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.
(Updated at 4:55 p.m.) George Mason University’s Arlington-based law school has been renamed after the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
GMU agreed to rename the law school, based in the Virginia Square neighborhood, after receiving two donations for a total of $30 million, the largest combined gift in university history. Of the $30 million, $20 million came from an anonymous donor, via the Federalist Society, and $10 million was donated by the Charles Koch Foundation.
GMU’s Board of Visitors voted in favor of the new name this afternoon, the Wall Street Journal reported. Scalia, a McLean resident, passed away in his sleep on Feb. 13 while visiting a Texas ranch.
After the jump, the press release from George Mason University announcing the new name.
County Board member John Vihstadt at Rosslyn streetscape announcement
New Rosslyn bench
Rosslyn BID President Mary-Claire Burick at Rosslyn streetscape announcement
New Rosslyn newspaper box
New Rosslyn newspaper box
Industrial designer Ignacio Ciocchini at Rosslyn streetscape announcement
New Rosslyn bike rack
New Rosslyn bench
New Rosslyn bench
Rosslyn is getting some new street furniture, featuring a design that evokes the neighborhood’s skyline at night.
The Rosslyn Business Improvement District held a press conference today to herald the arrival of the new sidewalk elements, which were designed by New York-based industrial designer Ignacio Ciocchini.
For now, the new items — benches, trash and recycling cans, bike racks, mobile information kiosks, newspaper box corrals and informational signs — have only been installed around the intersection of Wilson Blvd and N. Oak Street. Officials will gather public feedback on the new streetscape design before starting the process of installing such items throughout the Rosslyn commercial district.
“The purpose behind creating a unique streetscape design is to create a distinct contemporary identity for Rosslyn in addition to encouraging pedestrian activity, connectivity and enjoyment of the neighborhood,” said Lucia de Cordre, Urban Design Director of the Rosslyn BID, in a statement. “The elements were also created to extend the benefits of current redevelopment projects and the long-term vision of the Realize Rosslyn sector plan to the street level. This isn’t design just for aesthetics’ sake, this is a deliberate, functional approach toward supporting retail, walkability and an active public realm.”
County Board member John Vihstadt spoke at the unveiling today and praised the efforts to modernize Rosslyn, noting that the Rosslyn skyline, which inspired the new streetscape design, is often the public face of Arlington.
“Rosslyn is Arlington’s downtown, it’s Arlington’s front door,” he said. “That door needs to be open for businesses, residents and visitors so Arlington can thrive.”
“It was a great place to bring your grandmother,” he quipped.
Vihstadt said there are “unique things going on” in Rosslyn that will help ensure its desirability as an urban place that mixes office and residential uses.
Crystal City’s 5K Fridays will kick off on Friday and a number of road and lane closures are planned to accommodate the race.
There will be five 5Ks in Crystal City in April — on April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29. The start time for each is 6:30 p.m.
Arlington County Police officers will set up the following road closures from about 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. for the race.
Northbound lanes of Crystal Drive between 26th Street and 12th Street
North and southbound lanes of Long Bridge Drive, plus traffic around 6th, 10th, and Ball Streets
The southbound lanes of Crystal Drive will remain open during the race.
“In addition to the closures, street parking in the area will be restricted,” ACPD said. “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.”
Registration is still open, for $20 per race or $75 for the entire series.
The course is flat with long straightaways. Course records were set in 2011 (15:10, men) and 2014 (16:53, women).
ARLnow.com is seeking an ambitious intern to join our small team this summer.
We’re looking for a college intern who is pursuing a career in journalism and has relevant academic and extracurricular experience. Interest in local news in particular is a plus.
This is an especially hands-on, educational internship that will provide our intern with dozens of bylines over the course of the summer. Other responsibilities include research and occasional administrative tasks.
The internship will pay a $1,000 stipend to cover commuting and other expenses, but is otherwise unpaid. Internship start and end dates are flexible. This is a full-time internship; standard hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Strong writing skills are a must. Photography experience and familiarity with WordPress and Photoshop are desired.
To apply, please email a resume and cover letter to [email protected]. The application deadline is April 15.
The draft plan envisions a tree-lined Lee Highway that’s more pedestrian- and bike-friendly, with mid-rise development concentrated in “mixed-use activity nodes.”
The rationale behind the plan, and the community process that helped inform it, is to set an aspirational vision for future development and transportation improvements along the Lee Highway corridor. The community can thus have more of a voice than if it were to just let piecemeal development take place along the corridor without a unified plan.
Low House Rental Profits in Arlington — Of 448 U.S. counties with a population over 100,000, Arlington County has the lowest annual gross yield on rentals of single family homes. Those renting their homes can expect a low return on their investment: only 3.3 percent in Arlington. [RealtyTrac]
Women of Vision Nominations Begin — The Arlington County Commission on the Status of Women is accepting nominations for its 2016 Women of Vision Awards. The nomination deadline is April 15. [ARLnow]
Mrs. Arlington Spotlights Child Sex Abuse — Former TV anchor and current Capitol Hill comms director Jen “Elizabeth” Peace is using her title as the reigning Mrs. Arlington to bring attention to the issue of child sexual abuse. Peace will compete for the title of Mrs. Virginia the weekend of April 22. [Arlington Connection]
Historical Society’s Washington Walk — The Arlington Historical Society will be hosting a “Washington Forest History Walk” next weekend. The free event will retrace the footsteps of George Washington as he surveyed his land in what is now Arlington. [InsideNova]
Creeping Easter Bunny on Newspaper Cover — This week’s cover of the Arlington Connection newspaper features an Easter bunny that’s trying to sneak up on kids in the woods, with the headline “Easter Surprise.” Is this the “creepiest Easter bunny ever,” as one emailer suggested? [Arlington Connection]
Image from the draft Lee Highway Visioning Plan (via Arlington County)
Image from the draft Lee Highway Visioning Plan (via Arlington County)
Image from the draft Lee Highway Visioning Plan (via Arlington County)
Image from the draft Lee Highway Visioning Plan (via Arlington County)
Image from the draft Lee Highway Visioning Plan (via Arlington County)
Image from the draft Lee Highway Visioning Plan (via Arlington County)
Image from the draft Lee Highway Visioning Plan (via Arlington County)
Image from the draft Lee Highway Visioning Plan (via Arlington County)
(Updated at 12:40 p.m.) The public comment period on a draft plan for the Lee Highway corridor is ending after Thursday.
The draft, first published online last month after a public “charrette” planning process in 2015, outlines a sweeping vision for the corridor, which currently is a primarily car-oriented mish-mash of strip malls, aging apartment buildings and other assorted low-density businesses and infrastructure.
The plan envisions a tree-lined Lee Highway that’s more pedestrian- and bike-friendly, with mid-rise development concentrated in “mixed-use activity nodes.”
New apartment buildings, townhouses and retail hubs would be encouraged to spring up. New parks and bus service would be added. Building heights up to 12 stories are discussed, though 3-6 stories would be more common; the taller buildings would be along Lee Highway itself and “sensitive transitions to single family neighborhoods” would be emphasized.
The activity nodes along Lee Highway, which would be the focus of pedestrian-oriented development and placemaking, include:
Rosslyn
North Highlands / Spout Run / Lyon Village
Cherrydale / Maywood
Glebe Road / Lee Heights / Waverly Hills
Harrison / George Mason
East Falls Church
Changes are expected to be made to the plan based on feedback received online, before the County Board reviews it in May. Greater Greater Washington has more details about the Lee Highway plan and process.
Other notes and quotes from the draft plan, after the jump.
Arlington Ridge Road will remain closed at 23rd Street S. during tonight’s evening rush hour, according to Arlington County.
“Water main work will continue on Arlington Ridge Road through the evening rush hour with detours in place at 23rd Street in both directions,” according to an Arlington Alert. “Please seek alternate routes.”
Arlington Ridge Road is typically busy during rush hours, utilized both by local residents and Alexandria commuters exiting I-395. The road also closed last summer for water line installation work and in Feb. 2014 for a water main break.
Pentagon City studio manager DeDee Cai (Photo courtesy CorePower Yoga)
CorePower Yoga is planning to open its new Pentagon City location tomorrow (Thursday).
The studio will offer a free yoga class for “friends and family” Thursday night, followed by a full day of classes on Friday, according to its website. The first week of classes is also free for new students, according to a PR rep.
The Pentagon City CorePower Yoga is located at 560 12th Street S., on the ground floor of the new Metropolitan Park Acadia apartment building. That’s just up the block from a new Whole Foods, which is expected to open this summer.
This will be CorePower’s second Arlington location — it opened a studio in Courthouse last year — and fifth in the D.C. area. The company also has locations in Georgetown, Merrifield and Falls Church.
A press release from CorePower Yoga, after the jump.
This week’s Arlington Pet of the Week is Isabella Rose, better known as Bella, a cat who’s absolutely thrilled to have earned the title.
Bella is a Himalayan by breed and clearly a party animal by night. Here’s what she had to say about herself, as translated by cat mom Joni.
My name is Isabella Rose and although I might appear to be a really cute and innocent “Himmie” I am anything but. My days are spent chasing my brother Nelson around and hiding behind corners ready to jump out at my unsuspecting sister Etta Vera.
I come from very humble origins, for you see I am a rescue from Prince William County. I spent the first half of my life in an icky cage in a basement until I found my forever home. Now my life is filled with being a very happy cat and not taking one day for granted. Bless the rescue people who found me a wonderful home.
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.
The Arlington Chamber of Commerce is planning a trip to Cuba for Chamber members and interested members of the community.
The trip will take place Nov. 10-14. With the thaw in relations between the United States and Cuba, many in the business community see a land of opportunity in the Communist-ruled island nation just 90 miles from Key West.
A press release from the Chamber (below) has details on the itinerary and the costs.
The Arlington Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce a new partnership with Chamber Explorations to send travelers on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to explore Cuba, a country where time has stood still. From November 10-14, participants can travel to Cuba with business colleagues, family, and community members. Travelers have the option of beginning their trip from Miami, or flying locally from Washington Dulles International Airport at an additional cost.
“We are thrilled to expand our Chamber travel program with the addition of the Cuba Getaway,” said President & CEO Kate Bates. “We look forward to continuing to provide our members and the community unique opportunities like this trip to Cuba.”
In a key time for Cuban-United States relationship building, current travel to Cuba is limited to “people-to-people” trips such as this one. With an itinerary reflecting a leisure trip, Cuba Getaway travelers will visit sights such as Ernest Hemingway’s farm, the Museum of the Revolution, and a Havana cigar factory. Travelers will also have the opportunity to meet with the local Old Style Car Club owners and learn why Havana’s streets are filled with vintage American automobiles and understand what it takes to keep them on the road.
The trip package includes:
Flights to and from Cuba
First class hotel accommodations
Bilingual Cuban Tour Guide
Itinerary Interactions & Admissions
Eight meals – three breakfasts, three lunches, three dinners
The Cuba Getaway early bird cost (ending May 31, 2016) is $2,695 for Chamber members, their families, and guests. Non-member early bird registration is $2,895. After May 31, registration increases to $2,795 for Chamber members and $2,995 for non-members. To register, visit the Chamber website and download the Cuba Getaway 2016 Registration Form (also found here). Final registration deadline is August 27, 2016.
For more information about the trip, contact the Chamber office by calling 703-525-2400 or emailing [email protected]. Trip itinerary is available through the Chamber.
Please note: Rates are based on double occupancy. There is a $500 fee for travelers who choose to have a single room.
