Author: Ethan Rothstein

County Government Offices Closed Jan. 1 and 2

By Ethan Rothstein

Arlington County courthouse and police headquartersThere will be no parking enforcement the first two days of 2015.

Arlington county offices, including libraries, the DMV select and the Department of Human Services, are closed tomorrow and Friday (Jan. 1-2), and parking enforcement officers will also be taking the day off.

The Circuit, General District and Juvenile and Domestic Relations courts all close at noon today (Wednesday) and are closed the rest of the week. Arlington Public Schools won’t reopen until Monday, Jan. 5.

In addition to the courts, offices and schools, Arlington’s community centers will close at 5:00 p.m. tonight and not reopen until Saturday. The grounds of the parks will remain open, but all parks programming is cancelled.

Like last week, there will be no trash collection on Thursday, and those with Thursday curbside collection should leave their bins at the side of road by 6:00 a.m. on Friday, to be collected with the Friday routes. Some collection may bleed into Saturday, the county says.

Only ART buses 41 and 51 will be operating on New Year’s Day, on their Sunday schedules. Along with 41 and 51, routes 51, 77 and 87 will also operate on Sunday schedules on Friday.

‘Commonwealth Joe’ to Take Over Java Shack

By Ethan Rothstein

Java Shack (photo via Facebook)(Updated at 2:35 p.m.) Java Shack, the locally owned coffee shop in Courthouse, will change ownership on Thursday after opening 19 years ago.

The shop, at 2507 N. Franklin Road, is being acquired by Commonwealth Joe, owner Dale Roberts announced on Facebook yesterday.

Commonwealth Joe is an Arlington-based coffee company that sells its roasted beans, coffee-infused desserts and other goods both online and at local farmers markets. It was started two years ago by four Arlington residents and has grown around the community.

Commonwealth Joe’s owners “are passionate about coffee, and dedicated to maintaining and building upon our neighborhood tradition,” Roberts wrote in his Facebook post. “I’ll still be around, but will be less visible on a day-to-day basis.”

Roberts is hosting a going away party of sorts at “The Shack” tomorrow (Dec. 31), when Roberts will be “solo behind the bar” serving coffee in his last day as owner.

Photo via Facebook

Health Officials Shut Down Pentagon City Mall Food Court

By Ethan Rothstein
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(Updated at 2:35 p.m.) Several restaurants in the food court at the Pentagon City Mall are closed as the mall undergoes repairs to its sewer system today.

The hours-long repairs caused mall management to shut off the water. As a result, Arlington County Public Health closed the food court earlier today, the agency announced.

Among the businesses closed as of 1:00 p.m. were Taco Bell, Chipotle and McDonald’s, but Panda Express, Panera Bread and Popeye’s were open. Post-holiday shoppers had to wait in long lines to buy meals at the restaurants that remained open.

“The County continues to monitor the situation and will take additional action if necessary,” a county media alert stated.

According to Arlington’s Director of Public Health Dr. Reuben Varghese, the mall is reporting they have turned the water back on, which means restaurants that have running water are now allowed to operate. Varghese said health department staff is “on the way” to the mall to confirm the water is running.

The mall is currently undergoing renovations that will change the design of the food court and add tens of thousands of square feet for new shops and restaurants.

Arlington Startups Continued to Grow in 2014

Startup Monday header

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.

In the startup world, change is rarely slow and steady. For many of the businesses ARLnow.com has profiled this year, change has already come, and it came fast.

The SevaCall teamIn July, we looked at SevaCall, a Crystal Tech Fund company that allows users to call and immediately be connected with a pre-vetted service provider, like a plumber or HVAC repair service. When we spoke to co-founder Manpreet Singh in July, the company had already raised $1.3 million in funding and was in the midst of angling for more capital.

In September, Manpreet and his brother, Gurpreet, announced that they had raised $2.6 million more and rebranded. SevaCall is now talklocal, and the company has moved out of Crystal City. According to Disruption Corporation Founder Paul Singh — previously Seva Call’s landlord — they have relocated back to College Park, Md. Crystal Tech Fund was one of the lead investors in the new funding round.

Singh, himself a subject of a Startup Monday profile, has continued to show that Disruption Corporation will not be categorized. After launching as an investment fund, then adding investment advising to its portfolio of services, Disruption doubled the size of its headquarters and filled it almost immediately. Now, neighboring the dozen or so startups already on the 10th floor of 2231 Crystal Drive, is a coding “boot camp.”

DescribeIt CEO Ryan Yanchuleff works in his Courthouse officeDescribeIt is still in its Courthouse headquarters, but co-founder and CEO Ryan Yanchuleff tells ARLnow.com that the company recently closed a $255,000 round of investment — he had been searching for investment to help market his landscaping proposal software — and hired its first non-founder full-time employee.

Most importantly for the company, the full product is launching on Thursday with the new year. When landscaping projects start to boom in the spring, Yanchuleff and his co-founder, Ed Barrientos, wnated to make sure all the kinks were worked out.

“We’ve been busy for sure,” Yanchuleff said. “We’ll be making our big splash at the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show up in Baltimore on Jan. 14-16.”

This August, Airside Mobile launched its major product at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. The Mobile Passport app allows users to fill out their customs forms on their smartphone and download the receipt. Essentially, it lets those with the app bypass the sometimes hours-long lines for customs, and breeze by.

The app was developed in partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Airside Mobile is planning to launch in other airports around the country soon.

Startup Monday has covered companies that specialize in complex, big data analytics, healthcare technology and everything in between. One of the simplest ideas — an app that lets users submit pictures to win prizes — has taken hold.

Snaapiq, with Rosslyn-based Jacob Perler at the helm, took that simple idea and used it to raise $180,000 in seed funding last month. When ARLnow.com profile Snaapiq in August, 90 percent of the photo contests were sponsored by Perler and his co-founder, Ryo Hang. Today, Snaapiq partners with university athletic programs, Alex and Ani and SoccerPro.com to sponsor contests for its users.

Top Stories of 2014 (#11-20)

By Ethan Rothstein

It’s time again for our annual list of most-read stories of the year.

Readers gravitated toward stories comical and serious, from signs that look like genitals to car crashes and elections. The year turned out to be an historic one, with unprecedented election results and massive policy shifts. It also proved that Arlington readers care just as much about local politics as they do about drunken shenanigans.

Without further ado, the first 10 stories on our countdown:

Six vehicles involved in crash at Columbia Pike and S. Dinwiddie Street20. ART Bus Driver Charged After Seven-Vehicle Wreck (12,868 views) — An ART bus hit multiple cars, both moving and parked, on Columbia Pike, sending four people to the hospital. The bus driver had been driving in revenue service for only a month. During the accident, the bus took out several bricks from a retaining wall and destroyed trees and benches. The wreck left a trail of destruction highly uncommon, even in multiple-vehicle accidents. The accident drew dozens of spectators to the scene, who stayed for hours while police and fire crews cleaned up.

19. Fatal Crash Suspect’s Friend Died in Wreck One Block Away (12,947 views) — After another fatal car accident at the heavily trafficked Lee Highway intersections near the Key Bridge, a little digging on social media into the suspect revealed a surprising connection. The driver, who allegedly drove drunk struck a car and killed a 24-year-old man, was friends with Sami Ullah. A year earlier almost to the day, Ullah died in a car accident a block away after driving 90 mph over the Key Bridge. The connection between the two crashes was both chilling and sad.

18. Restaurant Lashes Out at County Board Over Revoked Permit (12,976 views) — A routine County Board meeting over the Pines of Italy’s live entertainment permit became a minor national story. A woman there in support of the restaurant called the County Board “c–ksuckers,” and sports gossip website Deadspin deemed it worthy of a story all its own.

17. Man Arrested After Pepper Spraying GMU Law Prof (14,149 views) — A man tried to place a law professor under citizen’s arrest, but, when the professor resisted, he received a face full of pepper spray. No students came to his aid, according to Forbes, which may have been because the professor was teaching a class on vigilantism, “so many students in the class may have believed that the assault was part of the planned lesson.”

The logo for Market Place & Cafe in Ballston16. Despite Ridicule from Yelp Reviewers, Ballston Cafe Keeps Phallic Sign (14,176 views) — A friend of ARLnow.com, visiting from out of town and staying at the Holiday Inn in Ballston, got the hat tip for this story. While walking back from the Metro, he spotted Market Place & Café’s phallic sign. The sign has been up for more than half a decade and had already been the subject of online mockery. Unfazed, the owner — who declined to speak to ARLnow.com for the story — has kept the sign up and stayed in business.

15. Vihstadt Wins Historic Victory (14,426 views) — After a runaway victory in April’s special election, John Vihstadt won just as decisively in the general, sending political shockwaves throughout the county and directly leading to the Columbia Pike streetcar’s cancellation. Vihstadt hosted an election night party in his home, and the mood from dozens of supporters, family and friends was jubilant. Vihstadt, in fact, was pressing those in attendance not to count the chickens before they hatched, settling them after each precinct made it clearer and clearer that he would emerge victorious.

14. New Apartments, Town Center Planned for ‘Revamped’ Ballston Mall (14,435 views) — Ballston’s big announcement of the plans for the much-maligned Ballston Common Mall came at the same time as the snafu that ended the Restaurant Challenge. The plans for the mall are still under review and have yet to be approved by the County Board. (more…)

Christmas Tree Recycling Starts Next Week

By Ethan Rothstein

Now that the Christmas season is over, Arlington is once again offering residents a chance to turn their trees into mulch.

Starting Monday, Jan. 5, those with curbside trash collection can set their coniferous trees on the curb next to their trash can to be picked up. The trees will be picked up on the regular trash day until Jan. 16, after which they will still be picked up, just not recycled.

All trees must be cleared of lights, ornaments and all other decorations, as well as taken out of their stands, before being placed on the curb by 6:00 a.m. on trash day.

Those without curbside trash pickup can call (703) 228-6570 to schedule an appointment to bring their trees to the Solid Waste Bureau, along with proof or Arlington residence.

The trees will be recycled and turned into mulch, which is available for free for Arlington residents.

Arlington Agenda (Dec. 29-Jan. 4)

By Ethan Rothstein

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.

Monday

Black Muddy River BandLive Music: Black Muddy River Band
IOTA Club & Cafe (2832 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 8:00 p.m.

Acoustic Grateful Dead cover band the Black Muddy River Band takes the stage at IOTA, following an opening performance by The Outpatients. Tickets are $10 at the door.

Wednesday

Masquarade-Party-FlyerOptimizeMADsquerade Party*
Mad Rose Tavern (3100 Clarendon Blvd)
Time: 9:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m. Thursday

Mad Rose is hosting a masquerade party and making tables available for New Year’s Eve. Reservations start at $300. Email [email protected] to reserve.

Clarendon BallroomClarendon Ballroom New Year’s Eve
Clarendon Ballroom (3185 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 8:00 p.m.-close

The two-level ballroom is hosting its annual New Year’s Bash. Tickets cover a buffet and four drink tickets, and will increase in price before the holiday arrives.

Thursday

County Board New Year’s Meeting
County Board Room (2100 Clarendon Blvd, third floor)
Time: 11:00 a.m.

Watch incoming Arlington County Board Chair Mary Hynes give her agenda-setting address, and stay for a reception with the Board and government officials.

Friday

Carlos MenciaLive Comedy: Carlos Mencia
Arlignton Cinema & Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike)
Time: 7:30 and 10:30 p.m.

For $30, at one of six shows he will play from Thursday to Saturday patrons can see the standup and former star of Comedy Central’s “Mind of Mencia.”

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event

Arlington Homes Hit Record Median Price

By Ethan Rothstein

Arlington median home price chart (image via MRIS)The median cost of a home in Arlington hit $590,000 in November, the highest on record according to a real estate data firm.

The median price of a home is up 18.4 percent over last year, according to MRIS, signally Arlington’s strong housing market is only getting stronger.

“All the numbers suggest that the already-strong interest in Arlington has grown substantially, even in just the past year or two,” MRIS says on its blog. “Which means this spring should have even more momentum for buyers moving into the area.”

November’s record high price came from 182 sales. There are 2.4 months of housing supply on the market — more signs that it’s better to be a seller than a buyer in the county — and, as of earlier this month, 536 homes for sale.

Image via MRIS

Arlington Swears in 13 Police Officers, Five Deputies

By Ethan Rothstein

Arlington County Police Department swearing-in ceremony Friday, Dec. 19, 2004 (photo courtesy ACPD) Arlington County Police Department swearing-in ceremony Friday, Dec. 19, 2004 (photo courtesy ACPD)

Thirteen new police officers will soon be patrolling the streets of Arlington County after police academy graduation yesterday.

Of the 14 candidates who started in police academy, 13 will now begin training to become full-time ACPD officers, along with five sheriff’s deputies who also graduated from the academy. The officers were sworn in by Arlington Clerk of the Circuit Court Paul Ferguson on Friday, according to ACPD spokesman Lt. Kip Malcolm.

Two of the new officers won the physical fitness awards at the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy, which also graduated officers from Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax County and city, Manassas, Prince Williams and Loudoun counties and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, among other departments.

An Arlington officer also was given the Thomas L. Shaw Award for displaying “characteristics of professionalism, dedication and leadership,” according to the ACPD’s Facebook page.

The newly sworn-in officers “will complete several weeks of in-house training before beginning their ‘field training,’ which is an 12 additional weeks of training on all three patrol shifts with a training officer,” Malcolm said.

Photos courtesy ACPD

County Offices Closed Thursday and Friday

By Ethan Rothstein

Inflatable Christmas decorations at a home in the Aurora Highlands neighborhoodMost offices and facilities of the Arlington County government will be open tomorrow during Christmas Eve, but will then close until Monday, Dec. 29.

All of the courts in the Arlington County Justice Center will be closed tomorrow, Dec. 24, and the DMV select will close tomorrow at noon.

Arlington Public Schools will also be closed on Dec. 24, and students won’t return to school until Monday, Jan. 5.

All county community centers and recreational classes are cancelled for Christmas and the day after, but parks grounds remain open at normal hours.

Parking will not be enforced on Dec. 25 or Dec. 26.

Those with Thursday trash and recycling collection will have their scheduled pushed back a day, and should put their cans on the side of the road by 6:00 a.m. on Friday. Those with Friday pickup will be on their normal schedule in all likelihood — because of the added workload, some houses might not see their trash picked up until 5:00 p.m. Saturday, according to the county.

Only ART buses 41 and 51 will be operating on Christmas Day, on their Sunday schedules. Along with 41 and 51, routes 51, 77 and 87 will also operate on Sunday schedules on friday.

There will be no parking enforcement on either day. Regular services and schedules resume on Saturday, and offices will reopen on Monday.

Flickr pool photo by Desiree L.C.

Government Contracting Incubator Launches in Crystal City

Startup Monday header

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.

Eastern Foundry CEO and Founder Geoff OrazemEastern Foundry, a new startup incubator focusing on government contractors as tenants, launched on Dec. 16. With 70 offices covering 21,000 square feet, it’s already 85 percent full.

Eastern Foundry CEO and Founder Geoff Orazem said he expects to be full in his space on the fourth floor of 2011 Crystal Drive by “mid-February at the latest.” Its occupancy rate is just one example of the sweet spot his company has found in its sector.

Taking a walk through the halls of Eastern Foundry belies the future the company envisions. Outside a few of the office doors are framed fact sheets about the companies inside, with photos and bios, plus the company’s mission, relationships within the federal government and former jobs where the workers may still have contacts. These sheets will soon be outside every office, and are a resource for companies looking for partners or advice.

Every Thursday, Eastern Foundry hosts a seminar on issues government contractors face, led by a working expert in the field. These topics have already included GSA scheduling, and the ins-and-outs of Small Business Administration set-aside mandates. Eastern Foundry is also using the 10th floor of the Vornado-owned building — currently a vacant 40,000-square foot space — and turned it into an event space and flexible area for some of its tenants.

A standard Eastern Foundry office“No one has integrated residential, community and business development the way we have,” Orazem told ARLnow.com. He said Eastern Foundry is the first government-contractor-only incubator in the country.

Orazem is a former U.S. Marine Corps infantry platoon commander and graduate of Harvard Law School, but realized he wanted to help facilitate business success while working to set up a “tribally run trucking cooperative with government contracts” in Iraq and Afghanistan around 2009.

“We were having an amazing impact on development and security in the area,” he said. “I had far more influence by creating jobs than I ever did as a Marine.”

He spent three years working for McKinsey & Company in D.C. before he decided to try to start his own contracting firm in January. The process, he said, was far more onerous than he had imagined, and his background as a veteran and his “fancy named” college degree didn’t help.

“It wasn’t hard for reasons I thought were good reasons,” he said. “It was difficulty with the process. It was bewildering, bureaucratic, obfuscating and infuriating.”

Eastern Foundry's kitchen and break roomOrazem realized the opportunity was there to help people like him get through the process. During a meeting with a friend at 1776 in D.C., he saw how collaboration was working for tech startups, and had a “mini-breakthrough.” He realized a cooperative space could have the same impact for contractors as it does for young tech companies.

Orazem hired Andy O’Brien at Jones Lang LaSalle to broker a real estate deal, and Vornado started aggressively pursuing Orazem to consider Crystal City.

“Vornado basically made us an offer we couldn’t refuse,” he said. “We’re really excited about the area and the vision of Vornado to recreate it as a technology and innovation center. They were really putting their money where their mouth was.”

(more…)

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