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.
A retail store for your Halloween costume and decoration needs recently opened in Crystal City.
Total Fright — or Total Party, during other times of the year — is open in the Crystal City Shops at 1750 Crystal Drive, near the Metro station. It was formerly located in the now under-renovation Ballston Common Mall.
The store is usually open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, but will have extended hours leading up to Halloween (Monday, Oct. 31).
There are a couple of other dedicated Halloween stores in Northern Virginia, including two Spirit Halloween locations in Falls Church and Springfield.
Fire on Ballston Sidewalk — Last night around 6:45 p.m., Arlington County police and firefighters responded to a fire on a sidewalk in Ballston, near the intersection of 9th and N. Stuart Streets. Initial reports suggested that a woman had deliberately set something on fire. No injuries were reported. [Twitter]
Metro Police Seeking Man Who Set Fire at Station — Metro Transit Police are looking for a man who lit something on fire in the Pentagon City Metro station Wednesday morning. The man is later seen on video boarding a train and displaying a sign. [WTOP]
Smoke Closes Pentagon City Station — Smoke in a tunnel near the Pentagon City Metro station prompted a large emergency response and a temporary closure of the station last night. The smoke was caused by an electrical issue. [Washington Post, Twitter, Twitter]
Urban Chicken Issue Still Clucking — The issue of whether Arlington should allow more households to raise egg-laying hens in their yards isn’t quite dead yet. The issue was raised briefly at an Arlington Civic Federation meeting and county staff say they’re willing to consider it if residents bring it up again. [InsideNova]
Arlington County Police say they’ve charged Arlington resident Shahed Quayum, 49, with DUI maiming. The crime is a Class 6 felony in Virginia, punishable by 1-5 years in prison and revocation of one’s driver’s license.
A restaurant manager who witnessed the aftermath of yesterday’s crash in front of Mad Rose Tavern (3100 Clarendon Blvd) told ARLnow.com that Quayum was very intoxicated and could barely stand after getting out of the vehicle. Photos from the scene show him being tended to by passersby while firefighters worked to free one of the victims, a Mad Rose Tavern employee, from underneath the SUV.
The employee, a woman, suffered multiple broken bones and internal injuries but is expected to survive. The other victim, who was struck in a crosswalk at the nearby intersection of Washington Blvd and Clarendon Blvd, suffered only minor injuries.
From an ACPD press release:
The Arlington County Police Department has taken into custody Shahed Quayum, 49, of Arlington VA, following yesterday afternoon’s pedestrian collision in the 3100 block of Clarendon Boulevard. Quayum has been arrested and charged with DUI Maiming.
On October 4, 2016, at approximately 2:52 p.m., officers were dispatched to an accident with injuries in the 3100 block of Clarendon Boulevard. An investigation by the Critical Accident Team determined that a vehicle traveling eastbound on Clarendon Boulevard drove on the sidewalk as it crossed Washington Boulevard, striking a pedestrian in the crosswalk and knocking down a light pole. The pedestrian suffered minor injuries and was transported to Virginia Hospital Center. The vehicle continued on the sidewalk, striking a second pedestrian and trapping her under the vehicle. The Arlington County Fire Department extricated the victim from under the vehicle and transported her to George Washington University Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
This week’s Arlington Pet of the Week is Bailey, an independent cat who likes to talk.
Here’s what Bailey’s owner, Sarah, has to say about her:
Bailey is a 2-year-old short hair and probably Abyssinian mix. Bailey was found as a stray in Prince George’s County and was rescued by Lost Cat and Dog Rescue, where she was adopted by two loving humans.
These days she enjoys talking everyone’s ears off, begging for food (her favorite is quesadillas), sunbathing and carrying around her favorite feather toy. Only at night does she decide she’s done being independent, and crawls into bed to snuggle on her people’s legs. She’s a perma-mini kitty, perfect for crawling behind the fridge and getting stuck in other small obscure spaces. She transforms into an acrobat when the evil red dot appears or into a dog when her dog brother is getting dinner.
She is mom’s first kitten cat, and we could not have asked for a more perfect (or sassier) addition to our little Arlington household.
Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected]with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Please don’t send vertical photos, they don’t fit in our photo galleries!
Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care is the winner six consecutive Angie’s List Super Service Awards, the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year and a proud supporter of the Arlington County Pawsitively Prepared Campaign.
Becky’s Pet Care provides professional dog walking and pet sitting in Arlington and all of Northern Virginia, as well as PetPrep training courses for Pet Care, CPR and emergency preparedness.
A man with a gun robbed a couple of people on N. George Mason Drive in the Bluemont neighborhood yesterday evening.
The crime happened close to the entrance to the Bluemont Junction Trail. Attempts by police to find the suspect were unsuccessful.
From an Arlington County Police Department crime report:
ARMED ROBBERY, 161004036, 700 block of N. George Mason Drive. At approximately 6:00 p.m. on October 4, officers responded to the report of an armed robbery. When on scene it was determined that a male subject approached the victims, brandished a firearm, and demanded money. The suspect then fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash. A K-9 track was attempted with negative results due to the amount of pedestrian traffic in the area. The suspect is described as a black male in his twenties, approximately 6’0″ tall and weighed 225 lbs. He was wearing a blue t-shirt, dark pants, and had dreadlocks.
Also in this week’s crime report, a man with a gun was able to detain a suspect who allegedly broke into his Waverly Hills home and stole booze from his refrigerator.
BURGLARY, 160929016, 4300 block of N. Old Dominion Drive. At approximately 10:03 a.m. on September 29, officers responded to the report of a fight in progress involving a firearm. Upon arrival, it was determined that a male victim witnessed a male subject exit his apartment through a window. The victim retrieved his firearm, chased the subject and was able to hold down the subject until officers arrived on scene. The firearm was not discharged and there were no injuries. It was later learned that the suspect took alcohol from the victim’s fridge. Ben Houssen, 39, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged with burglary, grand larceny, and identity theft. He is being held without bond.
The rest of the past week’s crime report highlights, including some that we’ve already reported, after the jump.
A man dressed in a green bodysuit was cursing at passersby in Shirlington yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon, but no arrests were made.
Police were called around 4:30 p.m. for a man dressed like “Green Man” — a green full-body outfit that also covered his face — who was yelling and accosting people near the Shirlington Branch Library and the Harris Teeter grocery store.
Officers responded but were unable to find anything warranting criminal charges.
“Police were dispatched to the 4200 block of Campbell Ave at approximately 4:32 p.m. for the report of a suspicious man screaming profanities,” said Arlington County Police spokeswoman Ashley Savage. “Police responded to the area and after investigation determined that no crime had occurred.”
The only major hardware store (as opposed to a ‘Hardware’ bar) in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor is getting ready to open.
The Twins Ace Hardware at 2001 Clarendon Blvd in the Courthouse area is expected to open in mid-to-late October, we’re told. The store is now hiring and recently put up a large sign on the outside of the building.
This is the second Northern Virginia hardware store for owners Jeff and Craig Smith. The brothers’ first Twins Ace Hardware store is located in Fairfax.
Parking for the 5,560 square foot store will be available, with validation, in the building’s parking garage.
Bluemont Park Meeting — Arlington County is hosting a community meeting tonight about a suddenly controversial plan, approved earlier this year, to build a fenced-in baseball field in Bluemont Park. The county says it will “listen to community concerns and suggestions and share next steps.” Those next steps likely include building the field largely as planned: a temporary construction fence has already been placed around the site. [Arlington County]
More Details on Police Chase — Montgomery County Police last night released additional details about the police chase that started with a carjacking in Silver Spring and ended with a crash on Lee Highway in Arlington. Police say the suspect, 41-year-old Anthony Shade, stole the Toyota RAV4 from a gas station while its owner was filling up. He’s facing charges in Arlington and Montgomery counties. [Montgomery County Police]
Virginia Has Best Electoral Representation — Demographically, compared to all other U.S. states, Virginia’s voters most closely represent the overall population of the state, according to a new study. [WalletHub]
Del. Lopez Spotted on CNN — Arlington’s own Del. Alfonso Lopez (D) could be seen on the live TV coverage of last night’s vice presidential debate. [Twitter, Twitter]
Ambar owner Ivan Iricanin with his son and wife, Nya Gill
Ambar in Clarendon
Balkan small plate restaurant Ambar is set to open its doors for dinner Wednesday night (Oct. 5).
The restaurant is opening in the former Boulevard Woodgrill space at 2901 Wilson Blvd. It’s location No. 3 for the well-reviewed Ambar; the original is located on Barracks Row on Capitol Hill and a second is located in Belgrade, Serbia.
Ambar will at first be open seven days a week for dinner, but will eventually serve both lunch and weekend brunch as well.
Since Boulevard closed at the end of July, the interior has received mostly decorative changes, helping to modernize a restaurant space that had remained largely the same for a decade and a half. Nya Gill, the wife of Ambar owner Ivan Iricanin, designed the 3,600-square foot interior.
Iricanin told ARLnow.com that he has been looking to open in Arlington for some time.
“I was looking at Arlington County because there are so many young people that fit our demographics but there’s also families… it’s a very healthy mix of people,” he said. “We [also] want a presence here because I really see the future and I really believe in the growth of Virginia.”
He said Boulevard Woodgrill presented an ideal opportunity in terms of layout and location.
“I wanted to have a really great location and interior space, with a nice corner,” Iricanin said. “I think that this place hit it on every single target: location was great, outer patio, a lot of windows, high ceilings, open kitchen, we have a charcoal grill which is crucial for us and which we don’t have in Capitol Hill… those are the elements that made my decision easy.”
While it hasn’t been finalized yet, Ambar’s menu in Clarendon will be substantially different than that of the Capitol Hill location, Iricanin said.
“We want to do everything differently because it’s easy to copy and paste, but I don’t want my chefs to get their guard down and get relaxed,” he said. “I want to push it to the limits and that’s what I’m going showcase here.”
The menu will include dishes made with fresh, organic meats sourced from Amish farms in Pennsylvania. Lest one think that “Amish farm” is a marketing term, an Amish man — complete with beard and straw hat — was at the restaurant, talking with the chefs Tuesday afternoon.
Iricanin said diners should expect high-quality food at affordable prices. There will be all-you-can eat meal options, he said, the most expensive of which is a $35 all-you-can-eat dinner.
“We really, really want to be a neighborhood spot and we are very price-conscious,” said Iricanin. “For $35… you can try 10-15 different flavors, different textures, different things and we can take you to the whole Balkan region in 2-2.5 hours.”
Iricanin wanted to offer an all-you-can-drink option as well — the all-you-can-drink brunch is popular in D.C. — but Virginia ABC laws prohibit it.
Another notable feature of the restaurant is that it has a DJ booth near the bar. But Iricanin was quick to point out that Ambar is not trying to be a danceclub — instead, the DJs are more about sophisticated nighttime ambiance.
“Obviously any time you dine, you have the background music… and I want to control what I’m playing,” he said. “This is not going to be a club, it’s not going to be a restaurant club, it’s just going to be thoughtfulness behind the process. We have a very nice sound system put in place, and what I want to achieve is that you come here like 10:30 and have a nice dinner while the DJ is playing music. Nothing too loud, nothing too abrasive… but you’re going to feel like you’re at a funky, cool vibe restaurant.”
The full press release about Ambar’s opening, after the jump.
A car overturned on Lee Highway near Rosslyn during this evening’s rush hour.
The crash was reported just past 4 p.m. in the northbound lanes of Lee Highway, approaching Rosslyn, between N. Quinn and Rhodes streets. Traffic was down to one lane on Lee Highway, we’re told.
It’s unclear what caused the crash. No serious injuries were reported. A tow truck is currently on scene.
Man taken into custody after SUV crash in Clarendon
Man taken into custody after SUV crash in Clarendon
Man taken into custody after SUV crash in Clarendon
(Updated at 4:15 p.m.) An SUV has crashed into the side of Mad Rose Tavern in Clarendon, trapping one person underneath the vehicle.
Police and fire department rescue units responded to the scene and within a half hour was able to free the person from under the SUV.
Witnesses tell ARLnow.com that an older man in an SUV drove through the intersection of Washington Blvd and Clarendon Blvd, struck a woman in the crosswalk, knocked down a light pole and drove down the sidewalk before the vehicle finally came to a stop next to Mad Rose.
A woman was trapped underneath the SUV and could be heard screaming for help, a witness said. She was transported to the trauma center at George Washington University hospital but is expected to survive, police say.
The woman was an employee of Mad Rose Tavern, a restaurant manager said. The restaurant’s popular sidewalk cafe along Clarendon Blvd was destroyed by the SUV, but was not open at the time of the crash.
Investigators have secured surveillance footage of the crash from the restaurant, we’re told. The driver had bloodshot eyes and appeared to be intoxicated, said the restaurant manager.
The woman struck in the crosswalk was spun around by the collision but did not appear to be seriously hurt, a witness said. She was transported to Virginia Hospital Center, according to a police department spokeswoman. A third person was being evaluated by paramedics on scene.
Another witness said he spoke with the driver, who appeared dazed and disoriented, immediately after the crash. The witness asked what happened and, according to him, the man said he had just picked up medication from a local pharmacy.
The driver was led in handcuffs to a police cruiser. So far there’s no word on any charges filed.
Washington Blvd is currently closed between Highland and Clarendon, while Clarendon is closed between Washington and Highland. A large number of emergency responders are on scene but are beginning to pick up and go back in service.
Police are currently expected to remain on scene for an extended period of time due to traffic impacts from the traffic lights at the intersection of Washington and Clarendon being knocked out by the crash. Drivers in the Clarendon area should expect heavy traffic during the evening rush hour.
