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.

Winter Weather Advisory Issued for Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Ice on tree branches Forget the Winter Weather Advisory for an evening rush hour snowfall on Friday, which turned out to be a bust, the National Weather Service says some really messy winter weather will hit Arlington and the D.C. area on Monday.

NWS has issues a Winter Weather Advisory for Arlington, warning of the potential for several inches of snow followed by freezing rain on Monday.

The good news is that Monday is a federal and state holiday, though forecasters say an icy Tuesday morning commute is also a possibility.

… WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM MONDAY TO 10 AM EST TUESDAY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW… SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN… WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM MONDAY TO 10 AM EST TUESDAY.

* PRECIPITATION TYPE… SNOW… SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN.

* ACCUMULATION… 3 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET. AROUND ONE-TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICE FROM FREEZING RAIN.

* TIMING… SNOW WILL BEGIN BETWEEN 1 AND 3 AM MONDAY MORNING. SNOW WILL CHANGE TO SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN MONDAY AFTERNOON… AND ALL FREEZING RAIN MONDAY EVENING. PRECIPITATION WILL GRADUALLY CHANGE TO RAIN LATE MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING.

* WINDS… SOUTHEAST AROUND 5 TO 10 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES… IN THE TEENS TONIGHT… RISING INTO THE UPPER 20S TO LOWER 30S MONDAY INTO MONDAY NIGHT. TEMPERATURES WILL RISE INTO THE MID AND UPPER 40S TUESDAY.

* IMPACTS… SNOW AND ICE WILL CAUSE SLIPPERY ROADS AND TRAVEL WILL BE DIFFICULT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW… SLEET… OR FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES… AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

ARLnow Weekend Discussion

By ARLnow.com

Valentine's Day heart candy by Chris Rief

A three-day weekend is here. And it’s going to be freezing cold all weekend. Sounds like a great opportunity to stay inside and watch some Netflix with your valentine, your roommates or anyone else who happens to be nearby.

Alternatively, if you want to head out and brave the cold, there’s an abundance of Valentine’s Day events and even an anti-Valentine’s-Day event to choose from in town. See our Arlington Agenda post and our full event calendar for event listings and details.

Barring breaking news we’ll be off on Monday, so feel free to use this post to discuss any issue of local interest.

Flickr pool photo by Chris Rief

Presidents Day Closures in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

George Washington(Updated at 10:30 p.m.) County offices, courts and schools will be closed Monday for the Presidents Day holiday.

Officially called “George Washington Day” in Virginia, or “Washington’s Birthday” on the federal level, the holiday celebrates the birth of our first president, who was born on Feb. 22, 1732. Today, Feb. 12, is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, which is often mashed up with Washington’s birthday for the colloquial Presidents Day.

All county government offices, courts, libraries and facilities will be closed Monday for the holiday. Parking meters and zoned parking will not be enforced. Trash and recycling collection, however, will continue as normal.

Other county-level closures or service modifications are noted on Arlington’s holiday schedule page.

ARLnow.com will not be publishing on Monday, except in the event of breaking news.

NWS Issues Winter Weather Advisory, Wind Advisory

By ARLnow.com

Snow on Columbia Pike Monday night

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Friday night.

Forecasters are warning of treacherous travel between 8 and 11 p.m. during an expected snowfall in the D.C. area.

From NWS:

… WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT…

* PRECIPITATION TYPE… SNOW SHOWERS.

* ACCUMULATIONS… A COATING TO AN INCH.

* TIMING… SNOW SHOWERS ARE MOST LIKELY BETWEEN 6 PM AND 8 PM ACROSS NORTH-CENTRAL MARYLAND INTO THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN SUBURBS OF WASHINGTON AND BALTIMORE. SNOW SHOWERS ARE MOST LIKELY BETWEEN 8 AND 11 PM INSIDE THE BELTWAYS OF WASHINGTON DC AND BALTIMORE AND ALONG AND EAST OF THE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR FROM THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER IN NORTHEAST MARYLAND TO FREDERICKSBURG VIRGINIA.

* IMPACTS… BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES WILL ALLOW FOR SNOW THAT FALLS TO STICK ON UNTREATED SURFACES. THIS MEANS UNTREATED ROADS WILL BECOME SNOW COVERED AND ICY THIS EVENING… MAKING TRAVEL DIFFICULT. ADDITIONALLY… UNTREATED SIDEWALKS… PARKING LOTS… AND WALKWAYS WILL BECOME HAZARDOUS FOR PEDESTRIANS.

* WINDS… SOUTH AROUND 5 MPH THROUGH THIS EVENING. WINDS WILL BECOME NORTHWEST WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH TOWARD MIDNIGHT.

* TEMPERATURES… UPPER 20S TO LOWER 30S THIS AFTERNOON. TEMPERATURES FALL INTO THE LOWER AND MIDDLE 20S THIS EVENING WITH SNOW.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

STAY INFORMED AND EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN DRIVING IN ANY SNOW SHOWERS THIS EVENING… ESPECIALLY ON UNTREATED ROADS. EVEN A SMALL SNOW ACCUMULATION WILL CAUSE UNTREATED ROADS TO BECOME ICY.

Forecasters are also warning of strong, gusty winds on Saturday, potentially causing power outages on a frigid cold day.

… WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 6 PM EST SATURDAY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY… WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 6 PM EST SATURDAY.

* TIMING… LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY. GREATEST WIND THREAT IS SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH MIDDAY.

* WINDS… NORTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS AROUND 50 MPH.

* IMPACTS… SCATTERED TREE AND POWER LINE DAMAGE. DIFFICULTY DRIVING HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WIND GUSTS OF 45 TO 55 MPH ARE EXPECTED. SECURE OUTDOOR FURNITURE AND TAKE CARE DRIVING HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

Arlington Public Schools Evening Activities Cancelled, Community Centers Closing Early

By ARLnow.com

Ahead of tonight’s potentially disruptive snow, Arlington Public Schools has cancelled all evening activities.

From APS:

The National Weather Service has issued a warning for icy road conditions today from 5pm to 11pm and encourages everyone to adjust their travel plans during this time. As a result of the forecast for rush hour this evening, all APS Late Athletic Buses as well as all APS evening activities are cancelled for today.  Tonight’s Summer Activities Fair is also canceled and will be held next Friday, Feb. 19. The APS Extended Day Program will close at the regular time, but parents are encouraged to pick up their children earlier if possible.

The cancelled activities include athletic events, like tonight’s scheduled Wakefield High School basketball games and senior night.

Also tonight, Arlington County community centers will be closing at 5 p.m. That and other cancellations from the Arlington Dept. of Parks and Recreation:

  • The Summer Camp Fair scheduled at Thomas Jefferson Community Center tonight at 6 p.m. is canceled.
  • All community centers (joint use and standalone) will close for the evening at 5 p.m.
  • All Enjoy Arlington classes, 55+ classes, trips and nature center programs in all buildings with start times of 4 p.m. or later are canceled.
  • All Sports activities, leagues and instructional programs are canceled for this evening.
  • DPR Elementary and Teen After-school Programs will close at 5 p.m.
  • All other events and activities scheduled after 5 p.m. this evening are canceled.
  • All synthetic fields are closed for this evening.
  • Powhatan Springs Skate park closed after 5 p.m.

The snow is currently not expected to start falling in Arlington until around 8 p.m. From the Capital Weather Gang:

‘Sofia’s Charcoal Chicken’ May Replace El Rancho on the Pike

By ARLnow.com

Sign announcing a new restaurant on the former El Rancho Peruvian Chicken eateryA sign on the recently-closed El Rancho Peruvian Chicken restaurant (3610 Columbia Pike) suggests that a new chicken eatery may be opening there soon.

The sign touts “Sofia’s Charcoal Chicken” as “coming soon.” The restaurant will also offer pupusas, tacos, burritos, baleadas, “and much more.”

The restaurant is just down the street from a new Chipotle location.

No word yet on when the new eatery may open. Attempts to find a phone associated with the new business were unsuccessful.

Photo courtesy Terry Belt

VDOT, County Road Crews Prepare for Potentially Snowy Evening Commute

By ARLnow.com

Traffic in Arlington on Jan. 20VDOT and Arlington County says it will have crews pre-treating roads ahead of a potentially disruptive period of snow during the evening commute.

In a press release, VDOT says that motorists should “use extreme caution” tonight.

Snow showers are expected to begin as early at 5 p.m. and accumulation is likely given the frigid temperatures.

Although a three-day weekend is on the horizon, motorists are asked to finish trips in northern Virginia by early afternoon today, says the Virginia Department of Transportation, or plan to use extreme caution during the evening rush hour. With below-freezing temperatures in place and snow showers expected to begin as early as 5 p.m., VDOT will have 1,150 trucks deployed to continually treat roads by early afternoon. Crews began treating roads in advance yesterday and are finishing mid-day today.

What drivers should know

  • Snow showers are expected to begin as early as 5 p.m., with temperatures well below freezing through the night.
  • Drivers are asked to leave early today if possible to be off the road prior to the storm, to avoid icy conditions and give crews room to work.
  • If driving is necessary, be alert possible icy conditions. Reduce speeds, increase following distance, and brake gently. Plan now to allow extra time for a slow and extremely cautious trip.
  • Icy conditions are possible through the rush hour and overnight; with icy patches possible through the weekend given the low temperatures forecasted.

Check www.511virginia.org or the mobile app before leaving for road conditions.

Arlington County is also encouraging “caution” on the roads tonight.

Attempted Stabbing In Quincy Park May Have Gang Link

By ARLnow.com

Arlington police carUpdate on 2/17/16 — Police say the attack did not happen and was made up by the purported victim. The man, 19, has been charged with filing a false police report.

Police are investigating a possible gang-related attempted stabbing in Quincy Park last night.

Police say a male victim in his late teens was cutting through the park — near Arlington Central Library and Washington-Lee High School — just after 8:30 p.m., when he was approached by an unknown male suspect, also in his teens.

The suspect had a knife and told the victim that he was about to stab him as part of a gang initiation, according to Arlington County Police Department spokeswoman Ashley Savage. The victim, however, used self defense to foil the suspect’s apparent gang rite of passage.

The victim grabbed the suspect’s wrist as he tried to stab the victim, Savage said. The victim then struck the suspect in the side of the face, possibly injuring him. At that point, three men in hoodies started running toward the victim, who ran across the intersection of Wilson Blvd and N. Quincy Street, at which point the suspects fled, according to Savage.

Police are encouraging anyone with information about the crime, or any potential gang-related activity in Arlington, to call ACPD’s gang unit at 703-228-GANG (4264). Gang activity may be reported anonymously.

The crime report item on the attempted stabbing, including the suspect descriptions, is below.

ATTEMPTED MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 160211049, 1000 block of N. Quincy Street. At approximately 8:40 p.m. on February 11, an unknown male subject approached a male victim and attempted to stab him. The victim was able to use self-defense in fighting off the suspect and then fled. The suspect was accompanied by three additional male subjects. The first suspect that brandished a knife is described as a white male in his teens, approximately 5’10” tall with a slim build. The three accompanying suspects are described as males wearing grey-hoodie style jackets.

Shamrock Crawl Returns to Clarendon Next Month

By ARLnow.com

Shamrock Crawl logoThe Shamrock Crawl, dubbed Arlington’s biggest bar crawl, will return to Clarendon next month.

The bar crawl is scheduled to take place from 1-9 p.m. on Saturday, March 19. Tickets are $15 through the end of the month, $20 starting March 1 and $30 at the door.

“The Shamrock Crawl is a time of festive jubilation, so let your Irish cheer run free!” says the event’s website. “Join thousands of fellow beer lovers in celebrating a day full of green revelry at some of Arlington’s most popular bars.”

Attendees will get a refillable Shamrock mug, party favors, green beads, drink specials at each stop and free photos of the event. Participating bars include Clarendon Ballroom, Clarendon Grill, Mad Rose, Hunan One, Whitlow’s, Spider Kelly’s, Hard Times Cafe, IOTA Club, Mister Days and American Tap Room.

Last year, some 3,700 people participated in the Shamrock Crawl. That’s down from 5,000 revelers in 2014, but crime was also down — two arrests compared to more than two dozen arrests in 2014 — as a new bar crawl policy provided funds from organizers for a stepped-up police presence.

Arlington bar crawls may not be as wild and crazy as they once were, but they still rankle some business owners, as well as residents of surrounding neighborhoods, who sometimes complain of parking issues and the occasional drunk who shows up on their lawn.

We asked new County Board members Katie Cristol and Christian Dorsey about that our ARLnow Presents event Wednesday night. (Video below.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyxQZR7UcQc&feature=youtu.be&t=28m15s

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Bike tracks in the snow (Flickr pool photo by Dennis Dimick)

Snow Possible During PM Commute — Another “flurrypocalypse” is possible during tonight’s evening commute. Forecasters say some snowfall is possible durning rush hour, and the frigid temperatures could allow enough snow accumulation for a repeat of the nightmare commute of Jan. 20. Road crews, however, say they’re ready. [Capital Weather Gang, Twitter, Twitter]

What To Do If Someone Needs Shelter — With bitter, possibly record cold temperatures expected this weekend, Arlington County says residents should call the county’s Homeless Services Center at 703-228-1010 if they know of anyone who needs shelter from the elements. [Twitter]

Long-Time Electoral Board Member Reappointed — Allen Harrison, Jr. has served on the Arlington Electoral Board for 29 years and was just reappointed in time for the March 1 presidential primary. Harrison, who is the Republican representative on the Board, is thinking about resigning before the November general elections. He’s the second-longest-serving Electoral Board member in Arlington history. [InsideNova]

Flickr pool photo by Dennis Dimick

Ballston Mall Demolition on Track for May or June Start

By ARLnow.com

"Ballston Quarter" mall rendering

(Updated at 11:55 p.m.) It’s still somewhat business as usual at Ballston Common Mall, despite impending major renovations.

A number of stores, restaurants and the much-maligned movie theater remain open. But the scene will be changing this spring, when work on the project to convert aging shopping mall to a modern shopping center with open-air plazas, called Ballston Quarter, begins.

“Our schedule continues to proceed according to plans,” said Gary McManus, spokesman for Cleveland-based Forest City, the mall’s owner. “Forest City has not wavered from its plans and timeline to begin demolition on the Ballston Quarter site in May/June of this year.”

Mass store closures inside the mall were expected after the end of 2015, but many stores have remained open and intend to stay open until just before demolition starts.

“The stores that remain open are doing so at their request and we were able to accommodate that request as we wade through the permitting process leading to demolition in the spring,” McManus said. “It never was and still is not our intention for all stores at the mall to close.”

Businesses with an exterior entrance — Macy’s, Regal Cinemas, Rock Bottom Brewery, Noodles & Co., Panera Bread, Sport&Health Club and CVS Pharmacy — are expected to remain open during the renovations.

Construction is expected to take about two years and Ballston Quarter is expected to open in time for the holiday shopping season of 2018.

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