Around Town

Friendly skies: How DCA’s social media accounts seek to keep air travel fun

By James Jarvis
Reagan National and Dulles International’s Digital Marketing Specialist Amanda Ohbayashi (courtesy of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority)

(Updated at 1:55 p.m.) When Amanda Ohbayashi creates a social media post for Reagan National Airport, she’s doing more than just sharing information.

Her goal as DCA’s sole social media curator is to create content on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram that makes people stop and engage with what they are watching or reading.

If you keep up with DCA on social media or follow people who do, you may have noticed more playful and funny posts recently, from satirical travel experiences to witty short clips and pop culture references.

And while these posts are designed to be fun, Ohbayashi points out that they also play a crucial role in educating travelers.

“We have fun sometimes, certainly, but also because of the engagement that these fun posts get, it lifts up our posts that really need to be seen because there is a major incident,” Ohbayashi told ARLnow. “That algorithm has already helped us out. So it really goes hand in hand.”

Take, for example, a meme DCA posted this summer about accidentally going to DCA when a flight is out of Dulles. The post struck a chord with with social media users, garnering some 54,000 likes on Instagram and around 75,000 views on X — thousands more interactions than either account usually sees.

While the meme is intended to be witty and entertaining, it also serves the practical purpose of reminding flyers to double-check their departure airport, says Ohbayashi.

“People thought that was so funny, and it related to a real problem that we have,” she said.

Even before she came on board with DCA’s three-person digital media team in 2018, Ohbayashi, who also co-hosts the airport’s podcast “The Capital Runway,” says she noticed a lot of airports around the country were leaning into humor to help lighten the stress of travel.

But everything really shifted gears when the pandemic hit.

“I would say a lot of the memes started probably during the pandemic… we had to fill some space. We wanted to keep things light-hearted and keep people interested even though they weren’t traveling,” Ohbayashi said.

Although humorous and carefree posts are great for increasing engagement, Ohbayashi also has a strategy for alternating between whimsical and serious content.

“We definitely want to maintain that balance because there are important messages that need to go out, whether it’s traffic incidents or runway updates or weather alerts,” she said.

When she has to post about something like snow, Ohbayashi says she still aims to soften the blow of the bad news with a positive spin.

“We do try to sprinkle in some fun content with snow team and featuring what they’re doing because they don’t really get featured that often,” she said.

Ohbayashi recognizes the goal of DCA’s social media is to provide essential information to travelers but, especially around the holidays, she views her posts as a way to remind travelers to stay positive.

“I always try to remind people to be kind because we’re all trying to get somewhere, and people are stressed in the airport,” she said. “The people who are working in the airport are also stressed, so just be kind, and we’ll get there, and it’ll be okay.”

Westover Taco is set to officially open this Saturday

By James Jarvis
1/3

The aroma of freshly made corn tortillas is permeating the air in Westover.

Westover Taco, located at 5849 Washington Blvd in the pipestem-shaped retail space long occupied by the Forest Inn dive bar, announced via social media this week that it plans to officially open tomorrow (Saturday) at 5 p.m.

“The time has come! We will officially open to the public this Saturday, December 9th at 5pm. Come one, come all,” the post reads.

Initially slated to begin operations in August, the launch of the new taco spot was delayed due to permitting issues. However, the eatery posted on its Instagram last month that the opening was back on schedule.

This week, the Mexican restaurant and bar, formerly the Forest Inn until its closure in 2022, held a soft opening to test its taco recipes and cocktail creations ahead of the grand opening.

The restaurant’s menu boasts several types of tacos, including chicken, pork, steak and fish.

Complementing the taco selection is an assortment of tequila-based cocktails, including a cucumber jalapeño Paloma with grapefruit and lime, a tequila colada with coconut water and coconut Rèal and the classic margarita.

Westover Taco’s current hours are 5 p.m. to midnight from Sunday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. However, the restaurant announced on social media that lunch service will be “starting soon.”

Scott Parker, one of the co-owners of Westover Taco, is a local entrepreneur in the area with several other well-known hospitality ventures in Arlington, including Don Tito in Clarendon, Barley Mac in Rosslyn, Bronson Bierhall in Ballston, Poppyseed Rye in Ballston and Nighthawk Pizza in Pentagon City.

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Dec 7, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Thursday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Dec 7, 2023.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Friday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

☀️ Friday’s forecast

Expect a mostly sunny day with highs around 56, accompanied by a calm wind transitioning to a southerly breeze at 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. The evening will bring partly cloudy skies and lows near 37, with a gentle south wind at 3 to 6 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

Most and least expensive homes sold in Arlington (November 2023)

By ARLnow.com

Here in Arlington, real estate is a spectator sport. Let’s take a look at some of the most and least expensive single-family homes sold last month (November 2023).

Most expensive single-family homes sold

  1. 6512 36th St N — Williamsburg — $3,034,680 (6 beds | 6.5 baths | 6,815 sq. ft.)
  2. 5409 32nd St N — Rock Spring — $2,700,000 (5 beds | 5.5 baths | 6,461 sq. ft.)
  3. 4012 N Woodstock St — Stafford Albemarle Glebe — $2,625,000 (5 beds | 4.5 baths | 6,467 sq. ft.)
  4. 3212 N Kensington St — Williamsburg — $2,615,000 (7 beds | 6.5 baths | 6,015 sq. ft.)
  5. 5821 25th Rd N — Leeway — $2,175,000 (7 beds | 6.5 baths | 5,856 sq. ft.)

Least expensive single-family homes sold*

  1. 2121 S Oxford St — Green Valley — $545,000 (2 beds | 2 baths | 1,216 sq. ft.)
  2. 5729 1st St S — Glencarlyn — $650,000 (3 beds | 2 baths | 1,062 sq. ft.)
  3. 4936 14th St S — Claremont– $675,000 (3 beds | 2 baths | 1,610 sq. ft.)

*Minimum home value of $200,000 set to exclude certain land sales, retirement condos, properties with expiring ground leases, etc.

2910 Kitchen & Bar plans to open next month on Columbia Pike in former P. Brennan’s space

By James Jarvis
2910 Kitchen & Bar on Columbia Pike (staff photo by James Jarvis)

After a several-month delay, 2910 Kitchen & Bar is gearing up to open next month on Columbia Pike pending final permit approvals, according to the restaurant owner.

The family-owned American-style eatery takes its name from its Columbia Pike address, previously the site of P. Brennan’s Irish Pub. The cavernous, two-level bar and restaurant closed its doors in 2017 and remained vacant until last year.

Initially, 2910 Kitchen & Bar had set its sights on a summer opening. However, husband-and-wife owners Raheel “Ray” Khan and Griselda Giselle Fernandez say they had to postpone the launch after discovering some issues with the building, which caught the attention of the county’s historic review board.

“The previous tenants had done a couple of things they shouldn’t have,” Khan told ARLnow. “Until those issues were fixed, we were not able to move forward.”

Several “opening soon” signs are displayed in the windows, and the number “2910” now occupies the space where the old P. Brennan’s sign once stood.

The restaurant interior has undergone some dramatic changes, including revamping the staircase, redoing the bar and adding chandeliers. The restaurant will have an upstairs VIP area, complemented by a more casual dining option on the lower level.

The renovations are nearly done, Khan says, and he’s just waiting for a final inspection.

The menu will include classic American cuisine, including steak and pasta dishes, but the dishes and desserts will rotate seasonally, says Khan.

Earlier this year, Khan and his wife brought on Rob Szydlowski as their executive chef. He has helped with more than 50 restaurant openings over his career, including several Well-Hung Vineyard restaurants in southern Virginia.

If all goes well, Khan hopes to open 2910 Kitchen & Bar soon after the new year.

“We’re hoping for Jan. 8 to do the soft opening, but if not, then the middle of January,” he said.

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Dec 6, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Wednesday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Dec 6, 2023.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

🌥️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect a mostly cloudy day with a high temperature close to 45 degrees accompanied by a southwest wind of 5 to 9 mph. As for Thursday night, it will be partly cloudy and the temperature will dip to around 33 degrees. The southwest wind around 5 mph will become calm during the evening. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
– Marcus Aurelius

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Dec 5, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Tuesday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Dec 5, 2023.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Wednesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

🌧️ Wednesday’s forecast

Scattered rain and snow showers are expected until 9am, followed by a slight chance of rain showers until noon. The day will be mostly cloudy, reaching a high of around 44 degrees, with northwest winds at 7-14 mph and gusts up to 21 mph. There’s a 30% chance of precipitation. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy, with temperatures dropping to a low of 29 degrees and northwest winds at 7-13 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”
– Dalai Lama

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

NEW: Nepalese restaurant in Ballston appears to be replacing the last remaining Booeymonger

By James Jarvis
Booeymonger in Ballston (staff photo by James Jarvis)

(Updated at 9:15 p.m.) Booeymonger in Ballston will be replaced by a new full-service Nepalese restaurant this spring, according to the incoming tenant.

Booeymonger, known for its sandwiches, wraps, bagels and salads, closed its doors at its two locations in D.C. this year, including Friendship Heights and Georgetown.

The storefront at 1010 N. Glebe Road was the well-known local deli chain’s last remaining location.

While the closure date for Booeymonger in Ballston remains uncertain, there are active plans for the deli to return to its former home in Friendship Heights, according to Booeymonger’s current owner, Rumana Chodry. She confirmed to ARLnow that the delicatessen will reopen with a new owner.

The new tenant in Ballston, Dipar Magar, told ARLnow he plans to open a new restaurant called Thakali Bhatti sometime between February and May. He owns another restaurant, Himalayan Wild Yak in Ashburn.

As of now, Magar has applied for a liquor license and the restaurant is still in its early stages of development.

“It’s going to be Nepalese food… similar to the food we have right now,” Magar said. “It’s gonna be pretty small, like 50-60 [seats], not more than that. It’s a pretty small space.”

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Dec 4, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Monday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Dec 4, 2023.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Tuesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.

🌦️ Tuesday’s forecast

Expect partly sunny skies with a high around 48 and a northwest wind at 3 to 7 mph. Tuesday night will bring scattered rain showers after 10 pm, mixing with snow after 4 am, and a mostly cloudy sky with a low around 36. A calm wind will shift to the north around 6 mph after midnight, and there is a 40% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you.”
– Walt Whitman

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

Columbia Pike staple The Broiler has opened a second location in Maryland

By James Jarvis
The Broiler’s second location in Clinton, Maryland (via The Broiler/Facebook)

After 64 years of serving subs and pizza in Arlington, The Broiler has expanded into Maryland, per the company’s social media accounts.

The long-time eatery, a local institution that opened back in 1959 on Columbia Pike, held a grand opening for its second location, in Clinton, Maryland, in late October. It announced the move to Clinton, which is about a 20-minute drive east of National Harbor, earlier this fall.

A video tour accompanying the grand opening announcement included footage inside and outside the restaurant as well as a montage of its famed cheesesteak sandwiches and pizza.

Khalid Elayan, the owner, opted not to comment on the new location.

Photo via The Broiler/Facebook

Ocean Shack is open for dining (and sports viewing) in the Glebe Road Shopping Center

By James Jarvis
1/3

(Updated at 2:45 p.m.) Ocean Shack, a new seafood restaurant and sports bar in Waverly Hills, is now open.

The restaurant officially opened on Wednesday, Nov. 15, but the owner, Cody Zhou, says he also plans to host a grand opening on New Year’s Eve.

“We will host a New Year’s Eve party where we will have a photo booth, DJ and champagne toast… and also give away a lot of gifts, drinks and food,” he told ARLnow.

The 1,767-square-foot space at 2163 N. Glebe Road in the Glebe Road Shopping Center became available after Thirsty Bernie closed in May due to poor sales.

Zhou, who operates several restaurants in Fairfax and Alexandria, including Ocean Crab in Chantilly and Mochinut in Reston, says he decided to expand into Arlington after the property owner approached him with a lease offer for the soon-to-be former Thirsty Bernie space.

“She’s a regular customer at Ocean Crab,” Zhou said. “She invited us over to the space. We looked at the surroundings and felt like this area could use something different.”

Zhou said he was also inspired by the increasing diversity in Arlington’s dining scene.

“When you look at the surrounding area, you will see a lot of Japanese restaurants opening up like Tiger Dumpling… so many Vietnamese restaurants and bubble tea restaurants are popping up around Arlington because there’s a population supporting those non-traditional American foods,” he said.

Like its Chantilly counterpart, Ocean Shack offers a variety of seafood dishes such as lobster rolls, tilapia sandwiches, fried oyster baskets, fried shrimp tacos and snow crab bowls.

The restaurant also has 16 beers on draft and serves specialty cocktails.

While seafood is on the menu, sports are on the numerous TVs at Ocean Shack. Taking a page from its sports bar predecessor, Ocean Shack bills itself as a destination for catching the big game.

“Whether you are stopping in for a business lunch, family dinner, date night or a night out with your friends for watching sports,” says the restaurant’s website.

Operating hours are 5 p.m. to midnight from Monday through Wednesday, noon to midnight on Thursdays and Sundays, and noon to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

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