An new tenant in Ballston helps adults in need of a boost to establish foundational computer skills, ultimately expanding their career opportunities.
Called Computer CORE, the educational nonprofit offers courses in Google Suite, email, internet basics, computer security, community college math and similar fields to underserved adults. The classes help workers increase their salary by $10k on average.
The new educational facility will be located in a 3,500 square foot space in the Ballston Exchange complex, across Wilson Blvd from Ballston Quarter mall. The Ballston Business Improvement District coordinated the agreement between Computer CORE and Jamestown, the building’s owner, a press release said.
Overall, Computer CORE has around 150 students, roughly 70 of which will be able to use the new space, according to a spokesperson. In terms of group demographics, around 70% of all enrolled students identify as women and 95% are people of color, according to the organization’s website.
Though the center is only set to remain in the Ballston Exchange through the end of 2020, there is a possibility to extend the agreement, according to a spokesperson.
The location was partially chosen because of its proximity to a Metro station and Ballston’s nearby amenities, Tina Leone, the Ballston BID’s CEO said in the press release.
Computer CORE also offers help with resume review, the job search process and interview prep. Program applicants must live in the Northern Virginia area, be at least 18 years old, be motivated to find a job and have demonstrated need for the classes, according to the website.
Currently, 350 other students are on a waiting list to attend classes, the spokesperson said.
Musician Andrew Savoia began posting TikToks under the username @savoiboi earlier this month. Each day, Savoia’s content continues to gain more traction. Arlingtonians may recognize several outdoor spaces around town as filming locations for the short-form music videos.
Savoia’s recent cello cover of the song “Come Get Her,” originally by hip-hop artist Rae Sremmurd, has more than 1.5 million views and counting. According to his profile, the page currently has roughly 92,000 followers and 646 “likes.”
In recent months, TikTok made headlines as a social media platform for politically active youth but the app is moreso used as a platform for comedy and entertainment.
In a post from July 12 (above), which featured a cover of “Supalonely,” viewers can spot the Washington Monument and portions of Arlington’s Rosslyn-Ballston corridor in the background. Savoia said he and his friend filmed it on the rooftop of his mom’s apartment building in Ballston.
Other filming locations include public open spaces around town and a bridge near Navy Yard in D.C.
“What I’ve been doing is choosing a song that I really want to play and picking a background that fits with that song,” he told ARLnow.
So far, four out of Savoia’s eight viral videos have been filmed in Arlington.
Other covers by Savoia include “Roses” by SAINt JHN, “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd and other songs topping charts globally. Many of the hits that Savoia chooses to cover come from memes and other TikToks sent to him by friends, he said.
“Some of those tunes are really catchy and they get stuck in my head,” he said, adding that he’ll experiment with the song before deciding that he wants to post a video.
Boosting his popularity further, other TikTok users are now using his music to compose their own posts. Savoia said he loves to see fans interacting with his music because it encourages them to pick up an instrument and revive their passion for classical music.
On the app, TikTok offers a “duet” feature, which lets users record their own content side-by-side with another post — as if the two accounts were performing at the same time. Going forward, Savoia said that he would love to see more collaboration like this.
Inspiration for the project first came to him after he bought recording equipment to do a full-length, four-minute cover of a Weeknd song but didn’t like the final result — and instead decided to stick to a 30-second clip, which he and friends later posted on TikTok.
“The response was really positive and that just made me want to do it more,” Savoia said.
Kayla and Nick Laubach’s engagement party in the summer of 2017 (Photo courtesy Kayla Laubach)
(Updated at 11:15 a.m.) Dating can be awkward, but Northside Social in Clarendon seems to ease anxiety when it comes to the search for love.
While the Arlington eatery doesn’t go out of its way to promote the location as an ideal date spot, it may be the epicenter of local dating activity.
From coffee to wine to food like vegan pastries and gluten-free scones, the spot has a wide range of offerings throughout the day to suit various needs, preferences or cravings. That makes it a pretty safe bet for a first or second date.
Northside offers an “easy, approachable and comfortable” environment, Northside Social’s Wine Director Karin Logan told ARLnow. “None of the staff are particularly overbearing, which can I know can be difficult with a first, second or even third date atmosphere.”
“I don’t think I have a single friend who hasn’t been to at least one of our restaurants on a date,” said Logan, referencing Northside’s sister restaurants of Liberty Tavern and Lyon Hall in Clarendon. She said she sees plenty of first dates and can often recognize first-time meetups driven by apps like Tinder or Bumble.
Apart from app-driven dates, there are also some honest-to-goodness meet cutes happening at Northside. Logan can recall instances where people have ended up meeting potential partners there.
“All of the regulars I know have at least met one or two people there because of its a welcoming place and all of my regulars are friends with one another,” Logan said. “It’s conducive to meeting people.”
Over the two years that Logan has held her position, she said she’s also witnessed at least five or six engagement photoshoots at Northside, which is more than any other restaurant she has worked for during her 18 years in the restaurant industry.
“And those just happened to be the days I was working,” she added.
There have been actual engagements as well. Arlington resident Kayla Laubach was at a Friday happy hour at Don Tito in July of 2017 when she received a text from her boyfriend Nick, asking her to stop by Northside Social, a block away.
Confused, she agreed and walked up the stairs into the wine bar to find Nick with candles scattered throughout the room and a bottle of champagne on a single stand-up table.
“It was really cute,” she said. “I was so focused going up the stairs I didn’t even notice they had a little chalkboard sign that said ‘Congrats Kayla and Nick.'”
Shortly after, all of the couple’s family and friends gathered in the space to celebrate their engagement with an after-party. The venue was chosen because Northside was where Kayla and Nick would meet while she was living in Arlington and he was living in Maryland, earlier in their relationship.
Kayla, a regular, says she chose it because she knew Nick would love the sausage and poached egg breakfast sandwich.
“When we were in Arlington we would go there every Saturday and Sunday. It was crazy how often we went there,” she said. “It was the place we fell in love.”
Northside Social has plenty of competition among newer Clarendon area coffee shops like East West Coffee and Wine and This Is Fine Coffee. But Logan doesn’t seem concerned for the future of the hangout. It’s hard to duplicate the community that has formed around a place like Northside — and special features like the dog-friendly outdoor patio and charcuterie boards done just so don’t hurt either.
As for people looking for a place with fewer first dates, there’s always the newer Northside Social in Falls Church, which opened in 2018.
After a little more than a year in business, the DC Lash Bar location in Ballston has closed.
Located in the outdoor, open-air portion of Ballston Quarter mall, the salon’s second location — after its original Georgetown location — originally opened in November 2018. It recently closed because “DC LashBar has decided not to renew its lease with Ballston Quarter,” a spokesperson told ARLnow.
It is unclear what business might eventually replace the salon but the DC Lash Bar signs have been removed and the space appears empty.
Going forward, the DC Lash Bar wants to open another location but isn’t sure where, the spokesperson said.
Dina Daniel, Stephen Samuels (Left) and Elmer Ramos (Right) of Fava Pot (Staff photo by Ashley Hopko)
Fava Pot Owner Dina Daniel (Staff photo by Ashley Hopko)
Fava Pot Taamya (Staff photo by Ashley Hopko)
International foodies in Rosslyn will have another eatery option with the upcoming expansion of Fava Pot.
The restaurant — Egyptian Street Food by Fava Pot — is expected to open in September, just in time to celebrate the local chain’s 3rd anniversary, according to owner Dina Daniel.
The restaurant is rooted in Falls Church, where it has a sit-down location, and it also just opened a new pop-up in Union Market this past November. Before that, the eatery started as a food truck, which still frequents lunchtime hotspots Rosslyn, Courthouse, Ballston and Crystal City.
Daniel hasn’t yet announced exactly where the eatery will be located in Rosslyn.
“We are still in negotiations,” she said, adding that they will likely announce its exact location in two to three weeks. Still, she said that the eatery will have both sit-down options and food for take-out.
Unlike the Falls Church sit-down location, the Rosslyn location will be geared towards working professionals who have fast-paced workdays, according to Daniel.
“It is meant to be a quick bite but not fast food,” she said.
Over the years, Fava Pot has been the recipient of numerous awards and was recognized nationally for its food truck cuisine. All Fava Pot’s ingredients are made fresh in-house, according to Daniel.
Daniel said her favorite item is the Táamya, which she considers to be the eatery’s specialty. She called it an “Egyptian falafel” — the tiny ball has a crunchy exterior with a soft veggie-filled inside. Unlike other types of falafels, the snack is made with fava beans instead of chickpeas.
Yesterday (Feb. 13), Voice of America Asia featured Fava Pot on its YouTube channel as part of its Food Bites mini-series.
As an Egyptian immigrant, Daniel acts as a cultural ambassador for the community, helping people to experience new cuisines and understand more about Egyptian culture.
“I believe America has misconceptions of Egyptians,” she said, noting that Egypt has a distinctive cultural identity from the rest of the Middle East. The walls of the Falls Church location are covered with the stories of famous Egyptians, including athletes, academics and musicians.
To give back, some proceeds from the restaurant will go toward Coptic Orphans, an organization that assists underprovided kids in Egypt.
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.
Dr. Kimberly Meltzer, from Marymount University, will be speaking about her upcoming book as part of a two-part series on civic engagement. Registration is required and everyone is welcome.
The Ballston Exchange invites people to a happy hour with food, drinks and a live band. The event will also include a non-profit expo where people can get involved by helping their community. Space is limited so RSVP is suggested.
The Mount Olivet Players will perform a free show for the audience that tells funny stories about airports, flight and air travel. Donations are accepted and will benefit youth summer mission trips.
Our Savior Lutheran School is host an open house, during which families can meet school leaders, tour the facilities and learn about program offerings for kids.
This event offers people the chance to take a cycle class for a good cause. Proceeds will go to Phoenix Bikes, which teaches local youth life skills through bicycle repair. Tickets are $25 and attendees can donate more if they choose.
Interested members of the public can speak with people from the Transgender Advocacy Speakers Bureau. Speakers will talk about how people can live their best lives and have productive conversations with members of the LGBT community.
Author Burt Solomon will discuss his experience writing his new book, about an incident that looked like and accident but might have been been a presidential assassination attempt.
Sponsored by Monday Properties and written by ARLnow.com, Startup Monday is a weekly column that profiles Arlington-based startups and their founders, plus other local technology happenings. The Ground Floor, Monday’s office space for young companies in Rosslyn, is now open. The Metro-accessible space features a 5,000-square-foot common area that includes a kitchen, lounge area, collaborative meeting spaces, and a stage for formal presentations.
(Updated 3:35 p.m.)Higher Logic (1919 N. Lynn Street),an engagement platform that uses community and marketing automation to improve customer and member experiences., is still growing quickly.
The company, founded 13 years ago, helps people within companies, nonprofits and member-based organizations build stronger communities, according to a company spokesperson. It was named to the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing companies in the country last year.
Higher Logic was founded under Rob Wenger, who is the executive chairman. It moved to Rosslyn in 2018 and now has offices in Portland; Saratoga Springs, New York; and Australia.
Though Higher Logic specializes in building online communities, development of marketing automation and integration of pre-existing platforms, according to a company spokesperson.
The software gives people the tool to to facilitate efficient conversations, clear up confusion and answer questions by connecting the right people and even help people form mentorships, the spokesperson said.
Throughout the years, the company has received grants and awards including a $60,000 grant from Arlington Economic Development. It was also listed in 2016 as one of Virginia’s Fantastic 50 Companies by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.
In an interview published by the Rosslyn Business Improvement District, Hunter Montgomery, who was previously in charge of the Higher Logic’s marketing, said the company’s growth can be at least partially attributed to its acquisition of two companies: Informz and Real Magnet, Inc.
Now, the company employs around 320 people and is actively hiring, according to a press release, which added that the company is looking to take on roughly 30 new employees in almost every department.
Every year around the fall, Higher Logic hosts a conference in D.C. bringing together clients from around the country. The spokesperson said the gathering serves as a training opportunity to educate customers on how to use the software and allows people to brainstorm new potential improvements and give feedback.
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.
Join fellow cinema buffs for a viewing of the film “10 MPH.” This event is open to the public and free but attendees must be 18 years or older to attend. Seating is reserved on a first-come basis.
Saturday, January 18
Game Night St John’s Episcopal Church (415 S. Lexington Street) Time: 7-9 p.m.
Community members are invited for a family-friendly game night. People are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for donation. Games and snacks will be provided.
At this educational lecture, Fred Cooper will talk about his time working for Voice of America and his experiences becoming involved in Hong Kong’s Jewish community while working abroad.
MLK Tribute Wakefield High School (1325 S. Dinwiddie Street) Time: 5-6:30 p.m.
Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s life by listening to the story of four young students from the Arlington’s Halls Hill neighborhood who entered Stratford Junior High School in 1959 and became the first students to desegregate a public school in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
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.
The Bonefish Grill celebrates a five year anniversary in Arlington with an event featuring all-day happy hour, food, giveaways and live music.
Family Sing-Along Aurora Hills Branch Library (735 18th Street S.)
Time: 6-7 p.m.
Folk musicians Carl Gold and Ed Girovasi will perform live and the library invites families and people of all ages to come by for a singalong. This event is free.
Jesse Ratcliffe will perform live on the carillon as part of the 2019 summer concert series, which concludes on Monday, Sept. 2. This event is free and attendees can bring chairs and blankets.
This end of summer concert will benefit the Homeward Trails Animal Rescue. Heritage Brewing Co. and TTT Mexican Diner will be selling food, beer and wine.
(Updated at 11:40 a.m.) 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.
This event will teach new potential homeowners to save thousands of dollars and avoid mistakes. Attendees will receive special perks like a credit towards a new home. This event is free.
This annual event invites the community to learn about different methods of transportation in the area. It is free and there will be games, food, giveaways.
Local hockey blog Russian Machine Never Breaks is bringing Canadian hockey blogger Steve (Dangle) Glynn to the area. He will be at the bookstore signing copies of his new book and talking about how he fell in love with hockey.
Wags n’ Whiskers Village at Shirlington (4280 Campbell Avenue) Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
This dog-friendly festival will feature adoptable pets, live music and family activities. Dog experts will be on-site.
Arlington “Bat Fest” Gulf Branch Nature Center (3608 Military Road)
Time: 6:30- 9 p.m.
This event will feature live bats and help educate the community on the local creatures. Registration is required and costs $5.
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.
Jessica Kaplan of the Arlington Historical Society will teach attendees how to create an accurate family tree using various techniques. This event is free
Wednesday, Aug. 14
Arlington County Fair Thomas Jefferson Community Center (3501 2nd Street S.) Time: 5-10 p.m. and other times during the week
This year’s events will feature LOVE art, a butterfly experience, rides, live music and goat yoga along with the classic favorites. There is a shuttle bus available since there is no public parking.
Thursday, Aug. 15
Business After Business Arlington Community Federal Credit Union (5666 Columbia Pike) Time: 5-7 p.m.
This allows attendees to network while enjoying beer, wine and other beverages. Registration is required. There will be door prizes and cash jackpots for members.
Fridays at the Fountain is Crystal City’s seasonal pop-up beer garden, featuring food from The Stand’s rotating lineup of vendors, beverage selections and live music.
