Today, we’re rounding up the four best gifts for the car lover in your life to make your holiday shopping that much easier:
A dash cam. We hope it’ll never come in handy, but it’s always good to have a visual record of the road in case of an accident, making headache-inducing conversations with your insurance company that much simpler. There are many makes and models to choose from, we like this one from Garmin.
A small, battery-powered handheld vacuum cleaner. To keep their car looking its best in between detail services, handheld vacuums come in handy when it’s time to clean up that french fry mess in the back seat! (Bonus — it’s also great around the house for hard to reach areas like in kitchen and bathroom drawers!)
An emergency roadside kit. This one from AAA is fairly comprehensive and will help your loved one in case their car is disabled. Especially with the winter season and big holiday road trips, it’s always better to be prepared ahead of long hauls and bad weather.
A deluxe hand detail from CarCare To Go! There’s no better gift than that new car feeling and now you can give that to your loved ones with gift cards available now.
If your car-loving friend or family happens to be local to the D.C. area, check out our holiday gift guide to shopping local for more ideas on how to shop for them or any other loved one in your life while also supporting local businesses.
Winter is here, and it’s just the beginning. Staying on top of your routine car maintenance is essential to a safe holiday season.
At CarCare To Go, we are passionate about keeping your vehicle at peak performance, and these basic tips are sure to keep you on the road into the New Year.
1. Check Your Fluids — A routine oil change may be at the top of your list, but cold weather makes it important for you to maintain other fluids as well. This includes anti-freeze to keep your engine components protected in extreme temperatures, brake fluid to ensure you can come to a safe stop in slippery conditions, and potentially wiper fluid with de-icer to give yourself maximum visibility in hazardous conditions.
2. Tires — Colder air likely also means a drop in tire pressure. Not only can salt and melting snow mean more debris around your tires, a leak or puncture can quickly turn into a serious and expensive problem. Regularly check the pressure of your tires, and keep an emergency patch or fill system on hand.
3. Battery — Winter is a challenging time for batteries and keeping them clean and charged is important. If you’re traveling for weeks or months at a time, consider detaching your battery and storing it in a safe indoors location to prevent battery drain.
4. Emergency Supplies — Finally, the most important accessory your vehicle has; it’s driver. Protect yourself in the winter months and plan for emergencies that may have you stuck for hours or overnight in your vehicle. Keep an emergency box handy in your backseat with a blanket, flashlight, emergency phone charger, and non-perishable food and drinks like granola bars or bottled water. Keeping a small jug of sand, cat litter, or anti-friction mats can also help you get out of a slippery situation — even if it’s just your driveway.
Did you know CarCare To Go offers a complete end-to-end safety inspection with every single service? Whether you are redeeming a holiday gift card for hand-detailing or for a major repair, each time you trust us with your vehicle our mechanics inspect every component of your vehicle and document concerns with clear explanations via photo and video for you to keep.
No hassle, no pressure, just the service you would expect a mechanic to provide their own family. Plus, no need to worry about traveling in winter weather when our expert valets complete free pick-up and return service each time.
Arlington has hundreds of businesses and nonprofits with a dedicated mission of positively impacting society, workers, the community and the environment.
Many make community outreach, sustainability and equity an integral part of their business model. Only a handful, however, have achieved the coveted Certified B Corporation status.
Companies become Certified B Corps only when they receive certification from B Lab, a nonprofit company that measures its social and environmental performance against the standards in its B Impact Assessment (BIA) in five impacted areas: Environment; Community; Customers; Governance and Workers. A company must score 80+ out of 300 to qualify for the full B Corporation Certification.
The Certified B Corporations in Arlington are:
Area 2 Farms — certified since December 2021, the organization brings farmers to your neighborhood.
Connective Impact — an advisory company that connects nonprofits, private sector leaders and government agencies together to build more partnerships and collaborations.
Fors Marsh Group — a market and consumer research and strategy firm that works with leading companies and federal agencies that seek to disrupt markets, understand or influence behavior, and drive action on a national and global scale.
Grey Market Labs — a leading cybersecurity research and development and product company with a mission to protect digital life.
Public Democracy — a data solutions and market intelligence company on a mission to develop better data and more meaningful AI systems that reflect users’ values, support their priorities and allow them to better share in the value of the data they create.
Serendipity Creative — a woman-owned, purpose driven creative design and branding company.
These Arlington companies join a global community that includes 400,000 workers in over 5,000 Certified B Corps across 80 countries and 155 industries with a shared mission to prioritize people and the planet in everything they do and to balance profit with purpose. It is not easy to become a Certified B Corp. Companies must go through an intensive, months-long process to provide the necessary supporting documentation to B Lab, which measures and validates their entire social and environmental performance.
Companies are very proud of the recognition and are willing to go through the rigorous certification process to demonstrate their dedication to a higher standard of business practice. Fors Marsh Group’s CEO, Ben Garthwaite said after the company received its recertification in 2021, “This recertification affirms our standing as a people-first company, committed to impactful work and continuous growth.”
Research has shown that an increasing number of employees, especially millennials, prefer to work for a mission-driven company. In a job market where employers are continuously competing for talent, the Certified B Corporation emblem is often displayed prominently on a company’s website as a recruitment tool. The emblem may provide an edge for the company when it comes to hiring by attracting people that share the same values.
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.
As of November 21, there are 137 detached homes, 47 townhouses and 195 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 27 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:
Please note that 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.
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. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Ask Eli, Live With Jean playlist. Enjoy!
Happy Thanksgiving ARLnow!
On behalf of all ARLnow readers, the Eli Residential Group has donated to the wonderful Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) whose mission is to feed our neighbors in need by providing dignified access to nutritious supplemental groceries. AFAC is a 4-star, top-rated charity on Charity Navigator and is a worthy organization for your holiday giving.
I spend a lot of time on housing data every week, but this week I’d like to address the important question — do ARLnow readers prefer white meat or dark meat turkey on their Thanksgiving plate? AND do you know the data behind your decision?
I’m all dark meat on my Thanksgiving plate, but now that we’ve started to dabble in smoking our turkey, I’ve found white meat slightly more edible. Nevertheless, my vote is firmly dark meat! What say you, ARLnow?
What’s an Ask Eli column without a data table to help us make our decisions? Here are the results of many minutes of research on white meat vs dark meat:
I hope everybody has a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving with family and friends!
If you’d like to discuss buying, selling, investing, or renting, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].
If you’d like a question answered in my weekly column or to discuss buying, selling, renting, or investing, please send an email to [email protected]. To read any of my older posts, visit the blog section of my website at EliResidential.com. Call me directly at (703) 539-2529.
Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Ask Eli, Live With Jean playlist.
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
A walkable, urban district, Crystal City-National Landing is minutes from the center of Washington, D.C., the Pentagon and attractions around the region. An urban neighborhood located in the southeastern corner of Arlington, Crystal City offers stunning views of D.C., great restaurants, cafes and specialty stores. Crystal City-National Landing blends the best of both city living and urban outdoors.
Prior to its current state, the land of Crystal City was devoted to industrial and commercial activities. In essence, it was an extension of the Potomac Rail Yard to the south in Alexandria. Under the supervision of Charles E. Smith, heavy development began in the 1960’s and the Crystal City landscape was transformed and repurposed as a mixed-use environment.
Crystal City-National Landing is different from other urban neighborhoods. Beneath its streets, Crystal City offers a space age shopping experience at the Crystal City Shops. Visitors and residents can dine, shop and get to the Metro without having to go above ground. This isn’t to say that there isn’t anything above ground either. There is a variety of restaurants and shops on the ground level as well.
Life in Crystal City-National Landing isn’t strictly commercial. Crystal City residents live in close proximity to the 18.6-mile Mt. Vernon Trail, which is ideal for those looking to get closer to the Potomac. Crystal City is a very active community to say the least, and there is something to do for everyone. From farmers markets to weekly 5Ks, Crystal City is a convivial community of good spirits and pleasant diversions.
Rt. 1 and the G.W. Parkway are easily accessible but having a car isn’t necessary in Crystal City. Crystal City itself is situated around the Crystal City Metro Station, which is also connected with the VRE. No need to take a cab to the airport here: Reagan Airport is less than two miles away. Crystal City is a commuter’s paradise.
For 40 years, McEnearney Associates has been a premiere residential, commercial and property management firm with 11 offices located in the Washington metro region. With service excellence, hyper-local expertise, powerful data insights, innovative technology and cutting-edge marketing, McEnearney Associates have helped their clients make informed decisions on their most valuable real estate investments. There is an important difference at McEnearney: It’s not about us, it’s about you. To learn more, visit us at www.McEnearney.com.
I’m going to make it easy for you. The typical Thanksgiving dinner is a culinary hodgepodge and a sommelier’s biggest challenge. So the goal here is to wash it all down deliciously.
Don’t get me wrong. I love Thanksgiving dinner! My Mom, the Goddess of Thanksgiving, rocked it better than anyone. Her green bean casserole, believe it or not, was delicious. Mom’s stuffing was a delightful moist conglomeration of steer liver, onions, butter, toasted bread, and Bell’s Seasoning. I can still taste it. Her twice-baked stuffed potatoes were to die for, with their crusty paprika-laced exteriors that encased a garlicky, velvety, creamy lusciousness. And then there was her home-orangy-tangy cranberry sauce, OMG!
Here’s the key to selecting your perfect Thanksgiving wine. Any “sweetness” on the Thanksgiving table will clash with a “bone-dry” wine. Cranberry sauce is “sneaky.” It changes the entire dynamic of the meal. Every year for the last 44, I have risked life, limb, and liver to find the Holy Grails of Thanksgiving Wine.
Holiday dinner (Photo by krakenimages on Unsplash)
Check out shoparrowine.com, place an order and let us do the rest. We will even bring it to your car! We have designated free parking just behind Arrowine. What could be easier?
This list is foolproof. If you can’t make it to Arrowine, use my suggestions as a reference.
And the envelope please…
Le Berceau Blanquette de Limoux NV, France: $14.99
Every celebration should start with a fizz. And at $14.99, this dry and complex Methode Champanoise hits the nail on the head.
2021 Domaine du Pas Saint Martin, Le Vent Dans Les Saules, Anjou France: $19.99
This 100% Dry Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley is brimming with opulent flavors of sliced apples, spiced pears, tangerines, and a vibrant palate-cleansing mineral finish.
The “Other White Burgundy” on the nose is kumquat and nectarine, with just a hint of lemon zest. The palate adds lime and Japanese yellow plum with a refreshing cleansing and mineral finish.
This wine has soul; it’s richly flavored, mineral, and complex. The palate has laser-like flavors of wet stone, crushed seashells, and fresh sweet butter. The finish is long and lingering.
2021 Margerum M5, Los Olivos, California: $25.99
This White California Rhône Blend is a “no-brainer” for Thanksgiving. A skillful and brilliant blend of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, and Picpoul Blanc with aromas of apricots, white florals, and flavors of apple and peach nectar with a zippy finish. Poetic.
2021 Valle de Inez Pinot Nor San Luis Obispo, California: $21.99
Doug Margerum crafted this complex, bargain Pinot. It has structure and complexity and is drier than most — a “serious” Pinot from California at a price.
2021 Ken Wright Cellars, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon: $29.99
This wine is a textbook Willamette Pinot. It checks all the boxes and more. Lots of cherry fruit, smooth and sensual. A delight to drink, delicious.
2021 Domaine Laurent and Romain Pillot Bougogne, France: $24.99
My go-to Bourgogne for over 15 years, no one does it better, and a price that is impossible to beat for the “Real McCoy.” Supple, medium-bodied, and loaded with crystalline strawberry/mineral fruit. A winner.
2021 Melville Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills, California: $44.99
Complex and satisfying, Melville delivers. Lots of cherry/strawberry fruit and well-integrated oak make this supple Pinot a stand-out.
2020 Lafond Lirac “Roc Épine” Rhône Valley, France: $22.99
If you like a gutsy Côtes du Rhône, this Lirac is richer and more complex. This wine is spicy, smooth, and a joy to drink!
Happy Thanksgiving from the Arrowine Family to yours,
Doug Rosen
This column is sponsored by BizLaunch, a division of Arlington Economic Development.
This year, Small Business Saturday, the annual shopping event that encourages shoppers to support small businesses, will be held on November 26.
Since its founding in 2010 by American Express, Small Business Saturday has inspired thousands of shoppers to support local businesses.
With consumers and businesses facing rising costs due to inflation, starting today, BizLaunch is offering shoppers 5% rewards throughout the holiday shopping season for every purchase made at local businesses in Arlington through Open Rewards. The program, a partnership between Arlington Economic Development’s BizLaunch and a technology company Bludot, is a customer rewards program that incentivizes customers to shop locally.
“Small businesses are the fabric of Arlington and truly make our community unique,” says BizLaunch Director Tara Palacios. “The Open Rewards program is one of BizLaunch’s many innovative tools that small businesses can leverage to help them during these turbulent economic times.”
BizLaunch has invested $5,000 to pilot the Open Rewards program. The funds will provide shoppers with a 5% rewards incentive, which can then be redeemed to shop again at local businesses. To participate, consumers can download the Open Rewards app from the App Store or Google Play store, shop at eligible businesses and redeem rewards by uploading a receipt or linking a payment card.
Arlington small businesses with an Arlington Business License in the personal service, restaurant and retail sectors are automatically enrolled. There is no cost for businesses or consumers to participate. Arlington small businesses that want to participate in the program can visit BluDot online.
This holiday shopping season, get paid to shop local with Open Rewards. For more information about BizLaunch, visit www.bizlaunch.org.
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.
As of November 14, there are 143 detached homes, 50 townhouses and 208 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 34 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:
Please note that 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.
