Author: Tim Regan

Rosslyn Target Shutters Starbucks as Part of Ongoing Renovations

By Tim Regan
1/5

The TargetExpress store in Rosslyn is getting a facelift.

Two sections of the store — an area next to the women’s apparel aisle and the Starbucks — are currently blocked off by plastic sheets. Large pieces of construction equipment and tools were spotted in those sections.

Though several Target employees told ARLnow.com they weren’t sure what kind of work is being done or when those areas might reopen, one said a new beer and wine section might replace the shuttered Starbucks. A media representative for Target did not immediately respond to requests for more information.

(Luckily, Rosslynites needing a caffeine fix will not have to go far to find another Starbucks.)

The 23,000 square foot store, located at 1500 Wilson Blvd, sells groceries, beer, wine, personal care items, clothing, gadgets and other goods. It opened less than two years ago.

Metro’s Next SafeTrack ‘Surge’ Will Temporarily Halt Blue Line Service

By Tim Regan

Arlington Cemetery Metro station in the rain (Flickr pool photo by Brian Irwin)

Metro’s next SafeTrack “surge” will include a temporary shutdown of the entire Blue Line, starting Saturday.

Blue Line trains will not run at all between Feb. 11-28, according to Metro. Instead, Yellow Line “Rush Plus” trains will run all day between Franconia-Springfield and Greenbelt. Those trains will run in addition to regular Yellow Line trains between Huntingdon and Mount Vernon Square.

The Arlington Cemetery station will be closed and will be served by buses from the Pentagon during the latest round of maintenance work.

During rush hour, trains are scheduled to arrive every four minutes at stations normally served by both Blue and Yellow Line trains, Metro said. Orange and Silver Line trains will not be affected by the latest track maintenance effort.

Metro originally planned to only run Blue Line trains between the Franconia-Springfield and Reagan National Airport stops. But the transit agency updated that plan on Jan. 27 after concluding the original one wasn’t necessarily “in the interest of minimizing customer impact.”

“The new service plan means that riders from Virginia will experience less crowding and will be able to ride into D.C. without changing trains,” the agency said in a release.

Next month, track work will primarily affect riders heading to and from Alexandria. From March 4-26, Metro trains will share a single track on the Blue and Yellow lines between the Braddock Road and Huntington/Van Dorn Street stations. Blue Line trains will run every 24 minutes during that time, while the Yellow Line between National Airport and Mt. Vernon Square will run every 6-12 minutes, according to Metro.

From March 26 through April 2, only Blue Line Trains will share a single track. Then, from April 3-9, Yellow Line trains are slated for single-tracking.

Later this year, likely around May and June, a portion of the Orange Line between the Minnesota Avenue and New Carrollton stops is also scheduled to undergo maintenance and single tracking. The SafeTrack program is currently slated to wrap up in late June, though the final dates haven’t yet been announced.

Flickr pool photo by Brian Irwin

Revolution Cycles Rebrands as ‘Trek Bicycle Store’ After Sale

By Tim Regan
1/3

The company behind a Clarendon cycling shop has a new owner and a new name.

Local bike and clothing chain Revolution Cycles is now the “Trek Bicycle Store.” The name change is part of a sale to the Trek Bicycle Corporation, a Wisconsin-based retailer of bicycles and riding accessories.

Workers will soon install signs with the company’s new name at the former Revolution Cycles at 2731 Wilson Blvd in Clarendon as well as at the locations in Georgetown, Rockville and Stafford.

“We have plans to expand and continue to improve everything that has made these stores so important to the communities they serve,” Trek spokesman Eric Bjorling told ARLnow.com. “Along with us will come a dedication to creating a great environment for local cyclists through local cycling advocacy and we will be focused on finding all the opportunities we can to create unforgettable retail experiences.”

Revolution founders Mike Hamannwright and Santiago “Pinkey” Gonzalez thanked the store’s longtime customers in an email yesterday.

The full email is below.

Twenty years ago, a couple guys set out on a mission to fulfill a personal dream, namely to turn our passion for bicycles, serving customers and wearing shorts to work into a livelihood. Thus was born Revolution Cycles at the foot of the Key Bridge in Georgetown.

The time has come for us to pass the baton and move into the next chapter of our lives. We’ve been honored to serve the Washington D.C. community and have watched our dream grow into a successful and vibrant family of four stores stretching from Rockville, Maryland, to Stafford, Virginia. From your house to the White Hose, we’ve always strived to exceed expectations. In this journey, we’ve been carried by a tide of amazing customers and a dedicated and talented staff.

We love the business we’ve all built together, and as we planned for the future, our priority was finding a partner who shared our core values and would commit to building upon what we’ve developed. We believe the best part of our business wears shoes; the customers and our tremendous staff. We needed to know that Revolution Cycles would be in the caring hands of people who have a passion for cycling, a reputation for excellent customer service, and a dedication to giving back to the community through advocacy.

We have found that partner in Trek Bicycle. We know they will do a great job and that your experience with your shops and cycling in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia will continue to improve under their guidance and leadership.

There truly aren’t words that adequately say “thank you” for all the support you’ve given us through the years. Owning a small business is a ride like no other. Without your support, there is no revolution cycles. Over the years we’ve drawn inspiration and our drive from the energy of our customers and hundreds of staff who’ve worn the Revolution Cycles black and red polo.

We are forever grateful you chose us to be your local bike shop.

Happy cycling,

Mike and Pinkey

Park Service Picks Plan for Memorial Bridge Rehabilitation

By Tim Regan
1/5

(Updated at 5:10 p.m.) The National Park Service now has a plan to rehabilitate the deteriorating Memorial Bridge.

Officials announced today the selection of a comprehensive plan that would replace and refurbish some of the bridge’s components to keep it from closing by 2021. The plan was one of several others considered for the project.

The plan calls for “the repair of the concrete arches and stone facades on the 10 approach spans, the replacement of the bascule span’s steel superstructure, the reconstruction of the bridge deck and sidewalks and the resurfacing of all travel lanes,” according to a release from NPS.

The rehabilitation project was awarded a $90 million federal transportation grant for repairs last July. Virginia’s U.S. senators, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, are working on securing additional funding needed to complete the project.

Built in 1932, Memorial Bridge has far exceeded its 75-year life expectancy. Still, many people use the bridge each day to travel between the District and Virginia.

More on the plan, from an NPS press release, after the jump.

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Four-Day Music Festival Could Come to Courthouse in May

By Tim Regan

Festival BeCause stage at Clarendon Day(Updated at 3:59 p.m.) A new festival could bring music, food and thousands of people to Courthouse this spring.

If all goes according to plan, “Festival BeCause” would bring around 40 bands and other performers to the Courthouse Square area (1425 N Courthouse Road) on May 26-29. The event would include four music stages, a beer and wine pavilion, food trucks, interactive community art walls and a “future tech exhibit,” according to its website.

The purpose of the festival is to raise awareness and money for good causes, said Festival BeCause co-organizer Anders Thueson. A large portion of the square would be dedicated to a “Village of Causes,” an area where attendees can learn about local charities and other nonprofits.

Planned festival map via Festival BeCause“People are going to come out to see their favorite band, but ultimately, they’re going to learn about the causes,” Thueson said. “Something’s going to strike them that day, whether it’s a veteran’s cause or a puppy rescue cause.”

If such a large undertaking sounds expensive, that’s because it is. Thueson estimates that, after booking bands and securing the space, the festival could end up costing as much as $250,000. So far, organizers have secured a pledge of $150,000 from a generous local underwriter, he said.

The festival also has the backing of Clarendon Alliance, the group that organizes Clarendon Day. Clarendon Alliance will help secure permits and sell tickets for the event.

“If we’re able to do this event and walk away giving some money to causes and artists and have very little left over to do it again, we would consider this a success,” Thueson said.

Many of the festival’s details will be finalized in the coming days and weeks. Those interested in keeping up with the event can register to get email updates on the Festival BeCause website.

Images courtesy of Festival BeCause

Heritage Brewing Aiming to Open Clarendon Gastropub This Month

By Tim Regan
1/5

(Updated at 1:55 p.m.) A Manassas-based brewery and coffee roaster has plans to open a new Clarendon brewpub later this month.

Heritage Brewing’s Arlington outpost is scheduled to open its doors at 2900 Wilson Blvd by the end of February, according to Sean Arroyo, the company’s chief executive officer. The company launched a Kickstarter campaign last November to help open the restaurant.

When it opens to the public, the gastropub will serve small-batch beers in addition to a lineup of IPAs, pale ales and wheat beers.

“We’ll have a brew pilot system there,” Arroyo said. “We’ll do small batches and exclusive beers for the Arlington community.”

Though the food menu isn’t yet finalized, it will be more than “your typical pub and grub,” Arroyo said. Dishes from executive chef Donal Crosbie will include roasted chicken, steak, burgers and fish.

“There’s a lot of thought in the menu and in the dishes,” Arroyo said. “Everything is fresh. We’re purchasing local ingredients. You’ll see Virginia chicken and beef.”

Another idea Heritage plans to implement is to serve beef from cattle that were fed some of the brewery’s spent grains.

“It’s the ultimate farm-to-table,” Arroyo joked.

Inside the eatery, repurposed wooden barrels, brick walls and reclaimed wood will help create a style Arroyo calls “barn chic meets industrial rustic.”

“All of the benches and booths that are in there are made from barrels that once aged whiskey and then aged our beer,” he said. “We want you to feel all-encompassed while being comfortable.”

Above all else, Arroyo said he’s just excited to start serving food and beer in Arlington.

“Most of our consumers are from Arlington,” he said. “We know that we will have a great community there.”

Workers Break Ground on Lee and Glebe Intersection Upgrade

By Tim Regan
1/5

Wider sidewalks and new bus shelters are coming soon to the intersection of Lee Highway and N. Glebe Road.

Construction crews broke ground last month on the preliminary stages of a large improvement project that will eventually include the installation of left-turn lanes on N. Glebe Road, bigger sidewalks, four new bus shelters with real-time arrival information, and new streetlights, crosswalk markings and traffic signals. The improvements “will improve traffic flow and pedestrian and bicyclist safety,” Arlington County said.

Workers are currently installing underground equipment in parking lots near the intersection, but the larger improvements aren’t slated to arrive until sometime next year at the earliest.

“Construction began in January on the first phase, utility undergrounding. This is expected to last 18 months,” said Arlington Dept. of Environmental Services spokesman Eric Balliet. “The second phase, streetscape and transit stop upgrades, is still in design.”

Once the design is finalized, it will take workers about a year to finish the job, Balliet added.

In the months ahead, commuters can expect road work to start at the intersection. Construction hours within the roadway are 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Some night work will also occur between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. on weekdays and weekends, the county said.

Workers may close a single lane of traffic in one or both directions along Lee Highway, Glebe Road or both during construction. Vehicles turning left or right might also be detoured as construction moves into the intersection itself.

Additionally, some bus stops in the area will be relocated and some sidewalks will be closed or rerouted to allow for construction, the county said. Off-street parking in the area may also be reduced in the coming months.

Arlington Agenda: Feb. 6-12

By Tim Regan

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.

Tuesday

BINGO-HH-PP-2-7-17Arlington Thrive’s Young Professional Bingo Happy Hour *
Arlington Rooftop Bar & Grill (2424 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 5:30-8:30 p.m.

This bingo happy hour will have food and drink specials along with opportunities to mingle and chat. Attendees can try their chances at winning awesome prizes. All who show up before 6 p.m. will receive a free gift.

Wednesday

School Buses on 29th Street SouthConsequences of School Redistricting *
Marymount University, Phalen Hall Dining Room (2807 N Glebe Road)
Time: 7-9 p.m.

The session will cover future demographic projections and discuss school boundaries. “Demographic projections show many more students will be attending Arlington schools in the near future which will require a discussion of school boundaries,” event organizers said. “Boundary changes can be very personal and affect the entire community. ”

Thursday

Sip-and-Sample-Card-1-p-draggedSip & Sample Wine Tasting *
Bistro 360 (1800 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 6-8 p.m.

Bistro 360 is scheduled to host an evening of fine wines paired with small plates and wine raffles. The event costs $60 per person, with proceeds going directly to Bowen McCauley Dance, an Arlington dance company known for its community outreach.

AHS-Feb150 Years of Worship *
Marymount University (2807 N Glebe Road)
Time: 7-9 p.m.

This event will celebrate the 1866 establishment of three area churches: Mount Zion Baptist Church, Callaway United Methodist Church and Lomax AME. Additionally, church members will discuss “their shared and unique experiences and the impact on the county” during a panel discussion.

Arlington Central LibraryTeen Annual Broken Hearts Party
Arlington Central Library (1015 N Quincy St.)
Time: 3-4:30 p.m.

Middle and high school students will be able to celebrate the most romantic holiday of the year without having to worry about finding a sweetheart. The Valentine’s Day event is scheduled to include cookie decorating, quizzes, book rating and trivia.

Friday

LionInWinterLetterSizePosterThe Lion in Winter at The Arlington Players *
Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre (125 S Old Glebe Road)
Time: 8-10 p.m.

“The Lion in Winter” is a tale that waves family rivalry, adultery, and shifting alliances into one dramatic comedy. The play centers around the conflicts of a royal family as they fight over control of the kingdom during the Christmas of 1183.

Saturday

VivelaFranceNational Chamber Ensemble – Vive la France *
Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre (1611 N. Kent Street)
Time: 7:30-9:30 p.m.

The National Chamber Ensemble is set to play a romantic concert with music from French composer Camille Saint-Saëns. A reception is scheduled to follow the performance, which organizers said is “the perfect occasion to bring your Valentine.”

Yorktown Regional jazz festivalRegional Jazz Festival 2017
Yorktown High School (5200 Yorktown Blvd)
Time: 2:15-8 p.m.

The free jazz concert will feature performances by regional high school jazz bands and a three-song set by the U.S. Airmen of Note Jazz Ensemble. This year’s theme is “Essentially Ellington,” meaning performers will feature the legendary jazz music of Duke Ellington.

Sunday

UnknownGiant Used Book Fair *
St. Ann Church Parish Hall (5300 10th Street North)
Time: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

St. Ann Church and School is scheduled to hold its 6th annual Giant Used Book Fair with books for “every age and taste at amazing prices.” Shoppers can browse all kinds of books, from fiction and politics to DIY and children’s tomes. The event also will have a Valentine’s Day themed bake sale and free coffee, admission and parking.

Rock Spring Church (via Google Maps)Rock Spring Recital Series featuring IBIS Chamber Music Society *
Rock Spring Congregational UCC (5010 Little Falls Road)
Time: 3-4:15 p.m.

This concert includes music by Ravel, including IBIS’s original arrangement of the Mother Goose Suite and the Introduction and Allegro, the Jeux D’Enfants by Bizet, a work by composer Marjan Mozetich and other selections.

The Princess BrideComedy and The Princess Bride Movie Night
Arlington Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike)
Time: Multiple times

The cinema and comedy venue will show attendees the meaning of “wuv, tru wuv,” during four screenings of cult classic film “The Princess Bride.” The screenings, which run Sunday, Feb. 12 and Tuesday, Feb. 14, will feature live comedy before the movie.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event

Rosslyn Event to Give Entrepreneurs a Chance to Appear on the Home Shopping Network

By Tim Regan

American Dreams image via HSNLocal entrepreneurs can learn how to get their ideas, products or inventions featured on the Home Shopping Network during a free event in Rosslyn later this month.

The D.C.-area chapter of business mentoring organization SCORE is scheduled to host an event for the Home Shopping Network program “American Dreams” at the Spectrum Theater (1611 N Kent Street) on Monday, Feb. 27 at 10 a.m.

“American Dreams” features inventions and products from small businesses and entrepreneurs across the country. The program’s tagline is to “make your product tomorrow’s best seller,” according to its website.

The upcoming event is set to include a “high energy” presentation about the Home Shopping Network and its various product success stories. Attendees can pitch their products, then refine those pitches during a “show and tell” portion of the event. Afterward, they’ll be able to submit their products for a chance to be featured on “American Dreams.”

“They’ll have an opportunity to describe or pitch their concept,” said SCORE marketing chair and mentor, Len Johnson. “This is a preliminary introduction to the program. It’s kind of a filtering process.”

Unlike a program such as “Shark Tank,” the businesspeople don’t need to show up with a working prototype of their product or invention to be considered for the show.

“That’s why they call it American Dream,” Johnson said. “It’s a program that features people that have a dream but don’t have the means to be successful. It allows an entrepreneur to get airtime.”

After the event, the Home Shopping Network will review the day’s submissions and possibly pick out some Arlington entrepreneurs for a second round of interviews. If all goes well during those interviews, the product could then head to television.

Those interested in attending the free session can sign up online. The event is limited to 500 people.

Arlington Group Borrows Tea Party Tactics to Oppose Trump Agenda

By Tim Regan
1/2

(Updated at 1:58 p.m.) A new grassroots organization in Arlington hopes to obstruct President Trump’s actions by using some familiar tactics.

The group is called “Indivisible Arlington,” and it’s quickly becoming a focal point for local political frustrations. The organization gets its name from the “Indivisible Guide,” an online resource that borrows protest tactics from the Tea Party, the right-wing protest group that helped reshape the U.S. political landscape after the election of President Obama.

The goal of the Indivisible movement is to act as a kind of Tea Party of the left, said Arlington chapter co-organizer David Robeck.

“The Tea Party had very effective ways to obstruct things,” he added. “We wanted to learn from what they did.”

In the months ahead, Indivisible Arlington members will speak up at town hall meetings, call or meet their congressional representatives and show up en masse to events and organized rallies or protests.

The idea seems to be resonating among locals. Though Indivisible Arlington only formed last month, it already has more than 400 members. The group is composed of people from all walks of life, including local students, longtime activists and retired federal employees, Robeck said.

So many people showed up to the group’s first meeting at the Arlington Central Library last weekend that the meeting had to be moved to nearby Quincy Park.

“Despite the cold weather, 106 people gathered to participate,” reads a press release about the group’s first meeting. “The discussion included a wide range of issues such as cabinet nominees, refugees, and women’s rights.”

But it’s not just Arlington that’s riding the wave of political activism. Similar protest groups are popping up all across the country.

“There was outrage right away and that mobilized people to demonstrate everywhere,” Robeck said. “We’re stronger when we unite together.”

Those interested in attending Indivisible Arlington meetings can request access to the group’s Facebook page.

Government Contracting Accelerator Eastern Foundry Opens Rosslyn Office

By Tim Regan

Startup Monday header

Sponsored by Monday Properties and written by ARLnow.com, Startup Monday is a weekly column that profiles Arlington-based startups and their founders, plus other local technology happenings. 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.

(Updated at 12:48 p.m.) Up-and-coming tech companies that cater to the U.S. government now have a refuge in Rosslyn.

Government contracting startup accelerator Eastern Foundry threw a party last week to celebrate the opening of its new office on the 10th floor of 1100 Wilson Blvd. It first announced the expansion last June.

Though the 19,237-square-foot space is slightly smaller than Eastern Foundry’s first office in Crystal City, it still offers plenty of room for government-focused startups.

People playing table tennis at Eastern FoundryThe new Rosslyn office features an open layout and is geared more toward tenants that work with civilian government agencies, said Eastern Foundry co-founder Andrew Chang. The space features 43 private offices, three conference rooms, a training room and a shared common area with couches, chairs, tables and games.

“It’s two very different vibes, and that’s what we’re going for,” Chang said. “Crystal City is Pentagon-focused. It’s more office intensive. Here, we’re kind of pushing a more innovative, younger crowd.”

In Crystal City, many of Eastern Foundry’s tenants work with sensitive government defense contracts and therefore need a little more privacy, he explained. In contrast, the Rosslyn office is suited for collaboration and open discussion. Job opportunities and announcements are beamed onto two televisions in the office’s kitchen each day, for instance.

Eastern Foundry party on Thursday, Feb. 2Representatives from dozens of small businesses mingled over food and drinks during the company’s grand opening party last Thursday. Though the new office has been open for less than a week, it’s already about 30 percent full, Chang said. Eastern Foundry expects that number will grow quickly.

“Virginia is all about business,” Chang said. “It’s very small business friendly and it works for our member companies.”

But it’s not just Eastern Foundry’s tenants that stand to benefit from the new office. Rosslyn itself could also see an economic boost from all the new tech companies setting up shop there.

“Eastern Foundry is a unique and important addition to our business community because they are cultivating the next generation of government-focused technology companies,” said Mary-Claire Burick, president of the Rosslyn BID. “These companies, and the investment capital and young talent they attract, stand to have a major impact in Rosslyn for years to come.”

Check out some more photos of Eastern Foundry’s new offices below.

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