The Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike) will shift to an art-house movie model and away from showing mainstream films several months after their initial release.

The change will be formally announced in an email to customers this afternoon, Drafthouse owner Greg Godbout said.

The announcement comes three weeks after the Drafthouse began surveying customers on proposed changes to the theater’s business model, floating the idea of showing first-run movies during the summer, at a time when live comedy audiences — the Drafthouse’s bread and butter — are down.

Otherwise, when comedy acts and special events are not booked, the Drafthouse has been showing “sub-run” movies, which are movies that have been playing at the multiplexes for several months and which are, typically, close to being released to home viewers via Video on Demand.

Earlier VOD release dates have been cutting into the audience for sub-run movies, Godbout said, so he was thinking of showing blockbuster movies for a week at a time over the summer — a model many other single-screen theaters adopt (studio rules prohibit showing multiple first-run films on the same screen).

The feedback from customers, however, pointed him to indie and art-house style films rather than the typical big-budget mainstream popcorn flick.

Starting with certain movies in January, until the change is complete in May, the Drafthouse will begin showing sub-run art-house films in winter, spring and fall, while the Drafthouse continues to focus on hosting big-name national comedy acts on weekends. Then, in the summer, the Drafthouse will switch to a three week cycle of two weeks of first-run art-house and indie films and one week of older art-house films or film festivals.

The theater will continue to offer family-friendly movies and entertainment, particularly during matinee times, but the $2 discount movies on Monday and Tuesday nights will either go away completely or the price will be raised, said Godbout.

Another change in the works: the replacement of the Drafthouse’s aging seats with new office chairs.

At the Drafthouse’s new D.C. location, meanwhile, more changes: local and national standup comedy acts will continue to perform, but there will be a new focus on hosting Esports competitions — live videogame tournaments, which are gaining in popularity.

The full letter from Godbout, after the jump.

(more…)

Church to Hold Talk on ‘The End of White Christian America’

By ARLnow.com

Published December 5, 2016 at 10:45AM

An author talk at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington (4444 Arlington Blvd) will examine Donald Trump’s election and the implications of the U.S. no longer being a majority white Christian nation.

The talk by Robert P. Jones, author of the “The End of White Christian America,” is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 11 at 1 p.m.

From a press release:

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington will host a talk with Robert P. Jones, the CEO of Public Religion Research Institute on Sunday, December 11, at 1:00 p.m. Jones will discuss his new book, The End of White Christian America, which has been hailed by The New York Times Review of Books as “quite possibly the most illuminating text for this election year.” Drawing on decades of public opinion and demographic research, Jones challenges us to grasp a new reality — that America is no longer a majority white Christian nation — and examines what influence this had on the 2016 presidential election.

The presentation and discussion will provide unique insight into:

The ways both political parties are responding to these shifts, including Donald Trump’s surprising appeal to white conservative Christian voters;

The stark disagreements between white and black Americans over the fairness of the justice system and the #BlackLivesMatter movement;

The apocalyptic tone of arguments over same-sex marriage and LGBT rights;

How these recent demographic and cultural changes are shaping — and often distorting — our understanding of principles such as equality, fairness, and religious freedom.

Image courtesy Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington

Noodles & Co. Has Closed on Pentagon Row

By ARLnow.com

Published December 5, 2016 at 9:45AM

Struggling fast-casual restaurant chain Noodles & Co. has closed its location at the Pentagon Row shopping center (1201 S. Joyce Street).

The eatery closed last month after 14 years in business. The restaurant’s exterior sign has since been removed and its interior has been largely cleared out.

A sign on the front door directs customers to the Noodles & Co. location at 2011 Crystal Drive in Crystal City.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published December 5, 2016 at 8:30AM

County to Continue Westover Study — Arlington County’s Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board has asked county staff to study garden apartments in the Westover neighborhood. The study is expected to take 6-12 months, after which the board will consider whether to recommend a historic designation. Some residents want Westover designated as historic in order to prevent redevelopment. The study limits the historic designation to the garden apartments and not to other parts of Westover. [InsideNova, Arlington County]

Donations Needed for ANC Wreaths — The nonprofit Wreaths Across America is seeking donations to help sponsor wreaths for the gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. Without additional donations, nearly half of the graves at the cemetery may be bare for the holidays. [Washington Examiner, WTOP]

New Name for New Street — A new street that will be built as part of a planned apartment development along Columbia Pike may be getting a new name. Originally set to be called S. Smythe Street, the short connector road behind the Wellington apartments may instead be named S. Ross Street. [InsideNova]

High School Boundary Change Approved — Despite some resident complaints, the Arlington School Board on Dec. 1 approved a series of high school boundary changes that will move students, starting with high school freshmen next year, from overcrowded Washington-Lee High School to Wakefield and Yorktown. [Arlington Public Schools, InsideNova]

ARLnow Weekend Discussion

By ARLnow.com

Published December 3, 2016 at 9:00AM

This past week started off slow but ramped up as everyone recovered from their Thanksgiving weekend.

Friday’s house fire in Penrose might have attracted the biggest emergency response this week, but it barely even cracked the top 20 most-viewed stories of the week.

The three most-read articles this week were:

The top five story was more upbeat: our article on Arlington’s own Brittany O’Grady, who’s starring in the new Fox television series “Star.” We’re hoping to talk to her soon and find out how she’s making it in Hollywood.

With that, feel free to discuss any topic of local interest in the comments. Have a nice weekend!

#weekend discussion

House of Steep in Cherrydale to Close

By ARLnow.com

Published December 2, 2016 at 6:15PM

House of Steep is located at 3800 Lee Highway

House of Steep, a tea house and “foot sanctuary” in Cherrydale, is closing after four years in business.

The well-reviewed business, at 3800 Lee Highway, is based around a number of relaxing offerings: loose leaf tea, foot soaks, massages and reflexology.

In an email to customers Friday evening, owner Lyndsey DePalma suggested that the store was not sufficiently profitable to justify remaining in business.

“The rewards are wonderful but unfortunately are not enough,” she wrote. The store is set to close on Friday, Dec. 30.

The full letter is below.

To our beautiful, loyal customers –

A deep, Steep thank you for supporting us over the past four years in our vision to spread peace and offer gentle reminders of health and wholeness to our community. Our mission has been successful and the TEAm is celebrating. The rewards are wonderful but unfortunately are not enough to continue on without innovation, which is more than our team has the capacity to do at this time. So effective December 30, 2016, we will lovingly serve our last cup of tea in our retail space.

Steep is a great company with great reviews and a loyal customer base. It’s quite difficult for small retail businesses to succeed in dynamic markets with growing real estate and workforce costs. A huge thank you for helping us defy significant odds in the start-up world and for taking the time to cheer us on along the way. Thank you for becoming our friends and for stopping in to catch up over a comfortable cup. The business has served many and created so many memories with couples first dates, moms spending cherished time with their children (or without), and so many people pausing to take advantage of the moment. Keep doing this!

A sincere thanks to the staff, as well. I don’t know of a more loved business in this area, and this is all thanks to the staff, especially Michael and his leaders who proudly served the mission and set great examples for the staff.

We wanted to give a month to anyone holding gift cards to be able to redeem for goods and services with ease (our reservation policy for foot massage/reflexology is still required). While we will serve our last cup of tea at the end of the month, a few staff members will continue to serve our wholesale accounts, as well as our online store, so you may continue to source our delicious, health-focused tea blends after we close the storefront. And we’ll continue to serve in the hearts and memories of those who appreciated us for the gentle, loving space we provided for so many years. All good things live on and we believe that to be true of Steep.

We hope you’ll come in for one last foot soak, hug, and/or a cup of healthy goodness to help lift your day. You’ve certainly lifted ours over the years.

Steeped in gratitude,
Lyndsey (and the Steep TEAm)

Podcast: Arlington County Communications Director Bryna Helfer

By ARLnow.com

Published December 2, 2016 at 4:45PM

Bryna Helfer is trying to improve and modernize the way Arlington County communicates with its residents and businesses.

Helfer joined county government as Assistant County Manager for Communications and Public Engagement in September and has been seeking input on the county’s public outreach since.

On this week’s 26 Square Miles podcast, we asked Helfer about her position at the county, about technology and its role in updating the “Arlington Way” system of public outreach, and about why residents occasionally feel “blindsided” by the county’s decision-making process.

Listen below or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher or TuneIn.

Open Houses in Arlington This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

Published December 2, 2016 at 3:45PM

Looking for a new home? Arlington has several options to consider this weekend.

Check out our real estate section for a full listing of open houses this weekend. Here are a few highlights:

3000 Spout Run Parkway
1 Bed/1 Bath Condo
Agent: Patricia Ammann
Listed: $255,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

231 North Thomas Street
2 Bed/2 Bath Condo
Agent: Rachel Adler
Listed: $360,000
Open: Sunday 1:30-4:30 p.m.

1322 South Glebe Road
2 Bed/1.5 Bath Single-Family Detached
Agent: Natalie Roy
Listed: $555,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

501 South Adams Street
5 Bed/3 Bath Single-Family Detached
Agent: Sebastian Martinez
Listed: $729,999
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

800 North Barton Street
4 Bed/3.5 Bath Single-Family Detached
Agent: Megan Fass
Listed: $999,900
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

1881 Nash Street
3 Bed/3.5 Bath Condo
Agent: Salley Widmayer
Listed: $2,499,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

Real estate agents, if you don’t see your listings in our real estate section shoot us an email and we’ll let you know what your office needs to do to get listed.

Road Closures Planned for Jingle Bell Run 5K in Pentagon City

By ARLnow.com

Published December 2, 2016 at 2:40PM

A number of road closures are planned Saturday morning for the 2016 Jingle Bell Run/Walk 5K.

The race, which benefits the Arthritis Foundation, kicks off at 9 a.m. tomorrow in front of the Pentagon Row shopping center (1101 S. Joyce Street).

Via ACPD:

The Arlington County Police Department will close South Joyce Street and sections of Army Navy Drive for the 2016 Jingle Bell Run/Walk 5k on Saturday, December 3, 2016.

The affected streets are listed below:

South Joyce Street between South 15th Street and Army Navy Drive will be closed from 5:30 AM until 11:00 AM.

Army Navy Drive between South Joyce Street and South 25th Street will be closed from 7:00 AM until 11:00 AM.

Race attendees are encouraged to use Metro, however; if driving as a participant or spectator please utilize the parking garage at the Pentagon City Mall.

Street parking in the area will be restricted. Motorists should be on the lookout for temporary “No Parking” signs. Illegally parked vehicles may be ticketed or towed. If your vehicle is towed from a public street, call 703-558-2222.