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Biz Talk: ‘Made in Arlington’ Sweetens Your Valentine’s Day

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
1/4

This article was written by Susan Soroko, Director of Creative Economy for Arlington Economic Development.

Made in Arlington vendors may not be holding pop-up markets or selling goods in the County Library’s Plaza Shop these days, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t creating new items and selling directly and through various online portals.

While the pandemic has taken its toll on retail, these local artisans and makers are at the ready for celebrating with unique Valentine’s Day options. Some are available to ship, deliver or pickup; many take advance orders. Receiving a locally made gift is sure to sweeten your loved one’s day!

Need some pampering? Elodie’s Naturals puts nature as the main ingredient for skin care products. When educating customers is part of the fun, Elodie’s DIY kits for kids are much more than entertainment. For soap and candle maker All That Yazz, Valentine’s Day inspired heart-shaped foot fizzies offer a relaxing soak.

Sweets, lots of sweets. Arlington favorites, Kingsbury Chocolates and Village Sweet, will be your go-to for handmade chocolates, artfully iced cookies and fresh-baked treats. From artisan truffles to hot chocolate cubes, Kingsbury will satisfy your bonbon desires. Tempted to wake up to muffins, scones or cookies? Village Sweet has something new every day that can be ordered ahead or shopped safely at the entrance. Don’t wait! These Arlington treasures sell fast.

Nothing says love like jewelry. Debra Fabian Jewelry has been creating modern classics that are featured in trunk shows and online. Her artisan pieces are timeless, elegant and designed for special days and any day.

Can’t find the right words? Let Fast Snail do the job with heartfelt messages and illustrations on greeting cards and prints. Love notes travel the globe even if you’re at a loss for words.

Heart-healthy will be your new Valentine this year with edible flowers and super greens from Arlington’s only commercial grower, Fresh Impact Farms. Bathed in pink-tinted lighting, this tech-savvy enterprise takes sustainability and urban agriculture to a new level. And the flavors? Unrivaled.

Classic. Arlington’s new Privé Roses will have you looking no further for the ultimate dozen (or more!) of the flower of love. Quality and presentation in modern containers make these carefully selected blooms cupid approved and packaged to last.

Arlington Pet of the Week: Thor

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
1/7

Meet Thor, an 8-year-old boxer/terrier mix who’s blind.

Thor insisted his dad submit him for Pet of the Week, so here’s a little more about Thor:

Thor is an 8-year-old terrier/boxer mix who loves doggie ice cream and puppuccinos. He was rescued on March 9, 2019, a day after his birthday, by a mostly decent guy. He is totally blind, but that doesn’t stop him from enjoying life in the beautiful city of Arlington. He has figured out that the meaning of life is to eat, sleep and walk around once in a while.

Every year, his New Year’s resolution is to eat more ice cream and sleep more on his comfortable bed. He has got a single dad who is handsome — but obviously not as much as him. He doesn’t know many games but likes to play hide-in-plain-sight-and-seek. He is a master of finding his dad based on smell and sound.

He also enjoys catching squirrels and birds in the backyard. Although he hasn’t been remotely successful in catching them, he believes in never giving up. Thor would appreciate it and even impart life wisdom upon every one who follows him on IG @Thor.Blinddoggy.

Here’s some free advice from him: “If you’re feeling sad in life then buy a doggie ice cream for him, and you’ll feel better.”

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Please don’t send vertical photos — they don’t fit in our photo galleries!

Just Reduced Properties in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
1/8

Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose price have been cut over the previous week. The market summary is crafted by Arlington Realty, Inc. Maximize your real estate investment with the team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6000 today!

Please note: While Arlington Realty, Inc. provides this information for the community, it may not be the listing company of these homes.

We gave Valentine’s Day some love last week. Now, let’s give another upcoming holiday a little shoutout, too.

Monday (Feb. 15) is President’s Day, which, depending on your interpretation, honors George Washington and Abe Lincoln… or all of the lives of U.S. presidents.

Living in Arlington County, we are right at the president’s doorstep, whoever it may be at any given time. And with the grandeur of D.C. comes so much historical significance as well as educational opportunities. So, as we celebrate President’s Day, take a moment to appreciate just how cool of part of the globe we live in — it will make you love living here that much more.

The team at Arlington Realty, Inc. is always ready to help you find the home of your dreams. Whether you’re looking to embark on your house-hunting journey on your day off (a lot of folks do have off for President’s Day!) or have any questions that require local expertise, we are here for you.

And now on to this week’s Just Reduced figures…

As of Feb. 8, there are 101 detached homes, 30 townhouses and 289 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 21 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:

Please note this is solely a selection of Just Reduced properties available in Arlington County. For a complete list of properties within your target budget and specifications, contact Arlington Realty, Inc.

Legal Insider: Virginia Authorizes Public Sector Unions

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By John V. Berry, Esq.

The Commonwealth of Virginia has enacted new legislation, which now allows for public sector unions to bargain for employee rights and their conditions of employment.

On May 1, 2021, Virginia’s new law will take effect. This is a major change. Previously, localities such as counties, cities or towns were not allowed to recognize or negotiate with labor unions or associations representing their public sector employees. This new law will affect all different types of public sector employees, which will vary from locality to locality. Under the new law, the county or city has to authorize labor unions in their jurisdiction for them to exist.

Virginia’s New Labor Union Law

The new law reads as follows:

§ 40.1-57.2. (Effective May 1, 2021) Collective bargaining.

A. No state, county, city, town, or like governmental officer, agent, or governing body is vested with or possesses any authority to recognize any labor union or other employee association as a bargaining agent of any public officers or employees, or to collectively bargain or enter into any collective bargaining contract with any such union or association or its agents with respect to any matter relating to them or their employment or service unless, in the case of a county, city, or town, such authority is provided for or permitted by a local ordinance or by a resolution. Any such ordinance or resolution shall provide for procedures for the certification and decertification of exclusive bargaining representatives, including reasonable public notice and opportunity for labor organizations to intervene in the process for designating an exclusive representative of a bargaining unit. As used in this section, “county, city, or town” includes any local school board, and “public officers or employees” includes employees of a local school board.

What This Means

Collective bargaining had previously existed in a number of Virginia localities, including in the City of Alexandria, until a 1977 Virginia Supreme Court ruling that barred local governments from collective bargaining with their employees. Fairfax and Arlington counties are already studying the effects the unionization will have. Loudoun County is reviewing the new law as well. In addition, in preparation for the new legislation, Alexandria has proposed a public employees collective bargaining ordinance, including police, fire, labor and trades, and general government employees. In general, unions are not available for senior or managerial-level employees.

In sum, the new Virginia law will allow counties, cities and towns the ability to adopt ordinances recognizing labor unions and enter into collective bargaining agreements with them. The new law is not mandatory for local jurisdictions, but it allows them the ability to permit employees to have unions. If such union interest arises, counties, cities or towns must vote to adopt or not adopt an ordinance authorizing them within 120 days of receiving certification from a majority of public employees in an appropriate bargaining unit. The legislation will ultimately affect police officers, teachers, fire and other types of government employees in Virginia.

The legislation shows that the days of Virginia as an anti-union state are numbered, and this is likely the first step in what will be evolving legislation over the coming years broadening the scope of labor unions in this state.

Contact Us

If you are in need of employment law legal representation or advice, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or through our contact page to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook or Twitter.

Virginia Tech Launches Online MBA

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Virginia Tech is launching its newest MBA program option, the Online MBA, in response to the changing needs of students and the workplace in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The new format allowed us to combine some of the tried and true features of our established in-person MBA formats and online master of information technology to craft the best possible educational experience for students who value consistent interaction with their classmates and also want the flexibility of an online program,” said Parviz Ghandforoush, associate dean for graduate programs.

“We’ve sought to include the best aspects of our top-ranked Evening MBA, experiential-focused Executive MBA and hybrid Professional MBA, both in curriculum development and online delivery,” said Dana Hansson, director of MBA programs. “We’ve integrated feedback from students in all formats to determine how we can offer the best educational experience online.”

It’s this feedback that informed some of the unique features of the 22-month Online MBA that distinguish it from other online MBA offerings in the marketplace.

While fully online, delivery of the new program will be evenly split between synchronous and asynchronous experiences. “While students appreciate the flexibility of asynchronous learning, many shared with us that meeting synchronously best mirrors an on-campus experience. It allows students to participate actively in class discussions and study teams, develop working relationships with their peers and engage with Virginia Tech’s top-notch faculty,” Hansson said.

The program is cohort-based, which means that students complete their studies in lockstep and have the opportunity to build meaningful professional relationships with their classmates.

Students can choose to specialize their MBA in areas where Virginia Tech has significant expertise, such as cybersecurity, entrepreneurism, health information technology and business data analytics. The program also includes an option to study abroad through the international business specialization.

Online MBA students will also share the support and resources available to all Virginia Tech MBA students. Hansson said this includes access to an established MBA alumni mentoring program, personalized academic advising and membership in Virginia Tech’s vast alumni network.

“We’re excited to provide this new opportunity to professionals across the globe who want to further their careers and join our talented group of students and alumni who are proud to call themselves Hokies.”

Applications for the inaugural cohort are due May 1, with classes starting in July and graduation expected in May 2023.

Learn more at mba.vt.edu/online.

Ask Eli: COVID-19 Impact on Arlington’s Rental Market

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Enjoy!

Question: How has COVID-19 impacted Arlington’s rental market?

Answer: Recent articles have shed light onto just how much COVID-19 has hurt the apartment rental market in the D.C. metro area, including an article about rents dropping by 14% in Arlington and an article on rents in D.C.’s Class-A high-rise buildings dropping approximately 18%.

I have certainly experienced the difficult rental market in the past 10 months with clients who have struggled to find new tenants for their condos for months, even after significant price reductions. In some buildings, there are double-digit numbers of condos being offered for rent, with little interest.

I have also spoken to many condo owners who are turning to selling units after months of vacancy trying to rent them out, which is one of the reasons for last year’s explosion in condos listed for sale.

I took a look at last year’s rental market for apartments, townhouses and single-family homes and compared it the previous four years to see how each sub-market performed. There’s a summary of key findings below and a detailed data table to follow.

Note that this only includes properties in Arlington that were rented through Bright MLS. Most commercial rental buildings do not use the MLS and not every homeowner with an investment property rents through the MLS, but the number of properties rented through the MLS is enough to make this statistically reliable data.

Key Findings

  • Condo rentals dropped in price for studios (-10.2%), one-bedrooms (-4%) and two-bedrooms (-1%). If you remove January and February (pre-COVID) listings, the price drops increase further. I suspect 2021 will see an even larger drop in rental prices because many owners are still trying to find a tenant.
  • The average time to rent a unit increased by 50% to two months, and tenants negotiated significantly further below the asking price than ever before.
  • Two-bedroom units struggled, but not nearly as much as studios and one-bedrooms units, likely because the second bedroom provides a much-needed home office.
  • COVID-19 had the opposite effect on single-family and townhouse rentals with prices increasing to all-time highs, homes renting faster than ever before and owners securing prices closer to their asking price than ever before.
  • Rentals of small two- and three-bedroom houses and large four-bedroom townhouses were in the most demand, with average days on market just 3.5 weeks and some of the highest rental price to asking price ratios of any property type.
  • I expect single-family and townhouse rentals to have an even better 2021 (from the perspective of the homeowner) as people continue trying to get more space, avoid common living and find buying those homes to be cost-prohibitive and/or too difficult (competitive).

If you’d like to discuss buying or selling strategies, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].

If you’d like a question answered in my weekly column or to set-up an in-person meeting to discuss local Real Estate, please send an email to [email protected]. To read any of my older posts, visit the blog section of my website at www.EliResidential.com. Call me directly at 703-539-2529.

Eli Tucker is a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland with RLAH Real Estate, 4040 N Fairfax Dr #10C Arlington VA 22203. 703-390-9460.

Bring Valentine’s Dinner Reservations to Your Door

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
1/5

Celebrating a holiday that typically involves a romantic dinner or a night out is obviously going to be a bit tricky this year, so it’s time to get creative and bring that experience home.

With RSVP Catering, you can treat your admirer to a Valentine’s date night in. No, we’re not talking about another night of UberEats. For Valentine’s Day, up the stakes (or steaks) with a catered gourmet meal delivered to your door.

Check out RSVP Catering’s Valentine’s menu, where you can pick and choose your first course, entrée and dessert. Entrée options include rosé Frenched chicken, lavender sea salt tenderloin, Charleston rockfish and butternut squash ravioli.

If you want to really woo your special person, add a bouquet of flowers and bottle of wine to your order. Or, get a little wild, and order gourmet Jell-O shots. (These aren’t your typical sloppy college Jell-O shots. Flavors include Love Potion and Chocolate Raspberry Martini.)

There are also dessert options for the kids, like cake pops and heart cookie decorating kits.

RSVP Catering makes deliveries throughout the DMV area. Just be sure to place your online order by Friday, Feb. 12 at noon.

Rethink Energy: What You Can Know With Snow

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
1/6

This regularly-scheduled sponsored column is written by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy team (AIRE). This county program helps you make smart energy decisions that save you money and leaves a lighter footprint on the environment.

Snow may be falling again tonight and into tomorrow. Snow can be a useful tool. What can you know with snow? Try this!

As snow falls, keep an eye on your roof and the roofs of surrounding homes. A light snow can tell a lot about the efficiency of a home. About an inch or two of snow is best to identify issues. Fast-melting roof snow can be a symptom of inadequate insulation or poor air sealing.

Not all areas of missing snow are indications of energy issues. Hone your eye by taking note of tree limbs over a home, high winds and areas where direct sun may create funky patterns on a roof. Nevertheless, this is a quick way to take inventory of what might be happening in your home.

It isn’t a shock, though — 9 out of 10 homes in the U.S. are under-insulated. In homes across Arlington, poorly sealed and under-insulated attics are taking money out of homeowners’ pockets in the form of high utility bills.

Don’t suffer year after year with uncomfortable spaces in your home. In most cases, the fixes aren’t complex, and the cost will likely be less than you expect. You can also take advantage of the tax credit for insulation!

Are you unsure where to start? Do you have technical questions? Our Green Home Choice staff can help answer your questions and point you in the right direction.

For more information about how to insulate and air seal or about Green Home Choice, visit the Green Home Choice website at www.greenhomechoice.us or contact [email protected].

Stay warm, stay safe, and keep an eye on your roof. It might be trying to tell you something.

Aging Right at Home: Answers for the Growing Concern of Geriatric Mental Health

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Aging Right @ Home is a monthly blog series, answering your questions on providing care for individuals with disabilities, loved ones with dementia and older adults aging in place. If you have a question, please submit it to [email protected].

Depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders are, unfortunately, quite common among the older population. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) reports that one in four older adults will experience a mental disorder. This is a growing concern not just for older adults, but also for the families and loved ones who help provide care. Having cared for many local aging seniors at Right At Home, one of Northern Virginia’s largest and longest running in-home care service providers, I wanted to provide answers to many of the frequent questions we hear from our clients:

Q: Are changes in my loved one’s personality and behavior just a normal part of aging?

A: Health problems, the loss of a spouse, disability and even one’s changing role after retirement can lead to personality changes. However, as a caregiver, family or friend, it’s important to recognize the differences between normal changes of aging and early signs of mental health disorders. The NCOA reports that, when left untreated, these disorders can lead to more serious issues.

Q: What are the signs that my loved one might have a mental health condition that should be addressed?

A: This question is tough, because often changes can be gradual and subtle. If you have concerns, have an initial consultation with their doctor. If your loved one is feeling unusually confused or on edge, showing low or no energy, losing interest in things they once enjoyed, or showing other signs of helpless or hopeless, a doctor can help with an initial diagnosis.

Q: Can mental health disorders be treated?

A: The good news is, in many cases, there are treatments that can help. Your loved one’s doctor might recommend cognitive behavioral therapy or psychotherapy. A geriatric mental health professional may also prescribe medications while taking into account a patient’s ability to manage medications, other current medications and how their age affects the way their body processes substances.

Q: Can professional in-home caregivers support the health of older clients?

A: Yes! Receiving care in the familiar environment of a senior’s home is conducive to good mental health. Professional in-home caregivers not only provide companionship, which is of particular importance, but also help reduce stress for the client and their families.

Professional in-home caregivers also provide assistance with a variety of tasks, from accompanying clients to the doctor and pharmacy, bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and housekeeping. For my caregivers at Right at Home, we’ll work specifically with families to support the needs of senior loved ones and family caregivers alike. Feel free to reach out for a consultation or if I can answer any questions during your search for care.

Your neighbor, and Owner/President of Right at Home of Northern Virginia,
Phillip Turner, CDP, CSA

Each month readers can submit questions to Phillip Turner (CSA, CDP), the Owner and Executive Director of Right At Home Northern Virginia, one of the area’s largest and longest-serving providers of in-home senior care.

As a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) and a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), Phillip is passionate about providing individualized care, enthusiastic management services and collaborating with other health care providers. If you have a question, please submit to [email protected].  

Open Houses in Arlington This Weekend

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Looking for a home? There are plenty of houses and condos open for viewing this weekend.

Check out the Arlington Realty website for a full list of homes for sale and open houses in Arlington. Here are a few highlights:

4622 N. Dittmar Road
6 BD/5 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Washington Fine Properties, LLC
Listed:$1,795,000
Open: Saturday and Sunday, 2-4 p.m.

 

2522 24th Street N.
6 BD/4 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: RE/MAX Allegiance
Listed:$1,599,900
Open: Sunday, 1-4 p.m.

 

772 N. Wakefield Street
3 BD/3 BA, 1 half bath townhome
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate
Listed: $1,025,000
Open: Saturday, 1-3 p.m.

 

4034 7th Street S.
4 BD/4 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Samson Properties
Listed: $999,000
Open: Saturday and Sunday, 12-3 p.m.

 

1021 N. Garfield Street, #828
2 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: KV Realty
Listed: $888,888
Open: Saturday, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

 

1185 N. Vernon Street
2 BD/3 BA townhouse
Agent: McEnearney Associates
Listed:$749,000
Open: Saturday and Sunday, 1-3 p.m.

Just Listed in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Just Listed highlights Arlington properties that just came on the market within the past week. This feature is written and sponsored by Andors Real Estate Group.

Hello, Arlington!

As I write this, always the day before you read it, I celebrate my ## birthday (Feb. 4)! I won’t tell you how old I am, but I’m old enough to have three kids, a loving wife, a successful and meaningful business, and plenty more to be thankful for.

This past year has been one to remember (or forget), but it’s hard to believe I’ve been writing this column for a whole year already. Having grown up here in Arlington and attended school in the county, I’ve spent many of my birthdays here, and it’s been such a great place to call home. I also love working here and being engaged in this wonderful community and am glad to have all of you as weekly readers of JUST LISTED.

The market just flipped, and buyers finally ratified more contracts this past week then sellers listed homes! The buyers outpaced sellers with 72 contracts while sellers listed some 67 new homes this week — 28 of the ratified contracts were on homes listed within the past seven days.

This is the type of activity we expect in the spring, and spring has started early! If the snow didn’t deter the buyers, I don’t know what will. Interest rates are hovering near all-time lows, but there’s a good chance they break above 3% this year. For now, they are hovering at about 2.7% for a fixed-rate 30-year mortgage.

This same week in 2020, sellers listed 64 homes and buyers ratified 41 contracts. Where we really see the contrast from this year to last year is available inventory. Fifty-two weeks ago, we had 161 active listings, and this week we have more than double, at 374 — 75 are single family properties, 24 are townhouses/semi-detached properties and 275 are condos.

The average list price for currently available properties is $757,714 and the median is $509,945.

Click here to search currently available Arlington real estate. If you see a home you’re interested in purchasing, give us a call.

Call the Andors Real Estate Group today at 703-203-1117 to talk more about buying or selling Arlington real estate. Below are eight new listings I think you might like to check out:

Just Listed: 1811 N. Lincoln Street
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