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Arlington Agenda (Nov. 7-13)

Published November 7, 2016 at 3:00PM

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

Eat Pizza – Support Kiwanis*
Upper Crust Pizzeria (4514 Lee Highway)
Time: 5 p.m.

Upper Crust Pizzeria is donating 10% of its sales, including dine in, takeout and delivery, on Monday and Tuesday to Kiwanis Club of Arlington for their work serving the children of the world.

Free Home Buyer Seminar*
Optime Realty (1600 Wilson Blvd.)
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

Election Night Results AND Celebration
Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike)
Time: doors open at 6 p.m.

Arlington Drafthouse will have live coverage of the end of the election season between presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. General Admission is $5 and the doors will open at 6 p.m.

Election Night Viewing Party!
Barley Mac (1600 Wilson Blvd.)
Time: 7 p.m.-2 a.m.

Following the success of their debate party, Barley Mac is hosting an election night viewing party. Drinks will be red and blue and there will be specialty bar snacks. Space is limited so arrive early to ensure seating.

Wednesday

What Do the Election Results Mean for Arlington?*
Marymount University Phelan Hall Dining Room (2807 N. Glebe Rd.)
Time: 7-9 p.m.

Join a panel discussion with Arlington’s Democratic and Republican committees, and representatives of the Libertarian and Green parties, as they take your questions and offer their outlooks on Arlington’s political future.

Thursday

Spirit of Community Luncheon*
Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel (2800 S. Potomac Ave.)
Time: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

The Arlington Community Foundation will be honoring Jonathan C. Kinney with the 2016 William T. Newman, Jr. Spirit of Community Award. The Foundation will also recognize a local nonprofit organization, the Arlington Outdoor Education Association.

Arlington’s New Deal Murals with Toby McIntosh
Marymount University Reinsch Auditorium (2807 N. Glebe Rd.)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.

Toby McIntosh will discuss his book Apple Picking, Tobacco Harvesting and General Lee, which describes the Arlington post office murals. His presentation will also focus on the artist who painted the murals, Auriel Bessemer.

Friday

Twins Ace Hardware Grand Opening*
Twins Ace Hardware Arlington (2001 Clarendon Blvd.)
Time: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Twins Ace Hardware is celebrating its grand opening in Courthouse from Friday, Nov. 11 to Sunday, Nov. 13. The festivities include a ribbon cutting Saturday, a Weber grill giveaway and treats from The Olive Oil Boom, Tupelo Honey Cafe and The Brew Shop.

Saturday

Hope for the Holidays Grief Seminar*
Virginia Hospital Center Community Classroom (1701 N. George Mason Dr.)
Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.

The Washington Regional Transplant Community is hosting a gathering with Robin McMahon, Ph.D. To register, contact Lisa A. Colaianni or Maureen M. Bladerston at [email protected].

Dance Festival of India 2016 “Kalpana”*
Thomas Jefferson Theater (125 S. Old Glebe Rd.)
Time: 3-9 p.m.

The Thomas Jefferson Theater is showcasing Indian dance companies from the Tri-State area. The first showcase will be on Saturday at 3 p.m., the second will be at 7 p.m. and the final Showcase will be on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Sunday

Benefit Concert for Storm Victims
First Presbyterian Church of Arlington (601 N. Vermont St.)
Time: 7-9 p.m.

World-class music is coming to First Presbyterian Church. Artists are donating their talents for FPC’s seventh annual benefit concert. No tickets are required, but an offering will be collected, with 100% going to the American Red Cross for flood relief.

* Denotes featured (sponsored) content

#Arlington Agenda

Letter to the Editor: A Vote for Clinton is a Vote for ‘Equal Justice Under the Law’

By ARLnow.com

Published November 7, 2016 at 2:15PM

The following Letter to the Editor was written by state Senator Barbara Favola and Delegates Alfonso Lopez, Patrick Hope and Mark Levine, regarding Tuesday’s presidential election. The authors represent Arlington in the Virginia General Assembly.

The direction of the Supreme Court for the next two decades is on the ballot this Tuesday, making this perhaps the most crucial election of our lifetime. By refusing to give Judge Merrick Garland a hearing to fill the seat of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, Senate Republicans have left the Supreme Court with an even split between the conservative and more progressive justices. Indeed, a few justices may be on the verge of retiring soon.

Since the next President will decide how this balance of power changes, we have an important choice to make on Tuesday. Donald Trump proposes to nominate judges who have favored powerful elites and corporations over ordinary individuals in Citizens United, have overturned parts of the Voting Rights Act, have blocked the right of individuals to hold corporations accountable for misconduct, and have undermined government’s ability to keep our air and water clean. Trump wants to nominate “strict constructionist” judges who agree with his controversial views. For example, Trump claims that the Second Amendment is in mortal danger of abolition, that women who have abortions should be punished, and that the freedom of the press, the right of the accused to due process, freedom of religion and LGBT rights should all be weakened.

Hillary Clinton intends to honor the entire Bill of Rights and believes we are “stronger together.” She will nominate judges who value the 14th Amendment guaranteeing “equal protection under the law,” and who understand that fairness is, and must remain, a core value of our legal system. As we’ve seen in recent cases that upheld same sex marriage and struck down key parts of the Voting Rights Act as well as campaign finance reform, what the court decides will have a significant impact on the day-to-day lives of ordinary Americans.

Your vote will decide whether your life and the lives of your loved ones will change for the better or for the worse. The choice could not be clearer. If you want a Supreme Court that will send the country backwards over 50 years in terms of civil rights, reproductive freedom, environmental protection, health care, and corporate special interests, Donald Trump is your candidate. However, if you want a Supreme Court that will protect the individual rights and freedoms of all Americans; if you think the Supreme Court should rule in favor of hard working Americans over the special interests of powerful corporations; and if you want a Supreme Court that will uphold our right to clean air, clean water, and a pollution free environment; we hope you will join us in voting for Hillary Clinton on Tuesday.

ARLnow.com occasionally publishes thoughtful letters to the editor about issues of local interest. To submit a letter to the editor, please email it to [email protected]. Letters may be edited for content and brevity.

Photo via Wikimedia.

Photos: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for New Affordable Apartments

By ARLnow.com

Published November 7, 2016 at 1:30PM | Updated November 7, 2016 at 3:14PM

(Updated at 3:15 p.m.) A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held this past Thursday for The Springs, a new affordable apartment complex in the Buckingham area near Ballston.

The 104-unit building, at the corner of Carlin Springs Road and N. Thomas Street, was developed by the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing.

Among those in attendance for the ceremony were Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey, County Board member Jay Fisette, County Manager Mark Schwartz, APAH Board Chair John Milliken and APAH President and CEO Nina Janopaul.

“The Springs will provide 47 units for low and very low income households earning less than 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI); 51 units for households earning below 60% AMI, and 6 market rate units,” APAH said in a press release. “Sixty-three apartments will be two-bedroom and 22 apartments will be three-bedroom to accommodate families.”

The Springs is located about a half-mile from the Ballston Metro station.

ACPD: Twenty Cars Broken Into Along Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Published November 7, 2016 at 11:30AM

Someone broke into 20 vehicles near the Wellington apartments on Columbia Pike over the weekend.

According to Arlington County Police, the break-ins happened early Sunday morning. A bunch of car windows were broken, but little of value was stolen, police say.

From an ACPD crime report:

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY(Series), 161106015, 1200 block of S. Scott Street. Between 2:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. on November 6, unknown suspect(s) entered 20 vehicles, mostly by breaking the vehicle’s windows, and rummaged through items but nothing appeared to be stolen. There is no suspect(s) description.

County Board Approves More Flexible Sign Rules for Shopping Centers

By ARLnow.com

Published November 7, 2016 at 10:45AM

Arlington County is relaxing its somewhat strict sign rules for its two major shopping malls.

The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City and the under-renovation Ballston Quarter mall will allowed to have more signs, larger signs and temporary projected images.

The County Board voted unanimously to make the changes to the county zoning ordinance.

From an Arlington County press release:

Citing the unique challenges Arlington’s regional shopping centers face in an evolving retail market, the Arlington County Board today approved new, tailored sign regulations that will apply to Ballston Common Mall (the future Ballston Quarter) and Fashion Centre at Pentagon City.

The Zoning Ordinance changes adopted by the Board include the type of signs allowed at urban regional shopping centers; the amount of sign area; placement and sign characteristics. Under the amendments, regional shopping centers will be allowed a larger amount of sign area and more flexibility in where signs are placed. They also will be allowed to have freestanding signs and temporary projected images.

“Our two big malls are important to Arlington’s economy and are centers of activity in the Ballston and Pentagon City neighborhoods,” said County Board Chair Libby Garvey. “The County listened to the business community and the neighborhoods and I’m pleased that we were able to move quickly to adopt common-sense changes to the Zoning Ordinance that will encourage these shopping centers to increase their placemaking, be creative with their signage and stay regionally competitive.”

The Board voted unanimously to approve the changes to the Zoning Ordinance.

Following recommendations of 2015 Retail Plan

The Board’s actions follow the recommendations of the Arlington County Retail Plan, adopted by the Board in July 2015. The plan calls for studying opportunities to reposition and redevelop aging urban regional shopping centers.

The Retail Plan recommends that Ballston Common Mall and Fashion Centre increase placemaking efforts by pulling storefronts to the street; creating multiple entry points and creating activity and attractions on the outside as well as inside. Ballston Mall is currently being redeveloped into Ballston Quarter, incorporating many of the Retail Plan’s recommendations. Fashion Centre also is being expanded and remodeled. To support the redevelopment and repositioning, staff studied the centers’ characteristics and looked at examples throughout the country.

The new regulations are tailored to the unique character of these centers — their built form and the concentration of retail, entertainment and restaurants they offer. They also support the transformation recommended by the Retail Plan by providing more sign area and placement flexibility on facades that have been opened up to the street. The regulations could be used by an urban regional shopping center through an administratively approved comprehensive sign plan.

Community process

The Zoning Ordinance amendments were discussed at a public meeting on April 7, 2016. The amendments also were reviewed by the Zoning Committee of the Planning Commission as well as a number of other stakeholder groups and commissions including the Economic Development Commission, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce Government Relations Committee, the Planning Commission and the Commercial Real Estate Development Group.

Photo: Bentley Gets Towed in Clarendon During Bar Crawl

By ARLnow.com

Published November 7, 2016 at 9:55AM

Someone apparently brought their baby blue Bentley to Saturday’s Halloween bar crawl in Clarendon — but didn’t pay enough attention to the temporary no parking signs on Wilson Blvd.

The $200,000+ coupe, with New York tags, was towed by Redman Fleet Services, the towing provider to the Arlington County Police Department.

No additional information was immediately available.

Photo courtesy Clarendon Nights

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 7, 2016 at 9:05AM

W-L Defeats Yorktown, Heads to Playoffs — The Washington-Lee Generals defeated cross-county rival Yorktown Friday night to advance to the football playoffs. W-L was trailing when senior quarterback Ricardo Mestre passed for a touchdown with just seconds remaining to clinch the win. [Washington Post]

Board Advertises Ballston Historic District — The Arlington County Board voted unanimously Saturday to advertise hearings on designating a small family graveyard in Ballston a local historic district, ahead of a planned redevelopment by the Central United Methodist Church. “The Board on Saturday received assurances from the church that it will not seek to remove any remains from the graveyard before the County has an opportunity to consider its historic designation,” according to a press release. [Arlington County]

Students: Adults Should Tone Down Boundary Rhetoric — Some adults have taken their rhetoric over the current Arlington Public Schools high school boundary refinement process too far, according to a pair of high school students who spoke at Thursday’s School Board meeting. “We honestly consider some of the comments made thus far to be an embarrassment,” said a Yorktown student. [InsideNova, InsideNova]

Arlington Smartphone App Updated — Arlington County has made a number of new upgrades to its My Arlington App for smartphones. The changes include a new home screen design, transit alerts and, just in time for Election Day, polling locations and a map of voter precincts. [Arlington County]

Cyclebar Now Open on the Pike — Cyclebar, a new indoor cycling studio, has officially opened along Columbia Pike. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Nov. 1. [Cyclebar]

Library Director: Vote on Nov. 8 — From Arlington Public Library Director Diane Kresh’s blog: “Every election is important and every vote counts. And it’s a privilege that for people in many parts of the world is not enjoyed. On Tuesday, vote as if your life depends on it; it does.” [Arlington Public Library]

Free Home Buying Seminar Tonight — Sponsored — The Orange Line Living Team is hosting a Free Home Buying Seminar with a local lender and all attendees will receive two guarantees just for attending: 1) Buyer satisfaction — if you don’t love your new home they will buy it back or sell it for free for 12 months, and 2) $1,500 home purchase credit. See website for details and conditions. The event is being at 1600 Wilson Blvd #101 in Arlington, from 6-8 p.m. tonight, Nov. 7. [Orange Line Living]

ARLnow Weekend Discussion

By ARLnow.com

Published November 4, 2016 at 7:45PM

Good news: the election is almost here and after a seemingly endless, hopelessly contentious campaign, the country will hopefully be able to resign itself to life under the [INSERT NAME OF UNPOPULAR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE HERE] administration after next Tuesday.

We’ll be attempting a two hour live broadcast of local election coverage and interviews, from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesday. Be sure to tune in for that.

We chose the broadcast location, the Arlington Democratic victory party at Sehkraft Brewing in Clarendon, based on having the best immediate access to elected officials and candidates. Don’t worry — we’re inviting guests from other parts of the political spectrum as well.

At this point we’d tell you to discuss any issue of local interest, but let’s face it: you’ll probably just talk about Clinton and Trump. Have at it…

#weekend discussion

Man Handcuffed in Middle of Columbia Pike After Reported Gun Brandishing

By ARLnow.com

Published November 4, 2016 at 2:30PM | Updated November 4, 2016 at 2:59PM

(Updated at 2:55 p.m.) A man was taken into police custody at gunpoint in the middle of Columbia Pike this afternoon after a false report that he threatened someone with a gun.

The incident happened just before 2 p.m. near the intersection of the Pike and S. Glebe Road.

A 911 caller said the man had threatened him with a gun during some sort of confrontation, according to scanner traffic. According to Arlington County Police spokeswoman Ashley Savage, the incident started as a verbal confrontation between the caller and the man over the caller allegedly ogling the man’s girlfriend while the couple was stopped in their car on Glebe Road near the Bank of America.

Police, told that the man had a gun, rushed to the scene and conducted a traffic stop on a car matching the description relayed by the caller. Officers ordered the man out of the vehicle with his hands up and took him into custody in the middle of Columbia Pike.

Upon further investigation, officers determined that the man did not have a gun in his possession and was not armed during the confrontation, Savage said.

“Basically it was just a verbal dispute that escalated,” Savage said. The scene has been cleared and no charges have been filed.

UPDATED: Tazza Kitchen Has Closed at the Arlington Ridge Shopping Center

By ARLnow.com

Published November 4, 2016 at 1:15PM | Updated November 4, 2016 at 4:38PM

Tazza Kitchen closed at the Arlington Ridge Shopping Center

(Updated at 4:40 p.m.) Tazza Kitchen, which served cuisine inspired by the Mediterranean coast and Baja California, has closed at the Arlington Ridge Shopping Center.

The restaurant first opened in 2014, at 2931 S. Glebe Road, replacing the former Cafe Caturra. It closed, apparently permanently, earlier this week.

“It was becoming increasingly difficult to support a single location in the D.C. market, and our future growth plan does not include that area,” Tazza Kitchen co-founder John Haggai told ARLnow.com via email late Friday afternoon. “So prior to rolling out several new initiatives and opening new locations in 2017, we made the difficult decision to close Arlington Ridge.”

Tazza Kitchen has five existing locations in the Richmond area and in North and South Carolina.

Open Houses in Arlington This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

Published November 4, 2016 at 12:00PM

Searching for a new home in Arlington? You’ll be able to find plenty of options this weekend.

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

4360 Lee Highway
1 Bed/1 Bath Condo
Agent: Leslie Mitchell
Listed: $259,900
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

4725 31st Street South
2 Bed/2 Bath Townhouse
Agent: Robert Allen
Listed: $459,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

1600 North Oak Street
2 Bed/2 Bath Condo
Agent: James Connolly
Listed: $699,000
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

5436 Carlin Springs Road
3 Bed/2 Bath Single-Family Detached
Agent: Megan McMorrow
Listed: $719,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

1610 Queen Street North
2 Bed/2 Bath Townhouse
Agent: Matthew Shepard
Listed: $990,000
Open: Saturday 1-4 p.m.

2818 North Jefferson Street
4 Bed/4.5 Bath Single-Family Detached
Agent: Nancy Broyhill
Listed: $1,375,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 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.