Clarendon Fitness
2907 Wilson Blvd
Tel: (703) 465-0101
Email: [email protected]

Chances are, as you walk or drive down Wilson Boulevard, you had no idea bodies and lives are being transformed under Boulevard Woodgrill and British Goodies.

But they are. One flight down in the rear of the busy city corner is a 1,200-square-foot gymnasium where men and women work up a sweat under the watchful eyes of certified, motivated trainers whose own goals are to help their clients achieve their goals.

Clarendon Fitness, with its emphasis on old-school equipment, custom-designed programs and up-to-the-minute modern fitness concepts, is far from any “lunk zone” or national chain gym full of aerobic machines and indifferent personnel more interested in your paid-up membership status than your personal achievements.

Founder and owner and head trainer Pascal Laporte, who opened his first gym in 2007, describes the atmosphere and attitude of the gym as friendly and fun, “but we take fitness seriously. We watch every movement the client makes, and that’s what separates us from a big-box facility.”

Clients are matched with a personal trainer who specializes in the client’s particular targeted achievements. “We have a multi-trainer system that allows people to progress quickly to their goals with a specialist,” Laporte said. “If we start you off with a fat-loss program, you might eventually move to a corrective exercise program and then you might be inspired enough to train for a marathon. You’ll work with a different trainer during each phase of your success, someone who already knows who you are and understands you through collaboration with the other trainers.”

New clients to personal training might not know a dumb bell from a kettle bell, and the intimidation factor can prevent them from beginning a life-changing transformation. Laporte’s staff is trained to educate clients and they thoroughly explain not just how to do the exercises but also why they are doing them. This education goes beyond teaching how to do dead lifts and squats: They also provide advice on nutrition, recovery, stamina and other aspects of overall health and well-being.

And those who are already well versed in fitness, powerlifting or competitive sports will find Clarendon Fitness’ programming useful in sharpening their skills and reaching a higher level of performance.

To arrange for an initial consultation and evaluation, contact Clarendon Fitness at 2907 Wilson Boulevard at [email protected] or call 703-465-0101.

The preceding was a sponsored local business profile written by Buzz McClain for ARLnow.com.


The following post was written and sponsored by United Social Sports.

The word on the street is that United Social Sports is now powering D.C. Social and the two groups are now offering more options to get out and play in Arlington than ever before.

This Spring brings more leagues to NoVa, which means more opportunities to meet new people and get a bit more active. There are also brand new leagues with our neighbor to the west, Annandale, including a weekday Thursday night Kickball League and a Wednesday night Softball League.

Players can grab a friend or two, signup solo or register full teams. Leagues this season include Kickball, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, Basketball, Skeeball, Cornhole, Tennis, & Bowling.

Ready to get active this Spring? Check out the returning and new leagues playing this Spring.

USE Promo Code: ARLSP16 & save 10% on registration!

P.S Use #PlayUSS on Twitter or Instagram for a chance to win a FREE Registration! The league is giving out a free registration each week by selecting random #playuss posts.

Bocce (Click Here for Full Spring 2016 Lineup)

Basketball (Click Here for Full Spring 2016 Lineup)

Capital Bowling (Click Here for Full Spring 2016 Lineup)

Cornhole (Click Here for Full Spring 2016 Lineup)

Flag Football (Click Here for Full Spring 2016 Lineup)

Bar Sports (Click Here for Full Spring 2016 Lineup)

Kickball (Click Here for Full Spring 2016 Lineup)

Skeeball (Click Here for Full Spring 2016 Lineup)

Soccer (Click Here for Full Spring 2016 Lineup)

Softball (Click Here for Full Spring 2016 Lineup)

Street Hockey (Click Here for Full Spring 2016 Lineup)

Volleyball (Click Here for Full Spring 2016 Lineup)

Tennis (Click Here for Full Spring 2016 Lineup)

Heads up – Team Sports registration closes March 29th, and Bar Sports on April 5th or when leagues fill. Several leagues have already sold out!


Many Arlingtonians work tirelessly each day to climb the corporate ladder… but that doesn’t do much for our quads.

That’s where 9Round comes in.

The constant motivation and ever-changing routines at this trio of Arlington boxing and fitness clubs aim to take the body back to basics — in just 30 minutes.

“We don’t have to hunt for food anymore. The big hunt now is the paycheck,” but the routine at 9Round “feeds that innate desire to move and battle, so to speak, and to survive that society no longer has,” said Rob Graveline, a co-owner and trainer 9Round’s Arlington locations.

Graveline and co-owners Michael Agrillo and Todd Wilson have opened three 9Round locations in the county — in Ballston, Courthouse and along Columbia Pike — plus another in Falls Church.

Graveline, who grew up in Arlington, said the neighborhoods had the right “vibe” for the fitness club’s fast-paced, fun atmosphere.

9Round offers a continuous circuit and members can drop in at anytime and start exercising — and each workout takes just 30 minutes. The nine stations focus on endurance, cardio, flexibility, range of motion, functionality and core strengthening. The fitness centers on the clubs’ signature boxing and kickboxing workouts.

Without that drive to find food or safety, what’s left to push us to be fit and healthy?

“The body literally thinks ‘If we’re not chasing something to eat it or being chased by something… why the hell am I doing it?'” Graveline said. At 9Round, “We go back to a lot of that really basic instinct that feeds that need to move,” he said.

The club’s routines capture the body’s natural movement patterns, which are associated with every body, regardless of age, Graveline said. In fact, his 6- and 9-year old daughters both exercise at 9Round — and so does a 70-year-old woman who underwent open-heart surgery two years ago.

“It’s really designed with the idea of being efficient, safe and having fun,” Graveline said.

A trainer is always on hand to motivate, assist or modify the routine for each individual member and virtual nutrition advice comes with every membership.

“You might be in a room full of people… but this is about you and we’re there to help coach and make sure you challenge yourself an see results, and to have fun — but at the same time to make sure that you don’t overdo it,” Graveline said.

After less than two years in business, it seems like the owners were right about 9Round fitting in with the Arlington neighborhoods — online reviews of 9Round in Arlington have been overwhelmingly positive.

“People seem to love it,” said Graveline, who also is a trainer at the club. “I had one woman say she literally went home and dreamt about the workout. Another person said it was more like a nightclub with fitness built in.”

But the No. 1 draw? No class times.

“You don’t have to run a marathon, you don’t have to spend an hour or two every day” to get fit, Graveline said. The 30-minute time commitment “eliminates a lot of the excuses” for skipping the gym, he added.

Graveline has 26 years of experience in the industry, but said 9Round is the most effective fitness model he has seen.

“I’ve seen the highest percentage of success in the shortest period of time” with 9Round, Graveline said, noting that the most successful members also changed their diet and maintained a regular workout schedule.

“It continually motivates clients to come back regularly.”

The preceding was a sponsored local business profile written by Michelle Rosenfeld for ARLnow.com.


TWC AdThe following promoted post was written and sponsored by BbG Fitness, which is debuting a new web-based fitness, lifestyle and nutrition service.

Ginny Wright, certified wellness coach and owner of the award-winning outdoor fitness company BbG Fitness, announces the launch of the Total Wellness Challenge (TWC), a 30-day program that begins on Monday, February 22.

The program is the culmination of more than ten years of work with Wright’s local clients and is based on current health and fitness research. For four weeks, participants post points in three important areas of wellness: nutrition, exercise and lifestyle. The TWC makes it fun and easy learn and practice sustainable habits that lead to weight loss (if desired) and long-term health benefits.

The object of the game is to earn the most possible points each day and post them online using a custom platform created by Arlington firm Design TLC.

By posting daily reflections — which also earns a lifestyle point — players share and are accountable, while receiving support, encouragement and often a dose of humor from their fellow challengers.

For $39, challengers receive access to “TWC Approved” food lists, weekly meal plans, recipes, BbG home workouts, printable charts for keeping score and round the clock email support.

Feel better and see results: Take the BbG Total Wellness Challenge! ARLnow readers receive 10% off. Use code ARLnow for discountLearn more and register here.


Heartland DentalThe following is a promoted post from Heartland Dental, which is holding a job fair for positions around the D.C. area.

We are looking for Business Assistants, Dental Assistants and Hygienists in Northern Virginia.

Positions with Heartland are more than just a job, it’s an opportunity to learn and grow with a terrific dental team. We’re dedicated to offering proficient, trustworthy dental services and care, and the Dental Assistant’s, Business Assistants and Dental Hygienist position will play a large role in that. If this sounds a like a good fit, we would love to hear from you.

Our job fair will be held Friday, February 26 at the Hampton Inn & Suites, located at 117 Fort Evans Road NE in Leesburg, Virginia.

Interviews will take place between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Please bring your resume and certificates in preparation for an on-site interview

We understand that you work hard, which is why each supported location provides an excellent compensation and benefits package. Additionally, Heartland Dental’s extensive training and continuing education opportunities are unparalleled and exceed industry norms. Additional benefits include health and vision insurance, life insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, 6 paid holidays off and the potential for 2 weeks’ vacation.

For any questions, please contact Cyndi Baggarly, Regional Recruiter at [email protected].

Apply at www.heartland.com/careers.


Virginia Center for Orthodontics
1600 Wilson Blvd, Ste. 810
Tel: 703-774-3070
Email: [email protected]

Rarely have the words “orthodontist” and “fun” been used side by side, but the newest orthodontist in Arlington specializes in more than just fixing smiles, she creates them.

Which explains the monkeys in the office suite.

“We have a really fun atmosphere,” said Dr. Crissy Markova from her office at Virginia Center for Orthodontics at 1600 Wilson Blvd., near both Courthouse and Rosslyn Metro stations. “Our patients travel to us from all over the United States and the world–they’re always coming and going–so we give them our office mascot, a stuffed monkey named Bob, that they can take to travel with them.”

Don’t think the monkeys are just to keep kids smiling: Grownup patients getting Invisalign have been known to adopt them as well.

You would think monkeys and lively music in the waiting room would be enough to set a business apart, but Dr. Markova, who opened the practice just last June, said “the biggest differentiating factor from other practices is that we are really convenient. We’re here up until 7 o’clock at night to be really accommodating. When a practice closes at 4:30 or 5, you have to take off work or school, and we want to help avoid that.”

After completing her Doctorate of Dental Medicine from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Markova, a Michigan native, relocated to Northern Virginia when she was a resident at Washington Hospital Center and, as a resident team leader, at Children’s National Medical Center Cleft Lip and Palate Craniofacial Clinic.

“I discovered I really loved the area,” she said, and that’s when she decided to hang her shingle in Arlington, with high-rise views of the city and Georgetown across the river. It took a year-and-a-half to build a state-of-the-art the office from the ground up–“with all the bells and whistles,” she said. “There is nothing in the field of orthodontics that we don’t have in the office.”

Her favorite new gadget, if you can even call something this high-tech a gadget, is a 3D scanner that eliminates the need to make uncomfortable impressions or molds of teeth. “We can do 3D modeling of anybody’s teeth,” she said. “And I get to geek out on the 3D scanner.” And this comes from someone who owns two patents for orthodontic bracket designs.

Besides stuffed monkeys and cutting-edge technology, Markova prides her practice on community involvement. “It’s a really big focus for us,” she said. The Arlington Soccer Association, Discovery Elementary, Gunston Career Day, Girls on the Run, and Arlington Little League are some of the events and organizations she’s supported.

The practice accommodates an expanded list of insurance carriers as well as a zero-percent financing plan for braces and Invisalign. Find Dr. Crissy Markova’s Virginia Center for Orthodontics on Facebook, on the web or by calling 703-774-3070.

The preceding was a sponsored local business profile written by Buzz McClain for ARLnow.com.


Notch 8 means “full throttle” on a diesel-electric locomotive, pushing the train to as fast as it can go, which makes it an appropriate name for the just-opened upscale apartment building at Alexandria’s Potomac Yard that pulls out all the stops.

This six-story apartment building is located in the historic former railroad yard and is designed to keep residents going full throttle by offering a number of amenities to enhance today’s modern lifestyle. (It’s not all high-octane: The hammocks in the courtyard are an example of how residents can slow things down, if they wish).

This weekend’s Open House event is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. While touring the two model apartments at Notch 8, visitors will enjoy a complimentary hot cocoa and gourmet coffee bar with all the fixings and decadent donuts from Alexandria’s Sugar Shack.

As a bonus, those applying during this weekend’s Open House event can receive up to two months free rent, as well as a $1,000 gift card to Giant Food, which is conveniently located on the ground floor of the building. (The Giant also boasts a Starbucks and a PNC Bank, now that’s one stop shopping!)

Notch 8 is not your average apartment community. Designed with a modern-industrial aesthetic, the cool-factor starts from the moment you walk in the lobby and are greeted by the impressive large scale 15-foot concrete encased fireplace, a perfect place to sit by on a wintery afternoon.

These brand new apartments feature stainless steel appliances, contemporary plank flooring, pantry, kitchen island, oversized windows streaming in natural light, and a hi-tech Nest learning thermostat.

The amenity areas include an extensive courtyard with swimming pool, grilling stations, outdoor billiards and fire pit; KICK fitness center with a personal trainer; game room with Xbox One and PS4; and a lounge with a sweet 80″ flat screen and entertainment kitchen.

Notch 8 is convenient to Route 1 and I-395, offering direct access to the District. The underground garage has EV charging stations and a Zipcar right next door.

Plus, there is a dedicated Metroway bus running every six minutes during rush hour to both the Crystal City and Braddock Road Metro stations on the Blue and Yellow lines.

Notch 8 is located at 2900 Main Line Blvd in Alexandria. Learn more about this weekend’s Open House event on Notch 8’s website or call 866-811-1457.

The preceding promoted post was written by ARLnow.com for our sponsor, Notch 8.


Ladies of the Vine logo

(UPDATED: This event is cancelled due to the impending snowstorm.)

Arrowine (4508 Lee Highway) and Ladies of the Vine, a group of female wine importers, will be hosting a free tasting event next Sunday, Jan. 24.

From 1-4 p.m., there will be four separate tasting tables, with wines from all over the world including Portugal, South Africa, Germany, and California.

Ladies of the Vine are a group of importers, representing portfolios from around the world, who enjoy each other’s wines as much as each other’s company. They formed Ladies of the Vine to showcase all of their wines together, hosting events to give the attendees a greater experience and an around the world venture with their individual expertise.

Attendees will be able to purchase or order some of their favorites from the tasting at discounted prices.

RSVP for the event via Facebook.

The preceding was a sponsored article written by ARLnow.com for Arrowine.


Joe’s Place Pizza & Pasta
5555 Lee Highway
Arlington, VA 22207
Tel: 703-532-0990

At Joe’s Place Pizza & Pasta, we make our own authentic Sicilian style pasta dishes, sauces, pizza and desserts with recipes we brought from our hometown of Agrigento, Italy, and through all we’ve learned in this great country.

Our signature dish — Spaghetti alla Bolognese (spaghetti with meat sauce) — is zesty and delicious. Add a Sicilian thick crust or NY style thin crust pizza, along with our homemade minestrone soup, fresh salad bar and classic desserts such as mouth-watering cannoli, our grandmother’s own secret recipe. We proudly serve Sicilian wines from our home town and IPA’s for beer lovers, including locally brewed and veteran owned Old Bust Head.

Since opening the first Joe’s Place in 1978, we’ve earned a reputation for the best pizza in town, along with a warm, friendly atmosphere and strong support for the community. Many of Joe’s staff have been with us for 10, 20, even 30 years. They and our many longtime regular customers truly are like family. Ben venuti! Mangiamo!


This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A 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. Got a question? Email us at [email protected]!

Have you been thinking about a home renovation, expansion, or new construction in 2016?

You aren’t alone. More than 200 Arlingtonians have used Green Home Choice to help make their homes energy efficient, healthy, and comfortable. Green Home Choice is a FREE County program that can be used for renovation projects or new home construction. The Green Home Choice program goes beyond just creating an energy efficient home, it also includes key areas such as tree and site preservation, water efficiency, indoor air quality, waste reduction, and stormwater management.

We’ve written before about how people focus on fuel efficiency when buying a car , but don’t often consider energy efficiency when buying or renovating a house. Home comfort is clearly an issue for Arlingtonians, as 73% of the 452 respondents to our November ARLnow poll noted home comfort issues. Given the investment you make and the amount of time you spend in your home, you should get what you pay for with a comfortable and efficient home.

Whether you are a homeowner, developer, architect, or builder, Green Home Choice can help you rethink your next construction project to enhance the quality and value of your home. Keep an eye out for future features of Green Home Choice projects here on the AIRE ARLnow column.

For more information about the program, visit the Green Home Choice Website: http://bit.ly/ArlingtonGreenHomeChoice or contact Helen Reinecke-Wilt at [email protected]

The views and opinions expressed in the column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARLnow.com.


1320 N. Cleveland Street
Price:  $899,000
Open: Sunday, Jan. 10 from 1-4 p.m.

This all brick three level end townhouse is located on a quiet street in the heart of Clarendon. It has two or three bedrooms, two full baths and a powder room on the main level.

It includes two garage parking spaces and a gas fireplace in the living room flanked by built-in bookcases.

Features include crisp white cabinets and appliances, Corian countertops, and a breakfast bar at open kitchen. The top floor is given over to the master suite with two walk in closets and an appealing bathroom offering soaking tub and a large vanity.

The living room French door opens to a landscaped courtyard. Additional storage is located in the attic and lower level storage room and workshop. Walk to Metro, shops, restaurants, gyms, Rocky Run Park, and bike path. Key/Science Focus, Williamsburg, Yorktown school district.

1320 Cleveland Street is listed at $899,000 and is open Sunday, January 10, from 1-4 p.m.

Please contact Betsy Twigg with McEnearney Associates at 703-967-4391 or [email protected] for more information.


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