Author: Chris Teale

Front Page Restaurant in Ballston to Close at Year’s End

By Chris Teale
1/2

(Updated at 4:25 p.m.) A mainstay Ballston bar and restaurant will close its doors at the end of the year.

Front Page, in business at 4201 Wilson Blvd since the early-to-mid 2000s, will shutter at the end of the month, according to multiple tipsters. Reached by phone, employees confirmed the news to an ARLnow.com reporter.

Front Page has been a popular after-work watering hole for Ballston workers and residents. It serves lunch and dinner each day as well as weekend brunch and serves traditional American fare. The restaurant is on the ground floor of Stafford Place I, the now-former headquarters of the National Science Foundation that is set for a revamp.

We’re told that Front Page declined to renew its lease on the space, and so it will close.

The closure comes shortly after the National Science Foundation moved to Alexandria and shortly before the renovated Ballston Quarter mall reopens across the street with new entertainment and dining options.

“It’s more of a lease thing,” one employee told ARLnow.com. “They took our patio away, and business-wise, it’s the decision that was made. We feel bad for the guests and employees; it’s not something we wanted to happen.”

We’re told that Front Page will stay open as normal between now and midnight on either December 30 or 31. No word yet on whether a closing party of any kind will be held.

Nestle to Announce Support for Anti-Child Hunger Initiative Alongside Va. First Lady at Oakridge

By Chris Teale

A top Nestle official will join Virginia First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe at Oakridge Elementary School on Friday to announce the company’s support for an anti-child hunger initiative.

Ahead of its move to Rosslyn, the company will announce its support for the No Kid Hungry campaign on Friday, December 15, a spokeswoman said.

Nestle’s USA CFO Steve Presley will announce the company’s support for the initiative alongside McAuliffe, who is described by the spokeswoman as a “longtime advocate of fighting childhood hunger.” The event is scheduled to take place from 8:20-9:40 a.m. at the school in the Arlington Ridge neighborhood near Crystal City.

McAuliffe is part of the No Kid Hungry initiative, alongside the Virginia Department of Health, the Virginia Department of Education and several corporate partners.

The public-private initiative aims to end child hunger in America by ensuring children have access to healthy food where they live and where they learn.

“Oakridge Elementary has implemented a breakfast program in partnership with No Kid Hungry that aims to provide children with a healthy, nutritious start to their day,” the spokeswoman said.

An Arlington Public Schools spokesman confirmed the visit, and said McAuliffe will show the officials from Nestle “how the school serves breakfast.”

File photo

Ballston Quarter Mall to Add 18-Restaurant Food Hall

By Chris Teale
1/5

The renovated Ballston Quarter Mall will have a 25,000-square-foot food hall, developer Forest City announced today (Tuesday).

Called Quarter Market, the food hall will feature 18 restaurants, and officials hope it will serve as the anchor for the revamped mall.

The food hall will be centered around a 5,000-square-foot public plaza, accessible via a walkway from Wilson Blvd. The plaza will include outdoor seating for two restaurants, as well as communal seating and space for other activities.

The first nine restaurants to be announced as food hall tenants include hot dog food truck Swizzler, which will open its first brick-and-mortar location; and fast-casual noodle bar Mi & Yu.

Other restaurants will include locally-owned Asian eatery Buredo, Ice Cream Jubilee’s first Virginia location and Pinch Dumplings, which already operates a stand at Nationals Park. More food hall restaurants will be announced at a later date.

“Quarter Market will bring together some of the District’s most original, best-in-class food operators, giving them the opportunity to tap into the incredible market already established in Arlington,” Deborah Ratner Salzberg, president of Forest City Washington, said in a statement. “Once opened, the food hall will truly reenergize Northern Virginia’s food scene, allowing residents to enjoy the region’s most beloved restaurants.”

Construction on the entire mall project, which will include a high-rise apartment complex with more than 400 units, is scheduled to be completed in fall 2018.

Full details from a press release on the first nine restaurants to be announced are after the jump.

(more…)

Cantina Mexicana Closed in Crystal City

By Chris Teale
1/3

A longtime Mexican restaurant in Crystal City has closed its doors.

Cantina Mexicana at 515 23rd Street S. shuttered late last month. An employee who answered the phone at the restaurant’s location just off Columbia Pike confirmed the closure, which he said happened “a couple of weeks ago.”

He added that several employees from the Crystal City eatery had made the switch over to its other location, on Columbia Pike. That location has been open since 2013 and a sign on the door encourages patrons to continue visiting it.

“Thanks for the memories!” the sign reads. “It’s been a great journey. We sincerely appreciate your friendship and all your patronage the last 40 years!”

The restaurant served “fine Tex-Mex cuisine,” and had been in business in various guises since 1978. In 1995, former dishwasher Gloria Arias bought the restaurant, then known as The Taco House, and in 2005 changed its name to Cantina Mexicana.

Hat-tip to Michael H.

Arlington Agenda: December 11-17

By Chris Teale

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 Home Buyer Class *
Orange Line Living (1600 Wilson Blvd #101)
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.

A comprehensive class highlighting what you need to know to buy a home. Learn terminology, what happens at each stage of the transaction, strategies for negotiating a purchase price and the types of loans available. Admission is free.

Art Night: The Nightmare Before Giftmas
Westover Library (1644 N. McKinley Road, Suite 3)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.

A place for like-minded creatives to work on art, craft, and socialize in a relaxed atmosphere. December’s theme is “The Nightmare Before Giftmas,” where attendees can enjoy the animated film, “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

Wednesday

Winemaker Dinner *
Osteria da Nino (2900 S. Quincy Street)
Time: 7-10:30 p.m.

A multi-course dinner featuring Angelo Gaja wines and foods from the Piedmont and Tuscany regions of Italy. Admission costs $120 per person. Foods and drinks will be paired throughout the meal, with the chance to buy bottles afterwards.

Should the Name of Washington-Lee High School Be Changed? *
Marymount University Phelan Hall (2807 N. Glebe Road)
Time: 7-9 p.m.

The Arlington Committee of 100 discusses whether the name of Washington-Lee High School should be changed, as Fairfax County did with JEB Stuart earlier this year. Panelists will discuss whether the name is still appropriate in 2017.

Clarendon Chanukah Menorah Lighting *
Clarendon Central Park (3140 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 6-7 p.m.

Clarendon lights its six-foot Menorah as part of the county’s annual Hanukkah celebrations, led by Chabad Lubavitch of Alexandria-Arlington. The evening will include traditional Jewish food, live entertainment and chocolate gelt and dreidels.

Thursday

Rosslyn Carols! Holiday Concert
Central Place Plaza (1800 N. Lynn Street)
Time: Noon to 10 p.m.

A fun holiday experience around the Christmas tree at Central Place Plaza. The event will include a lunchtime concert, a DJ, caroling from HB-Woodlawn School and a live evening concert. Attendees can also have photos in a life-size snow globe.

Chanukah on Ice *
Pentagon Row Ice Rink (1201 S. Joyce Street)
Time: 6-8:30 p.m.

Celebrate Hanukkah at Pentagon Row’s outdoor ice rink with ice skating, a free raffle, the lighting of a six-foot Menorah and food including hot Latkes and kosher hot dogs. Admission costs $13 per person and includes skate rental.

Saturday

National Chamber Ensemble “Holiday Cheer!” Concert
Universalist Unitarian Church of Arlington (4444 Arlington Blvd)
Time: 7:30-9 p.m.

The NCE welcomes the holiday season with its concert, “Holiday Cheer!” It will bring classical pieces and holiday favorites together for the whole family. NCE’s Outstanding Young Artist Achievement Award winner for piano competition will perform.

U.S. Army Fife and Drump Corps Winter Concert
Clarendon United Methodist Church (606 N. Irving Street)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.

The U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corp’s winter concert. The Fife and flute players of the organization will showcase classical, traditional and military fife/flute music of the 18th Century, as well as seasonal holiday music.

Sunday

The Nutcracker Tea
Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City (1250 S. Hayes Street)
Time: 2-4 p.m.

A nutcracker tea with the Sugar Plum Fairy, presented by the BalletNova Center For Dance, which produces performances of The Nutcracker each year. Each year, BalletNova brings The Nutcracker to the community in a variety of ways, this being one.

Live Nativity With Petting Zoo
Calloway UM Church (5000 Lee Highway)
Time: 3-5 p.m.

Calloway United Methodist Church invites the entire community to the Living Nativity, featuring characters and a live petting zoo for children and adults alike. Free refreshments will be served, with other activities on offer too.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event

Extreme Pizza Expanding into Virginia Square

By Chris Teale
1/2

A national pizza chain is adding another location in Arlington, this time in Virginia Square.

Extreme Pizza is set to move into 3444 Fairfax Drive, according to permits filed with the county and its website. It already has a location in Arlington at 1419 S. Fern Street in Pentagon City, which opened in 2013.

The fast-casual eatery offers customizable pizzas as well as some signature offerings with names like “Ghost Wave,” “Wham, Bam, Thank You Mammoth” and “Poultry Geist.” The menu also includes calzones, sub sandwiches, salads, sides and desserts.

It will be the fifth Virginia location for Extreme Pizza, and the second inside the Beltway. The other Virginia locations are in Vienna, Henrico and Richmond, while it has stores in nine other states.

Photos via Craig W.

Penrose Home Spreads Holiday Cheer with Sweater Offer

By Chris Teale
1/5

A home in the Penrose neighborhood has gotten in the holiday spirit by letting people pick up a sweater from its front gate.

The house, at the intersection of S. Fillmore Street and 2nd Street S., has a sign in English and Spanish offering a sweater for anyone who is cold.

“Are you cold? This sweater is for you,” the sign reads. “It is free. Pass it on when you don’t need it any more. Leave hanger and pins.”

A reader emailed to say that it appeared the offer has been taken up by passersby “a few times” since they started it a few weeks ago.

And on the home’s porch, a chalkboard offers passers by the chance to write what they are thankful for. Responses so far were “the internet,” “my daughters” and “flowers.”

There was no answer at the door of the house when an ARLnow reporter knocked on Monday morning.

Pancho Villa Mexican Cuisine Apparently Closed in Rosslyn

By Chris Teale
1/5

Pancho Villa Mexican Cuisine has apparently closed in Rosslyn.

The restaurant at 1850 Fort Myer Drive opened last year in the former home to the short-lived Secret Chopsticks restaurant. It is across the intersection from Arlington Temple United Methodist Church.

As of Monday morning, the restaurant’s chairs and tables were still in place, but the inside looked bare and the bar area had been stripped of all its bottles and draught beers. A sign on one of the outside windows appeared to have been ripped down.

The phone number listed on its website is also out of service.

Pancho Villa served made-from-scratch Mexican food. Its menu included staples like tacos, burritos, enchiladas and fajitas, as well as so-called “special dinners” for customers to have different combinations. It also had an extensive drinks menu.

ARLnow Weekend Discussion

By Chris Teale

It’s the weekend, and tonight and tomorrow might bring our first snow of the season.

This week has been dominated by talk of the new I-66 HOT lanes, and accusations against two elementary school teachers.

These were our most read stories this week:

  1. Taylor Elementary P.E. Teachers Accused of Smoking Marijuana in School
  2. Tolls High As I-66 Express Lanes Launch
  3. Virginia State Police: Get Ready for I-66 Changes Monday
  4. Italian Store Seeking Return of Stolen Vespa
  5. Shots Fired Sunday Night in Nauck

And these received the most comments:

  1. Tolls High As I-66 Express Lanes Launch
  2. Taylor Elementary P.E. Teachers Accused of Smoking Marijuana in School
  3. Morning Poll: What’s the Most You Would Pay for I-66 Tolls?
  4. Morning Notes (December 6)
  5. Virginia State Police: Get Ready for I-66 Changes Monday

Discuss anything of local interest below. Have a great weekend!

Flickr pool photo by eschweik

Outdoor Hanukkah Celebrations Planned in Arlington

By Chris Teale

Two outdoor ceremonies are planned in Arlington next week to mark the start of Hanukkah.

The Jewish holiday begins on the evening of Tuesday, December 12, and concludes on the evening of Wednesday, December 20.

Chabad Lubavitch of Alexandria-Arlington will light a six-foot Menorah on Wednesday, December 13 at Clarendon Central Park (3140 Wilson Blvd) at 6 p.m. Attendees can eat hot potato latkes, chocolate gelt coins and play with dreidels. The event will also include live traditional music.

The following day, Thursday December 14, from 6-8 p.m., Pentagon Row will host the annual Chanukah On Ice celebration at its outdoor ice rink (1201 S. Joyce Street).

The evening will include the lighting of a six-foot Menorah, hot potato latkes, kosher hot dogs and a free raffle. Reservations are required.

In Alexandria, meanwhile, Chabad Lubavitch will light its six-foot Menorah in a public celebration on Monday, December 18 at 6:30 p.m. Alexandria Police Chief Michael Brown will light the Menorah at The Lyceum (201 S. Washington Street, Alexandria), with live entertainment and traditional food included.

File photo

Police Cite 20 for Failing to Yield to Pedestrians on Columbia Pike

By Chris Teale

The Arlington County Police Department cited 20 drivers yesterday (Thursday) on Columbia Pike for failing to yield to pedestrians, as part of an active enforcement effort.

Officers stationed themselves at the intersection of Columbia Pike and S. Oakland Street in Alcova Heights and an officer in a bright orange shirt crossed the street as cars in the distance started to approach. ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage said they cited 20 people for failing to yield.

The enforcement effort is part of its 2017 Street Smart Pedestrian, Driver, and Bicyclist Safety Campaign. A similar enforcement by police officers took place in mid-November.

The program aims to change road users’ behavior while reducing the number of crashes and injuries. Officers ticketed motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians who violated traffic laws.

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