Author: Katie Pyzyk

Family Friendly Halloween Events in Arlington

By Katie Pyzyk

Halloween falls on a Wednesday this year, so fans of the holiday have a number of opportunities to attend events over the next few days. There are numerous events for adults at the area bars and restaurants, but here is a list of some family friendly activities for participants of all ages:

  • Halloween Harvest (5:15-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24) — Buyers and Renters Arlington Voice (BRAVO) is hosting a community gardening event. There will be face painting, a treasure hunt, pumpkin decorating and healthy snacks fresh from the garden. Attendees can learn more about community gardens at the free event, which will be held at Whitefield Commons (106 N. Thomas Street).
  • Fire Pit of Horror (6:00-8:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27) — Join Arlington’s WSC Avant Bard at the Lubber Run Park fire ring as performers bring classic horror tales to life. There will be readings of works by Edgar Allen Poe and H.P. Lovecraft. Costumes are optional, but encouraged. The event is free, but attendees are asked to RSVP online.
  • Douglas Park Halloween Trail of Terror (7:00-9:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 27) — A haunted trail located at 1620 S. Quincy Street in the Douglas Park neighborhood. Attendees are asked to bring canned goods or nonperishable items for donation to the Arlington Food Assistance Center.
  • Trick or Treat with Shirlie (2:00-4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27) — The Village at Shirlington is encouraging patrons to dress up in costumes while enjoying free treats at the restaurants and shops. Several of the businesses will have promotions, face painting, crafts and other activities. A list of all participating businesses can be found online. Entries for the pumpkin carving contest can be dropped off at the Hilton Garden Inn from 8:00-10:00 a.m. on Saturday, and the winner will receive a $100 gift card to One, Two Kangaroo Toys.
  • FALLoween (10:00 a.m-2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27) — Market Common (2700 Clarendon Blvd) will hold its annual free event featuring a petting zoo, face painting, music and trick or treating at some of the businesses. A performance by Rocknocerous kicks off the event at 10:00 a.m. People and pets are invited to join in the costume parade at noon.
  • Halloween Party (1:00-4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27) — Walter Reed Community Center (2909 16th Street S.) will host a special day for kids ages 3-11. Activities at the free event include carnival games, moon bounces, crafts, a costume parade and prizes.
  • Ghostbusters Viewing (8:00-10:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27) — Take in a showing of the classic movie “Ghostbusters” in the Dome Theater at Artisphere. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased online.

A listing of some pet friendly Halloween activities can be found in a previous article.

Veteran Working to Launch Brewery in Arlington

By Katie Pyzyk

A Navy veteran is attempting to bring brewing back to the area. He wants to launch the first indigenous distribution craft brewery in Arlington since the Arlington Brewing Company stopped producing beer in 1916.

Paul Hurley is working to make CasaNova Brewing & Sound, LLC a reality, along with business partner Mike DiBella, who has worked with other start-ups such as Mad Fox Brewing Company in Falls Church. Initially, the plan is to brew four signature beers — an IPA, a black IPA, a hefeweizen and a chocolate stout.

“Every endeavor we make will be our sincerest effort to represent the NoVa community through quality, innovation and art,” Hurley said. “CasaNoVa will source the freshest ingredients from local farmers and suppliers while supporting local businesses whenever possible.”

The “art” he mentioned refers to the desire to feature performances by local musicians at CasaNoVa. This aspect of the business incorporates the partners’ long time dream of opening a music venue in the area.

“The brewery is going to focus on exotic ingredients and the young professional demographic,” DiBella said. “We want Arlington to be known for great beer, great music, and a unique atmosphere that celebrates Arlington’s diversity and ties together the community.”

Hurley says he was drawn to the idea of brewing after a series of events stemming from the loss of his right leg. Hurley explained that he had spent time overseas while in the Navy. One day when he was driving down a road in Bahrain with a friend, Hurley says they were chased and run off the road, resulting in an accident that flipped the vehicle. Hurley ended up losing both his leg and his friend.

Following more than two years of recovery, Hurley decided it was time to leave the Navy. He struggled to find a place of employment offering the same level of camaraderie he experienced in the Navy. That is, until he visited family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin two years ago, during a gathering at a smaller brewery started by two brothers. The experience prompted Hurley to begin home brewing and researching a business plan for his own craft brewery.

For now, Hurley and DiBella are focused on raising the $160,000 necessary for launching their business. Although perhaps a bit ambitious, their goal is to be operational by the summer of 2013. They hope to soon secure the space they’re investigating for the brewery location near the Ballston mall.

The partners plan to hold their first fundraising event in about a month, where they will offer tastings of two of the flagship beers. Volunteers and investors interested in helping with the brewery are encouraged to follow CasaNoVa’s Facebook page, or to email [email protected] for more information.

Happy Sign Holders Coming to Ballston Thursday

By Katie Pyzyk

If you need a reason to smile, the sign might be right in front of you tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon. A group called Make DC Smile will be gathering in Ballston in an effort to brighten up the day of passersby.

As reported in the Washington Post earlier this year, 29-year-old Massoud Adibpour and his friends set out on a mission to bring joy to seemingly overworked and unhappy people in the District. They have posted inspirational signs around town and have been spotted in high traffic areas holding signs with smile-inducing phrases such as “Honk if you love someone” and “Do more of what makes you happy.”

The Make DC Smile Facebook page says the following: “No one ever looks forward to sitting in traffic and going to work on Monday morning. What started as a simple bucket list idea to hold the sign ‘Honk if you love someone’ at a busy DC intersection has turned into a weekly movement to get commuters starting their week off with a smile.”

On Thursday, the happy volunteers will make their first appearance in Arlington. They will be holding signs at the corner of N. Glebe Road and Fairfax Drive in Ballston from 5:15-6:30 p.m. It’s also noted that this will be the group’s first smile session during the afternoon rush hour.

The Make DC Smile website isn’t up and running yet, but the group hopes to launch it by the end of November. Once the site is functional, visitors can download and print all of the positive signs in English, as well as other languages like Spanish, French, German, Arabic and Farsi.

The Facebook page says the group is working on a number of other projects. To get involved or to offer idea suggestions, email [email protected].

Photos via Facebook

County to Collect Hazardous and Unwanted Items

By Katie Pyzyk

This weekend may be the perfect time to rid your house of unwanted items. Arlington County will hold its biannual Environmental Collection and Recycling Event (E-CARE) on Saturday to allow for the safe disposal of hazardous household items.

Residents can drop of materials at the Thomas Jefferson Middle School (125 S. Old Glebe Road) on Saturday, October 13, from 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Commercial and business waste will not be accepted.

An ID is required as proof of Arlington residency in order to drop off materials. There is no smoking allowed at the drop off site. A list of hazardous items that will be collected is listed below:

Acceptable Chemical Materials:

  • Paint Products (25 can limit)
  • Lawn & Garden Chemicals
  • Fuels/Petroleum Products
  • Flammable Solvents
  • Corrosives (acids/caustics)
  • Poisons (pesticides)
  • Automotive Fluids and Batteries
  • Car Care Products
  • Photographic Chemicals
  • Household Cleaners
  • Mercury
  • Propane Tanks
  • Fluorescent Lamps and Tubes
  • Fire Extinguishers
  • Household Hazardous Materials

Unacceptable Chemical Materials:

  • Asbestos
  • Explosives and Ammunition
  • Freon
  • Compressed Gas Cylinders
  • Radioactive Materials
  • Prescription Drugs
  • Medical Waste

Mercury:

  • Covanta Energy will be providing a $5 gift card to all residents who drop off household devices containing mercury (thermostats, thermometers, sphygmomanometers, manometers, barometers, hygrometers and liquid mercury). Arlington County will be collecting CFLs at E-CARE, but they are excluded from Covanta’s $5 rebate offer.

For a full list of other items that will be accepted — including bicycles, electronics, clothing, eyeglasses and hearing aids — log on to the E-CARE website.

A representative with Boy Scout Troop 505 tells ARLnow.com that boy scouts will be at the E-CARE event from 8:30 a.m. until noon to collect unusable American flags for retirement and proper disposal at a ceremony later this month.

ACPD to Hold Community Crime Forums

By Katie Pyzyk

The Arlington County Police Department is inviting residents to attend a series of community forums to address crime trends throughout the county.

In addition to looking at trends, part of the discussions will examine recent incidents of violent crimes. Residents will be able to ask questions and voice concerns about crime throughout Arlington as a whole, and localized crime in each neighborhood.

District commanders and officers from each of the three districts’ community policing teams will be on hand to present information and answer questions. Police Chief M. Douglas Scott and Deputy Chief Michael Dunne will also attend the forums.

The meetings will take place on the following dates:

  • District One – October 17, 2012, 7:00 p.m. at Madison Community Center, 3829 N. Stafford Street, Room 6
  • District Two (South) – October 24, 2012, 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 830 S. 23rd Street
  • District Two (North) – November 1, 2012, 7:00 p.m. at Key Elementary School, 2300 Key Blvd, multi-purpose room
  • District Three – October 25, 2012, 7:00 p.m. at Arlington Career Center, 816 S. Walter Reed Drive

There is an online list naming each of the county’s neighborhoods which police districts they fall into. For additional questions, contact the appropriate district commander listed below:

Festivities Begin for NOVA Fashion Week

By Katie Pyzyk

Get ready, fashionistas, because NOVA Fashion Week begins tonight.

Although much smaller than fashion weeks in style hubs such as New York and Paris, the event brings both established and up-and-coming designers to Artisphere (1101 Wilson Blvd) to show off their collections and to give a peek at emerging fashion trends.

Festivities technically kick off tonight (Wednesday) with a VIP cocktail reception, but public availability for tickets to that event will be very limited. The main draws are the fashion shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and the free networking event on Saturday afternoon.

Thursday’s fashion show will benefit foster care non-profit Blessed Haven. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. show, and tickets start at $25. Tickets for the shows on Friday and Saturday start at $25 and begin at 7:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., respectively. Tickets are required for all festivities, including Saturday’s free networking session, and can be purchased online.

More information can be found on the NOVA Fashion Week website, or through updates on Facebook and Twitter.

Which Wich Sandwich Shop Coming to Ballston

By Katie Pyzyk

A new restaurant is getting ready to move in at 4300 Wilson Blvd in Ballston.

Which Wich is preparing to move into the neighborhood, apparently into the space previously occupied by the recently closed Daily Grind.

The chain touts more than 50 customizable sub sandwiches, including a few breakfast options, as well as salads and shakes. The restaurants highlight their unique way of ordering, in which customers use markers to write their orders on brown paper bags, and the sandwiches are delivered to them in those bags.

The Ballston location will be the third in Virginia. A company representative said it’s too early to know an exact opening date, but the goal is early in 2013.

Changes Proposed to APS Boundary Policy

By Katie Pyzyk

Arlington Public Schools is moving ahead with its boundary change process at a meeting next week. But before new boundaries are drawn up, the overall boundary policy is being revised.

At the School Board meeting last Thursday (October 4), staff presented proposed changes to the boundary policy and a framework for boundary decisions to be made during the 2012-2013 school year. According to APS spokesman Frank Bellavia, slight revisions were proposed because the policy hasn’t been examined since June of 2002.

Proposed updates to the policy include identifying when boundary changes may be necessary. Also included are criteria for the School Board and superintendent to consider when proposing boundary changes, such as promoting demographic diversity and minimizing the number of times students are affected by such changes.

Some residents were concerned that the proposed revisions might shut the public out of the process, but the school system says the revisions to the boundary framework simply clarify that the public will be involved in the entire boundary changing endeavor.

“The community is a big part of this and it will have opportunities to participate throughout the entire boundary process,” Bellavia said. “We’re going to allow parents and the community to have input.”

The School Board is expected to take action on the policy revisions at its meeting on Thursday, October 18. A more comprehensive schedule for drawing up boundaries will likely be laid out at that time, according to Bellavia.

New school boundaries are necessary to distribute students to a new elementary school on the Williamsburg Middle School campus and to additions at Ashlawn and McKinley Elementary schools. The new school and the additions are necessary to ease crowding in elementary schools across the district.

APS says it plans to specifically engage seven neighborhood schools in the boundary revision process: Ashlawn, Glebe, Jamestown, McKinley, Nottingham, Taylor and Tuckahoe.

Free Tree Distribution on Saturday

By Katie Pyzyk

The leaves may already be falling, but there’s an opportunity for you to green up your neighborhood this weekend. The county is giving away free trees to Arlington residents.

All of the trees, referred to as whips, are native to Virginia. They’re distributed in one, two or three gallon containers and typically range in height from two to four feet.

Representatives from the Arlington County Landscape staff and from TreeStewards will be on hand to offer planting guidelines and tree care tips. They can also explain characteristics of each tree species.

Distribution will take place from 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Saturday (October 13) at the Arlington County nursery facility. It is located behind the baseball field at S. George Mason Drive and Four Mile Run. Parking is available in the lot in front of the field.

Each residential property is allotted one free tree; multi-family properties should email [email protected] to obtain extra trees. Those interested in picking up a tree on Saturday should register online for a particular species. The spice bushes are sold out, but the remaining species are as follows:

  • American beech
  • American holly
  • Red oak
  • American basswood
  • Hophornbeam
  • Hornbeam
  • Sassafras
  • Persimmon

For questions, email Environmental Landscape Supervisor Patrick Wegeng at [email protected].

County, Landlord Back Off After Shop Changes Mural

By Katie Pyzyk

There’s a whale of a difference between the old and new murals at Smokey Shope III (554 23rd Street South) in Crystal City.

The store — which sells various types of gifts and smoking paraphernalia — had run into trouble with the county over a mural on the side of the building depicting a man smoking a cigar. The painting was viewed as an advertisement for products inside, thus constituting an illegal sign.

To remedy the situation, owner Atta Amin arranged for the cigar portion of the mural to be painted over, replacing it with a whale. He said the colorful, billowing cigar smoke just happens to look similar to the waves of the ocean.

The change satisfied the county’s zoning office, and it also smoothed over things with Amin’s landlord, who at first objected to the mural. According to Amin, the building owner has allowed him to keep the mural up through the end of his lease. He’s currently four months into the five year lease.

Since the whale first appeared last month, Amin said he’s received no complaints about the mural from neighbors or customers.

“Hopefully people will be happy with it,” he said.

Amin said he spent a considerable amount of money to fix up the inside of the once-vacant building, located along the 23rd Street strip of restaurants and small shops. With the mural troubles out of the way, he’s now focused on attracting more customers.

“So far business is okay. Hopefully we can get the upper hand and see the hard work paid off,” Amin said. “Time is on our side.”

Restoration Anglican Church Looks to Expand

By Katie Pyzyk

Restoration Anglican Church (1815 N. Quincy Street) hasn’t been in existence for long, but it’s already looking to expand into a larger building.

The church congregation formed in January 2009, when it was around 100 people. At that time, it rented space for one service per week from Trinity Baptist Church, as did a third congregation which ended up relocating to Reston. Restoration bought the church building when Trinity disbanded in 2010.

Now, the congregation is closer to 450-500 people and the number of weekend services has increased to three. The Rev. David Hanke says the congregation has reached its threshold for expansion in the current facility.

“Our ability to keep adding services has hit its end so we need to build something larger,” he said.

Last month, Restoration began its capital campaign in an effort to raise a portion of the $4.5 million budgeted for the project. Although a design has not yet been finalized, the goal is to build a facility that would seat around 400 people, instead of the current 150 person capacity.

The existing church building will be razed and the new facility will be built on the same plot of land. So far there is no hard date for breaking ground, considering a final design hasn’t even been approved yet, but the hope is to start construction in early 2013.

While construction takes place for an estimated 12 to 18 months, the congregation will use space at Little Falls Presbyterian Church for one service per weekend.

Rev. Hanke reports having a good relationship with the surrounding community, and mentioned attending a Cherrydale Citizens Association meeting to address any concerns about a larger church. One of the issues that has come up as a concern among some residents is the lack of parking.

Right now, there are only 13 parking spaces at the church but there is a shuttle on Sundays that runs to the designated parking lot adjacent to Washington-Lee High School near I-66. The parking plan is in compliance with a county code allowing churches to run such shuttles to nearby parking lots. Rev. Hanke says the new church will house the same number of spots and the Sunday shuttle service will continue. Church goers will be reminded, as they are now, to appease neighbors by not parking on Quincy Street or nearby side streets.

Although a finished church facility is far in the future, the congregation is looking forward to its larger, permanent home.

“In the ongoing conversation we’re having with our community, one of the parallels I’ve drawn is to being a homeowner. There’s a big difference between renting a space and owning a space,” said Rev. Hanke. “Since we became owners, we became much more invested in the Quincy Street area. We love being on that street and we love our neighborhood. We are excited we have the opportunity to be there for a long, long time.”

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