Around Town

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Jan 12, 2024

By ARLnow.com

Good Friday 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 — Jan 12, 2024.

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  1. Police investigating ‘mob’ attack at local high school (29036 views)
  2. Wild fight near Clarendon caught on camera (22956 views)
  3. DEVELOPING: Search underway near Courthouse after sound of gunshots heard (15011 views)
  4. A new Korean coffee shop is drawing long lines in Ballston (11792 views)
  5. ACPD: Boy robbed twice in successive days by same suspects (9923 views)
  6. Scooter and e-bike operators leave Arlington amid micro-mobility industry woes (9728 views)
  7. Chicken + Whiskey in Clarendon has temporarily closed due to ‘lackluster sales’ (9705 views)
  8. Local golf pro named regional PGA Golf Professional of the Year (5976 views)
  9. Police investigated another potential overdose at Wakefield High School last week (5908 views)
  10. Video: Crash at Clarendon intersection knocks out traffic signal (4426 views)
  11. Reminder: Two Arlington Metro stations to close starting Friday for weekend track work (4288 views)
  12. Staples in Virginia Square set to close next month, making way for Spanish immersion preschool (4276 views)
  13. JUST IN: Flood Warning issued for Arlington (4225 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

Here are the events planned for Sunday:

☀️ Saturday’s forecast

Expect mostly sunny skies and a high around 47 degrees. A breezy west wind will reach 17 to 23 mph, gusting up to 45 mph. Saturday night will be mostly clear with temperatures dropping to around 32 degrees. Southwest winds will be blowing at 10 to 16 mph, gusting as high as 28 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Know thyself.”
– Socrates

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋

New owner takes over Copperwood Tavern in Shirlington

By Jo DeVoe
1/3

Copperwood Tavern in Shirlington is under new ownership.

Viswanath Vasireddy, of Aldie, Virginia, tells ARLnow he finalized the purchase of the restaurant on Dec. 26, after learning the business was for sale from a broker with whom he had previously worked.

“I looked at it and it seemed like a good business,” he said of the New American restaurant at 4021 Campbell Avenue in the Village at Shirlington shopping center.

For now, just the ownership has changed and he retained the restaurant’s employees during the transition, he said. While the menu is the same, he has asked the chef to see if there are any new dishes to introduce.

Vasireddy says he is currently on-site 3-4 hours a day, applying for licenses — a liquor license application filed last week is currently pending, Virginia ABC records show — and transferring account ownership for various vendors.

The restaurant was formerly owned by Reese Gardner, whose Wooden Nickel Bar Company also owns Dudley’s Sport and Ale in Shirlington, Quinn’s on the Corner in Rosslyn and Brass Rabbit Pub in Clarendon. He has plans to open a new restaurant in Tysons while continuing to expand outposts of Greenheart Juice Shop.

“After 10 successful years with Copperwood, it was time to sell and move on,” says Gardner. “The industry has completely changed and the days of having two concepts within steps apart just isn’t realistic anymore. Cost of goods, staffing plus the annual rent increases make it tough enough with just one in each area.”

Wooden Nickel Bar also owned the now-closed Pinemoor in Clarendon, which opened not far from Brass Rabbit just a few months into the pandemic.

Gardner says he had also hoped for success with The Pinemoor and Brass Rabbit close together but the Pinemoor ultimately closed. He attributed this to a concept that did not quite connect with customers, the restaurant and landlord not coming to better terms, and being unable to sell.

This winter, Gardner aims to get his Tysons restaurant — Ox & Rye, next to the Capital One Hall — open soon and aims to open the Courthouse location of Greenheart Juice Shop in February.

Amid those new openings, he is also focused on his existing restaurants “and most importantly, being a dad.”

As for Copperwood Tavern’s new owner, Vasireddy, he already owns a trio of restaurants in Northern Virginia: New American spot Clarity in Vienna, pan-Asian place Inchin’s Bamboo Garden in Herndon and an Indian restaurant Bawarchi Biryanis in Ashburn.

He says he had experience in the restaurant business back in India, before immigrating in 2008 to the U.S., where he has since worked in information technology.

“I thought about pursuing my dreams a little bit,” Vasireddy said, starting at Bawarchi Biryanis in February 2022 and taking over Inchin’s Bamboo Garden and Clarity last year.

Around the time he was working to close the purchase of Copperwood Tavern, he quit his job at Capital One to focus on restaurant operations full time.

“Business is good,” he said. “I have some expansion plans for 2024 and 2025.”

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Jan 11, 2024

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 — Jan 11, 2024.

📅 Upcoming events

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

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

🌧️ Friday’s forecast

Expect rain after 5pm, increasing clouds, and a high near 49 with light variable winds turning southeast at 9-14 mph and gusts up to 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%, with less than a tenth of an inch possible. Friday night, heavy rain mainly before 5am, and a low around 43. Breezy conditions as southeast winds at 17-23 mph shift southwest after midnight, with gusts as high as 39 mph. Precipitation chance is 100%, with three-quarters to one inch of rainfall expected. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
– Edmund Burke

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

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

Most and least expensive condos sold in Arlington (December 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 condos sold last month (December 2023).

Most expensive condos sold

  1. 1881 N Nash St Unit 2004 — Rosslyn — $2,550,000 (3 beds | 3.5 baths | 2,655 sq. ft.)
  2. 1781 N Pierce St — Rosslyn — $1,750,000 (2 beds | 2 baths | 2,022 sq. ft.)
  3. 1530 Key Blvd Unit 1326 — Rosslyn — $1,050,000 (2 beds | 2.5 baths | 1,884 sq. ft.)
  4. 1881 N Nash St Unit 1008 — Rosslyn — $830,000 (1 beds | 1.5 baths | 1,312 sq. ft.)
  5. 888 N Quincy St Unit 1502 — Ballston — $735,000 (2 beds | 2 baths | 1,147 sq. ft.)

Least expensive condos sold*

  1. 4241 Columbia Pike Unit 207 — Barcroft — $240,000 (2 beds | 1.5 baths | 1,072 sq. ft.)
  2. 4401 Cherry Hill Rd Unit 58 — Waverly Hills — $270,000 (1 beds | 1 baths | 795 sq. ft.)
  3. 4324 N Pershing Dr Unit 3 — Buckingham — $280,400 (1 beds | 1 baths | 666 sq. ft.)

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

Arlington’s best advertising value is newly improved for 2024

By ARLnow.com
ARLnow Media Kit 2024 cover

It’s a new year — and a new opportunity for local businesses and organizations to reach Arlingtonians via ARLnow.

Our revamped 2024 Media Kit is out, with a newly optimized set of options for making a big local impression.

From display advertising to sponsored content to email marketing, ARLnow is proud to deliver the best bang for your hard-earned local advertising buck. Our offerings remain affordable for small local businesses, while also providing high-impact bundle options for larger organizations.

If it seems like most everybody in town is reading ARLnow, it’s because they are. Along with your targeted social and search ads, advertise with ARLnow in 2024 and reach a broad swath of the community.

Email us at [email protected] or call 703-348-0583 and our Arlington-based team will be happy to help. Alternatively, you can learn more about our self-serve advertising options here.

Thank you to ARLnow’s many advertisers for helping to keep the site free for the entire community to read over the past 14 years.

New deli set to replace Rappahannock Coffee on Columbia Pike

By James Jarvis
A ‘Coming Soon’ banner displayed at the site of future deli on Columbia Pike on Jan. 10, 2024 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A new delicatessen is slated to take over the space formerly occupied by Rappahannock Coffee on Columbia Pike.

Gi Lee, the longstanding owner of the coffee shop, announced his retirement last month, marking the end of a two-decade run.

Previously, ARLnow reported that another café was expected to succeed Rappahannock, with the building’s landlord predicting a December opening.

But in a surprising twist, Jose Lopez, the new tenant, revealed that the former coffee shop, located at 2406 Columbia Pike, will instead be serving up deli fare, from Philly cheesesteaks to club sandwiches. There will still be coffee, however.

Barring any delays in receiving his permits from the county, Lopez, a Maryland resident and co-owner of the Honduran restaurant El Catrachito in Olney, says he plans to open the deli around the end of the month. Its official name will be “Columbia Pike Deli.”

The former Rappahannock Coffee signage has been taken down, and in its place, a “Coming Soon” banner now adorns the entrance. While the space will look largely the same as it had under Lee, Lopez said he plans to give the walls a fresh coat of paint and install new flooring.

When asked about his decision to open a deli, Lopez, who immigrated to the U.S. from Honduras in 1999, shared that he previously spent 16 years working at a deli in Maryland before opening his own restaurant.

“It’s my passion,” he said. “I enjoy working with the customers, working with a co-workers and I like to to cook.”

The new deli will join several other restaurants that have opened within a half-mile stretch of Columbia Pike over the last year, including Mpanadas, the Spanish tapas restaurant Sabores and Japanese restaurant Ryu Izakaya.

Another, 2910 Kitchen & Bar, is expected to open sometime this month.

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Dewey

By ARLnow.com
1/2

This week’s Adoptable Pet of the Week is Dewey!

Dewey is an adorable female cat currently in foster through the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.

Dewey and her foster had this to say:

My name is Dewey, and while it may take a few days for me to warm up to new friends, once I am comfortable and can trust you, I transform into the perfect lap cat!

This delightful feline, who has captured her foster parent’s heart, may be frightened at first when joining a new household. Eventually, though, she will be purring non-stop and exploring her surroundings.

In just a few short weeks, we’ve witnessed Dewey’s incredible transformation from a timid soul to a bundle of curiosity and kindness. Initially reserved and frightened, Dewey has blossomed into a cat full of charm and affection.

Picture this: a companion who will nuzzle up to you, delicately lick your hand, and then settle in beside you, joyfully making biscuits while you work from home.

Is this gorgeous girl a match for you? Read more about Dewey in her profile and learn how to start the adoption process!

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with 2-3 paragraphs about your pet and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos.

Photos: Alex Ovechkin leads youth hockey clinic for kids with disabilities

By James Jarvis
1/11

Nearly 50 youth hockey players with disabilities took to the ice in Ballston this week to sharpen their skills with Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin.

On Wednesday, members of the American Special Hockey Association (ASHA) convened at the MedStar Capitals Iceplex to spend several hours learning various skating techniques and skills from Ovechkin and other Capitals players, including Aliaksei Protas, Matthew Phillips and Alexander Alexeyev.

Ovi has been hosting this Caps-sponsored clinic for ASHA — which supports individuals with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities through hockey — for a decade, though it took a hiatus during the pandemic.

“Ovechkin has been an ASHA ambassador since the first skate in 2014 and most recently made a donation to the ASHA to help cover ice costs for 136 special hockey teams across the United States,” per a Capitals press release. “The donation supported more than 5,260 athletes and nearly 400 coaches.”

ASHA Executive Director Jennifer O’Brien told ARLnow that while the donation was vital for the organization, Ovechkin’s personal commitment — in terms of time, money and energy — is especially significant.

“The big thing people should know is that sometimes people donate things and they kind of do it through the organization or whatever,” O’Brien said. “He does this personally. And so we take it personally and appreciate him for that reason.”

Established in 2007, ASHA currently serves over 8,000 members, representing 136 special hockey teams nationally. There are three ASHA teams in the D.C. area, per the release.

Most ASHA members who attended the clinic came from either the D.C. region or other East Coast locales, said O’Brien.

In addition to his work with ASHA, Ovechkin established “Ovi’s 8’s” in 2006, a program dedicated to providing tickets to Capitals games for underprivileged children.

“Since then, more than 5,700 individuals have had a chance to see a game free of charge, including many ASHA participants,” the team said.

A new Korean coffee shop is drawing long lines in Ballston

By James Jarvis
1/4

A Korea-based coffee chain quietly opened its first permanent U.S. outpost in the Ballston neighborhood last month, drawing long lines and rave reviews.

Gute Leute Coffee Bar, located at 800 N. Glebe Road next to Mussel Bar & Grille, held its soft opening on Saturday, Dec. 23.

Although Gute Leute translates to “good people” in German, the coffee chain was conceived in Seoul, South Korea.

The cafe’s menu offers a variety of teas and coffee drinks, including espressos and lattes. A unique highlight is a weekend-only, three-course tasting event, available only with a reservation.

Dubbed the “Omakase” coffee experience, which translates to ‘I leave it up to you’ in Japanese, customers who book online can savor a variety of seasonal espresso drinks, including the Pine Cone, served in a sour sugar-rimmed glass, the Granita with lemon sorbet, and the Gute Leute, a blend of cream and cookies over a butterscotch base.

Sang Moon, a Fairfax resident and co-owner of Gute Leute, told ARLnow he was one of the original investors of the coffee chain back when it first opened in Seoul in 2021. Five Gute Leute stores are currently operating in Seoul, according to Sang.

After working with company’s corporate headquarters for years, Sang said he approached the CEO about bringing the concept to the U.S.

“It was a little bit unique,” he said. “We have nothing similar here.”

At the behest of the company’s CEO, Sang and his business partner, Sean Moon, conducted multiple market tests — pop-up cafes — in New York City last year.

“It was very successful,” Sang said.

Having successfully demonstrated the viability of the concept in the U.S. market, Sang was given the green light by the Gute Leute CEO to open his own franchise in Arlington.

It appears to have been a good decision so far: over the weekend the cafe’s Instagram account warned of 20-45 minute waits for coffee due to a “surge of customers.” That’s despite opening with little fanfare during the holidays, on the “quiet” western side of Glebe Road, where businesses have struggled in the past.

Despite complaints about the wait, online reviews have raved about “some of the best coffee” in the D.C. area.

While Gute Leute currently only offers coffee, Sang says the plan is to add pastries to the menu soon.

“Right now, we’re trying to focus on quality and service,” he said. “But we plan to offer croissants, breakfast sandwiches and pastries.”

Before Gute Leute, Sang operated the Korean fried chicken restaurant Noori Chicken in Annandale, which closed last week. He also co-owns the quick-serve Courthouse restaurant Bibimix with Sean, who himself owns the Korean bakery Paris Baguette in Fairfax.

Gute Leute joins a growing list of coffee options in the Ballston area, including the upcoming Roggenart Bistro & Café, the outdoor stand Ballstonian, and Slipstream, near the intersection of Wilson Blvd and Glebe Road.

Hat tip to John Peck

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Jan 10, 2024

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 — Jan 10, 2024.

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Thursday’s forecast

The weather will be sunny with a high near 51 degrees and a light south wind turning southwest at 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Thursday night will be mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to around 33 degrees, and a west wind at approximately 6 mph becoming calm after midnight. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“If you can dream it, you can do it.”
– Walt Disney

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

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

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Jan 9, 2024

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 — Jan 9, 2024.

📅 Upcoming events

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

🌤️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect partly sunny skies and a high near 49, accompanied by a breezy west wind of 17 to 22 mph, gusting up to 39 mph. Wednesday night will be mostly clear with a low around 32, while southwest winds blow at 5 to 13 mph, occasionally gusting up to 18 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
– Franklin D. Roosevelt

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

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

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