Electrical workers in bucket cranes work on power lines in North Arlington on Aug. 9, 2023 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Electrical workers in bucket cranes work on power lines in North Arlington on Aug. 9, 2023 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
After big storms, many of the same questions are asked: namely, why don’t we just bury power lines?
Surely the expense of constantly fixing power lines downed by falling trees, branches and the occasional crash — both in terms of the repairs themselves, lost productivity, etc. — cannot be far off from the cost of just moving them underground?
As our exploration of the topic last week found, however, it’s not quite that simple. It would cost tens of billions of dollars to bury lines across the state, and previous looks at the question specifically in Arlington also concluded that it’s infeasible from both a cost and a permissions perspective — getting everyone to agree to let the power company dig up their yards.
Instead, Dominion and local governments have been conducting more targeted undergroundings, along high-density corridors like Columbia Pike and in places where storm damage is more frequent. That has cut the power restoration time after big storms, a Dominion spokeswoman told us, but outages will remain a fact of life as long as there are storms and trees.
Of course, there are likely those that would argue that with climate change whipping up fiercer storms, burying more lines should be more seriously considered.
Solidcore Moving HQ to Rosslyn — “A growing boutique fitness company is moving its corporate headquarters again, this time from D.C. to Rosslyn, in search of more space. Come September, Solidcore Holdings LLC — branded as [solidcore] — will move out of its offices at 1728 14th St. NW in the District, where it takes 6,700 square feet. The company will move to 1735 N. Lynn St. in Rosslyn, where it inked a lease in June for 12,000 square feet.” [Washington Business Journal]
Attic Fire in Green Valley — “Fire in the attic of a Green Valley duplex is out, per ACFD. Sizable response remains on scene.” [Twitter, Twitter]
Retired Arlingtonian Lands Nats Role — “After cheering the Washington Nationals to a 2019 World Series victory, Tanya Schneider went online to buy a package of tickets for the following spring. A phrase caught her attention: ‘Join our team.’ ‘Maybe I could be one of the racing presidents,’ she thought, envisioning the iconic mascots of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt, who provide comic relief during the fourth inning. Then she saw the posting for ball girl. She applied.” [Arlington Magazine]
Tomb Guard Recounts Storm — “Army Pfc. Jessica Kwiatkowski leaned forward as she walked against the wind and rain. As a Tomb Guard with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, she walked her twenty-one steps in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in the middle of a violent rainstorm on the evening of Saturday, July 29, 2023. Amid the storm, she walked her post without the ability to see.” [Dept. of Defense, Twitter]
NYT References Weenie Beenie — “Underneath the blanket of saucy chili and beyond the chopped onions and yellow mustard that are vital to a Half Smoke served “all the way” is the signature sausage that defines this capital classic. While the smoky, slightly spicy pork-and-beef links were invented as breakfast fare at the Weenie Beenie, they are now available at establishments throughout the city. But no purveyor is more famous than Ben’s Chili Bowl, the U Street monument to meat.” [New York Times]
New ARLnow Podcast Episode — “We’re still rehearsing and testing the format for our revamped ARLnow Podcast, but wanted to give listeners a preview of what we’re working on. Jo, James and Scott were joined this week by guest host Rahmein Mostafavi.” [Libsyn]
Nearby: Route 50 Paving — “Beginning Monday night, Aug. 21, eastbound Route 50 (Arlington Boulevard) will have lane closures between Graham Road and Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) for milling and paving work, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. Through Monday night, Sept. 18, the single-lane closures will occur Sunday nights through Thursday nights between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. each night. This work will occur on eastbound Route 50 only; all lanes of westbound Route 50 will remain open.” [VDOT]
It’s Monday — Partly sunny conditions with a high temperature reaching around 94°F and a gentle northwest wind blowing at 3 to 6 mph. As the evening approaches, expect increasing cloudiness and a low temperature settling around 71°F, accompanied by a light north wind, also between 3 to 6 mph. [Weather.gov]
Address:1404 N Herndon Street Neighborhood: Lyon Village Type: 4 BR, 4 (+1 half) BA single-family detached – 3991 sq. ft. Listed: $2,575,000
Noteworthy: Stunning Lyon Village Modern Masterpiece.
Stunning modern masterpiece designed and renovated in 2016 by acclaimed Moser Architects, seamlessly blending cutting-edge design with refined comfort. Nestled in sought-after Lyon Village, this home offers a light-filled, open layout that exudes sophistication and warmth. Every detail reflects the vision of the current owner, a talented interior designer who curated the interiors with an elevated sense of style. Upon entry, soaring ceilings, white oak flooring, and Italian lighting by Artemide set the tone for contemporary elegance. The striking dining room features Schumacher wallpaper, custom cabinetry, and Scandinavian lighting by Louis Poulsen, while a stylish home office with built-ins complements the design. Along the hall, a custom mural by NYC’s Calico Wallpaper leads to the mudroom and powder room, accented by Kelly Wearstler Visual Comfort lighting and Scalamandre wallcoverings. The open-concept living area, wrapped in walls of windows, centers around state-of-the-art kitchen by Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens with Canadian Elmwood cabinetry, Dekton countertops, walk-in pantry, butler’s pantry with beverage center, and custom banquette upholstered in Christopher Farr Cloth. Upstairs, the primary suite includes two custom-designed walk-in closets and a luxurious spa-inspired bath with an oversized shower and bench seating. Three additional bedrooms, two full baths—one showcasing a Scandinavian light fixture by &Tradition—and a convenient laundry room complete the upper level. The lower level includes a recreation room with 9-foot ceilings, guest suite, full bath, second laundry, and garage access. Outside, professional landscaping and a private flagstone patio provide a serene retreat just two blocks from Clarendon Metro, shops, and dining.
The forecast predicts sunny weather with a high temperature of around 85 degrees and northwest winds at 6 to 9 mph during the day. The night will be clear, with temperatures dropping to approximately 64 degrees and west winds at a speed of 3 to 5 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋
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Skiff featured Courthouse’s Brooklyn Bagel Company as well as adult sport league Volo in recent TikToks (courtesy of @margaretskiff on TikTok)
While many TikTokers share their perfect days in D.C., one recent grad has found a recipe for social media success by sticking closer to her home in Arlington.
Since graduating from Roanoke College and moving to Arlington in 2020, Maine native Margaret Skiff has accumulated more than 60,000 followers for videos inspired by this life transition, including tips on budgeting and relocating to the D.C. area.
While her account was originally geared towards caring for houseplants, Skiff found herself wanting to share more general lifestyle content. At first, she struggled with whether to lean into being across the river from D.C.
“I felt a lot of pressure at first to brand myself as a D.C. influencer because, you know, closest major city. Everyone’s like, ‘This is a day in my life in D.C.,’ and I had just seen that and I felt like that’s what resonated with people,” Skiff told ARLnow. “But I was like, ‘You know what? I don’t live in D.C. I live in Arlington. And there are plenty of people that live on this side of the river that will also relate to my content.’”
As she posted more Arlington-centric day-in-the-life videos, she watched her following, particularly among Northern Virginians, grow.
“It was very slow going at first, I was kind of just posting whatever, and then I had a couple of videos that started to do really well,” Skiff said. “Within six months I gained over 30,000 followers, and then it’s kind of been steady growth ever since.”
On her TikTok, Instagram and YouTube pages, Skiff now shares a mix of daily video blogs, budget breakdowns and fashion ideas on top of the ups and downs of working a 9-5 job in corporate America. Her TikTok page has more than 4.5 million likes, owing to her honesty about her life and work.
When it comes to Arlington-specific lifestyle tips, the local social media content creator says she typically keeps to Clarendon, Courthouse and Ballston. She enjoys Spider Kelly’s for a late-night spot, Maison Cheryl for an upscale dinner, and the Brass Rabbit for happy hour. In addition, her videos regularly feature local farmers markets and other popular spots like Brooklyn Bagel Bakery.
While not all of her followers are from Arlington, she does share tips for making friends and getting involved.
“There are so many cool and fun ways to make friends in D.C., especially right out of college,” Skiff said in a TikTok posted in July where she discusses social adult sport leagues in the area.
Skiff tells ARLnow the key to success is posting things that her audience will find relatable, whether that is lighter fare — such as finding the perfect dress for a summer wedding — or more serious topics, including mental health.
“Sometimes, you know, not everyone’s going to like everything that you post, but I try to be conscious of how other people are going to feel about it,” Skiff said.
Have you found your quarantine oasis? Are you tired of paying down someone else’s mortgage? Please join us for a Rent vs. Buy Happy Hour on Wednesday, February 10 at 6 p.m. via zoom (link to be provided upon RSVP). Sip on your drink of choice and learn from Washingtonian Magazine top producing agents on how you can get $1,500 towards your closing costs immediately!
We will discuss the Home Buying Process and Rent vs. Buy cost savings. Please RSVP by clicking on the link by February 9. Call/text Manavi at 703-869-6698 with any questions!
