Ethan Rothstein | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published October 25, 2013 at 9:30AM

SoberRide to Offer Free Halloween Cab Rides — The Washington Regional Alcohol Program is offering free taxi rides next Thursday on the night of Halloween. From 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., revelers can dial 1-800-200-TAXI, be picked up and taken to their destination free of charge, within a $30 fare. The service is offered in D.C. as well as the Maryland suburbs and other Northern Virginia municipalities. The service is being offered to prevent drunk driving, and WRAP says that 52 percent of traffic deaths on Halloween come from drunk drivers. [SoberRide]

Crystal City BID to Give Away Free Bike Lights — The Crystal City Business Improvement District will be giving away free bicycle lights this afternoon (Friday). The giveaway is taking place at the Crystal City exit of the Mount Vernon Trail from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. At the bike light giveaway last year, cyclists received front and tail “Bug Eye” lights. [Crystal City BID]

Road Closures for the Marine Corps Marathon — The Marine Corps Marathon is this Sunday, and many road around Arlington will be closed while runners participate. The closures will begin at 4:00 a.m. and many roads will not reopen until 4:30 p.m. [Arlington County]

Flickr pool photo by ddimick. Disclosure: Crystal City BID is an ARLnow.com advertiser.

Bar Louie Under Construction in Crystal City

By Ethan Rothstein

Published October 24, 2013 at 3:45PM

Bar Louie is coming to the ground floor of the Buchanan building in Crystal City.

The Texas-based bar/restaurant chain has started interior construction work that includes core drilling as they work to replace the old Memphis Barbecue restaurant at 320 23rd Street S. Bar Louie applied for a permit in the space this summer, but the company said at the time that it hadn’t made a final decision on a location.

Per an anonymous tipster, management at the Buchanan sent the following note to residents, notifying them of the construction activity.

Dear Residents,

Please be advised that the contractor working the old Memphis BBQ space has scheduled core drilling for tomorrow and Friday, October 24th and 25th, 2013. They intend to work during the day, starting around 8:00 a.m. each day.

Core drilling can be noisy; however, based on the restaurant being on the first floor, we do not anticipate that you will hear too much noise from this activity.

Thank you for your understanding as Bar Louie continues to construct their new restaurant at The Buchanan.

Representatives of Bar Louie could not be reached for comment on a potential opening date for the restaurant. Bar Louie’s website lists the Crystal City location as “coming soon” with a target date of “Winter 2014.”

NPR Profiles Arlington’s Smart Growth Policies

By Ethan Rothstein

Published October 24, 2013 at 12:00PM

National Public Radio kicked off a nationwide series on commuting Thursday morning with a lengthy profile of Arlington’s transit system on Morning Edition, saying the county “sets the bar for suburban transit.”

Morning Edition host David Greene interviewed former Arlington County Board member Jay Ricks, who was on the Board when it decided to build the Orange and Blue Metro stations underground, spurring the eventual urban development around each station.

Greene, reporting from the Ballston Metro Station, interviewed commuters and Robert Brosnan, the director of the county Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development.

Greene noted that because of the Metro’s appeal, housing prices have skyrocketed — which is forcing out some of the county’s lower-income workers. Additionally, Greene reported, the county’s reliance on Metro means that a train or track malfunction during the commute affects thousands of Arlington residents simultaneously.

Arlington’s Zoning, Costs Force Microbrewery to Look Elsewhere

By Ethan Rothstein

Published October 23, 2013 at 4:35PM | Updated October 23, 2013 at 6:26PM

In January of this year, East Falls Church roommates Tony Pianta and Mike Dillon started serious planning to open a microbrewery in Arlington. Recently, however, it became apparent to them that there’s no place in Arlington for such an endeavor.

Roommates Brewery, as the venture was named, was planned as a production brewery with an in-house taproom. Although no final location has been set — Pianta expects that to happen in the next few weeks — Roommates Brewery will likely open in Alexandria.

“Arlington couldn’t match up better with the demographics for a brewery with a taproom,” Pianta said. “It’s just tough to open something that large in Arlington.”

Pianta and Dillon were targeting a 5,000 square foot space, which Pianta said is as large as they could afford in a high-density area with heavy foot traffic.

However, Arlington’s zoning laws — like many surrounding municipalities, including Alexandria — state a brewery must be located in an industrial or light industrial area. Those are few and far between in Arlington, Pianta said, and most of them won’t be available in the near future.

“The available spots weren’t in the places we wanted to be,” Pianta said. “We can justify the extra cost in rent if we can get enough people coming in the taproom and buying pints, but it was just getting too much to justify anymore.”

The locations in Alexandria they are now considering cost roughly the same amount for 10,000 square feet as for 5,000 square feet in Arlington, Pianta said.

Pianta and Dillon, who have lived together in Arlington for several years, are disappointed they won’t be able to bring the county its only production brewery. Pianta said it’s “the ideal market” for a business like the one they are planning, but unless the status quo of zoning laws and rental prices changes, other breweries are likely to look elsewhere as well.

Photo via Roommates Brewery

County Staff to Present Chicken Recommendations Next Month

By Ethan Rothstein

Published October 23, 2013 at 3:30PM

The next step in the county’s process toward establishing new urban agriculture policies — most notably the possibility of allowing backyard hen raising — will come next month.

County Manager Barbara Donnellan will present the county staff’s response to the Urban Agriculture Task Force’s recommendations during a work session Nov. 12.

The task force’s recommendations were presented to the County Board in June, and included these suggestions for backyard chickens:

Maximum of 4 hens
No roosters
Set back at least 20 feet from property lines
Must file plans for coop and its placement
Majority of adjacent property holders (within 50 feet of the coop) must consent
Coop inspection required before occupancy

UATF staff liaison Kimberly Haun said she is unsure when the County Board may take action on the Food Action Plan. Residents are encouraged to attend the public work session but will not be able to participate. Haun said additional specifics about the staff response would not be made available before the meeting.

The task force also made several other, less controversial recommendations:

Appoint a standing Commission on Urban Agriculture
Integrate urban agriculture into county planning documents
Create new community gardens and urban farms, utilizing rooftops and fallow land awaiting development if possible
Permitting federal SNAP benefits (food stamps) at all Arlington famers markets (currently only a couple accept SNAP)
Encourage the establishment of a “local food hub” to match up residential food producers with distributors and consumers
Encourage the creation of additional Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs
Support additional healthy eating and urban agriculture education in schools and libraries
Repurpose the historic Reeves farmhouse as a center for urban agriculture education for Arlington school students
Establish a municipal composting system

File photo

Heavy Seas Alehouse Eyes December Opening

By Ethan Rothstein

Published October 23, 2013 at 1:30PM | Updated October 24, 2013 at 10:47AM

Heavy Seas Alehouse, a brewpub affiliated with the popular Baltimore brewery, is expected to open in Rosslyn this December.

The alehouse is currently under construction at the corner of N. Oak Street and 18th Street N. and Director of Operations Vince Cassino said it will open in December “if all goes well.”

The restaurant is 6,000 square feet with capacity for 160 patrons inside, and will have outdoor seating for up to 40 customers, Cassino said. There will also be a private event room with space for 60 people.

The bar will have 15 taps rotating primarily with Heavy Seas beers, but Cassino said there could be beers from other local breweries on occasion. The alehouse will open daily for lunch at 11:00 a.m. and will be able to fill growlers for customers. A Sunday brunch may eventually be offered as well, Cassino said.

No Solutions Coming to Ft. Myer Drive Safety Concerns

By Ethan Rothstein

Published October 23, 2013 at 11:30AM

Ft. Myer Drive in Rosslyn has become a hazard for pedestrians due to ongoing construction, but no solutions are on the horizon, according to county staff.

At the County Board’s Tuesday afternoon meeting, Arlington Transportation Bureau Chief Wayne Wentz had no major recommendations for safety upgrades to the heavily-used roadway. The construction that has most adversely affected safety — on the 1812 N. Moore Street skyscraper — is expected to be largely finished by Oct. 31, but the safety concerns will persist.

“We’re never going to be done looking at Ft. Myer Drive,” Wentz said. “We’ve looked a lot at jaywalking. We just can’t find a way to put a crosswalk in there.”

Wentz said county staff is considering installing signs telling residents not to jaywalk in front of the road’s tunnel — a common crossing zone for those entering and exiting from the back entrance of the Rosslyn Metro Station. The county is also in discussion to put up fencing on the sidewalk and in the two small median islands on either side of the tunnel.

“We need to be more proactive in preventing crossing there,” Board Member Mary Hynes said, “given the fact that we have had near-misses and a hit there relatively recently.”

The sidewalk between N. Moore Street and Ft. Myer Drive on 19th Street will remain closed after Oct. 31, Wentz said. The size of Ft. Myer Drive in that area is part of what makes it unfeasible to install a crosswalk. With more than five lanes, the likelihood of a multi-vehicle accident is much greater than on a smaller road.

“We think that there is a chance to reconfigure what Ft. Myer Drive looks like. It could be a two-way street or a narrower street someday,” Wentz said. “There is hope in the future to do something different there, but we don’t recommend it at this time.”

High-Tech Workshop Coming to Crystal City

By Ethan Rothstein

Published October 22, 2013 at 5:20PM | Updated October 23, 2013 at 8:51AM

TechShop, a workshop that offers access to high-tech equipment like 3D printers and laser cutters, is expected to open in Crystal City early next year.

The Crystal City Business Improvement District announced Tuesday that TechShop would move into the Crystal City Shops at 2100 Crystal Drive in early 2014. Construction is expected to begin this fall.

TechShop, which describes itself as a “membership-based, do-it-yourself creative workshop and fabrication studio,” offers monthly and annual memberships to use its facilities, as well as classes for non-members to learn how to use the equipment. According to TechShop, each location includes more than $1 million of machines, tools and equipment.

In addition to 3D printers and laser cutters, TechShop also offers plastics and electronics labs, a machine shop, a wood shop, a metal working shop, a textiles department, welding stations and a waterjet cutter.

“The arrival of TechShop is a huge win for Arlington County and Crystal City – cementing the community’s role as the region’s center of creation and innovation,” Angela Fox, President and CEO of the Crystal City BID, said in a press release. “TechShop is a catalyst for activity, energy, and excitement offering an incredible amenity to area employees, residents, workers, and businesses.”

The Crystal City TechShop will partner with the Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Innovation and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to offer a free membership program to veterans. Currently, there are six TechShop locations across the country.

Disclosure: Crystal City BID is an ARLnow.com advertiser

Photos: Fire Department Memorial Service

By Ethan Rothstein

Published October 22, 2013 at 4:30PM

Arlington County Fire Department Memorial Service

Arlington Volunteer Fire Department, Company One held its annual memorial service and celebrated its 90th anniversary on Saturday afternoon.

Held at the fire station at 500 S. Glebe Road, the ceremony was also the unveiling of a park to the north of the station and new memorial statues honoring firefighters, both career and volunteer, who have died. Family members of deceased firefighters laid roses and the feet of the memorial during Saturday’s ceremony.

Fire Company One was originally located on S. Edgewood Street when it opened in 1923. The keynote speaker at the event was Judge Henry Hudson, of the Fourth Circuit Court in Richmond, who is a lifelong member of Company One.

Photos courtesy Marcy Genest

Halloween Events in Arlington this Weekend

By Ethan Rothstein

Published October 22, 2013 at 3:30PM

Halloween is just over a week away, but this weekend is the unofficial kickoff to the celebrations.

There are a number of events happening around Arlington for the holiday this weekend. Among them:

Doorways’ Howl-o-ween Dog Walk for the Homeless
Saturday, Oct. 26, from 11:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Doorways, a domestic violence shelter for women and their children, is hosting a dog-walking fundraiser at Big Walnut Park (1915 N. Harrison Street). While many similar shelters don’t allow pets, Doorways provides a place for both victims of domestic abuse and their pets. Visitors are encouraged to dress themselves and their pets in Halloween costumes, and dogs can compete for prizes. Registration is $30 for adults and $20 for children under 16, with proceeds going to Doorways.

FALLoween at Market Common Clarendon
Saturday, Oct. 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Market Common Clarendon, at 2700 Clarendon Blvd, is hosting its own pet-friendly parade Saturday morning. There will be trick-or-treating, a mini pumpkin and a petting zoo. A pet and human costume parade will start at 11:00 a.m. and a “Princess vs. Superhero fitness contest” will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. All events are free.

Douglas Park Halloween Trail of Terror
Saturday, Oct. 26, starting at 7:00 p.m.
Douglas Park will host its second annual haunted trail this Saturday evening Starting at 1620 S. Quincy Street, visitors will walk through Douglas Park and walk through trails where they’ll encounter goblins, swamp monsters and other ghouls and ghosts. There will also be a children’s area with milder fun. To experience the trail, visitors should bring canned food for donation to the Arlington Food Assistance Center.

Elliot in the Morning’s Halloween Bash
Friday, Oct. 25, starting at 8:00 p.m.
Friday night at Clarendon Ballroom (3185 Wilson Blvd), DC101’s Elliot in the Morning show will host a costume party with a $3,000 cash prize going to the winner. Doors will open at 8:00 p.m. and the cover charge is $15 before 10:00 p.m. No costumes with stilts or weapons will be permitted. Sixty party-goers will be selected by judges in the crowd to be finalists by 10:30 p.m., and crowd applause will determine the winner among those 60.

Not So Silent Cinema Presents Nosferatu
Saturday, Oct. 26, starting at 8:00 p.m.
At Artisphere (1101 Wilson Blvd) Saturday night, a klezmer quintet will play accompaniment to the 1922 silent movie classic “Nosferatu,” cinema’s first vampire flick. The movie will be shown at the Dome Theater. Tickets are $15.

HiBall Monster Bar Crawl
Friday, Oct. 25, from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m.
HiBall events is hosting a bar crawl Friday evening from Courthouse to Ballston, from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. Participating bars include Spider Kelly’s, World of Beer, Wilson Tavern, Whitlow’s on Wilson and The Front Page. Tickets are $15 and participating revelers can participate in a costume contest via Facebook, with the winner getting $200 and gift cards from participating restaurants.

Photo courtesy of Doorways

Online Spanish Dictionary Expands Into Language Learning App

By Ethan Rothstein

Published October 21, 2013 at 12:00PM

Editor’s Note: Sponsored by Monday Properties and written by ARLnow.com, Startup Monday is a weekly column that profiles Arlington-based startups and their founders. 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.

Chris Cummings was already the CEO of a media company with a language translation website, SpanishDict.com, that was drawing 5 million unique page views a month in 2011 when he graduated from law and business school.

His bootstrapped company consisted only of him and one other employee when he moved to Arlington and decided to poll his visitors, asking, “how many of you are learning Spanish right now?”

With more than 6,500 answers to the survey, 77 percent said they were learning Spanish while using SpanishDict. Cummings, no longer running the site during evenings and weekends, decided to dive into teaching Spanish, not just translating it.

Last month, Cummings and his company, Curiosity Media, launched Fluencia, a Spanish learning program that Cummings says is more modern and data-driven than any that have come before it.

“I’ve always felt we could do a much better job with foreign language education,” Cummings said. “People were not happy with the options out there. Most of them were too boring, too expensive or just didn’t work.”

Now based in The Ground Floor in Rosslyn, Fluencia was primarily built starting in 2012 in a small office above Spider Kelly’s in Clarendon. Cummings said working late on Thursday and Friday nights was “not an option” with the loud music blaring from below, but that didn’t prevent him and his team from building the program, which runs on desktop, tablets and smartphones.

What separates Fluencia from more established programs like Rosetta Stone, Cummings said, is that it’s constantly collecting data on user experience, figuring out what the user is learning and struggling with, and adapting lesson plans accordingly.

“The tools people use to learn are really antiquated,” Cummings said. “The tools we use are so interactive. We stay at your pace, we have native speaker audio, and we collect data on what you’ve learned and bring it right back to you.”

(more…)

#Startup Monday