Bluemont Junction Trail (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
This weekend, the Arlington County Board is set to consider a proposal to funnel nearly $400,000 into the second phase of the Bluemont Junction Trail safety project.
Phase 2 includes moving and updating three trail connectors to be accessible to people with disabilities and improving cyclist and pedestrian intersections between the W&OD Trail and the Four Mile Run Trail on both sides of Wilson Blvd, per a county report.
The plan also calls for resurfacing a 480-foot segment of Four Mile Run Trail and repairing a nearby pedestrian bridge.
In the project’s first phase, which spanned the fall of 2021 to last summer, the county and the Virginia Dept. of Transportation made upgrades to roughly 4,500 linear feet and 13 connector trails, the report said. This included reconfiguring the trail’s intersections with N. Emerson Street and N. Kensington Street.
The second phase, however, demands more “in-depth engineering” than the milling and repaving carried out in the first phase, the report said.
Rep. Don Beyer has earmarked $325,000 in federal funds for the second phase of the project, which has an estimated total cost of $711,662.
The community will have an opportunity to provide input on the designs and proposed improvements if the funds are allocated, a county staff report notes.
Give a round of applause to Tiger, the newest Adoptable Pet of the Week!
This fluffy, longhaired guy is gorgeous and ready to find a family to call home. He is currently in shelter at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
This is what his friends had to say:
This lovable striped 1-year-old is looking for a home to call his own. He’s a laid-back boy who has truly mastered the art of relaxation. Set him up in a sun-soaked window sill, and you can bet that he’ll find the perfect spot to curl up and unwind.
One of Tiger’s favorite pastimes is being pampered with belly rubs. He’s not just content with a casual pat; he’s a full-fledged belly-rub aficionado. In fact, there’s seemingly no limit to the amount of petting he can enjoy. He also loves to be groomed, so get your brushes and get ready for some quality bonding time.
Tiger has lived with children in the past, and as long as boundaries are respected, they should be able to live harmoniously in the future.
Despite being named Tiger, this handsome fellow boasts a striking resemblance to a lynx with his stunning tufted ears and captivating gaze. Don’t let his lynx-like appearance fool you — Tiger is a gentle and affectionate companion at heart.
His favorite pastime is curling up in a cozy spot beside you, purring contently as you stroke his luxurious coat. With his soft, plush fur and endearing mannerisms, Tiger has a way of melting hearts wherever he goes.
Are you starry eyed? Then Tiger is the furry companion for you!
Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with 2-3 paragraphs about your pet and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos.
Address:2607 Washington Blvd Neighborhood: Lyon Park Type: 3 BR, 2 (+1 half) BA single-family detached – 1920 sq. ft. Listed: $1,274,900
Noteworthy: Beautifully updated brick colonial in the heart of Arlington!
This charming 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath home perfectly blends classic character with thoughtful modern updates. The handsome brick exterior and flagstone retaining wall create exceptional curb appeal, enhanced by professional landscaping and private off-street parking for three cars. Inside, wood floors flow throughout both levels, complemented by fresh modern paint and abundant natural light.
The renovated kitchen showcases granite countertops, painted paneled cabinetry with brushed nickel hardware, a marble tile backsplash, pendant lighting, spacious pantry, and stainless steel appliances including a Bosch dishwasher, LG refrigerator, and five-burner gas stove. The adjoining family room features a cozy wood-burning fireplace with brick hearth and wood mantel, plus a sliding glass door leading to a large deck overlooking a fully fenced backyard with lush landscaping and a storage shed.
Upstairs, the expansive primary suite offers a deep walk-in closet, additional custom-organized closet, and a luxurious private bath with double sinks, granite counters, new lighting, and upgraded hardware. Two additional bedrooms with ceiling fans share an updated hall bath featuring a granite vanity, ceramic tile floor, and tub with tile surround.
Additional highlights include a newer Carrier gas furnace, State water heater, LG front-load washer and dryer, central vacuum system, and double-pane windows. Ideally located just blocks to Clarendon Metro and minutes to downtown D.C., the Pentagon, National Landing, and local parks and trails—this home delivers a rare combination of comfort, convenience, and timeless charm.
A man was carjacked by gun-wielding suspects early this morning at the Lyon Village Shopping Center.
It happened shortly before 12:30 a.m. near the 24-hour CVS store, according to scanner traffic. The suspects could be seen fleeing down the Spout Run Parkway in a traffic camera video posted by local public safety watcher Dave Statter.
A safety tip: If you have a vehicle carjackers desire, you might want to avoid driving it to 24-hour businesses during the overnight hours. They seem to be popular nighttime fishing holes in Arlington. I imagine it's the same elsewhere. 🔽🔽 @ARLnowDOTcomhttps://t.co/gwVD6kTZzN
The man also reportedly had his phone and wallet taken.
More, below, from today’s Arlington County Police Department crime report.
CARJACKING, 2023-09210006, 3100 block of Langston Boulevard. At approximately 12:26 a.m. on September 21, police were dispatched to the report of an armed robbery. Upon arrival, it was determined the male victim was walking to his parked vehicle when the suspect vehicle approached and the male suspect exited. The suspect approached the victim while brandishing a firearm and demanded his vehicle. The suspect then pushed the victim to the ground and stole his keys, wallet and personal items. The suspect then fled the scene in the victim’s stolen vehicle, a blue 2023 Chevrolet Corvette bearing Virginia tags TYG4480, followed by the suspect vehicle, a gray sedan, which had approximately three occupants. The victim sustained minor injuries and declined medical attention.
Please join us on Saturday, October 9 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Clarendon Presbyterian Church for our drive-thru supply collection to support Northern Virginia shelters. Donations of the below items and volunteers to help staff the event are always welcome!
For New Hope Housing: Full-size body wash for men and women, deodorant, razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste. For Bridges to Independence families: Saltine crackers or Ritz crackers, Dinty Moore meals, cereal, mayonnaise, seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic salt, etc.), microwaveable cup of soup/noodles, bottled water, sugar, juices, capri sun fruit drink pouches, oreos and chips ahoy cookies, healthy kid snacks, individual packaged chips. (more…)
David Limp, Amazon’s senior vice president of devices and services, kicks off the company’s 2023 product launch at Amazon HQ2 in Pentagon City (staff photo by James Jarvis)
Demo of Echo Show 8 at 2023 Amazon product launch (staff photo by James Jarvis)
Demo of Echo Frames at 2023 Amazon product launch (staff photo by James Jarvis)
Demo of Echo Pop Kids at 2023 Amazon product launch (staff photo by James Jarvis)
(Updated at 2:30 p.m.) Channeling the energy of an iPhone launch, Amazon unveiled its new line of AI-powered gadgets in Arlington on Wednesday.
While a September product launch is typical for the tech giant, this event was the first major unveiling Amazon has hosted at its new HQ2 in Pentagon City — and the top brass went all out for the occasion.
Inside the 2.1-million-square-foot complex, which wrapped up its first phase of construction in June, Amazon employees ushered attendees to their seats in the airy auditorium. Caterers served hors d’oeuvres, kombucha and cold-pressed juice. Pop music from the likes of Dua Lipa and Ellie Goulding played in the background.
Then, an ethereal voice put an end to the bustling activity, leading the crowd in a countdown and asking everyone to “silence their cellphones.”
Amazon Senior Vice President of Devices and Services David Limp took the stage first, making arguably the most consequential announcement of the day. He explained how generative AI — the buzzy tech that people use to create anything from raps to digital illustrations — will shape the future of Amazon’s products.
Limp demonstrated Alexa’s new enhanced AI-powered capabilities talking to the the company’s forthcoming $150 Echo Show 8, highlighting the smart home device’s capacity to comprehend complex requests and engage in more human-like interactions.
“We’ve studied what it takes to make a great conversation over the past nine years. It’s not just words, it’s body language. It’s understanding who you’re addressing. It’s eye contact, it’s gestures,” Limp said.
To create “much more conversational experiences” with Alexa, Limp said Amazon combined the sensors in an Echo — including its camera and ability to detect someone’s presence — with its newest Large Language Models. These “talk to” humans by processing large amounts of text on the Internet and predicting the right response.
After Limp, a cadre of Amazon executives introduced new products such as the $50 Echo Pop Kids smart speaker, the $180 Echo Hub Home, a control panel for managing smart devices, and a more aesthetic upgrade to its smart glasses, the $270 Echo Frames.
Each announcement sparked a flurry of keyboard activity from tech journalists in attendance — with resulting headlines in Engadget, The Verge and elsewhere — as well as applause from employees and stakeholders.
Before inviting the audience to try out demo devices, Limp said he believes this new technology can “redefine” the way people “interact” with their homes.
“Customers have now connected over 400 million devices to their Alexa Smart Home and they’re using Alexa to control those devices hundreds of millions of times each week,” he said.
Most devices will start shipping in October. Customers can pre-order through Amazon’s website.
Join the Arlington Arts Center and Made in Arlington on Saturday, October 2 from 12-4 p.m. for an artisan pop-up market. Various Arlington artisans will be on hand selling their creations, while the fall exhibitions will be on view in the galleries.
The fall exhibition season includes a conceptual art exhibition “Take a Number: Artists & Bureaucracy” and a special exhibition by artist-in-residence “Olivia Tripp Morrow: Body, Joy, Cage, Scar.” Arlington Arts Center is located at 3550 Wilson Blvd near the Virginia Square metro and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 12-5 p.m.
