Author: Kalina Newman

Arlington Agenda: October 7-13

By Kalina Newman
After being rescued from the car, the three kittens were taken to the shelter for a check-up

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, October 7

Planned Parenthood at Continental Beer Garden*
Continental Beer Garden (1901 Fort Myer Drive)
Time: 6-8 p.m. 

All proceeds from this open bar fundraising event will benefit local Planned Parenthood advocacy. Remarks will be held from Kelley Robinson, executive director for the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and local politicians including Sen. Barbara Favola.

Housing Matters Forum 
Arlington County Bozman Center (2100 Clarendon Blvd)
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Arlington property owners and landlords are invited to this community meeting on “Fair Housing and Discriminations.” Topics to be discussed including fair housing rights and impediments, rental subsidy, county resources, and more.

Tuesday, October 8

School Information Session
The Sycamore School (4600 N. Fairfax Drive) 
Time: 8-9 a.m. 

Parents interested in The Sycamore School are invited to tour, speak with current staff, and meet the current Head of School. There will be a question and answer session, along with opportunities to chat with current students.

Teenage Kittens & How to Survive Them 
Animal Welfare League of Arlington (2650 S. Arlington Mill Drive)
Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Sponsored by Dogma Dog Bakery, learn how to take care of a kitten as it gets into its teenage years. The AWLA’s Training and Cat Behavior Counselor will offer advice and take questions.

Thursday, October 10

Crystal City Crafts Market
The Grounds (1102 S. Eads Street) 
Time: 4-8 p.m. 

Throughout the month of October, every Thursday the Crystal City Crafts Market will turn the Grounds into a “neighborhood living room” featuring wares from over 20 local businesses, live music, a beer garden, and food trucks.

Mental Wellness: It’s All in the Family 
Virginia Hospital Center (1701 N. George Mason Drive) 
Time: 7-9 p.m.

Area experts will offer advice on how to help children and teens with anxiety through fostering supportive environments in the home. Topics include navigating co-parenting and managing anxiety in high-performance environments, among others.

Saturday, October 12

Book It For Books 5K/One Mile Run*
Bluemont Park (329 N. Manchester Street) 
Time: 9-10:30 a.m.

Sponsored by Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia, this 5K and/or one-mile run will raise funds to provide books for children across the region. Pre-registration is now open, and awards will be given to overall male and female finishers.

Saint Ann Annual Fall Festival*
Saint Ann School (980 N. Frederick Street) 
Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 

This annual family-friendly festival features fall-themed rides, games, moon bounces, face-painting, and a cakewalk contest. In addition, there will be live music, a “wine walk” for adults, and a beer garden. Rain or shine, free event.

Arlingtones Barbershop a Cappella Show*
NRECA Building Auditorium (4301 Wilson Blvd) 
Time: 3:30-5:30 p.m. 

Join the Arlingtones a cappella barbershop group for their annual fall show, featuring performances from the mid-Atlantic quartet “Forecast.” The Arlingtones quartet “The Blue Notes” will make their debut. $15 tickets include food and drink.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event.

H-B Woodlawn Students Foster Friendship With Office Dwellers Next Door Through Sticky Notes

By Kalina Newman
1/5

H-B Woodlawn students adjusting to life in their new school building, The Heights, have built a unique friendship with the office next door with a friendly message system crafted from Post-It Notes.

The sticky note dialogue began after workers in the building at 1600 Wilson Blvd put up a sign in their windows over the summer complaining about construction noise.

When the H-B Woodlawn students moved in for the new school year, a group of sophomore students decided to respond by sticking up a message that said “Hi.” Since then, it’s grown into a daily exchange with messages saying everything from, “How You Doin” to the office responding, “Want to Intern?”

Mary Plunkett, a student who started the messages with a group of her friends, reached out to ARLnow to share the exchange, noting it’s been a way to foster a sense of community as they adjust to the new building.

“The first day of sticky notes, we wrote ‘Hi’ this past Monday afternoon,” Plunkett said. “We hoped for a response, but we weren’t sure of it. We were ecstatic when we showed up to school on Tuesday and two different offices wrote back!”

One of the offices at 1600 Wilson, Wakefield Research, separately shared with ARLnow that the “research analysts and managers in the office are all happier people” because of the exchange.

“We spend our days on research projects for the world’s biggest and most demanding companies, so it’s refreshing to connect on a personal level with young people,” said Paul Bragan, senior partner at Wakefield Research.

“The students sending Post-It messages today will be colleagues and clients tomorrow. What started as a fun exchange by our creative team has really grown into a neighborhood movement. Welcome to the block, H-B Woodlawn!”

This year, H-B and Shriver Program students moved from their former home at 4100 Vacation Lane — what is now Dorothy Hamm Middle School — across town to the newly-constructed Heights building in Rosslyn.

“Moving into this new building was definitely a big adjustment at first, but I think we are gradually getting used to our new space,” said sophomore student Georgia Thomas. “I think the sticky notes are a great way to build new connections in our new environment, and I love how involved 1600 Wilson Blvd has gotten.”

Since the initial sticky note windows are almost at capacity with messages, Plunkett says they’ve moved into other parts of the building.

“It’s so encouraging to see happy messages from our neighbors saying things like ‘make it a great day!’ or ‘we <3 you too’ or even something as simple as ‘good morning’ when we get to school, it really sets a good tone for the whole day,” she said.

A similar sticky note conversation blossomed among office workers in central Rosslyn last year.

The Little Beet Set to Open at Pentagon City Mall By End of the Month

By Kalina Newman
1/5

Gluten-free and plant-focused eatery The Little Beet expects to open its second Arlington location by the end of the month.

Little Beet is currently under construction in the food court level of the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City. A marketing spokeswoman from eatery said the restaurant is hoping to open Monday, October 21 but can’t promise an exact date, citing difficulties with “construction permitting.”

An official mall listing said the eatery would open on October 16, however, the spokeswoman said “October” was the safest best.

The Little Beet will give food court diners new gluten-free and healthy options. The restaurant models after similar chains such as Cava and Sweetgreen with make-your-own bowls. Here, they’re built with grains, two portions of seasonal vegetables such as shaved Brussels sprouts and broccoli rabe, and with a range of proteins from salmon to beet falafel.

“Because our center is located nearby several office buildings, we’re always seeking to add healthy lunch options to satisfy our neighbors coming in to grab a quick bite and shop on their breaks,” said Todd Jerscheid, director of marketing and business development for the mall, which also caters to large tour groups, busloads of visiting students, and people heading to and from the Pentagon City Metro station.

The new Pentagon City mall location is the New York-based chain’s second location in Arlington, after one at 1800 N. Lynn Street in Rosslyn. A D.C. location closed earlier this summer.

“We’re aggressively expanding in exciting markets and Fashion Centre at Pentagon City presented a perfect way for our brand to build out our presence in the D.C./Maryland/Virginia market,” said Little Beet CEO Becky Mulligan.

She added: “We’ll be launching in Pentagon City with our app which allows guests and neighbors to pick up a healthy breakfast on their way to work, order ahead for a nutritious lunch, bring a nourishing dinner home after a long workday or fuel up for a weekend shopping trip.”

New Consignment Boutique ‘Agents in Style’ Opens in Crystal City

By Kalina Newman
1/4

A new women’s luxury consignment boutique is now open in Crystal City.

Agents in Style (576 23rd Street S.) features curated collections of designer clothing in sizes 0-3X, offered for a third of the normal retail price.

Customers walking into the house-turned-shop alongside S. Fern Street are immediately met with a hand-drawn greeting that says, “You Look Beautiful.”

“I wanted to create a space where everyone would feel welcome,” said owner Rhoda Wheeler.

Wheeler, who worked for years as an English teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools before moving into real estate marketing, always wanted to take her love of fashion to the next step.

“I live in this neighborhood,” said Wheeler, “And as I was walking to dinner with my husband one night, I saw the ‘For Rent’ sign, and the rest was history.”

The store accepts upscale brands such as Louis Vuitton and Hermes, along with clothing consigned from department labels Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, among others.

“I’ve always had a passion for thrifting and thinking about how we can reuse things,” she said. “I think fashion and style are fun, but I understand the need to make things last for a very long time.”

Agents in Style also features an affordable selection from the LA-based clothing company Ellison Apparel. Items such as a green suede jacket and a leopard-print skirt might not appeal to the same audience as those shopping for say, Chanel, but it’s a part of Wheeler’s vision for a more accessible store.

Wheeler hopes the store can be used as a space for all kinds of community events, from fundraisers to book clubs. For example, on Thursday, October 17, all proceeds from the store will go towards the American Cancer Society.

As for staff?

“It’s just me,” said Wheeler with a laugh. “I’m tired, but it’s a good kind of tired. It’s worth it.”

‘Ballston Street Bash and Mega Market’ Planned Thursday

By Kalina Newman

(Updated at 5:30 p.m.) On Thursday, a new music, food, and drinks festival will take over a street in Ballston.

Hosted by the Ballston BID, the Ballston Street Bash and Mega Market is scheduled to run from 3-8 p.m. at Welburn Square, along N. Stuart Street. It will include live music, a beer and wine pavillion, and the regularly-scheduled Thursday farmers market.

Admission is free, while drink tickets are $5.

The festival incorporates the weekly Ballston FreshFarm Market, which includes vendors selling fresh produce and food stands from DMV Empanadas and Timber Pizza Company.

A concert is planned, with performances from several local bands, including White Ford Bronco and Jumpin’ Jupiter.

Additional activities include a free VIDA Fitness SweatBox Class at 6 p.m., with pre-registration required.

Photo provided by Ballston BID

‘House of Steep’ Owner Shares Lessons Learned from Running Local Business

By Kalina Newman
1/2

It’s hard to run a small business in Arlington, and Lyndsey DePalma of the former House of Steep knows the ups and downs as well as anyone.

Now, she’s making sure other business owners don’t make the same mistakes she made.

After DePalma sold her Lee Highway teahouse in 2017 — it permanently closed a year later — she took time off to reflect and spend time with her family. One day she had an epiphany: why not turn her experience into an opportunity to help others?

“I call myself a business sanity specialist,” DePalma said in an interview with ARLnow. “I look at people who are overwhelmed and see what we can do to make it better.”

After two years of writing, DePalma transformed her pile of business notes and personal reflections into a book called “READY: What To Expect When Starting a Business.” In addition to being sold online, the book will soon be on the bookshelves of local stores One More Page Books and Trade Roots, she said.

While the book is catered to business owners everywhere, DePalma understands starting up in Arlington comes with both unique hardships and positive value.

“Rent is expensive, sure, but when you rent in Arlington you’re also renting within a local community,” she said. “The county’s only 26 square miles — there’s a proximity and connectedness that makes this special.”

In 2011, DePalma knew her business idea for a “tea house and foot sanctuary” would be a hard sell.

“Everyone kept telling me, it’s too ‘West Coast’ for Arlington,” she said. “But I did it anyway.”

It took a year and a half to get the store off the ground, with multiple roadblocks such as zoning requirements and hiring certified staff.

“And then on opening day, we had things go wrong that we never would have imagined,” DePalma said. “We had a huge check-list, and I threw it out the door.”

DePalma credits much of her early success to a mentorship within the Arlington Economic Development’s BizLaunch program. BizLaunch is billed as a “small business and entrepreneurial assistance network” and a “one-stop-shop for everything you’ll need to know about starting or growing a business in Arlington.”

DePalma said small businesses should take advantages of opportunities to seek help whenever possible.

“There are still headaches [there], and I wish there was a focus on programs, but small businesses do need to know there are resources there,” she said.

After becoming pregnant with her second child, DePalma made the decision in the fall of 2017 to sell the businesses.

“My identity had been wrapped in this, and I loved every part of it,” she said. “It wasn’t easy.”

One last piece of advice?

“Make those relationships. Start them early,” she said. “That was the differentiator for me, I had time to really get to know the real estate brokers and bankers, and I had to figure out what people I clicked with, and that made the biggest difference.”

Chamber of Commerce Launches All-Arlington Restaurant Week

By Kalina Newman

Arlington County its getting its own Restaurant Week later this month.

Arlington Restaurant Week, organized by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, will run from October 21-28. Diners can visit a number of Arlington restaurants offering special menu items at discounted prices, according to a press release.

There are currently 20 or so restaurants expected to participate, including Jaleo, SER, and Bistro 1521.

Previously, the Chamber partnered with regional groups for the Northern Virginia Restaurant Week and Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week.

However, Arlington Restaurant Week uniquely gives participating restaurants the option of setting their own price points and menus instead of the traditional, fixed $35 dinner course and $25 lunch.

“Flexibility is really important for our restaurants, so this gives them the opportunity to really showcase what they want,” said Arlington Chamber of Commerce President Kate Bates. “For example, Heidelberg Bakery will be doing speciality breakfast sandwiches, and across the board it’ll really range from bundled three-course meals to maybe a speciality dish.”

The Chamber has sent invitations across Arlington for all restaurants to participate, and will be continuing to follow up, Bates said.

For SER owner Javier Candon, the Arlington-specific celebration gives him the chance to get to know customers who might not venture out otherwise.

“Keeping it local, it encourages people who don’t go out as often during the year to have a different experience,” said Candon. “We still don’t have our menu finalized yet, but expect it to be high-quality and highly discounted.”

So far, participating restaurants include:

  • Ambar
  • Barley Mac
  • Bistro 1521
  • Bonefish Grill
  • Buena Vida
  • Cityhouse
  • Cookology
  • Copa Kitchen & Bar
  • Good Company Donuts & Cafe
  • Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe
  • Jaleo
  • La Côte D’or
  • The Melting Pot
  • Rhodeside Grill
  • Rustico Ballston
  • SER
  • Slapfish
  • Sushi-Zen
  • The Vantage Point

The full press release about Arlington Restaurant Week is below, after the jump.

(more…)

JRINK in Clarendon Has Closed

By Kalina Newman
1/3

The cold-press juice bar JRINK has closed its Clarendon location.

Less than three years after it opened, the Arlington outpost of the D.C.-area juice purveyor served its last customers this past Sunday, September 29. The store offered superfood bowls, smoothies, coffee, and cold-pressed, locally produced juice.

It appears the store closed in light of an upcoming Tysons location, per an announcement posted onto the shuttered storefront. JRINK still has at least three locations open in the District.

Read the full announcement below:

“After an amazing 3 years with the Clarendon community, we are taking JRINK to The Boro at Whole Foods Tysons Corner (opening Oct 30). Thank you for the continuous love, support, and juicy Instagram posts. It’s been an amazing ride and we can’t wait to grow into the new opportunity. Visit us Late October at our new spot with a freshly upgraded menu, but your same favorite vibe.

How to get your fix:
– Order online at JRINK.com for delivery to your door, 7 days a week
– Stop by one of our DC locations at Eastern Market, Foggy Bottom, or 14th Street
– Stalk us #jrinkjuicery. Stay updated on all things JRINK Tysons Corner prior to opening”

Arlington Agenda: September 30-October 6

By Kalina Newman

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, September 30

Chatter On Books Live Podcast Recording
One More Page Books (2200 N. Westmoreland Street) 
Time: 6-8 p.m. 

The podcast “Chatter On Books” will record their latest episode at One More Page Books with Washington Post journalist Will Haygood, where they will discuss Haygood’s book, “Tigerland: 1968-19969: A City Divided, A Nation Torn Apart, And A Magical Season Of Healing.”

Learn How to Buy Your First Home*
Keri Shull Team (1600 Wilson Blvd) 
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.

Learn valuable advice on how to purchase your first home, such as how to calculate a budget and finding off-market properties. Attending the free event includes a bonus $1,500 credit towards a new home or early lease termination.

Tuesday, October 1

Visas and Working in the United States
Aurora Hills Branch Library (735 18th Street S.)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.

This forum will provide an overview of how visas and work permits operate for people seeking employment in the United States, such as how an employer might sponsor a work permit and the different paths and options are for obtaining a work permit for non-citizens.

Thursday, October 3

Ballston Street Bash & Mega Market*
Welburn Square and N. Stuart Street (N. Stuart St. and 9th St. N)
Time: 3-8 p.m. 

Celebrate the Ballston neighborhood with live music from local artists, a VIDA Fitness beer and wine garden, and shopping with local vendors and farmers. Bands include White Ford Bronco, Jumpin’ Jupiter, and more. Free, with $5 drink tickets.

Accelerating Urban Agriculture in Arlington
Barley Mac (1600 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 5:30-8 p.m. 

Join the Arlington Friends of Urban Agriculture for a discussion on sustainable urban agriculture with County Board Member Erik Gutshall and guest speaker Wythe Marschall, featuring a curated local menu from Barley Mac.

Arlington’s Most Instagrammable Spots – Courthouse Edition
Mom’s Organic Market (1901 N. Veitch Street) 
Time: 6:30-8 p.m. 

WalkArlington presents a walk through the Courthouse neighborhood, exploring all of its coolest public art. Free, with beverages and snacks provided. The walk will go for approximately one mile, with stops to take photographs.

Friday, October 4

Oktoberfest 2019 
Courthaus Social (2300 Clarendon Blvd) 
Time: 4-11 p.m. 

Courthaus Social’s Oktoberfest includes two days of partying, featuring food, games, live music, and plenty of beer. Free, family and pet-friendly. Featured games include “Brewery Bingo” and Cornhole, with prizes available.

Art & Pizza Night for Kids 
Art House 7 (5537 Lee Highway)
Time: 6-9 p.m.

Parents are invited to take the night off while their children attend a night of fun at Art House 7. There will be an art project led by two teenagers, pizza provided, and a movie. There will be an adult in the building to supervise. Sign up required.

Saturday, October 5

The Mid-Atlantic Open Pickleball Tournament 
Thomas Jefferson Community Center (3501 2nd Street S.) 
Time: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. 

Over 300 pickleball players from the mid-Atlantic region are coming to Arlington to compete for the gold. This is the fourth year of the giant tournament, partnered with two charity groups: the Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Arena and Educate the Girls, Inc.

Home Run for the Homeless 5k Walk/Run
Bluemont Park (601 N. Manchester Street)
Time: 9-11 a.m. 

Run or walk during this race to support the charity groups Homestretch, Community Lodgings, and Bridges to Independence, local nonprofits providing housing, employment, and child services to homeless parents and their children. $40 for adults, and $20 for those 17 and under.

NoVA Mac and Cheese Festival*
UPDATE: This event has been cancelled.

Cheese lovers, assemble. Sample from over 30 different types of mac and cheese and help vote for Northern VA’s Best Mac and Cheese. In addition, there will be craft beers, ciders, and wines available to wash it all down. Tickets required, starting at $20.

Beckett’s Celtic Festival 
Samuel Beckett’s Irish Pub (2800 S. Randolph Street) 
Time: 12-7 p.m.

For the sixth year of the annual festival, Campbell Avenue will shut down, and in its place there will be live music, dancers, and pipers taking over the streets. Family-friendly, with the party moving indoors at 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 6

Arlington and Alexandria City Candidate Forum 
Walter Reed Community Center (2909 16th Street S.) 
Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m. 

The League of Women Voters of Arlington will host a “candid-dating forum” for the public. Attendees have 10 minutes to ask questions with local candidates running for office from Arlington County and Alexandria City. General Assembly candidates will be present from 2:30-3:30, and those running for local offices will be from 3:30-4:30.

Drag Queen Bingo…With Tiny Kittens! 
Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike)
Time: 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m.

Join the Animal Welfare League of Arlington along with Caring Hands Animal Support & Education at Arlington Drafthouse Cinema for a bingo evening to help support animals in need. Fabulous MC’s from the Imperial Court of Washington DC will be leading the bingo game. Tickets are $25 and include admission and one bingo card. All proceeds to charity.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event.

County Seeking Public Opinion On Marcey Road Park Renovations

By Kalina Newman

Planned renovations at Marcey Road Park are up for public discussion next week.

Arlington County is scheduled to host a community meeting about the project on Thursday, October 3 from 6-7:30 at the Potomac Overlook Regional Park auditorium.

The three-acre park at 272 N. Marcey Road, near the entrance to the Potomac Overlook trails, is home to two tennis courts, a tennis practice wall, and a basketball court.

The renovation will replace the park’s existing amenities, according to the project website.

“County staff has been canvassing the community and park users to determine what people are using in the park,what they like, and what they’d like changed,” said parks department spokesman Susan Kalish.

Following next week’s meeting, the project staff will hold another community meeting later in the fall to present draft designs.

Construction is set to begin by spring 2020 and completed by the end of that year.

Photo via Google Maps 

Arlington Career Center Begins Design Phase of Expansion Project

By Kalina Newman
1/3

(Updated at 4:30 p.m.) Arlington Public Schools has established separate review and planning committees to kick off the design phase of its $185 million Arlington Career Center expansion project.

The Building Level Planning Committee (BLPC) and the Public Facilities Review Committee (PFRC) will meet ten times before March 2020, when the Arlington School Board is set to act on a concept design.

The expansion is slated to create 800 new high school seats at the Career Center by 2025, plus an additional 250 Arlington Tech seats — for a total of 600 seats at the high school program — by Sept. 2021. The Career Center will go from 1,100 seats now to to 1,900 seats by 2025, according to APS.

After years of deliberation from the School Board and the County Board, the completed Career Center will include:

  • A high school-sized gym/assembly space
  • A Performing Arts Center complete with a theater, black box theater, and music classroom
  • A cafeteria and multi-use space
  • A multi-use outdoor synthetic turf field
  • A 400 to 500 space parking garage
  • The replacement, enhancement and/or expansion of existing Career Technical Education programs

The athletic field and parking is projected to be complete by the 2023-24 school year, while the performing arts center should be finished by 2025-26 school year. Despite the large increase in its student body, which will help to alleviate a capacity crunch at Arlington’s high schools, the Arlington Career Center will be an option school and not a comprehensive high school.

Total cost for the Career Center expansion is budgeted at $185 million, plus an additional $13 million for the Arlington Tech expansion.

The BLPC will serve as the primary line of communication between community stakeholders and the School Board. During a project update during Tuesday’s County Board meeting, Board member Katie Cristol said that the School Board has asked BLPC to look for low-cost construction alternatives during the design process.

Meanwhile, the mission of the PFRC is to ensure the project properly utilizes the limited available land at the Career Center site near Columbia Pike, working as a direct line of advice and input with the County Board and County Manager.

The two committees held an introductory meeting on September 17, with the next scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 2.

“This has a very significant budgetary implication in the Arlington Public Schools Capital Improvement Plan, and it’s because of the number of amenities that are coming along with these seats,” said Cristol.

Construction will not impede on the adjacent, recently-opened Montessori Public School of Arlington — formerly home to Patrick Henry Elementary — according to an APS spokesman Frank Bellavia. A member from the Montessori school will serve on the BPLC.

The Career Center recently moved eight new trailers onto its grounds to accommodate more than 150 new students who joined for the 2019-20 school year. Contrary to initial reports, the trailers do not intrude on the space used for the Career Center’s Animal Science Program, Bellavia said.

An open community meeting is scheduled to review the new, proposed Career Center designs. The meeting is set to take place on January 22, 2020, in the Arlington Career Center Commons (816 S. Walter Reed Drive) beginning at 7 p.m.

Photo via Google Maps. In-text photo via Arlington County. 

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