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Morning Notes

Published March 30, 2016 at 8:35AM

Water Main Repairs to Close Road — Arlington Ridge Road is scheduled be closed in both directions at 23rd Street S. from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. today for water main repairs. Detours will be in place, but drivers should consider alternate routes, Arlington County says.

Airport Strike is Back on Starting Tonight — A strike by contract service workers at Reagan National and other major U.S. airports is back on, starting tonight. The strike was initially planned for last week but was postponed due to the Brussels terror attacks. [Washington Post]

Arson Suspect Due in Arlington Court — A Reston man suspected of a home invasion and arson in Fairfax County is scheduled to be in an Arlington courtroom tomorrow. Antwan Green is also facing multiple charges stemming from crashing a stolen vehicle in Arlington on Dec. 10 and carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. [Reston Now]

Fundraiser for Accessible Community Garden — Arlington County is trying to raise $10,000 from donors in order to build four “vertical gardens” that are accessible to those with disabilities or mobility issues. Currently, none of the county’s community gardens are accessible. The vertical gardens would be built at the Glebe & Lang Street Community Garden, along S. Glebe Road. The county is hoping to complete fundraising and construction by the end of June. [Fund Your Park]

Arlington Startup Acquired — Arlington-based startup Encore Alert has been acquired by Meltwater, a San Francisco-based brand analytics and consulting firm. As a result of the acquisition, the Encore Alert team has moved to the Bay Area. [DC Inno]

Co-Working Growing Quickly — Co-working providers are growing quickly and are expected by some analysts “to absolutely explode over the next five years.” Two of the top players are WeWork, which just opened a new office in Crystal City, and MakeOffices, which is opening a new flagship co-working space in Clarendon within the next few months. MakeOffices is based in Rosslyn, after being founded as UberOffices in 2012. [Bisnow]

Flickr pool photo by TheBeltWalk

Crystal City Farmers Market and Other Seasonal Events Returning Soon

By ARLnow.com

Published March 29, 2016 at 3:25PM

Spring has sprung and Crystal City is gearing up to take full advantage of the warming weather.

On Tuesday, April 5, the Crystal City FRESHFARM Market will open for the season. The farmers market is held from 3-7 p.m. every Tuesday, along Crystal Drive between 18th and 20th Streets S.

“Shop from nearly 20 local farmers and producers with seasonal fruits and vegetables, fresh-cut flowers, container plants and herbs, farm-raised eggs, all-natural meats, artisan baked goods, specialty foods and much more,” organizer Crystal City BID said in a press release. “Stop by early and pick-up a free Crystal City banner bag from the market’s information table (while supplies last).”

Two days later, the BID will hold its first Food Truck Thursday of the season. The lunchtime event is held on Thursdays from 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and features a flotilla of food trucks in two locations: the corner of 18th Street and Crystal Drive and at 12th Street and Long Bridge Drive.

Also coming soon to Crystal City: the first 5K Friday race of April, this coming Friday (April 1), and the neighborhood’s weekly Mobile Bike Repair Station will open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, at the corner of 18th and Crystal.

Crystal City isn’t the only local community with seasonal events and amenities that have opened or are opening soon. Among the others:

Ballston: FRESHFARM farmers market returns on Thursdays starting in May; Taste of Arlington 2016 scheduled for May 15
Clarendon: Farmers market near the Metro station is typically held on Wednesdays starting in April
Fairlington: Farmers market returns Sunday, May 1
Rosslyn: The Rosslyn sandbox has already reopened; a Cinco de Mayo Beer Garden is scheduled for May 5

A number of other farmers markets around Arlington are held year-round.

Arlington Agenda: March 28-April 3

By ARLnow.com

Published March 29, 2016 at 2:20PM

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.

Tuesday

Arlington Tech: Networking and Discussion*
Highline RxR (2010 Crystal Drive)
Time: 5:30-8:00 p.m.

Join ARLnow.com for an evening of networking and conversation about Arlington’s tech scene. Starting at 6:30 p.m., host Sarah Fraser will lead a discussion with some notable local innovators. Tickets are $10 online or at the door. There will be free food and drink, plus a free ARLnow t-shirt for the first five attendees through the door.

Coloring Party for Adults
Aurora Hills Branch Library (735 18th Street S.)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.

Studies show coloring can have a calming effect on the adult mind and helps promote overall wellness. We will supply coloring pages featuring intricate designs. We’ll also have crayons and colored pencils but feel free to bring your own.

Thursday

Permissionless Innovation Book Launch and Happy Hour
Mercatus Center at George Mason University (3434 Washington Blvd, 4th Floor)
Time: 5-7 p.m.

Join Adam Thierer, senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, for a discussion of the intersection of government policy and innovation, as explored in the expanded edition of his book, Permissionless Innovation.

Live Comedy: Carlos Mencia
Arlington Cinema Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike)
Time: 7:45 p.m.

Standup comedian Carlos Mencia, of TV’s “In Living Color” and “Mind of Mencia,” performs at the Drafthouse this week. In addition to Thursday’s show, he will also be performing twice on Friday and Saturday.

Saturday

Handmade Arlington Arts and Crafts Fair*
Swanson Middle School (5800 Washington Blvd)
Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Handmade Arlington 2016 — arts and crafts show — returns to Swanson Middle School for its 4th year. The annual event will feature a record number of artisans debuting a range of arts and crafts including photography, pottery, jewelry, stationary, purses and other works made from fabrics.

Ball-Sellers House 2016 Opening Day
Time: 1-4 p.m.
Ball-Sellers House (5620 3rd Street S.)

The Ball-Sellers House Museum opens its 2016 season. Join our costumed docent for a free tour of the oldest building in Arlington. See how farm families really lived in colonial Virginia. There will also be colonial era beverages and sweet treats!

Vegan Pledge Program*
Walter Reed Community Center (2909 16th Street S.)
Time: 1:45-4:45 p.m.

Are you vegan-curious? For health, environmental, or ethical reasons? The Vegan Pledge Program gives you a mentor, a cooking demo, tips from a registered dietitian, a farm sanctuary tour, an acclaimed film screening and more.

Sunday

A Journey Through History
Marymount University Reinsch Library Auditorium (2807 N. Glebe Road)
Time: 4 p.m.

Sponsored by Marymount’s Black Student Alliance, this free event features an afternoon of music, poetry and dance. The program will highlight historical figures and key events in African American history, including the Civil Rights Movement and such contemporary issues as Black Lives Matter.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) content

#Arlington Agenda

UPDATE: Police Release Surveillance Photos from Break-In at Japanese Auto Service

By ARLnow.com

Published March 29, 2016 at 11:00AM | Updated March 29, 2016 at 3:12PM

(Updated at 3:10 p.m.) Arlington County Police are investigating a break-in and theft at Japanese Auto Service, a service station located between Clarendon and Virginia Square.

The service center, at 3413 Wilson Blvd, has been in business for 19 years, according to owner Ed Lahrime. It was broken into by an unknown suspect early Sunday morning.

From an ACPD crime report:

“At approximately 4:51 a.m. on March 27, an unknown male subject forced entry into a business and stole several items of value and an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect is described as a white male, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, and dark shoes.”

A customer provided ARLnow.com with some additional details about what happened.

“The thief took their cash register and a significant amount of money in cash and checks,” the customer told us. “The store owner was able to provide the police with video of the suspect and they are currently reviewing the footage. Poor guy looked heart broken that his business had been violated like that.”

Lahrime said that his motion detection security system didn’t go off during the break-in, for some reason, and has since been replaced by the security company. He also had to replace a broken window and his cash register. All told, the theft is costing him more than $1,500, along with some sleep and peace of mind, he said.

“I couldn’t sleep that night,” he said. “I had to put my phone [with a connection to the surveillance system] next to me to make sure he didn’t come back to rob us again.”

Police told Lahrime of a number of other recent burglaries and burglary attempts in various parts of the county, from Shirlington to Clarendon, he said. This was the first burglary at Japanese Auto Service since it opened nearly two decades ago.

“Arlington is not safe,” said Lahrime.

Tuesday afternoon Arlington County Police released multiple surveillance images of the suspect, describing him as “a white male in his mid-20’s to early 30’s, wearing dark clothing and a gray hoodie.”

“If anyone has information on the identity and/or whereabouts of this individual, please contact Detective Echenique of the Arlington County Police Department’s Burglary/Larceny Unit at 703.228.4241 or at [email protected],” police said in a press release. “To report information anonymously, contact the Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866.411.TIPS (8477).”

“This is an ongoing and active investigation,” said ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage.

The video shows the thief returning to the scene of the crime a half hour after the initial break-in, apparently to steal some change from the floor, Lahrime added.

Calls to Arlington Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline Up 50 Percent

By ARLnow.com

Published March 29, 2016 at 9:45AM

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and local nonprofit Doorways for Women and Families is reminding Arlington that sexual assault remains a significant problem in our community, even though it’s sometimes hidden.

Based in Arlington — the group doesn’t publicize its office address for security reasons — Doorways “creates pathways out of homelessness, domestic violence and sexual assault.”

Last year, calls to the group’s 24-hour Domestic & Sexual Violence Hotline — at 703-237-0881 — was up 53 percent year-over-year, Doorways said. A total of 1,244 callers reported incidents impacting 2,012 adults and children.

Doorways attributed much of the rise to increased awareness.

“Thankfully, more and more people are becoming aware of the hotline and are feeling empowered to reach out to us to access the resources they need,” said Doorways President and CEO Caroline Jones.

Doorways has several awareness events planned for April, as detailed in the following press release, after the jump. (ARLnow.com will also be helping out, by donating 100 percent of the proceeds from our soon-to-be-announced April event to the organization.)

(more…)

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published March 29, 2016 at 8:45AM

Experts: No D.C. Real Estate Bubble — Most experts in a recent Zillow-sponsored survey said there is no significant risk of a real estate bubble in the D.C. region, at least over the next five years. However, a significant portion of experts do believe other hot markets, like San Francisco and Miami, may be at risk of a bubble. The overall value of all residential real estate in the D.C. region, meanwhile, is approaching $1 trillion. [InsideNova, InsideNova]

Lane Closures For Crystal City Project — On-street parking, bike lanes and the outside travel lane are currently blocked off on both sides of 18th Street S. between S. Eads and Clark streets for construction of the Crystal City Multimodal Center under the Route 1 bridge. Cyclists in particular are urged to use caution when using 18th Street. [Arlington County]

Cherry Pie Recipe for the Cherry Blossom Bloom — Just in time for the cherry blossom bloom, Chef Jonathan Till of William Jeffrey’s Tavern (2301 Columbia Pike) is sharing his family’s Sour Cherry Pie recipe. [ARLnow]

Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman

Police: Moped Rider Struck by Object Then Beaten By Drunk Men

By ARLnow.com

Published March 28, 2016 at 4:30PM

Two men have been arrested and charged in the beating of a moped rider early Easter morning.

Police say a man was riding his moped down the street just after 2 a.m. on Sunday when he was struck on the helmet by an unknown object. The incident happened on N. Pershing Drive, near Lyon Park and the intersection with N. Fillmore Street.

While trying to flee the area the man lost control of his moped. Then, the victim told police, four people set upon him and began beating him. One of those suspects was known to the victim, said Arlington County Police spokeswoman Ashley Savage.

“The victim advised four Hispanic males in dark clothing were involved in the assault,” Savage said. Police “canvased the area and were able to locate two suspects matching the victim’s description. Two suspects remain at large.”

From an ACPD crime report: “Byron Gamaliel Jimenez Vail, 26, of Arlington VA, was arrested and charged with assault by mob and drunk in public. Anacleto Perez Aguilar, 21, of Arlington VA, was arrested and charged with assault by mob and drunk in public. Both subjects are being held on a secured bond. The investigation is ongoing.”

Sugar Shack Along Columbia Pike Offering Vegan, ‘Gluten-Friendly’ Donuts

By ARLnow.com

Published March 28, 2016 at 2:30PM

Vegan, dairy-free and “gluten-friendly” donuts are now being offered at Sugar Shack Donuts and Coffee along Columbia Pike.

The donut store opened at 1014 S. Glebe Road to much local fanfare last month. Today Sugar Shack announced the new vegan, gluten-friendly offerings, the result of “a few weeks of testing.”

“We’ll be offering these bad boys around 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day,” said store owner and former state legislator Rob Krupicka. “They are best when they are fresh out of the kitchen… We will be topping these with a variety of gluten-free toppings. We are also making vegan, gluten-friendly apple fritters.”

Why the “gluten-friendly” label?

“These donuts do not contain gluten, but as there is a lot of flour in our store, we can’t say they are gluten-free because the chance of cross-contamination is too high,” Krupicka said. He added that the new donuts will be an exclusive for the Arlington Sugar Shack location, at least for awhile.

“Because our Arlington store is bigger, we have more room to do new things in the kitchen,” he said. “We hope to offer these at all our stores soon, but for now, to get these rare, unicorns of donuts, head over to Sugar Shack Arlington on the Pike.”

Arlington Named ‘Best City for Recent Grads’

By ARLnow.com

Published March 28, 2016 at 12:10PM

Arlington has topped a new list of the “best cities for recent grads” in the U.S.

Arlington is No. 1 on the list, which was compiled by the website NerdWallet. Other cities in the Top 10 include Madison, Wisconsin (#2); Washington, D.C. (#3) and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (#7).

Here’s what the website had to say about Arlington and its No. 1 spot.

“If you’re looking to live near other educated people, this Washington, D.C., suburb is the place to be. A whopping 71.5% of Arlington’s 25-and-older population holds at least a bachelor’s degree, the highest percentage on our list. Arlington also is tops for the number of jobs in management, business, science or arts occupations, as well as for salaries.”

“Arlington, Virginia, stands out in our analysis because 67.1% of its workforce find jobs in management, business, science or the arts. These fields have the most jobs that require a bachelor’s degree or higher.”

“However, if you move here, be ready to give up a big chunk of your salary for housing. The median rent is one of the highest among the 100 cities in our analysis, and it would take up nearly a third (31.4%) of that paycheck.”

The report analyzed a number of data points, including:

Percentage of population 25 and older with bachelor’s degree or higher
Percentage of population ages 20 to 29
Median earnings of residents 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree
Jobs in management, business, science and arts occupations
Rent as a percentage of income
Unemployment rates

Sweet Leaf Cafe Now Open at 800 N. Glebe Road

By ARLnow.com

Published March 28, 2016 at 10:45AM

Sweet Leaf Cafe has opened its second Ballston location.

The local salad, sandwich and coffee chain officially opened for business last week at 800 N. Glebe Road, which is about a 10 minute walk from its first Ballston location, at 650 N. Quincy Street.

“Ballston has a heavy lunch crowd and we believe it’s dense enough to support two stores,” co-owner Andre Matini tells ARLnow.com. “We have had a lot of positive feedback, most of our diners had not been to our location on Quincy Street. With all the development of Liberty Center and and redevelopment of Ballston Common Mall we think there is more than enough to go around.”

Sweet Leaf’s new location has been a challenging one for sit-down restaurants, which have struggled to convince diners to cross to the western side of busy Glebe Road, where high-rise Ballston meets the residential Bluemont neighborhood.

One high-profile casualty was Pizza Vinoteca, which closed after just six months. A new Cheesetique store is coming to the former Pizza Vinoteca location, and a new Total Wine store is coming to the same building.

There are also rumors of changes afoot at the Greene Turtle restaurant, just up the street at 900 N. Glebe Road.

Sweet Leaf now has six locations total, all in Northern Virginia. Its first Arlington eatery opened at 2200 Wilson Blvd in Courthouse in 2013.

Photo courtesy Sweet Leaf Cafe

ACPD Introduces New Crime Mapping Tool

By ARLnow.com

Published March 28, 2016 at 9:30AM | Updated March 28, 2016 at 1:16PM

The Arlington County Police Department has rolled out a new crime mapping tool.

The crime map allows anyone to see where crimes have been reported, down to the block level, in a given date range. From an ACPD press release:

The Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) recently partnered with BAIR Analytics to provide an additional way for the public to stay informed about criminal incidents occurring in Arlington County. The Arlington County Police Department now has an online crime map called RAIDS Online which displays criminal incidents along with some basic information such as the type of crime, block-level address, date and time.

Arlington County citizens can view a map and grid with all of the crimes in their area and sign up for crime alerts that automatically email a breakdown of recent crime activity. RAIDS Online automatically syncs with the Arlington County Police Department’s records system to keep crime information updated online and in the mobile app.