Author: Jackie Friedman

Heat Advisory Issued for Arlington

By Jackie Friedman

The sun during the heat advisory on Thursday, July 14, 2016Arlington County and the surrounding D.C. area is under a heat advisory today.

High temperatures and high humidity will make for a sweaty and potentially dangerous afternoon.

Those who must spend time outdoors today are advised to drink plenty of water, seek breaks in the shade and avoid strenuous activity if possible.

In response to the heatwave, A-SPAN has opened overflow space and set up additional beds at Arlington’s Homeless Services Center in Courthouse.

A-SPAN also offers daytime drop-ins to help those on the streets beat the heat. The drop-in program is offered from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the shelter, located at 2020-A 14th Street N.

From the National Weather Service:

HEAT ADVISORY FROM 12PM EDT MON UNTIL 8PM EDT MON

* HEAT INDEX VALUES… UP TO 108 DUE TO TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 95 TO 100… AND DEWPOINTS IN THE LOWER 70S.

* IMPACTS… RISK OF HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS FOR THOSE WITHOUT AIR- CONDITIONING OR THOSE OUTDOORS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK… THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY – CALL 911.

TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN POSSIBLE… RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY MORNING OR EVENING. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE. WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN POSSIBLE AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.

A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HIGH TEMPERATURES IS EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HIGH TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE.

In addition to the sweltering temperatures and humidity, storms are possible today. Via Twitter:

‘Junior Park Ranger Ride’ Planned Along GW Memorial Parkway

By Jackie Friedman

Bikes on a tree, photo via Facebook : Kidical Mass ArlingtonThe Arlington chapter of a group centered around casual bike rides for families plans to lead a trek along George Washington Memorial Parkway this weekend.

A “Junior Park Ranger Ride” is set to kick off this Sunday at 9:30 a.m., according to Kidical Mass Arlington, the event’s organizers.

During the 60-90 minute trip, riders will hit several stops along George Washington Memorial Parkway, including the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, the Netherlands Carillon and Lyndon B. Johnson Memorial Grove. The ride will end up at Theodore Roosevelt Island, according to Kidical Mass.

The event will also include activities from BikeArlington and the U.S. National Park Service. All young riders will earn Junior Park Ranger credentials for the GW Parkway once the ride is complete, according to event organizers.

Photo via Facebook / Kidical Mass

Installation of Westover Capital Bikeshare Station Delayed Until Fall

By Jackie Friedman
1/4

A plan to put a 16-bike Capital Bikeshare station at Westover Library has been delayed, according to Arlington County.

The bike rental service delayed installing the Westover Library station because construction crews are using the site as a staging area while they renovate the Westover Branch Library’s windows, according to Arlington County spokesman Peter Golkin.

“Instead, we’ll be installing this station at Westover Park over the next month and installing at the Library in the fall when construction is supposed to be completed,” a Bikeshare representative said in a statement Golkin shared with ARLnow.com.

Three Capital Bikeshare stations are planned for Westover, according to county staff. In addition to the Westover Libary and Westover Park stations, another hub is slated to be installed at the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Patrick Henry in 2018.

County Board Members Join Strike at Arlington National Cemetery

By Jackie Friedman
1/6

Arlington County Board members Christian Dorsey and Katie Cristol joined more than 25 contract groundkeepers in their strike this morning outside of Arlington National Cemetery.

The strike by the members of Local 572 of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) began today at 7 a.m. It comes after eight months of delays in reaching a new contract. The walkout is believed to be the first strike by workers at the cemetery, says LiUNA.

“This is about workers and their ability to provide for their families and their ability to live,” said Dorsey. “You really can’t do so if your wages don’t keep up with the cost of living.”

Cristol said she was at the strike to support “dignity and fair practices,” adding that the high cost of housing locally makes it hard to raise a family on the wages the groundskeepers are being paid.

The workers, who are jointly employed by Davey Tree Expert Co. and Greenleaf Services Inc., are looking for sick leave time and a pay raise of 4 percent from their current approximately $13 per hour rate.

“I don’t think our ask is that dramatic at all,” said LiUNA assistant organizing director Keon Shim. “We’ve negotiated on things that are non economic and when it came to economics, the company basically said no to everything that we proposed so far.”

“When you think about the incredibly enormous job and the important job of beautifying our cemetery, making it a sacred place and also making it hospitable for visitors, we shouldn’t take the low road with those employees who make that happen,” said Dorsey.

There will be negotiations tomorrow between the workers and the companies, according to the union. If the company is not willing to sign a new contract for workers, union representatives said, the strike will continue.

Arlington Agenda: July 18-24

By Jackie Friedman

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

event_beer

Beer Pairing Dinner*
Osteria da Nino Cucina Italiana (2900 S. Quincy Street)
Time: 6-10 p.m.

Try four courses, featuring beers from Greenbrier Valley Brewing Co. from West Virginia. Co-owner William D. Laska will be the guest speaker. The meal is $40 per person, not inclusive of tax and tip. A full menu has yet to be announced.

Tuesday

CCL-LogoCitizens Climate Lobby Summer Kickoff
Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street)
Time: 6:30-9:30 p.m.

During the two day meeting, participants will work together to generate the political will necessary for passage of new climate legislation as well as engaging with elected officials, the media, and the public on environmental issues.

Wednesday

OneMorePageBooksFrackopoly Book Talk
One More Page Books (2200 N. Westmoreland Street)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.

Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter will be visiting Arlington to discuss her book “Frackopoly: The Battle for the Future of Energy and the Environment.” The event is free but participants must register online.

Thursday

MG_9264The U.S. Army Band In Concert
Brucker Hall on Fort Myer (400 McNair Road)
Time: 7:30-9 p.m.

The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” welcomes guest conductor Craig Kirchhoff as part of the 2016 U.S. Army Band Conductors Workshop. The free program will include highlights from Copland’s Symphony No. 3, Arturo Marquez’s Danzon No. 2, and staples of the wind ensemble repertoire by Samuel Barber, Percy Grainger, and John Philip Sousa.

Green Flash and Alpine Pint NightSehkraft Brewing in Clarendon
Sehkraft Brewing (925 N. Garfield Street)
Time: 5-8 p.m.

The Green Flash Southeast Sales Team, also known at the Yeastie Boys, will be on hand for pint night. Sehkraft Brewery will also be releasing their newest beer, Pro Forma Pils. Local D.C. band Surprise Attack will be performing at 8:30 p.m.

Clarendon GrillParty Like It’s at Clarendon Grill
Clarendon Grill (1101 N. Highland Street)
Time: 9:30 p.m.-12 a.m.

Local party band Party Like It’s will be performing at Thursday night show at Clarendon Grill. The seven piece band from D.C. plays a mixture of current hits and classic songs as well as songs from the 80s, 90s and 2000s.

mfThe Shack Band Performs at the Shirlala Musical Festival
Shirlington Village (2700 S. Quincy Street)
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

The Village at Shirlington is hosting live music every Thursday evening through Labor Day. This week will feature a performance by southern funk group The Shack Band. The concert is free.

Friday

Crystal City Wine in the Water Park (courtesy Crystal City BID)

Wine in the Water Park
Crystal City Water Park (1750 Crystal Drive)
Time: 6-10 p.m.

The free event will feature live music from Fat Liver Jenkins, hand-selected wines from the Washington Wine Academy, and a free outdoor ArtJamz session. A cash bar is will be available at the outdoor pop-up wine and beer garden.

Rosslyn Outdoor Film Festival (file photo)Rosslyn Summer Film Fest: Casablanca
Gateway Park (1300 Lee Hwy)
Time: Starts after sundown

The classic 1942 film,”Casablanca” will be shown after sundown. Admission is free. The film festival will feature food, beer and wine from local restaurants and food trucks. Films will be shown every Friday until August 26.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) content

Photos: Local Business Raises Funds for ACPD K9 Unit

By Jackie Friedman
1/7

A store in Courthouse hosted some special four-legged guests Wednesday afternoon.

Members of the Arlington County Police Department K9 unit — both dogs and handlers — stopped by Olive Oil Boom (2016 Wilson Blvd) to accept a donation from the store. The shop, which specializes in olive oils and vinegars, raised money to purchase two K9 medical kits.

“I found out from one of the officers that they don’t have medical kits for their dogs if they go on scene or have any kind of medical issues, said Olive Oil Boom owner Judith Westfall. “Because of that, we decided to just start collecting donations for the K9 medical kits.”

The equipment in the medical kits are “meant [to be used] in case of a traumatic injury or heat stroke,” said ACPD Sgt. Bryan Morrison.

One medical kit will be used on site for training and one will be taken out into the field. The kits will allow officers to treat the dogs quickly and get them to an emergency vet.

“There is so much stuff in there and it’s a great benefit to our unit because they are a bit expensive and we are not afforded the opportunity to buy these. For somebody to donate them to us, it’s really great,” said Morrison.

ArtJamz Underground Studio Set to Open Soon in Crystal City

By Jackie Friedman
1/6

ArtJamz Underground Studio, a new “paint and sip” studio, will be opening next Friday, July 15, in Crystal City.

Located in the Crystal City Shops, at 2105-B Crystal Plaza Arcade, the 1,000 square foot public art studio and lounge will offer freestyle paint sessions, guided classes, and other private and public special events.

Studio time for customers includes art materials, an easel, a smock, two complimentary glasses of wine or one beer and local artists that are on hand to give tips and guidance.

“We really encourage original art, for people to create something unique,” said founder and CEO Michael Clements. “Our tagline is unleash your inner artist because we want our studios to be as close to what an artist would experience in their studio.”

Customers can choose from six different canvas sizes — and they’re also allowed to paint on the walls. Just for fun, fake artist mustaches and berets are offered at an additional charge.

This will be the first permanent ArtJamz location in Virginia (it also hosts popup locations). The business has two other physical locations in D.C.

“Our mission is make the world a more creative place,” said Clements.

Customers can book sessions online. Until opening night, ArtJamz is offering a special where patrons can book sessions using the promo code “opening16” to receive 20 percent off a reservation.

Clarendon Businesses Leave Doors Open Despite Hot Weather

By Jackie Friedman
1/2

There’s a curious retail practice on display this week in Clarendon, and perhaps elsewhere in Arlington. Despite the sweltering weather, we’ve spotted retailers like T-Mobile, Bluemercury and Lululemon keeping their front doors open while the store’s air conditioning is running on full blast.

A Lululemon employee said that they keep the doors open to create a friendly environment, as a way to attract more customers into the store. However, they will close the door if the air conditioning is not keeping up with the heat outside, she said.

Keeping the doors open during hot weather is not uncommon among stores. As reported by the New York Times, it was so ubiquitous in New York City that the city banned the practice, starting this summer, to save energy. The effort’s slogan: “Shut the Front Door!”

When calling the Lululemon corporate office, a company spokesman denied that keeping doors open was corporate policy. He stated that it is up to a store’s preference to keep the door open or closed during hot weather.

Arlington Agenda: July 6-10

By Jackie Friedman

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.

Wednesday

Westover LibraryRainforest Reptiles Alive!
Westover Branch Library (1644 N. McKinley Road)
Time: 4-5 p.m.

Discover the dynamic world of tropical rainforests and meet jungle animals. This free summer reading performance is recommended for children entering kindergarten through 5th grade. Attendance is first-come, first-serve.

Thursday

MarbleRye_BannerPride on the Rocks – Team Trivia*
Marble & Rye (2501 Columbia Pike)
Time: 6-10 p.m.

Drag Trivia host, Coco Wilson Carrington, will be hosting the event. Team trivia starts at 7:30 p.m. and Marble & Rye gift certificates will be awarded to the winners. There will also be drink and food specials. Multiple prizes will be raffled as well.

Friday

DSC_78001Sweetgreen Opening to Benefit Freshfarm*
Clarendon Sweetgreen (3100 Clarendon Blvd)
Time: 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

For the opening of their Clarendon store, Sweetgreen is donating 100% of proceeds to the FRESHFARM Matching Dollars program, which lowers economic barriers to fresh local foods, by offering a dollar-for-dollar match to shoppers who spend their federal nutrition benefits at our farmers markets.

SklarBrosSklar Brothers Perform
Arlington Cinema Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike)
Time: 10 p.m.

Randy and Jason Sklar are performing live standup comedy shows at the Drafthouse this weekend. Tickets are $25. Known for appearances on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the brothers also host a History Channel show on statistics called “The United Stats of America.”

Sunday

Screen-Shot-2016-06-20-at-3.26.33-PM

Free Summer Concert: The Buzz Hounds
Mount Olivet United Methodist Church (1500 N. Glebe Road)
Time: 6-8 p.m.

The Buzz Hounds, who were voted “Arlington’s Best Band” by Arlington Magazine, will be performing. Bring friends and family and a picnic for the free outdoor concert. Food is available for purchase from the Chix N Stix food truck.

yvonne_auneAikido of Arlington
Glencarlyn Park (301 S. Harrison St.)
Time: 10 a.m.- 12 p.m.

Aikido of Arlington is holding a traditional aiki-weapons class at Glencarlyn Park throughout the summer (weather permitting). Class runs until 11:30 a.m. and is then followed by a potluck cookout. Participants must wear street clothes.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) content

ARLnow Weekend Discussion

By Jackie Friedman

American Flag at Iwo JimaThe long holiday weekend has finally arrived, not a minute too soon.

It’s Independence Day weekend and Arlington is offering plenty of activities to celebrate the holiday, from community parades to firework viewings.

There will be multiple road closures on Monday as a result of Fourth of July festivities, including Route 50 ramps and the Memorial Bridge.

Feel free to discuss the Fourth or any other local topic of interest. Have a great holiday weekend!

Crystal Twilighter 5K Returns on July 23

By Jackie Friedman

Crystal City Twilighter 5K on July 25, 2015 (photo courtesy Crystal City BID)Crystal City will host the annual Crystal City Twilighter 5K race on Saturday, July 23.

The race, organized by Pacers, will kick off at 8:30 p.m. The relatively flat course will start and finish will be in front of 2121 Crystal Drive.

There will also be a post-race party with food and drink specials at local restaurants. Cash prizes will be awarded to overall male and female runners. Age groups ranging from 1-10 and 80+ will also be given prizes.

Registration is $45 for adults over the age of 18, but $25 for those 18 and younger. Space is limited to 3,000 runners.

Disclosure: The run is sponsored by the Crystal City BID, an ARLnow.com advertiser.

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