Author: ARLnow.com Sponsor

Arts Focus: Arlington County Opens Search for Poet Laureate

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This column is written and sponsored by Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

Are you a poet living in Arlington, Virginia?

Submissions are now being accepted for those wishing to be considered for the post of Arlington County’s Poet Laureate for 2020-2022. The Poet Laureate serves as an advocate for poetry and the literary arts and works to advance the community’s consciousness and appreciation of poetry in its written and spoken forms.

The County’s second Poet Laureate will build on Arlington County’s well-received literary programs, including the Moving Words Poetry Competition, now in its 20th year, bringing poetry to a wider audience and strengthening Arlington’s place in the region’s rich literary community. Learn more about the position of the Poet Laureate and the inaugural Poet Laureate Katherine E. Young here.

The Poet Laureate program is managed as a partnership between the Cultural Affairs Division of Arlington Economic Development and Arlington Public Library.

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older, must reside in Arlington during the time of application and for the duration of the appointment, and must demonstrate a track record of experience publishing and/or presenting original poetry within poetry journals, magazines, websites and/or programs that are not predominantly self-curated, personal websites, or personal blogs. Arlington County staff, Board Members and Commission members are not eligible to apply.

Former Arlington County Poets Laureate may reapply after one completed term out of office. Full eligibility requirements and terms are available online.

Terms and Honorarium:

  • Two-year term (from July 1, 2020 thru June 30, 2022)
  • Annual honorarium of $1,500 per year

Timeline and Submissions Process:

The Open Call for the 2020 Poet Laureate is now active, with a final application deadline of March 24, 2020 by 5 p.m. Applications are ONLY accepted through arlington.slideroom.com. Please sign up for a free account with SlideRoom to submit your qualifications.

For questions about eligibility, duties and requirements, contact Dan Brady, Literary Specialist at [email protected].

Just Reduced Properties in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose price have been cut over the previous week. The market summary is crafted by Arlington Realty, Inc. Maximize your real estate investment with the team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6000 today!

Please note: While Arlington Realty, Inc. provides this information for the community, it may not be the listing company of these homes.

You’ve likely seen more and more mail roll in over the last few weeks.

And, no, we’re not just talking about those Christmas gifts that were wildly late. We’re talking about those tax forms, left and right, spanning W-2s, 1099s, mortgage documents and more.

As a friendly reminder, your 2020 tax deadline is April 15. And, just as January flew right on by, that date will be here before we know it.

In addition to the federal exemptions and breaks available (you can find a hearty list from our locally-based friends at Motley Fool), there are a number of Arlington-specific exemptions and relief items available. To see if you qualify, we advise visiting Arlington County’s official site, with exemptions for disabled veterans, owners of rehabilitated properties and more.

Beyond our Just Reduced properties each week, we’re always looking for more ways to save your hard-earned dough. When you’re ready to make the most of your real estate transaction, the team at Arlington Realty, Inc. is ready to roll on your behalf.

As of February 3, there are 112 detached homes, 12 townhouses and 66 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 11 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week:

Please note that this is solely a selection of Just Reduced properties available in Arlington County. For a complete list of properties within your target budget and specifications, contact Arlington Realty, Inc.

Ask Eli: 2020 Home Design Trends

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Enjoy!

Question: What changes are you seeing in design trends this year?

Answer: Every year I look forward to the Pantone Color of the Year selection (released annually since 2000) and this year is one of my personal favorites — Classic Blue. I’ve noticed blues showing up a lot more in homes lately, especially in kitchens (it makes for a beautiful cabinet color, in my opinion).

But trends go well beyond colors so for an expert opinion on the latest design trends, I’d like to re-introduce Caroline Goree ([email protected]), a designer with a boutique Residential Interior Design Firm, Madigan Schuler, located in Alexandria, Virginia to provide insight into what trends we should expect to see in 2020.

In 2018, Caroline introduced us to one of my favorite design quotes from Matthew Frederick’s book 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School, “Being nonspecific in an effort to appeal to everyone usually results in reaching no one.”

Take it away Caroline…

Thank you, Eli. I am really excited for the trends we see happening in 2020 primarily because people are experimenting with color, textures and patterns much more than in the past few years. While those “safe” design decisions like all white kitchens aren’t necessarily going to go of style, I like seeing more personal flare and individuality come through. Below are some of my personal favorite trend hello’s and goodbye’s of 2020.

Goodbye One-Stop Shoppin’

Thanks to Restoration Hardware, the “all gray everything” trend was popular for the better part of the last 5+ years. Thankfully, that “one-stop shop” mindset is shifting to consumers wanting a more collected look.

Maybe that means a sofa from a known store, such as Restoration Hardware, mixed with vintage velvet club chairs found at Miss Pixies in Washington, D.C. Add in your grandmother’s fabulous antique chest for a coffee table (hard to believe you once referred to is as old “brown” furniture) and a natural fiber rug so your room has that layered, collected look.

Personally, I am thrilled the trend is moving towards an appreciation for a well curated space using unique items that are not all new and mass produced. Interior Designer, Nate Burkus, once said “Your home should tell the story of who you are, and be a collection of what you love.”

Hello Square Tiles

Thanks to Chip and Joanna Gains (and 90% off the local flippers) subway tile is officially overused and seen in just about every kitchen or bathroom completed since 2015. While timeless (after all, it is named after the 3×6 tiles installed in 1904 in the New York Subway Station) we are ready to explore other shapes and textures.

My personal favorite, square tiles, offer a more unique look but keep the space simple and sleek. From matte concrete tiles in mudrooms, to hand painted terracotta tiles for kitchen backsplashes, many manufacturers are using this traditional shaped tile with an artistic or creative twist. If square tiles still feel a bit out of your comfort zone, try playing with the scale of rectangular tiles such as sizes 2×9 or 3×12.

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Neighborhood Spotlight: Palette 22 Combines Cuisine and Creativity in Shirlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor


This content was written and sponsored by The Keri Shull Team, Arlington’s top producing residential real estate team.

Today, the Keri Shull Team’s expert real estate agent Anshul Palli introduces you to Palette 22, a unique dining experiment in the Shirlington neighborhood of Arlington.

At Palette 22, the line between food and art is nearly non-existent. The entire restaurant is brimming with an atmosphere of creativity that serves only to heighten the dining experience, while providing a unique work environment for the artists who practice their craft while you eat. Located in a gorgeous, Art Deco-inspired building in Shirlington, Palette 22 is an art lover’s dream. Every surface is designed to display art, food, or both to the most rigorous standards of beauty; the restaurant is both the Palette and the canvas for artists to share their creations.

Anshul took the chance to speak with Tom Demott, the Director of Operations for Palette 22, as well as the Danny Ahn, the Sous Chef of the eatery. Here’s what they had to say about the food and atmosphere of Palette 22:

The Menu 

It’s impossible to separate artistry from the cuisine of Palette 22. Each of the dishes is served with an immaculate presentation designed to create a complete sensory experience unlike any other. The menu consists primarily of small plates inspired by cultures from around the world, often given a unique spin.

When we asked about his favorite dishes, Demott suggested the grilled octopus, served atop a bed of purple potato hash and slathered with Aji amarillo, a Peruvian yellow chile sauce. For drinks, he pointed out the aptly-named Art on the Froth, a delicious concoction of Hendricks gin, house-made blueberry cordial and egg white foam. The expert mixologists stamp a custom decal into the foam, so even your cocktail is a work of art for all your senses.

Other menu favorites include the Bulgogi Beef, Korean-inspired slabs of beef served with gochujang chili paste and pickled vegetables. This mouth-watering dish perfectly balances sweetness, spice and umami to create an unbelievably delicious harmony of flavors.

The Atmosphere 

The first thing that you’ll notice about Palette 22, before you even cross the threshold, is the building itself — because the artistic focus of Palette 22 is apparent from the architecture alone. Located in The Village at Shirlington, the restaurant has distinctly Art Deco bones, updated with mid-century aesthetic finishes and stark industrial elements. KGA-Studio (formerly Beckmann Architects) crafted the interior to feature lots of clean lines and simple materials, turning the inside of Palette 22 into a blank canvas for the in-house artists.

It is these artists who most effectively set Palette 22 apart from any other culinary experience in the D.C. area. The restaurant features a unique Artist-in-Residence program, through which local artists get the opportunity to share their craft with guests. Rather than simply displaying final products, however, the artists at Palette 22 turn the eatery into a studio space, blurring the line between visual art and performance. With this unique program, the resident artists get the chance to personally engage with restaurant patrons while flexing their creativity, exposing their talents to the widest possible audience.

The Verdict

If you are looking for a new height of creativity in your dining experience, look no further than Palette 22, an artistic gem in the heart of Shirlington. Between the all-you-can-eat, globally-inspired food, the handcrafted artisanal cocktails, and the unbeatable atmosphere of creativity and artistic creation, Palette 22 offers a unique dining experience that will leave you ready to come back for seconds.

Make sure to check out the rest of our Neighborhood Spotlights — and let us know in the comments where we should check out next!

Do you want to live in Shirlington, or any of the other unique neighborhoods in the D.C. area? The dedicated experts of the Keri Shull Team are standing by to help!

We have the knowledge that you need to find and win your dream home — contact us today to learn more about how we can help! Just click here to get started.

Your Beermonger: Know When to Hold ‘em, Part 2 — The Call is Coming From Inside the Beer Fridge

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This sponsored column is written by Nick Anderson, beermonger at Arrowine (4508 Lee Highway). Sign up for Nick’s email newsletter and also receive exclusive discounts and offers.

Previously: As part of a pre-spring cleaning, I went Marie Kondo on the non-refrigerated part of my beer cellar, exorcising demons of my Gotta Have It past. Little joy was sparked.

I wish I had any duplicates of the beers I opened a couple weeks ago in my beer fridge to do a true 1:1 comparison. I say this because I had as good a hit rate on my beer fridge raid as I had a bad one a few weeks back. I think I just happened to have picked out a few beers that would’ve aged well regardless.

Since I had greater success with this round of tasting, I’ll go into notes on each beer running from left to right in this week’s picture:

Gouden Carolus Cuvee van de Kaiser (Red Sash), 2012

The overlooked “other” Cuvee van de Kaiser, this 2012 Red Sash poured a deep golden amber color with healthy carbonation. The trademark Carolus spicy yeast combined with the rich, sweet Belgian Strong Blonde Ale gave off aromas of overripe banana. Tasted like honeyed apple or pear, and reminded me a bit of a lighter-color dessert wine (Vin Santo? Tokaji?).

Stone Double Bastard, 2013

Poured with shocking head retention and lacing for a seven-year old beer. Time was, Stone was all about the aggressive bitterness, but the real secret was how well-thought the grists were and Double Bastard may be among the best examples of this. A tick oxidized on the nose but with sweet golden raisin tones.

Bitterness is mostly faded, playing along the edges of a palate of boozy maple syrup and cocoa flavors. 12-18 months ago, this would have been perfect. As it is, I have another ’13 and a ’15 that I’ll be enjoying soon.

Brothers Fütnote (Black Currant), 2015

Closest thing to a clunker in the bunch. Currant was all but gone; a little oxidized; completely flat but the cork was set kind of odd so it may have been more to do with that than anything else. Still not that bad an old Sour, all things considered.

Almanac Barrel Noir, bottled winter, 2012

50% Bourbon BA Belgian-style Dark Ale/50% Imperial Stout. The best beer I opened throughout this little adventure: a tinge of oxidation with its age, but that age had also balanced the bourbon notes and the Belgian yeast spiciness without losing any of its component flavors. An absolute gem, and a great example of the rare beer that truly benefits from maturation.

Evil Twin Bozo Beer, 2013(?)

A massive 17.2% ABV that only shows out more with time. Evil Twin’s “kitchen sink” Stout with molasses, lactose, chocolate, almond, hazelnut, vanilla bean, cinnamon, oak spiral, chili, marshmallow, muscovado sugar, chestnut and coffee. Nose was all booze, cinnamon/chili spice and chocolate. The first sip shorted my brain out for a moment.

When I recovered, I found the spices quite alive and well, along with a hint of the hazelnut and most of all, the molasses and sugary notes. It was a bit much for my tastes, but in a bottle share I’d be able to have just enough for a laugh and I can see where some folks might really get into it.

I still advocate drinking those beer purchases rather than holding onto them, but this run was a pleasant surprise and a nice reminder that when you do come across the rare beer that ages well, they can be a true joy when caught at the right moment.

To see what’s on tap at Arrowine’s Draft Station in real-time, follow us on Untappd or check out the draft board on Arrowine.com.

Open Houses in Arlington This Weekend

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Looking for a home? There are plenty of houses and condos open for viewing this weekend.

Check out the Arlington Realty website for a full list of homes for sale and open houses in Arlington. Here are a few highlights:

4521 Dittmar Road
5 BD/4 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Washington Fine Properties, Llc
Listed: $2,495,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

2004 Greenbrier Street
5 BD/2 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Yeonas & Shafran Real Estate, Llc
Listed: $1,624,900
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

1418 N. Rhodes Street B123
3 BD/2 BA, 1 half bath condo
Agent: Samson Properties
Listed: $1,060,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

2813 2nd Street S.
3 BD/3 BA single-family home
Agent: Re/Max Allegiance
Listed: $839,999
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m.

 

3207 14th Street S.
3 BD/2 BA single-family home
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc
Listed: $725,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

3800 Fairfax Drive #1209
2 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Listed: $600,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

6940 Fairfax Drive #402
2 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: The Albrittain Group, Llc
Listed: $489,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

Just Listed in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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.”

It is time to bid you farewell my friends.

I’d like to thank all our readers who have tuned in over the last eight years to catch up on the Arlington real estate market. This is my final blog post, as it is time to pass the torch to the next generation who will carry on. The Andors Real Estate Group with Keller Williams Realty will continue with the Just Listed post, and I’m sure you will love their posts as well. The Andors Group has focused on the Arlington market since 1995.

Team Cathell is not going away. We are still here to help all our clients with their real estate needs, advice and counseling.

Here’s your update on the market: It’s so crazy out there right now it’s near the point of insane. We have been ringing the warning bell for months on the effects of low inventory, and now we are witnessing the street fights. It’s rare to witness a transaction in Arlington that is NOT a bidding war. Buyers have even soaked up the stale inventory on the market for 6-9 months. Now new listings are gone in two weeks or less.

Some 47 sellers listed their homes this week, while 49 buyers ratified contracts. And 18 new listings sold within a week. So the inventory level is getting worse, not better…

Here’s how bad it is for buyers. Arlington has a total of 149 homes actively for sale. With an absorption rate of 196 homes per month, that’s only 0.76 months of inventory, well below our earlier low mark of one month. Remember, 5.5 months of inventory is considered a market in equilibrium, neither a buyers market nor sellers market. We are currently in the most extreme sellers market since 2004.

There is a tiny bit of good news for buyers this week. Mortgage interest rates dipped 1/8% to 3.5% for a 30-yr fixed rate. If only a buyer could find a home.

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

Boring Title: Top Appreciating Neighborhoods in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Title insurance is boring, but Allied Title & Escrow is here to decode the jargon and make it (somewhat) more interesting. This biweekly feature will explore the mundane (but very necessary!) world of title insurance while sharing interesting stories of two friends’ entrepreneurial careers.

For this week’s edition of Boring Title, we wanted to provide a video from Matt Leighton and Shawn Battle who speak about the top appreciating neighborhoods in Arlington in 2020!

Have questions related to title insurance? Email Latane and Matt at [email protected]. Want to use Allied Title & Escrow when you buy a home? Tell your agent when you buy a house to write in Allied Title & Escrow as your settlement company!

Biz Talk: Arlington Welcomes New Economic Development Director

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This article was sponsored by Arlington Economic Development‘s Business Investment Group.

The walls are still relatively bare in Telly Tucker’s new office at Arlington Economic Development.

While he may not have moved many personal mementos in yet, he’s not wasting any time getting started as the department’s new director. The Lynchburg, Virginia native began in the position in mid-January, and he’s already meeting with commissioners, stakeholders and business owners in an effort to learn just what the talk is out there about his new home.

“I really want this to be a collaborative effort right from the beginning,” he says. “I’m a collaborator and communicator by nature. I want to be in constant contact with my staff, my stakeholders and my community to determine how we raise the collective tide for all of Arlington’s businesses.”

Tucker joined Arlington Economic Development after most recently serving as the Director of Economic Development for Danville, Virginia, where he managed a multifaceted economic development strategy that brought investment and many new jobs to the southern Virginia region.

Prior to his position in Danville, Tucker served as the Assistant Director of Economic Development in James City County, Virginia, Program Administrator for the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development, as well as an Economic Development Specialist for the City of Lynchburg, Virginia.

Tucker is tasked with navigating Arlington’s economic community as the “post HQ2 chapter” emerges. The 2018 announcement of Amazon’s new headquarters coming to Arlington put the community on the map, not just nationally, but globally. In addition to that work, Tucker says another of his major goals is working with Arlington’s existing businesses to ensure we’re responding to their needs and concerns.

“We need to make sure that Arlington’s business core remains strong — that we continue to support small business, in community-building, and ensuring that the values we as Arlingtonians cherish remain true,” he says. “I’m truly humbled that County leadership has entrusted me to lead the department for this new and exciting chapter of Arlington’s economic development.”

Tucker plans to “keep an attentive ear to the community” in his first few months leading AED. He plans to meet with staff, small business owners, and community leaders, among others, to get a pulse on the community and its thoughts on Arlington’s business climate. He also cites continued collaboration with regional jurisdictions as part of the new Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance to ensure the region has a strong voice nationally and globally.

“There are so many truly great things happening in Arlington,” he says. “I want to continue to build on what’s been done to make sure Arlington’s leadership in the innovation economy is sustained.”

Just Reduced Properties in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose price have been cut over the previous week. The market summary is crafted by Arlington Realty, Inc. Maximize your real estate investment with the team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6000 today!

Please note: While Arlington Realty, Inc. provides this information for the community, it may not be the listing company of these homes.

Here we are at the end of January — it’s always a bit of a weird time of year.

Weeks removed from New Year’s Day, those resolutions may still be going strong… or they’ve hit the back burner.

If your 2020 resolution pertained to real estate or you’ve since established a new housing-related goal, our team is here to give you a friendly nudge of encouragement. It’s still very early in the year, there is time to find that home of your dreams and you can make it happen.

On the flip side and if you’re looking to sell your property, it’s time to kick it into high gear. We’re fortunate enough to reside within one of the hottest real estate markets on planet Earth and there are meaningful steps that may be taken to obtain that optimal offer.

The bottom line: It’s time to take action. And, when you’re ready to get moving, our team is ready to help you achieve those real estate dreams.

As of January 27, there are 106 detached homes, 9 townhouses and 54 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 6 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week:

Please note that this is solely a selection of Just Reduced properties available in Arlington County. For a complete list of properties within your target budget and specifications, contact Arlington Realty, Inc.

Travel Like a Local with TripUSAFrance, Plus an ARLnow Discount

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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For several years, Arlington-based tour operator TripUSAFrance has provided one of a kind, small-group visits to France, with company owner Julia Girard-Gervois and her father Stephane as personal tour guides.

The reviews on TripAdvisor are raves, with participants praising the authenticity of the experience, as Julia and Stephane introduce visitors to the scenery and people of their beloved and beautiful part of the world.

For a limited time, that experience enjoys a $500 discount for two of their tours booked for April 23 to May 2 and May 7 to May 16 when you add ARL500 as the coupon code.

Julia has designed tours that take visitors — a pleasant maximum of 14 — to where other tours simply cannot go; the Montpellier native has created itineraries calling on her personal insights that take clients deep into the culture of the region — which means, no tourist traps. Julia leads visitors into Medieval cities, ancient castles and chateaux, wineries, beaches and markets and introduces clients to locals who enrich the experience.

The discounted nine-day South of France tour includes stops at out-of-the-way villages, Medieval castles and vineyards that Julia knows intimately. There are many fun activities as well including a leisurely lunch and wine cruise down the famous Canal du Midi, visiting a traditional ranch in the Camargue, and a picnic catered by Julia’s mother.

The eight-day tour of Normandy takes visitors to Stephane’s home region where you discover the magic of the north. The tidal island of Mont St. Michel, the port in Honfleur, and an in-depth tour of WW2 sites with a local expert are among the highlights. You will also be treated to cheese and calvados tastings at local farms and a dinner at the horse races. It goes without saying that on both tours, the culinary experiences are assured to be spectacular.

To book a tour, see this page or call 703-375-9548. The email address is [email protected].

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