Author: Eleanor Greene

Open Houses in Arlington this Weekend

By Eleanor Greene

It’s Labor Day weekend — how did that happen already? If you’re sticking around town this weekend, it could be a time to tour a couple of homes and still have a couple days to yourself to enjoy the last days of summer.

As always, see our real estate section for a full listing of open houses. Here are a few highlights:

30OldGlebe30 Old Glebe Road
1 BD / 1 BA Condominium
Agent: Grant Doe, Long & Foster Realty
Listed: $200,000
Open: Sunday from 1-4 p.m.

2505 Walter Reed2505 Walter Reed Drive S.
2 BD / 1 BA Condominium
Agent: Peggy Parker, Long and Foster Realty
Listed: $309,800
Open: Saturday from 1-4 p.m., Sunday from 1-4 p.m.

3917 17th3917 17th Street N.
3 BD / 2 BA Single Family Detached
Agent: Keri Shull, Optime Realty
Listed: $625,000
Open: Sunday from 2-4 p.m.

410 Fenwick410 Fenwick Street
3 BD / 2 BA Single Family Detached
Agent: Elizabeth Twigg, Mcenearney Associates
Listed: $650,000
Open: Sunday from 1-4 p.m.

101020th1010 20th Street S.
3 BD / 3 Full, 1 Half BA Single Family Detached
Agent: Patricia Hines, American Realty Group
Listed: $809,000
Open: Sunday from 1-4 p.m.

45027th4502 7th Street N.
4 BD / 3 Full, 1 Half BA Single Family Detached
Agent: Noel Harmer, Keller Williams Realty Falls Church
Listed: $1,299,999
Open: Sunday from 2-4 p.m.

More Details on Queen Ammanisa, the Uyghur Restaurant Coming to Crystal City

By Eleanor Greene

Ammanisahan flyerThe area’s first Uyghur restaurant will be opening this fall in Crystal City, according to one of its owners, Emam Maimaiti.

The restaurant will open in the space of the recently closed Charlie Chiang’s (320 23rd Street S.).

The new restaurant will be called Queen Ammanisa and feature Uyghur food from province Xinjiang in Northwest China, a place formerly known as Turkestan, Maimaiti explained. Uygur cuisine is being discovered in other parts of the United States, Maimaiti said, but he and his partner Fatima Baikeli are anxious to bring it to the D.C. area.

Uyghur cooking is a product of its geography and therefore is a mix of Persian and Chinese cuisines. It has kebabs and noodles “like you’ve never had before,” Maimaiti said. Lamb, mutton and beef are common in Uyghur food, as are carrots, raisins and lots of vegetables, he wrote in an email. Uyghur food is often halal too, due to the ethnic group’s predominantly Muslim culture.

As for the name, the partners had planned to name the restaurant Amannisahan, as posted on the window of the building now, which was the name of their previous restaurant in Beijing, where the suffix “han” means queen. They have decided to change it to the English translation, “Queen Ammanisa.” Queen Ammanisa was a queen and musician from the region who lived in the sixteenth century.

The owner would not reveal a specific opening date but hopes that the restaurant will be able to open mid to late fall.

New ‘Comfort Level Map’ Aims to Soothe Cyclists’ Nerves

By Eleanor Greene
1/4

Arlington just created the region’s first map for bicyclists to find the least stressful routes for commuting.

The Bicycle Comfort Level Map ranks routes by the volume and speed of vehicles, topography and whether cycling infrastructure — like bike lanes — is in place. It also includes locations where different amenities may be found, such as repair stations, drinking fountains and Capital Bikeshare stations.

Routes are color-coded based on those criteria from blue, which is easy, to orange, which is difficult. The map was developed over several months by county engineers with input from the local community.

“We know many new riders would like to ride to more places, but have commented they don’t feel comfortable on many streets, even those with designated bike lanes or sharrows,” Henry Dunbar, director of the county’s BikeArlington program, said in a press release. “There are many low-stress ways to get around Arlington’s busy corridors and this new map makes it easy for riders to find them.”

According to the press release, the new map is part of a strategy to encourage “everyday biking” in the community. Other efforts to encourage cycling include the production of the film Arlington Passages, which will premier in September. 

After an initial distribution to all Arlington residents via The Citizen newspaper, the county will make the maps available at Commuter Stores, transit information kiosks and local bike shops. An electronic version is also available on the BikeArlington website.

If you have a suggestion about a new route or a ranking that should be changed, BikeArlington is accepting feedback at [email protected].

Refinery29, Pentagon City Mall to Host Style Festival

By Eleanor Greene

Courtesy of Style FestivalYou’ve heard of music festivals and fashion shows, but what about a style festival?

The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City is teaming up with Refinery29, a digital media company focusing on fashion, to host an event they’re calling “Style Festival,” on Saturday, August 8.

A music festival would have several different stages so people could see the bands they want and personalize their music experience. The style festival’s goal is to “elevate the millennial shopping experience” by bringing the idea of music festival stages into the mall, with different attractions at each stage, according to a press release.

The four stages will include:

  • A music stage, which features a 3:00 live concert from the R&B duo LION BABE, bookended by DJ performances
  • A style stage, with new fashions put together by Refinery 29 editors
  • A beauty stage, where attendees can get “festival-inspired hair trends” and temporary tattoos
  • A DIY stage, to give personalized concert tour tees — “a keepsake souvenir” to shoppers

The event will be held at the mall (1100 S. Hayes Street) on the ground-level “Nordstrom Court,” from 1-6 p.m.

Metropolitan Chorus Welcomes New Conductor for 50th Anniversary

By Eleanor Greene

Dr. Nancia D'Alimonte (photo courtesy The Metropolitan ChorusThe Metropolitan Chorus, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year, is under new artistic leadership.

The Arlington-based organization has announced the appointment of Dr. Nancia D’Alimonte as the group’s new artistic director and conductor. The chorus, which was founded in 1966, is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary during the 2015-2016 season with the theme “New Horizons.”

The group is made up of singers from the D.C. area, who perform free concerts between November and May. According to TMC’s website, one of the goals of the group is to “offer music enrichment in the greater Washington metropolitan area through free performances of choral repertoire from all eras.”

D’Alimonte is only the third artistic director and conductor that the chorus has had in the past 50 years. She is also the founder and conductor of the Bethesda-based National Institutes of Health (NIH) Philharmonia, is an education programs consultant for the National Philharmonic at the Strathmore Center and was the head of orchestral activities at George Washington University for 10 years, according to TMC.

The upcoming season will be kicked off with an opening concert on November 1 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington (4444 Arlington Boulevard).

The seven concerts of the season will take place in various locations, including five in Arlington and one in Rockville, Maryland, which will be a combined concert with the NIH Philharmonia. The group also will also hold its annual sing-along of “The Messiah” at The Kennedy Center over the winter holidays, according to the Metropolitan Chorus’ 2015-2016 season brochure.

County Board to Decide on $215,810 in Art Grants

By Eleanor Greene

Logo via Arlington County GovernmentThe Arlington County Board is scheduled to decide on Saturday on a collection of grants recommended for local arts organizations and artists.

The Arlington Commission for the Arts recommended approval for $215,810 worth of grants that are to be allocated among 17 organizations and three individual artists. These grants, specified in a County Board agenda item, are a part of county funding set aside for Arlington’s support of the arts in the county’s Fiscal Year 2016.

The total amount of the grants is $16,710 more than was allocated to the arts in fiscal year 2015.

The following organizations are the recommended recipients for the proposed cultural grants, in descending order by amount:

  • Synetic Theater — $32,529.00
  • Arlington Arts Center — $31,927.00
  • Bowen McCauley Dance — $23,962.00
  • BalletNova Center for Dance — $18,162.00
  • Washington Shakespeare Company — $14,194.00
  • Encore Stage and Studio — $13,571.00
  • No Rules Theatre Company — $12,980.00
  • Teatro de la Luna — $11,284.00
  • UrbanArias, Inc. — $9,638.00
  • EducationalTheatre Company — $5,802.00
  • Arlington Artists’ Alliance — $5,316.00
  • The Arlington Players — $5,152.00
  • Washington Balalaika Society — $5,012.00
  • National Chamber Ensemble — $3,799.00
  • Jane Franklin Dance — $3,061.00
  • Indian Dance Educators Association — $2,546.00
  • Dominion Stage — $1,875.00

Three individual artists, Kate Fleming, Melanie Kehoss and Sushmita Mazumbar have been recommended by the Commission to each receive $5,000 “Spotlight Grants.”

Additionally, 26 organizations have been recommended to receive non-monetary support in the form of space and services:

ACW Dances, The Metropolitan Chorus, Alma Boliviana, Old Dominion Cloggers, Arlington Philharmonic Association, Opera NOVA, The Arlingtones, Peter’s Alley Theatre Productions, Bangladesh Center for Community Development Inc., Potomac Harmony Chorus, Cambodian American Heritage, Inc., Prio Bangla, Inc., Centro Cultural Peru, Inc., The ProBolivan Committee, Dance Asia, Requiebros Spanish Dance Group, El Tayrona, Shristee Nrittyangon, Inc., Festival Argentino, Signature Theatre, Inc., First Draft, Sultanas Troupe, Hālau O’Aulani, Tinkus Tiataco USA, Los Quetzales Mexican Dance Ensemble, Vietnamese Cultural Society of Metropolitan Washington.