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.

Open Houses in Arlington This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

Want a new home in Arlington? The county has several options to see this weekend.

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

1427 N. Nash Street1427 N. Nash Street
1 Bed/1 Bath Condo
Agent: Eman Othman
Listed: $294,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

2785 24th Road South2785 24th Road South
2 Bed/3.5 Bath Townhome
Agent: C.C. Webster
Listed: $495,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

5812 1st Street South5812 1st Street South
4 Bed/3 Bath Single Family Detached
Agent: Sueyen Rhee
Listed: $695,000
Open: Saturday 1-4 p.m.

 

1700 A Clarendon Boulevard1700 A Clarendon Boulevard
1 Bed/1.5 Bath Condo
Agent: Elizabeth Lord
Listed: $777,900
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

3830 30th Street North3830 30th Street North
4 Bed/2.5 Bath Single Family Detached
Agent: Julia Avent
Listed: $925,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

5432 24th Street North5432 24th Street North
5 Bed/4.5 Bath Single Family Detached
Agent: Michelle Sagatov
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.

DEVELOPING: Suspect in Clown Mask Chases Kids in Madison Manor Park

By ARLnow.com

"Creepy clown" Instagram accountArlington County Police are searching for a masked suspect who chased children around Madison Manor Park, near the W&OD trail, this morning.

The incident was reported just after 11 a.m. It comes amid “creepy clown” threats against schools and sightings of threatening figures in clown masks.

The suspect in this morning’s incident was wearing a gray sweatshirt and a clown “skull” mask, according to a police lookout. It was initially reported that the suspect was wielding an axe; later it was reported that it was actually a skateboard.

Multiple kids reported seeing the “clown.” Police are now searching for the suspect around the park and up and down the trail.

Most elementary and middle school students in Arlington do not have school today due to parent-teacher conferences.

Update at 11:40 a.m. — Another witness told officers that the suspect was a teenager with red hair, whom she saw take off the mask and run off with two other teen boys, according to police radio traffic.

File photo

Scammer’s ‘Kidnap Victim’ Foils Scam

By ARLnow.com

Arlington police carIt was a frightening scenario: someone calls, says they have kidnapped your dad, and if you don’t pay up they’ll kill him.

That’s what reportedly happened to one woman in Arlington yesterday afternoon.

Except the terror quickly gave way to relief when the woman’s dad called and said he was fine — while she was gathering the ransom payment. Police are now investigating the incident.

From an Arlington County Police crime report:

ATTEMPT FRAUD, 161006026, 300 block of N. Glebe Road. At approximately 2:58 p.m. on October 6, police were dispatched to the report of attempted fraud and telephone threats. The female victim received a phone call at approximately 12:48 p.m. from an unknown caller stating he had kidnapped and would kill her father unless she provided him with money. While attempting to retrieve funds, the victim’s father called her place of employment advising that he was not in danger. The victim then ended the call and contacted police. The investigation is ongoing.

Redevelopment Coming to Staples Site in Va. Square

By ARLnow.com
1/4

The Staples store at 3804 Wilson Blvd in Virginia Square is slated for redevelopment, though the plans are still in the early stages.

Schupp Companies presented a plan to build a hotel on the site to the Ashton Heights Civic Association last month.

“My understanding is that the redevelopment would also replace the apartments on that side of N. Oakland [Street],” said a resident who was in attendance.

Ray Schupp said the exact details are still fluid and that his company will be working with residents to craft the plan.

“We have not decided exactly what we’ll do with the site,” Schupp told ARLnow.com. “We are exploring several options including a hotel. That being said we have been extremely pleased with the reception of the community to our new Hyatt hotel at Courthouse.”

“We will be working with the County staff and the neighbors on solutions to the Staples site,” Schupp continued. “Just as we developed a close relationship with Lyon Village homeowners and reached a win-win solution to the Courthouse site… we will work with the community and staff on this.”

Plans should begin to firm up within 3-4 months, said Schupp.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Potomac River (Flickr pool photo by Yakfur)

ACPD Officer Played in NFL — Arlington County Police officer Dorian Brooks was formerly an offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers. At 6’3″ and 280 lbs, Brooks has lost some weight from his playing days — which included a 2011 Super Bowl appearance — but remains an imposing figure on the beat. [WUSA]

Write-in Candidate: Congressman Stole My Porn — Write-in congressional candidate Mike Webb continued his press release barrage early this morning with a curious one: an evidence-free accusation that Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) broke into his home and stole cell phone chargers, digital cameras and an external hard drive containing his porn stash. The subject line of the email: “VIP Beyer Steals External ‘Sex Drive’ and Impotent Webb Wants Good Porn Bac [sic].” Webb inadvertently made headlines earlier this year by releasing an image showing tabs for porn websites on his computer, later claiming that he was just testing said sites for viruses. [PDF]

Flights Canceled Due to Matthew — Hurricane Matthew’s jaunt up the Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina coast is leading to numerous flight cancellations at Reagan National Airport. [WJLA]

New Bishop Is an Eagles Fan — The Diocese of Arlington’s incoming bishop, Michael Burbidge, is a big fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, the Redskins’ NFC East foe. He received the call telling him the pope had appointed him to replace Bishop Paul Loverde in Arlington during the recent Eagles-Steelers game — though he unknowingly let the call go to voicemail. [News & Observer]

Columbia Pike Fall Wine and Craft Beer Fest — Sponsored — Sample Columbia Pike’s unique wines and rare craft beers at this family-friendly, ticketed event. It’s taking place Saturday, Oct. 8 from 3-8 p.m. on Adams Street at Columbia Pike. Food and beverages from Pike restaurants will be available for purchase, and a children’s area and musical performances will keep all visitors entertained. [CPRO]

Flickr pool photo by Yakfur

Just Listed in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Just Listed banner

Just Listed highlights Arlington properties that just came on the market within the past week. This feature is written and sponsored by Team Cathell, “Your Orange Line Specialists.”

Arlington buyers have 63 new listings this week to choose from.

Most of those are in the lower to mid-price points of $300,000 to $850,000. But those buyers must have hit the snooze button this week because they ratified only 45 contracts. That’s the slowest pace since mid-August. Of those ratified, all but six were under the price of $1 million, possibly indicating that the higher end market has slowed considerably. Many of the sold homes this week had been on the market over 60 days, and three had been listed for about a year.

Interest rates this week held steady with no real change, leaving the 30-yr fixed rate still at 3.54%.

 

Click to see all the fresh new inventory in MRIS and call Team Cathell (703-975-2500) when you find a home you like.

Two New Restaurant Closures in Clarendon: Fuego and Spice

By ARLnow.com
1/7

The rumors were true, unfortunately: Fuego Cocina y Tequileria in Clarendon is closing.

The restaurant confirmed in a press release this evening that its last day will be Sunday, Oct. 16. Fuego opened four years ago, in October 2012, at the corner of Clarendon Blvd and N. Fillmore Street.

“Even great-tasting restaurants battle tough odds, but we cannot thank our devotees enough who were a constant support and presence at our bar and in our dining room,” chef and co-owner Jeff Tunks said in a statement.

Separately, it appears that another Clarendon eatery — Spice, a well-reviewed Italian hoagie and Mediterranean food shop at 3033 Wilson Blvd — has closed after just over two years in business.

There was no notice of a closing in the windows and nothing posted on the restaurant’s social media accounts, but the doors were locked and the phone disconnected throughout the day today. Numerous boxes littered the restaurant’s interior. So far, however, there has been no confirmation that it is permanently closed.”

“[Spice] is a favorite for my coworkers and me,” one regular customer told ARLnow.com. “Do you know if it’s officially closed? Too bad, if so! It was a great place.”

This has been a turbulent year for Clarendon restaurants, with at least a half dozen — including local staples Hard Times Cafe and Boulevard Woodgrill — closing since the end of April. At the same time, however, there are a number of new restaurants and bars opening — like Ambar and Wilson Hardware.

The full press release about Fuego’s closing, after the jump.

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Podcast: Former ARLnow Editor Ethan Rothstein

By ARLnow.com

Ethan Rothstein reporting on a house fire in April 2015

If you’re a local news nerd who loves hearing about how things work behind the scenes, this week’s 26 Square Miles podcast is for you.

This week we have a wide-ranging chat with Ethan Rothstein, the former editor of ARLnow.com. Ethan, who’s now the East Coast Editor for Bisnow, talks about what it was like to report for ARLnow, plus:

  • The future of Arlington’s economy;
  • How everyone seems to hate a certain local towing company;
  • The story behind the million dollar bus stop;
  • The Arlington streetcar saga and how the county flubbed an opportunity to make a better case for it;
  • The current state of the news business;
  • … and much more.

This is a long episode but is a must-listen for anyone who closely follows news in Arlington.

Be sure to subscribe to ARLnow.com’s podcast, 26 Square Miles, on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher or TuneIn.

Three Arlington Students Earn Perfect ACT Scores

By ARLnow.com

Test Taking (file photo)Three Arlington Public Schools students have scored a perfect 36 on their ACT college entrance exams so far this year.

Two Yorktown High School students and one Washington-Lee student earned the perfect composite score, which only one in every 1,000 test-takers achieve, according to an ACT spokesman.

Among the APS students to score a 36 was Yorktown senior Megan Grieco. From a press release:

Megan Grieco, daughter of Michael Grieco and Lisa Campbell, and a senior at Yorktown High School, earned the highest possible ACT composite score of 36. On average, less than one-tenth of 1 percent of students who take the ACT earn a top score. In the U.S. high school graduating class of 2016, only 2,235 out of nearly 2.1 million graduates who took the ACT earned a composite score of 36.

The ACT consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading and science, each scored on a scale of 1-36. A student’s composite score is the average of the four test scores. Some students also take the optional ACT writing test, but the score for that test is reported separately and is not included within the ACT composite score.

In a letter to Ms. Grieco recognizing this exceptional achievement, ACT Chief Executive Officer Marten Roorda stated, “Your achievement on the ACT is significant and rare. While test scores are just one of multiple criteria that most colleges consider when making admission decisions, your exceptional ACT composite score should prove helpful as you pursue your education and career goals.”

ACT test scores are accepted by all major U.S. colleges. Exceptional scores of 36 provide colleges with evidence of student readiness for the academic rigors that lie ahead.

Creepy Clown Sighting Reported in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

"Creepy clown" Instagram accountAmid “creepy clown” threats locally and across the country, comes a potential sighting of a clown in an Arlington neighborhood this morning.

According to scanner traffic, a caller told police that her child saw a clown emerge from some woods in the Arlington Mill neighborhood around 11 a.m. today (Thursday).

“Police were dispatched to the 800 block of S. Frederick Street at approximately 11:36 for a possible clown sighting,” Arlington County Police spokeswoman Ashley Savage confirmed to ARLnow.com.

“There was a half an hour delay in reporting to police,” Savage continued. “Police arrived on scene and canvassed the area with negative results. An officer will remain in the area conducting extra checks. If citizens see anything suspicious, we encourage them to report information to dispatch immediately at 703.558.2222.”

On Monday ACPD stepped up its presence at schools in response to threatening messages on social media. Despite being exposed as youthful hoaxes in many parts of the country, numerous social media accounts — including the one pictured above — still purport to belong to local “clown gangs.”

Dedication Ceremony Underway for GMU Scalia Law School

By ARLnow.com
1/5

Supreme Court justices and protesters have both come to Arlington’s Virginia Square neighborhood for a dedication ceremony for George Mason University’s newly-named Antonin Scalia Law School.

The ceremony started at 11 a.m. at the law school, located at 3301 Fairfax Drive. Police have closed N. Kirkwood Road as a security measure.

The school was named for the late Supreme Court justice after GMU received $30 million in donation pledges. In addition to the six Supreme Court justices expected to attend this morning, members of the Scalia family are also on hand for the dedication.

The protesters say they’re demonstrating against the university’s decision to put “donor interests before those of its students and faculty.”

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