Author: Katie Pyzyk

Safe Drug Disposal at Prescription Take Back Day

By Katie Pyzyk

Updated at 10:50 a.m. Start going through your medicine cabinets and gathering your unused medications. Arlington County officials will be on hand for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday.

Police and fire officials throughout the county will allow anyone with unused or expired medication to drop it off at designated sites for safe disposal. The program works to prevent prescription drugs from getting into the wrong hands and being abused. It also prevents medications from being disposed of improperly, such as being flushed down the toilet or thrown in the garbage.

You can bring any unwanted medication to the following locations on Saturday from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.:

  • Arlington Fire Station #9, 1900 S. Walter Reed Dr.
  • Arlington Fire Station #8, 4845 Lee Hwy.
  • Arlington Fire Station #1, 500 S. Glebe Rd.
  • Henderson Hall MCX, 1555 Southgate Rd., Ft. Myer
  • Ft. Myer PX, 210 McNair Rd., Ft. Myer
  • Pentagon Parking Lot, 551 Army Navy Dr.
The following location will collect medication Thursday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m.:
  • Chief of Staff Support Office, 111 S. George Mason Dr.

UPDATED: Sick Person at Rosslyn Metro

By Katie Pyzyk

Update at 9:00 a.m. — WMATA is reporting that normal service has resumed on the Blue and Orange Lines.

Emergency crews are on their way to the Rosslyn Metro station for reports of a sick person on board an Orange Line train. WMATA says the person is unresponsive.

There are delays on the Orange and Blue Lines in both directions as a result. Delays will continue until the situation is resolved.

Vehicle Slams into Walgreens on Lee Highway

By Katie Pyzyk

Police responded to an accident involving a vehicle crashing into the Walgreens at 3130 Lee Highway.

The vehicle jumped the curb and slammed into one of the building’s pillars. Nobody was hurt and there is no damage to the vehicle.

Police requested that a building inspector check out the damage to Walgreens, however the pillar is decorative and should not affect the building’s structural integrity. Police say the damage “looks worse than it really is.”

A tow truck arrived at the scene as a precaution, but with no damage to the car, it appears the driver can leave without assistance.

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South Block Smoothie to Add Espresso, Change Menu

By Katie Pyzyk

(Updated at 10:35 p.m. on 10/27/11) South Block Smoothie and Wrap Co. (3011 11th St. N.) in Clarendon is adding to its list of offerings.

South Block’s new espresso machine just arrived today (Oct. 26), and the eatery plans on serving coffee drinks brewed with Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso starting in November.

A manager tells ARLnow.com that the staff and atmosphere at the newly opened shop will remain the same, but owner Amir Mostafavi is tweaking the menu. In addition to serving coffee drinks, certain menu items — like Boar’s Head deli meat paninis — will be added.

There’s no specific launch date for the coffee bar and changed menu, but apparently it’s going to happen “sometime before Thanksgiving.”

Affordable Housing Development Opens in Ballston

By Katie Pyzyk

The opening of an affordable housing community in Ballston was welcomed with much fanfare on Tuesday evening. Numerous county officials joined new residents at The Jordan (801 N. Wakefield St.) for a grand opening ceremony.

The apartments are aimed at individuals or families earning 50-60% of the area’s mean income. A key selling point of the apartments is their proximity to local businesses and public transportation. They’re about one block from Ballston Commons Mall and about four blocks from the Ballston Metro. County Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman pointed out that this is important because the people who typically need public transit the most are those with lower incomes. Residents at The Jordan are also eligible for a public transit subsidy.

Zimmerman said because Arlington is becoming a more expensive place to live, it’s vital to be creative and innovative in providing housing options. He said the county is at risk of losing its diversity without such options.

“We need to make sure this is a place in which everyone can live,” Zimmerman said. “Not just those who are privileged with a high income.”

The property is owned and managed by AHC Inc., a nonprofit developer of low and moderate-income housing. They acquired the property through a land swap with The JBG Companies. It’s part of the larger mixed-use development under construction at the corner of Glebe Rd. and Wilson Blvd.

The Jordan replaces the previous affordable housing complex nearby, Jordan Manor, which was demolished nearly three years ago. Residents at Jordan Manor who wished to move into The Jordan received first pick on the apartments. The Jordan houses 90 apartments, whereas Jordan Manor had only 24.

Five of the building’s units have three bedrooms and can accomodate larger families. Nine of the units are fully accessible to residents with disabilities. Amenities include a library, business center, courtyard with fountain and community room.

The first residents moved into The Jordan about a month ago, and the building is currently two-thirds occupied.

ABBIE Award Voting Begins

By Katie Pyzyk

Disclosure: The ABBIE Awards/Arlington Economic Development is an ARLnow.com advertiser

Now’s your chance to make sure your favorite businesses in Arlington get recognized. Voting for the 2011 ABBIE awards begins today.

Nominations for Arlington’s Best Business Awards came via online voting from September 21-October 12. They’ve been narrowed down to the to the top five (and in one case six) finalists in each of 15 categories.

ABBIE winners will receive recognition from the Arlington County Board, a year’s worth of promotion in various local publications, and special placement in the Arlington County Visitors Guide and Map.

Voting runs through November 16. To cast your vote click here.


New Programming Director Named at Artisphere

By Katie Pyzyk

Arlington’s year-old arts venue has named a new programming director. Artisphere (1101 Wilson Blvd) welcomes Rosanna Ruscetti, who has previously worked as a programmer at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium.

This announcement comes the same week the Arlington Commission for the Arts released its final version of a long-term plan, called “Arlington Arts 2030.” The report specifically mentioned Artisphere and the challenges it faced when opening a year ago. But the report also called Artisphere a successful first step in implementing the county’s arts vision.

Low revenue, low attendance, a lack of a restaurant for seven months and staffing issues plagued Artisphere from the start. But it revamped its business plan earlier this year and appears to be on a better track. Earlier this month, the venue hosted a birthday party to celebrate one year in existence.

In a press release, Artisphere Executive Director José Ortiz said he’s pleased with the addition of Ruscetti.

“We are thrilled Rosanna has joined the Artisphere team,” Ortiz said. “With her rich background and demonstrated success in programming in this market, Rosanna will continue to strengthen and build Artisphere’s innovative, diverse and thought-provoking programming.”

Ruscetti has previously served as a consultant for arts programming and business development as well as event promotion.

Ruscetti said, “I am excited to be part of a new arts center that is unique to this region. It’s a terrific opportunity to connect DC-area audiences with artists in innovative ways.”

New Management Revamps Toscana Grill

By Katie Pyzyk

Updated at 6:10 p.m. The name remains the same, but just about everything else has changed at Toscana Grill.

The restaurant in the Courthouse Metro Plaza (2300 Clarendon Blvd.) has completely revamped. From appearance, to management and staff, to menu, Toscana Grill wants to make a new name for itself.

The new management abandoned the vegetarian menu, and now offers a variety of options for lovers of both meat and meatless dishes.

Operating Partner Joe Smith said, “You’ve always got plenty of vegetarian options in Italian cooking, so there’s plenty of variety.”

The switch happened in July and the restaurant has slowly been getting into a groove since then. Smith said the business needed many improvements, which can sometimes seem overwhelming. But he points out it’s important to focus on the overall goal and not become bogged down by everything that needs fixing.

The restaurant’s new focus is on making food in the classic Italian style. Smith, who moved to the area nearly seven years ago, claims to be a product of his New Jersey training. He aims to provide an experience he doesn’t believe can be found at any other Italian restaurants in the area.

Loyal customers are building up, and Smith says part of his enjoyment of running the restaurant is meeting all the patrons.

“I’m not sure if it’s this area or something,” he said, “but we have the best guests.”

While the atmosphere has become more casual, staff members work hard to ensure service isn’t lacking. Smith says he wants everyone who visits not only to enjoy high quality food, but also to have a good time.

He said, “We’re working hard, the food is great. Come say hi to Joe.”

Meeting to Address Improvements on Columbia Pike

By Katie Pyzyk

The Columbia Pike Implementation Team is holding a meeting tonight, and anyone interested in the Pike’s future is welcome to attend.

The focus will be on the progress of the Columbia Pike Multimodal Street Improvements Project and what should be done next to reach its goals. The county started the project to analyze transportation along the 3.5 mile Columbia Pike corridor, and suggest improvements for pedestrians, bicycles and vehicles.

Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting and offer feedback on the recommended design. It’s tonight from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Walter Reed Community Center (2909 S. 16th St.).

More information on the Columbia Pike Multimodal Street Improvements Project can be found here.

Final Version of Arlington Arts Report Released

By Katie Pyzyk

The Arlington Commission for the Arts has released the final version of its report for a long-term plan, called “Arlington Arts 2030.” The report outlines recommendations for supporting the arts in Arlington over the next 20 years, replacing the previous plan that was in place since the 1990s.

The year-long process of devising the report has involved several revisions based on comments gathered at public meetings and through emails. Committee members had noted during the public meetings that although it’s difficult to predict exactly what the county’s needs will be in 20 years, Arlington has experienced a steady push toward urbanization. The report assumes such a push will continue, and therefore arts programs should expand accordingly.

The report suggests that although desire for arts has increased in the community, avenues for acquiring funding have decreased. As a result, among the more than two dozen recommended actions listed is the idea of restructuring grant programs. Other suggestions include raising funds for an arts facility renovation, revising policies for renting facilites and marketing the arts to promote audience growth.

One overall goal of the revamped plan is to offer more low-cost, easily accessible and varied forms of performing and visual arts throughout the county. Another is to improve diversity among the arts community.

Artisphere received a specific mention in the report due to the challenges it faced at the start. However, it was noted that challenges will always present themselves, making government and community support of the arts vital. Despite the initial difficulties, the report deemed the opening of Artisphere a successful first step in implementing the county’s arts vision.

You can read the entire report here.

Green Dye in Water Along Four Mile Run

By Katie Pyzyk

A mysterious green dye has been spotted in the water along Four Mile Run Dr. near S. George Mason Dr.

Arlington County Fire Department’s Hazmat team is on the scene. They say the dye is a non-hazardous drainage detection substance. Bags of this type of dye are sometimes released into a building’s drainage system to make sure there are no leaks or breaks. A nearby building performed this type of test today, and it drains into the creek at Four Mile Run.

The dye does appear to be moving downstream, so other areas may soon see a green hue in the water.

Courtesy photo

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