Author: ARLnow.com Sponsor

Listing of the Day: 1803 Dominion Crest Lane in McLean

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Address: 1803 Dominion Crest Lane McLean, VA
Neighborhood: Vinson Estates
Listed: $1,499,000.00
Open: Saturday, April 14 and Sunday, April 15 from 2-4 p.m.

Elegant custom built contemporary home is beautiful and ready for new Owners.

This 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath home is sited on a private cul-de-sac, walking distance to shops/restaurants. Stunning sun filled interior, deck and balcony, great floor plan for all.

New chef’s kitchen with top of the line appliances, center island, breakfast bar, coffee bar with Lucca expresso machine and breakfast room. Two-story foyer, dramatic stair case, front sitting room, dining room, bar area, fireplace room, tv room with built in speakers, kitchen, eat in space, 2 story office with back stairs to upper level bedroom, lots of light.

Owner’s retreat with sitting area, fireplace, dual walk-in closets and a spa-like bath, private deck, back stairs to lower level office and main level. Upper level has 2 Additional Bedrooms, Full Bath, Laundry Room, Open to below.

Lower level has so much potential for new owners to have customized to their own needs, for instance, Gym, play room, apartment, movie theater, extra bedrooms, studio, etc. Car lovers can even fit sports car through doors and work on cars inside!

Appraised 2017. NO HOA. A MUST SEE!

Listed by:
Gloria Adams
TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
Cell: 703-356-6645 Office: 703-319-3344
[email protected]
TTRSIR.com
1803dominioncrestlane.com

Local Favorites White Ford Bronco to Headline 2018 Taste of Arlington

The 31st Annual Taste of Arlington presented by Courthaus Social, the signature event of BallstonGives, returns to Ballston on Sunday May 20 from 12-6 p.m.

This year’s festival features over 60 restaurants and food trucks, a beer and wine garden and nine local musical acts performing on two stages, including headliners White Ford Bronco. The beloved local band will close out the festival with the ultimate tribute to the 90’s on the Mix 107.3 Sound Stage presented by Clark Construction.

Featuring everything from Top 40 covers to original indie rock tunes, Taste of Arlington has something everyone can enjoy. Here’s a preview of some of the acts we can’t wait to see:

  • Broke Royals, one of the region’s top new bands, opens the festival on the Mix 107.3 Sound Stage with the upbeat alternative rock of their debut album.
  • Singer-songwriter and “The Voice” participant Brad Doggett will kick things off on the Ballston Point Live Sound Stage with guitar-driven covers of today’s hits.
  • Headliners White Ford Bronco blend everything from alternative rock and hip-hop to pop and country for a throwback 90’s dance party.

Rounding out the Mix 107.3 Sound Stage are energetic rockers Turtle Recall, rockabilly outfit Jumpin’ Jupiter and the Darby Brothers‘ tribute to classic rock.

The Ballston Point Live Sound Stage will also feature the party rock anthems of Lost Growlers, hard rock trio Lucy’s Letdown and the genre-bending Most Savage Gentlemen.

Each year BallstonGives donates a portion of event proceeds to local non-profits. This year’s donations will benefit the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, Arlington Food Assistance Center, Arlington Arts Center, Arlington Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Center for Excellence, Volunteer Arlington and Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network.

Ready to rock out with the region’s top bands? Head over to www.tasteofarlington.com to get your discounted tickets today.

Arts Focus: Full Dome Projections at Arlington Planetarium

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

“Space… The final frontier.”

It can certainly feel that way to arts presenters in the Washington metropolitan area, where space is such a precious commodity. That’s why it pays to think outside the box and cultivate partnerships with organizations that might not immediately seem a natural fit “…to boldly go where no man has gone before.”

Take, for example, the series of Full Dome Projections by visual artists at the David M. Brown Planetarium.

Co-presented by Arlington Arts with the Friends of Arlington’s Planetarium, the latest immersive screening is In The Midst of the Inferno by artist Jonathan Monaghan, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 20, 21 and 22 with multiple screenings occurring on the half-hour throughout the weekend (see Eventbrite for screening times).

Called “one of the best and most innovative projects in the region” in Washington City Paper’s “The Year In Galleries, 2017,” the Free series has drawn enthusiastic new audiences to this hidden gem, while providing a new venue option for regional artists.

Eliciting subconscious fears surrounding authority and wealth, Monaghan’s critical reflection on power in the digital age is a journey through surreal environments evoking science fiction and high-security luxury apartments: a world both absurd and dystopian, yet eerily familiar.

Note that an Artist Talk by Jonathan Monaghan will accompany the Opening Night screenings, at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. only. The David M. Brown Planetarium is located at 1426 N. Quincy Street in Arlington. The event is free but space is limited and patrons are encouraged to RSVP in advance.

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 licensed broker Aaron Seekford of Arlington Realty, Inc. GET MORE out of your real estate investment with Aaron and his team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6116 today!

Please note: While Aaron Seekford provides this information for the community, he is not the listing agent of these homes.  

WOOF. MEOW. CHIRP. NEIGH. Translation: It’s National Pet Day!

I’m a big pet fan and have had some awesome four-legged friends throughout my entire life.

On that note and in the real estate world, it’s super important to take Fido, Fluffy and Chirp’s unique needs into account whenever and wherever you decide to move.

From a condo perspective, there are plenty of pet-friendly communities throughout Arlington County ready for new residents. Likewise, there are a number of rentals that welcome dogs and/or cats with open arms. And, even if you have a horse, Arlington County has suburban and rural landscapes that will make your bigger pets feel right at home.

When you (and your pet!) are ready to GET MORE out of your real estate transaction, my team is ready to help. We don’t bite, we promise.

As of April 9, there are 187 detached homes, 33 townhouses and 208 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 35 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week.

Here is this week’s selection of Just Reduced properties:

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 Aaron Seekford.

Legal Review: Cannabidiol Continues to Gain Support

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

By criminal defense attorney Patrick Woolley, who is barred and practices in the state of Virginia, with Price Benowitz LLP.

Non-hallucinogenic medicinal marijuana, or cannabidiol, continues to gain legislative and medical support for its use in combating nausea and pain. Legislators in Virginia are considering a bill that would allow physicians to broadly prescribe cannabidiol (or cannabis oil, as it is commonly known) for any medically-diagnosed condition.

Cannabis oil has gained popularity recently as studies have shown the efficacy of marijuana in pain treatment. As there has been no corresponding increase in support for legalization of marijuana at a federal level, doctors and scientists have attempted to come up with alternative ways of delivering the benefits of marijuana in a form that does not run afoul of current federal laws.

Unfortunately, cannabis oil is considered a “Schedule 1” narcotic by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), meaning that from a federal standpoint, its production and distribution are illegal. However, many producers of cannabis oil claim that their products are derived from the hemp plant, making it legal.

Laws related to the possession, use, production and distribution of marijuana and any of its extracts currently vary from state to state. Several states have completely legalized the use of marijuana. Others still ban it completely, even when only used medicinally. Still others allow medicinal use but not recreational use.

“The state of the law related to marijuana and its derivatives throughout the United States is in an incredible amount of flux,” said Patrick Woolley, a criminal defense attorney in Virginia. “It is incumbent upon individuals who are looking to use cannabis oil or other products to ensure that use and possession of those items will not put them in serious legal jeopardy.”

What does this mean for a Virginia resident seeking to use cannabidiol for medical purposes? Currently, Woolley said, the use of cannabis oil is still illegal, even for medicinal purposes. If the proposed law passes, “the use of cannabis oil with a doctor’s prescription would be legal, but possession without a prescription would still be a crime,” said Woolley.

Additionally, possession of any other marijuana derivative, or marijuana itself, would not fall under the protections of this law.

Virginia residents who do avail themselves of any new Virginia law related to cannabis oil should be aware that the legality of something in Virginia does not make it legal everywhere else. If you are traveling to another state or another country, you should make yourself familiar with the possession and use laws of those states and countries, as well as any state or country you may be traveling through. You can still be charged with a crime in another state.

Cook Brothers: Arlington’s No. 1 Remodeler by ‘Focusing on Reducing Risk’

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Cook Brothers Design/Build Remodeling doesn’t expect to be invited to every home renovation bid in Arlington, but as the No. 1 remodeler in Arlington, they can’t understand why they wouldn’t be at the kitchen table.

“All we do is renovate homes in Arlington County,” says Steven Tinter, president and general manager. “We don’t do new homes, we don’t remodel homes in Maryland or D.C. or other places in Virginia.

“Arlington County is all we’ve done for 31 years. If you’re not talking to us, you’ll be missing out.”

Cook Brothers focuses on risk reduction, which is vital when it comes to one of the most expensive expenditures a homeowner will encounter.

“Lowest bid? That is not our goal,” Tinter says flatly. “We’re typically not going to be the least-cost provider. Our prices are very competitive but we definitely are going to be the least-risk provider. And we’re going to give homeowners the best value because of that.”

Cook Brothers is the No. 1 remodeler in Arlington based on the number of building permits issued since the year 2000, when the county began recording them electronically. Those nearly 300 permits outpaces the second place contractor, a national franchised company, by more than a third.

“Reducing risk” is not only important but necessary for Arlington homeowners. “Arlington homes are modest, but they’re expensive homes,” he says. And many of them are older, with residual quirks from previous builders. Cook Brothers’ experience in the area gives them an advantage when it comes to encountering challenges distinct to Arlington homes.

But no matter how good the plans look on the kitchen table, it’s the skilled craftsmen and women of Cook Brothers who do the work. Tinter says his 18-year-round employees have been with the company “on average, close to 10 years. In our industry, that’s remarkable and something we’re proud of. We retain people by treating them well. We’ve made a commitment to our people and it shows. And that’s how we keep our costs consistent.”

Cook Brothers is at 5521 Lee Highway in Arlington. Call 703-536-0900 or email at [email protected]. The website is here: cookbros.org.

Ask Eli: Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) Play Critical Role In Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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

Question: What is the role of Business Improvement Districts in Arlington?

Answer: The Business Improvement Districts (BID) of Rosslyn, Ballston and Crystal City deserve much of the credit for turning these neighborhoods from convenient places to work to lively, family-friendly places to live.

Funded primarily by businesses located in the neighborhoods they represent, BIDs are an important bridge between residents, businesses and local government. Homeowners located in or near any of these BIDs can thank their leadership teams for increasing the value of their homes.

As a long-time Rosslyn resident, I have watched as Mary-Claire Burick and her team at the Rosslyn BID have transformed Rosslyn over the last five years.

I reached out to her for an interview to answer some questions about the role of BIDs in the community and how residents can take advantage of their influence on local government and business investment. Thank you Mary-Claire!

What is the role of a BID, and what role does the Rosslyn BID play in the community?

Business Improvement Districts are nimble organizations that wear a lot of different hats. In Rosslyn, we work on urban planning, transportation and business and community engagement, just to name a few.

But I think one of the most important roles that we play is that of a convener who brings together the perspectives of various stakeholders in our neighborhood –including residents, businesses and county officials — to advance initiatives that will help our community continue to thrive.

We are in constant conversation with folks on the street, in our restaurants and in our business community to better understand not only what they love about Rosslyn but also what they want to see improved.

How does the Rosslyn BID engage with residents and visitors? 

As I mentioned, community engagement is one of our top priorities.

Probably our most visible presence on a daily basis is our Rosslyn Ambassadors Program. Our team is out on the street five days a week helping residents and visitors with directions and working to ensure our sidewalk and public areas are safe and clean. Be sure to say hello when you see them around the neighborhood in their purple shirts.

Our events are another important way that we connect and engage with area residents. In 2017, around 40,000 people attended more than 160 events that we hosted ranging from our popular Rosslyn Jazz Fest and Rosslyn Cinema series to lunchtime fitness sessions and pop-up concerts. Each one of these events represents a touch point for our team to engage with residents and employees in our region, and for interaction between these groups.

It’s that sense of community that these events help build that makes them so impactful. (more…)

Legal Insider: Security Clearance Upgrades Can Lead to Loss of Existing Clearance

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

When an individual with a security clearance is submitted for a security clearance upgrade, any previously existing security concerns are scrutinized again, but at a higher level.

For instance, if an individual has been previously approved for a Secret level clearance and is then submitted for a Top Secret (TS) level clearance by their employer, the individual could be denied based on the same concerns that existed when he or she was approved for a Secret level clearance.

This more often occurs when the individual holds a Top Secret (TS) clearance but is applying for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access, “TS/SCI.”

Clearance Upgrade Dilemma

One common problem with security clearance upgrades occurs when an employer submits a request to upgrade an individual’s security clearance (e.g., from Secret to Top Secret).

Sometimes the individual is made aware of the requested upgrade by the employer and sometimes he or she is not. It is possible that an individual can be approved for a lower level security clearance with existing security concerns, but that he or she can still be denied when submitting for a security clearance upgrade even if there are no new security concerns.

As an example, suppose an individual is approved for a Top Secret security clearance by the Department of Defense (DoD), after mitigating some security concerns about past due debts or bad credit, and is then submitted for SCI access at an intelligence agency.

The intelligence agency may consider those debts more serious than the DoD, and deny the person SCI access approval based on the same financial issues that were first resolved favorably when the individual applied for his or her Top Secret clearance.  This upgrade denial can potentially have significant consequences.

Result of Unfavorable Upgrade

The result of a clearance upgrade denial might be that the individual, at best, likely has to list the prior denial in future clearance applications, and at worst, could cause the individual to lose (or have to defend) his or her existing security clearance.

Depending on the employer and federal agency involved, there are appeals processes to challenge the clearance upgrade denial, but it is something to seriously consider if there are security concerns in one’s background and a clearance upgrade is proposed.

Conclusion

It is important to consider the impact of upgrading a security clearance or security access before applying when there are previous security concerns at issue. Individuals should consult with counsel if they have any security concerns at issue.

If you need assistance with a severance agreement or other employment matter, please contact our office at (703) 668-0070 or at www.berrylegal.com to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook.

Rethink Energy: Home Show & Garden Expo on April 14

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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This regularly-scheduled sponsored column is written by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy team (AIRE). This county program helps you make smart energy decisions that save you money and leaves a lighter footprint on the environment. 

Home renovations are almost a rite of passage in Arlington. Well, there’s no better way to get started on your home project than visiting Arlington’s Home Show and Garden Expo.

Arlington’s largest Home Show & Garden Expo will return this month on April 14.

The Home Show will feature dozens of home builders, contractors, vendors, architects, inspectors, real estate agents, gardeners, lenders and nonprofits, as well as housing, zoning and inspection representatives from Arlington County.

Classes and seminars at the Home Show cover many topics including:

  • Green kitchen and bath remodeling
  • Move or remodel? Which is right for me?
  • How to choose and work with contractors
  • How to finance your remodeling project
  • Green remodeling, solar co-op, green home certification
  • Downsizing and aging in place
  • Edible landscaping and home gardening
  • Energy smart landscaping lighting solutions

Stop by and check it out. Arlington’s Rethink Energy team will be there all day. We’ll have info on LED lighting, home energy rebates, green home renovation or new construction, solar co-op and more.

Stop by with your energy questions. We’re here to help you save energy and money.

The Expo is being held from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 14, at the Kenmore Middle School, 200 S. Carling Springs Road.

For more info, visit: http://arlingtonhomeshow.org/

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:

856 N. Harrison Street
6 beds/5 bath, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Ann Wilson
Listed: $2,388,888
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

 

105 N. Oakland Street
5 beds/4 bath, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: David Lloyd
Listed: $1,750,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

4244 N. Vacation Lane
5 beds/5 bath single-family home
Agent: William Gaskins
Listed: $1,375,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

3855 N. Upland Street
5 beds/3 bath, 1 half bath single/family home
Agent: Christopher Wilkes
Listed: $914,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

1201 N. Garfield Street
2 beds/2 bath, 1 half bath condo
Agent: Daniel Lesniak
Listed: $764,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

101 S. Park Drive
3 beds/2 bath single-family home
Agent: A. Casey O’neal
Listed: $689,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

2522 S. Walter Reed Drive
2 beds/2 bath condo
Agent: Sandra Graves
Listed: $525,000
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

WWBG: Where I Like to Grab a Beer in NYC

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Weekend Wine and Beer Guide logo

Editor’s Note: This biweekly column is sponsored by Dominion Wine and Beer (107 Rowell Court, Falls Church). It is written by Garrett Cruce, a Cicerone Program Certified Beer Server.

On any trip to New York City, I try to get to my favorite watering holes and to find new ones.

Recently, I visited the Big Apple with my family. While there, I decided that I’d like to share my favorite restaurants and bottle shops for grabbing a beer.

Whether you’re waiting in long lines to get into the Supreme store in SoHo or in the long lines to get into the 9/11 Memorial & Museum or are waiting to get into the next showing of Hamilton — you’re probably going to want beer when you’re done.

Beer Table

(22 Grand Central Terminal, Across from Track 13 and WESTFIELD WORLD TRADE CENTER, 185 Greenwich Street)

My first stop was Beer Table in Westfield World Trade Center.

This small space had quite the singles selection with five beers on tap for filling in a variety of vessels that range from pint jars to mini kegs called “Gregs” — a contraction of growler and keg.

I couldn’t pass up a jar of Runcible, a Brett IPA from DC’s Right Proper Brewing Company. My literally pint-sized jar came cozily wrapped in a complimentary koozie and sealed well enough that the longish walk back to my hotel without immediate refrigeration did little to diminish the freshness.

As small as the Lower Manhattan location is, the one at Grand Central is even tinier. But show up on a Friday evening and you’ll find a line that stretches out their door and down the corridor. Thirsty commuters looking for some tasty beer for their train rides out of the city keep this location hopping!

They have big plans for the future, too. Their origins were in the restaurant business with a now-closed Beer Table restaurant in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Now, they’re returning to their roots with Beer Table Coffee Table on Third Avenue between 45th and 46th Streets.

While You’re In The Neighborhood…

When in the Financial District, be sure to grab a bite — and maybe some groceries — at Eataly.

Conveniently located upstairs from the Beer Table in Westfield World Trade Center, you’ll find a lot of Dogfish Head beers (they have collaborated on beers in recent years) and beer from an Italian craft brewery, Baladin. While I didn’t manage to try Baladin’s beer, they do make delicious sodas that we all fell for. (more…)

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