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Luxury new homes now selling in Sleepy Hollow — Falls Church’s best-kept secret

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
1/5

A highly-anticipated new community has entered the Northern Virginia market.

Hudson Quarter is now selling a carefully curated collection of just 18 luxury homes from a sought-after area in Sleepy Hollow.

The homes at Hudson Quarter offer a spacious retreat from the hustle and bustle of popular nearby destinations. This remarkable community has been designed with a keen eye by the Gulick Group, a local builder renowned for their unique and artistic approach to building distinctive new homes.

Homeowners at Hudson Quarter will be able to select from three exceptional single-family home designs and customize with all of their desired features and finishes. Each available homesite sits on up to a third of an acre to ensure ample privacy. Inside the homes you’ll find plenty of room to unwind, with four to five bedrooms, three to four and a half baths and 4,200 to 8,000 finished square feet. Prices start from the $1.5Ms.

Equally as impressive as the homes themselves is the premier location that the neighborhood offers. Tucked away perfectly in Sleepy Hollow, residents will find themselves in a close-knit enclave without having to sacrifice any of the regional access desired for work and recreation.

In just moments, a short drive will take you from Hudson Quarter to nearby retail and dining hubs at the Mosaic District and Downtown Falls Church. Local farmers markets, grocery stores and outdoor recreation are even closer. Homeowners will also be able to get to Washington, D.C., Tysons and more with ease via nearby commuter routes.

Interest in Hudson Quarter has been steadily growing since the community officially opened for sale. Prospective home shoppers can find additional information at HudsonQuarterInFallsChurch.com or schedule a private appointment with Iman Elagazy at [email protected] or 703-844-8440.

Small Business Focus: Lyon Park Barber Shop

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This column is sponsored by BizLaunch, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

A hairstyle helps people look fashionable, but it is also used to self-identify. Whether short, long, curly, or straight, people have found ways to use hairstyles to represent themselves and convey their personalities.

Due to COVID-19, many people let their hair grow. They were working from home, barbershops were closed, and most had no experience in cutting hair.

Those concerns and the resulting lack of customers hit small businesses like Lyon Park Barber Shop especially hard. Owner Janeth Gonzales decided to look for resources to help her achieve a new market and gain more customers. As a result, she heard about BizLaunch and applied for one of its programs, ReLaunch. The ReLaunch program has helped businesses like Gonzales’ reach new customers, create new marketing strategies and branding, digital presence, strategic planning, create a website and more.

“BizLaunch has provided me with tools and information to develop and improve my business. Also, the constant communication and assistance they offer have helped me to be aware of more opportunities for my business,” Gonzales said.

If your business is going through the same struggles as Lyon Park Salon, ReLaunch brings you the opportunity to understand better how to operate and recreate your business structure, obtain a website and more. In addition to this, your small business will grow and reach a new target market through one-on-one counseling.

As for Lyon Park Barber Shop, BizLaunch helped increase the customer flow through marketing and promotion. Now that she has completed the ReLaunch program, Gonzales’ customer flow and digital presence have improved.

If you would like to obtain the same benefits and advantages Janeth did, visit www.BizLaunch.org and apply today.

Arlington Pet of the Week: Monty

By ARLnow.com
1/5

Say hello to Monty! This fluffy 10-year-old is Arlington’s latest Pet of the Week. Monty is an avid adventurer who is loved by his humans.

His owners had a few words to say about him:

Meet Monty! He was rescued from California and has lived with his human family for about 5 years now in Arlington.

Like most dogs, Monty’s favorite pastime is napping, a hobby that he has truly perfected over the years. When not napping, he can be found exploring every nook and cranny of the parks around town. But more than anything, he loves a good car ride! Head out the window, paws up, wind whipping through his fur; that’s what life is truly all about for Monty.

Although Monty turns 10 years old this month, he still acts and looks like a puppy. He may be a little timid at first around new folks; however, he warms up quickly (yummy treats especially help).

Moreover, instead of playing with normal dog toys, Monty loves to grab his humans’ socks and run around the apartment for a game of chase.

An avid adventurer, Monty loves exploring local and regional hidden gems. He loves going sunbathing at the Chesapeake Bay, not to mention the crabbing! His other favorite activity is running down the hall to fetch his favorite ball at top speed. Monty is not an average dog and his humans absolutely love him!

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

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’re a quarter of the way through 2022, friends. Whether it’s a month into a new year, a quarter or whatever time benchmark is in your mind, it’s always good to check in on how your aspirations are going. If they involve real estate, 2022 remains hot.

Inventory continues to move at a lightning pace, equating to a stellar sellers’ market and uber-competitive buyers’ landscape. The good news for buyers: For a second week in a row, inventory has popped by more than five percent, equating to more selections to explore for you and yours.

If you pushed your real estate goals to the back burner in Q1, the team at Arlington Realty, Inc. is ready to help you get moving here in Q2. Our time-tested team assist in navigating the most complex of scenarios, particularly amid a local real estate chapter like no other. Until then, here are this week’s Just Reduced numbers.

As of March 28, there are 104 detached homes, 32 townhouses and 192 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 20 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:

1103 16th Street S.

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.

RSVP Catering welcomes spring with home delivered Easter, Passover menus

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
1/4

So long, winter. Hello, spring!

RSVP Catering, one of the region’s premier catering services, has been waiting to spring its new spring menu on us, along with new brunch and dinner menus for the Easter and Passover holidays.

And now they have: The menus address every meal of the day — from breakfast to dinner dessert — created by in-house chefs using top-quality, locally sourced ingredients that reflect the long-awaited change of seasons.

The best part is, all of the menus are available for home delivery, as complete meals-for-four. All you do is heat and eat. Re-heating instructions are included. But ordering deadlines are coming!

The Spring Menu features delicious, nutritious and warming family meals. Spring highlights include (these serve four):

  • Chicken and waffles breakfast, $36
  • Carrot roasted ginger soup, $9 per pint, $12 per quart
  • Hoisin grilled chicken dinner, with walnut and pomegranate quinoa, harvest salad, and pear tart, $104
  • Cambridge crab cakes, $60
  • Chocolate and salted caramel tart, $17.99

The Easter Brunch Menu, with two different menu styles, keeps to holiday tradition, with contemporary flair.

The honey glazed ham brunch, with spinach and strawberry salad, home fries, fruit salad, and homemade cinnamon rolls is $31 per person, for six diners. There’s a choice of three “desserts by the dozen,” including mini carrot cupcakes, coconut macaroon, bird nests and chocolate bunny booties, for an extra $28.

The tenderloin and crab cake dinner features asparagus and strawberry salad, roasted tricolor carrots, garlic mashed potatoes, and homemade rolls for $45 per diner, for six diners.

The Passover Prix-Fixe also keeps to tradition, beginning with chicken liver mousse and matzo ball soup, followed by caramelized onion brisket, maple-sherry glazed carrots, horseradish whipped potatoes, and chicory and seasonal green salad. Dessert, included with the $45 per person meal, include lime and coconut macaroon cookies and chocolate toffee matzah bark.

The spring home delivery menu is available now; Passover Prix-Fixe orders are due Wednesday, April 13 by noon for Friday, April 15 delivery. Easter buffet orders are due Friday, April 15; noon for Sunday, April 17 delivery.

Order your Easter Brunch or Passover Prix-Fixe meal online, email RSPV Catering at [email protected], or call 703-573-8700.

Ask Eli: Has your condo/POA banned smoking?

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. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Ask Eli, Live With Jean playlist. Enjoy!

Question: Do you know if Associations in Virginia have begun banning smoking using the new law?

Answer: Last year, I wrote an article about Virginia’s new law that allows Condo and Property Owners Associations to easily ban smoking inside units/homes via a new resolution to the rules and regulation, which generally requires a simple majority vote by the Board. Prior to this, Boards could ban smoking in common areas this way, but smoking bans within units/homes required a lengthy (multiple years), costly, and resource intensive effort to get a 2/3+ vote from owners to change the by-laws.

I have heard from a couple of Condo Associations that have implemented this new law to ban smoking and I would love to hear from other readers, in the comments section or in email, who have either passed a new smoking ban resolution, are in the process of doing so, or have run into challenges trying.

Last year I spoke with attorney Michael C. Gartner (703-280-9267 or [email protected]), a Partner at Whiteford, Taylor, & Preston LLP and current President of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) Washington Metro Chapter, about the new law to make sure I was clear on the implications this has for Virginia condos and POA communities.

Mr. Gartner confirmed that the new law, effective July 1, 2021, does in fact allow condo and POA Boards to ban smoking inside private residences with a simple majority vote of the Board. He also offered some helpful advice and caveats for any Boards/communities who plan to move forward with in-unit smoking bans:

  • In rare cases, some by-laws may specifically restrict a Board’s ability to make certain rule changes or require something other than a simple majority, so Boards should have an attorney review their by-laws prior to proceeding with a smoking ban
  • Smoking bans should be written as a compliant resolution through legal counsel, not as a simple motion
  • Enforcement is always a challenge for Boards (noise, trash, and other common rules always present enforcement challenges) and Boards may want to work with their legal counsel to establish compliant enforcement protocol
  • The new law includes a provision that allows owners to call a special meeting to vote and repeal a change in the smoking policy
  • Smoking ban policies might flip back-and-forth as new Boards are elected and the majority votes for a new/different smoking policy than the previous Board

Last week, I followed up with Mr. Gartner on the new law and he said that he has several clients (condo buildings) considering implementing a smoking ban and so far is not aware of any legal challenges or considerations that would change the opinions he shared last year when the bill was approved.

Please use the comments section or email me if you are in an Association who has taken advantage of this new law or is planning to!

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.

Legal Insider: Virginia drops Covid workplace rules

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.

Virginia, the first state to enact COVID-19 workplace rules in July of 2020, has now become the first state to end them.

The action was taken following a vote on March 21, 2022, by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry’s (DOLI) Safety and Health Codes Board (Safety Board). Under the previous standards, Virginia employers had a number of requirements with respect to COVID-19, including indoor masking in higher-risk areas and reporting COVID-19 outbreaks to the Virginia Department of Health. These standards have been rescinded.

Workplace safety is governed by both the federal Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA) and state and local rules. States, like Virginia, with workplace safety agencies are required to have rules that are at least as effective as those set by OSHA.

OSHA originally attempted to enact rules regarding COVID-19 vaccines and COVID-19 testing, but the effort was dropped after being blocked by the Supreme Court. As a result, employers now remain subject to various state and local regulations with respect to COVID-19 issues.

New Guidance for Employers

While the prior rules are ending, new guidance is being finalized. Virginia employers still remain subject to workplace safety rules by DOLI, Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Programs (VOSH). VOSH has just proposed draft guidance for general health and safety rules concerning COVID-19 in the workplace.

The draft guidance, 5 pages in length, provides expectations for Virginia employers for handling COVID-19 employment issues, including, but not limited to:

  1. Encouraging employees with COVID-19 symptoms to stay home
  2. Assisting employees seeking to get vaccinated or in receiving booster shots
  3. Requiring employees infected with COVID-19 to stay home
  4. Providing employees masks or coverings as appropriate

There are many other items in the draft guidance, that employers and employees should review. The draft rules are still under review and the public may comment beginning March 28, 2022, until April 27, 2022.  It is likely that the draft rules will mostly remain the same as the final rules eventually issued.

Employers generally have the legal right to adopt safety and health workplace rules for employees that are more stringent than the guidance per the Code of Virginia.

Contact Us

If you are a Virginia employee in need of employment law representation, 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 and Twitter.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Tour the Falls Church neighborhood

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

What makes Falls Church a Special Neighborhood in Northern Virginia?

Falls Church, called The Little City, a tight knit city with both urban and suburban appeal, was originally a Native and colonist community prior to the founding of the Falls Church in 1734.

Over time, it evolved to a township and eventually, an independent municipality in 1948. Close to D.C. and serviced by two Metro stations, multiple bus lines and close to 495 and 66, Falls Church has everything to offer for the young professional, growing family, or downsizing empty-nesters. Come take a look with me at all the great businesses you can walk to within Falls Church.

Broad Street (or Route 7) is the central backbone of Falls Church, and there are so many places to stop during the day. You can start off here, at Northside Social Falls Church, for a coffee and pastry before heading to shopping, activities and more. (Even better, you can wrap your day here too with a glass of wine!)

If it’s Saturday, then in the morning you *must* go to the Government Center, where the Farmer’s Market is situated from April to December. You can get fruits, vegetables, flowers, local honey and meat, baked goods, dairy products, and my kids’ favorite, crepes to order. When your kids need to run off some of that Saturday morning energy, walk across the Government Center grounds to the Cherry Hill Park, with playground equipment, a barn and loads of green space

If you are looking for entertainment, you can get tickets to a show at the State Theater where there’s a diverse bill of local and national acts performing most nights of the year, or head over to Creative Cauldron, where community theater and creativity come alive! If activity is more your style, one of the best things about Falls Church is the accessibility to the WO&D Trail, with major accesses on the western and eastern ends of the city. If your bike needs a tune-up, you can stop in at Bikenetic for all your cycling maintenance and purchase needs! They also host bike rides for all levels in the warmer months.

If the weather isn’t good for an outside event, you can try Bowl America or the new Scramble Indoor Play space over on East Fairfax Street. If creativity is your thing, you could hit the Clay Cafe on North Maple Street, just around the corner from Rare Bird Coffee Roasters. Create fun ceramics and memories in an afternoon there! If your kids are looking for something new to play with, you can hit Doodlehopper 4 Kids on Broad Street, or run around the corner on Washington Street to the Toy Nest, a toy library where you can play with toys not at home, having fun with your kids without distraction!

When it’s time to wind down, there are so many options! You could stop by Penzeys for some spices to make your home-cooking sing, or you can just decide to eat out at one of the city’s great restaurants, like Dogwood Tavern, Clare & Don’s Beach Shack, Thompson Italian, Solace Outpost, and more. All have delicious offerings, outdoor and indoor seating, and friendly service!

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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.

Good morning Arlingtonians, welcome to Just Listed!

Interest rates did a backflip this past week after the news the Fed raised rates by .25%. Buyers were being quoted over 5% briefly in some instances, but that leveled out by last Friday.

Freddie Mac notes that the 30-year fixed rate mortgage average for the past week sits at 4.42%, higher than it’s been in at least three years. For perspective, rates are up 1.31% higher this year than where they left off in 2021, and have gone up 9/12 weeks this year.

Despite the rise in interest rates, the inventory situation is a bit dire for buyers. We are running about 2-3 weeks’ worth of inventory, depending on how you measure it week over week. Simply put, rising interest rates aren’t curbing the demand for a piece of Arlington real estate, whether it’s a condo, a townhouse or a detached home.

While inventory is tight (of course), it’s grown just a bit over the last week. We have 14 more properties available in the county than we did last week, totaling 262. Sellers listed 98 homes for sale, 13 fewer than last week.

Buyers seem to have been a bit spooked by the rate volatility the past week, ratified contracts are down a bit… 70 contracts in the past seven days, down 12 from the week prior. Forty of those were homes listed just within the past seven days.

Of the 262 homes currently available for sale, 62are detached homes, 27are semi-detached/townhomes, and the remaining 173 are condominiums. These properties range in price from $100,000 all the way up to $7,950,000.

Average list price for currently available homes is $819,333, and the median price is $539.450. These homes have been on the market for an average of 54 DOM (days on market) and a median of 21.

This week last year, there were 429 homes available for sale throughout the county. Sellers had listed 101 homes for sale and buyers ratified 89 contracts.

PICK OF THE WEEK — 3103 S. High Street, Arlington, VA 22202 — $624,900

Welcome to this deceptively large four-story home with two bedrooms, one bathroom and plenty of storage; all the best of a detached home, with one less exterior wall! An inviting front porch, hardwood floors throughout the main and upper level, and freshly painted in neutral tones. Thoroughly updated with many new and recent major systems and appliances.

Featuring a wood burning fireplace with brick hearth, open and renovated kitchen and dining area and a private backyard deck. Lower-level laundry and utility space as well as rec room, and uppermost level loft is perfect for a home office. Parking pad can be added in front of the home, though street parking is abundant. So much additional potential by finishing the basement, with ability to add another full bathroom! A perfect income generating property right in the neighborhood!

Find me and my team here this weekend, Saturday and Sunday from 1:00pm-4:00pm for the public open houses!

Click here to search currently available Arlington real estate. If you see a home that 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 that I think you might like to check out.

Listing of the Day: 1211 N. Livingston Street

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
1/5

Address: 1211 N. Livingston Street
Neighborhood: Westover Hills
Listed: $995,000
Open: Saturday, March 26 and Sunday, March 27 from 1-4 p.m.

Renovated Westover colonial with a brick addition to maintain the character and look of the original 1930s home.

Enter the home through a mudroom with windows on three sides and a vaulted ceiling. The room lends itself for office space or a sunny play space. Thoughtful flow from the living room with a gas fireplace into the dining room and kitchen with a gathering space overlooking the yard. The kitchen provides a center island for casual dining and participatory cooking with those enjoying a renewed interest in cooking and baking. The gas range, handsome wood cabinets and deep farm sink enhance the experience.

A built-in desk in the adjoining area along with cozy spots for catching up at the end of the day. A door from the kitchen opens directly to the driveway, making it convenient to bring children and packages directly into the home. A stone path leads to the back patio and a second patio is tucked away in a quiet spot. A powder room completes this level.

Upstairs, the primary bedroom features two closets, a dressing area with laundry and linen storage, and an en suite bathroom with oversized shower and double sink vanity. The second bedroom is served by the renovated hall bathroom. Pull down stairs lead to large attic for even more storage. The lower level has a den or third bedroom with steps and direct access to the yard. Additional storage is in the utility room.

Handsome stone walls define the tiered yard brimming with perennials and mature trees and shrubs. The home is well sited on a cul-de-sac and has a deep driveway for at least two cars.

Walk to Cardinal Elementary School, Swanson Middle School and Westover Village’s shops, restaurants, library, and Sunday Farmer’s Market. Lacey Woods Park, Westover Park and Playground, and the bike path and trail are blocks away.

A light filled home in pristine move-in condition awaits the buyer who values convenience and condition.

Listed by:
Betsy Twigg
McEnearney Associates
703-967-4391
[email protected]
www.betsytwigg.com

TripUSAFrance: New, limited-capacity tour ready for Bordeaux, Dordogne

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
1/5

Ready to explore the world again?

TripUSAFrance has prepared a carefully curated, custom-designed adventure to the Bordeaux and Dordogne regions of France that is truly one of a kind. And because the 9-day tour is limited to 14 adventurers, TripUSAFrance is able to take visitors into destinations larger groups cannot.

For example? How about a visit to a small truffle farm, where visitors meet the farmer, learn how truffles are cultivated, and watch the beloved truffle dog hunt said truffles. Followed by a tasting of the harvest and a glass of wine in a truly bucolic setting.

“We try to make each trip as unique and authentic as possible so travelers can really experience the culture and have a personal trip getting to know their local guide and companions,” says Arlington’s Peter Perantonakis, who, with his business partner Julia Girard-Gervois, have taken visitors to her native country for nearly eight years. “It’s not a big bus tour so we don’t have the limitations that larger groups encounter and it allows us to create really special trips.”

Among other experiences on the Bordeaux and Dordogne excursion, TripUSAFrance will take their small group to a personalized cooking demonstration at a chateau, they’ll enjoy a nighttime dinner river cruise, and they’ll dine at a one-star Michelin restaurant. And of course, there are private wine tastings at small vineyards.

Julia and her team of local guides, including her father Stephane, enjoy introducing visitors to the scenery and people of their homeland, which just happens to be one of the most beautiful and historic parts of the world.

Ready to travel? Still need convincing? See the reviews of TripUsaFrance on TripAdvisor, and book your seat before they’re gone. While you are at it, look at the amazing itinerary Julia and Peter have assembled.

Call the Arlington-based TripUSAFrance at 703-375-9548 or email [email protected]. Follow @tripusafrance on Facebook.

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