Ballston

Two Pedestrian Accidents Reported Along Wilson Boulevard

By ARLnow.com

Police and paramedics are out at two separate pedestrian accidents along Wilson Boulevard, both near accident-prone intersections.

One accident is on North Rhodes Street at Wilson Boulevard, where we’ve taken note of two separate crashes in the past few months.

The other accident is on North Randolph Street between Wilson Boulevard and 9th Street. In a discussion of another potentially dangerous intersection in Ballston, one ARLnow.com commenter cited that specific block as particularly dangerous for pedestrians.

“OddNumber” said:

I would argue that one block away at the intersections of N Randolph and Wilson, and N Randolph and 9th St are much more dangerous even though they have traffic signals. Drivers constantly mis-use lanes going northbound because Arlington has deficient lane markings and creates an unsafe environment for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. The bus stop at Wilson is constantly used as an extra turn lane and both the turn and through lanes are used for through traffic at 9th.

Neither pedestrian’s injuries are reported to be life-threatening.

More on Yesterday’s Power Outages in Ballston

By ARLnow.com

Dominion spokesperson Le-Ha Anderson clears up come of the confusion surrounding yesterday’s power outages in Ballston and the fire response at the National Science Foundation building:

We had a couple of different outages in the Ballston area yesterday.

Eight customers between North Fairfax Drive and N. Quincy Street were without power from 1:45 – 6:18 PM. The cause of the outage is unknown, but we were able made some repairs to the equipment and re-energized the transformer to restore all customers.

The National Science Foundation building is where the other outage occurred. Dominion received a call that there was a fire in the vault where the transformer is located. The sprinkler system was activated and the vault filled up with water. After draining the vault of water, we investigated the outage and found that the transformer was damaged. We will be replacing that transformer this morning. The National Science Foundation has damage within its own system, so they will also need to make repairs. This outage is affecting the HVAC system within the building, but the lights are on. It is my understanding that the NSF made the decision yesterday to close today so that all repairs could be made.

The power outages forced the Arlington Public Library and The Front Page restaurant, among others, to close early.

Update at 9:30 a.m. — North Stuart Street between Wilson Blvd and 9th Street is being shut down for emergency electrical work. The closure may affect some bus routes.

Update at 2:10 p.m. — Below are photos of power crews working on the lines on Washington Boulevard, near the Arlington Central Library, and of crews replacing a transformer below the NSF building.

Storm Causes Problems Around County

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 3:00 p.m.) Driving rain and high winds knocked out power, flooded roads and led to numerous accidents in Arlington this morning.

Parts of Ballston and the area around Lee Highway and North Glebe Road lost power during the storm. A storm-related electrical fire in the parking garage of the National Science Foundation building caused dozens of workers to be evacuated. As of 2:50 p.m., the Arlington Central Library was still without power.

During the storm, several accidents were reported on I-66 and elsewhere.

On Washington Boulevard near Utah Street, north of Ballston, standing water in one of the far lanes caused a big splash as cars drove through it. Further up the street, at the intersection with Glebe Road, a backup formed as traffic lights flashed yellow.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning until 4:15 this afternoon, and a tornado watch until 9:00 tonight.

Update at 3:05 p.m. — Central Library has closed until further notice due to the lack of power and phone service.

Update at 3:55 p.m. — The tornado watch has been canceled.

Update on 10/28 — More about the Ballston power outages here.

NSF Building Evacuated in Ballston After Apparent Lightning Strike

By ARLnow.com

The National Science Foundation building at 4201 Wilson Boulevard in Ballston was evacuated after an apparent lightning strike caused an electrical fire.

At least one witness reported hearing a popping sound as power went out. Rancid-smelling smoke spilled out of the building’s parking garage as a large fire department response surrounded the building.

While firefighters investigated the smoke, dozens of office workers stood outside in the light rain, waiting for the building to be reopened. Fire equipment blocked the westbound lanes of Wilson Boulevard.

There are reports that another building across the street was evacuated due to the smell of smoke. Firefighters believe the smoke was coming through an underground tunnel from the NSF building.

Much of Ballston, including Arlington Central Library, is currently without power.

Update at 2:20 p.m. — Most of the fire crews at the NSF building are packing up their gear. The actual fire investigation seems to be on the P2 level of the NSF parking garage.

Update at 2:25 p.m. — Wilson Boulevard has now reopened.

Update at 9:10 p.m. — From NSF spokesperson Dana Topousis: “The National Science Foundation (NSF) will be closed on Thursday, October 28, due to a power outage. Employees are encouraged to check NSFAlert.com for updates.”

Update on 10/28 — Dominion’s Le-Ha Anderson sheds more light on why the NSF building is closed here.

Pizza Autentica Opens in Ballston

By ARLnow.com

Rapidly-expanding DC pizza chain Pizza Autentica opened in Ballston last week.

The store features a decent selection of pizza by the slice, sandwiches, salad and gelato.

Pizza Autentica also serves beer and wine. Prices are about what you’d expect for a cafeteria-style pizza joint — not too expensive but not too cheap — with the exception of pitchers of beer, which are an impressively low $8.99.

Budweiser, Yuengling, Miller Lite and Old Dominion Hop Mountain Pale Ale are all on tap.

The store also serves coffee and breakfast sandwiches.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Northrop Could Be Leaving Arlington — The name “Northrop Grumman” may not grace the Rosslyn skyline for much longer. Capital Business reports that landlord Monday Properties has begun to market the primo office space currently occupied by Northrop, after receiving a tip that the company would be consolidating the office into its new Falls Church corporate campus by next summer. More from the Washington Post.

Metro Hero Interviewed on CNN, CBS Early Show — We have to apologize to Virginia Square Metro Hero Dimas Pinzon. He has apparently been hounded by reporters since we posted surveillance video of him walking over two electrified rails to come to the aid of an injured man who had fallen on the track. Pinzon was just interviewed by his hometown newspaper, the Virginian-Pilot, and in the past couple of days he has appeared on the CBS and CNN morning shows. Oh, and an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show is possibly in the works. More from HamptonRoads.com.

Murray Brings the Bus Back — Republican congressional candidate Patrick Murray has brought back the bus from his successful primary campaign. This morning Murray and the bus traveled to Ballston Metro, where he and his supporters shook hands and talked to voters. The campaign has already posted photos on Facebook.

Flickr pool photo by Mark C. White

First Look: Rustico Hours Away From Opening

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 7:20 p.m.) With just hours to go until the long-anticipated opening of Rustico restaurant in Ballston, the staff is breaking out the Red Bull and the Mountain Dew, preparing for a long night of putting on the finishing touches and getting ready for the first customers to walk through the door at 11:30 tomorrow morning.

With about 200 indoor seats and 100 outdoor seats (which will stay in storage until next year), Rustico is trying to become the premiere lunch, dinner, happy hour and sophisticated night spot in Ballston.

It will certainly have the largest beer selection in Ballston, if not in all of Northern Virginia: 400 bottles, 40 drafts and 3 cask ales (the casks will be installed next week). By comparison, the original Rustico, in Alexandria, has 300 bottles, 30 drafts and 2 cask ales.

The bottles are displayed prominently behind the bar in two bright display cases. The taps, however, form the bar’s centerpiece — two dense horizontal arrays of colorful tap handles in a cut-out nook between the display cases.

Unlike the Alexandria location, the Ballston Rustico will feature a bar area separated from the dining area. There will also be a semi-private dining areas for groups and parties.

The bar area features five flat screen TV’s (tuned primarily to sports), two long tables, a dozen booths and at least a dozen seats at the bar itself. The bar stools are modern, padded and comfortable, with a foot rest and arm rests.

The dining area is elegant and modern. The seats are molded wood — no padding, but surprisingly comfortable. Booths run along either side of the room.

The lighting fixtures are particularly fascinating. Elaborate, artistic chandeliers adorn the bar and the private dining area. Long, antique Edison bulbs light the general dining area.

Management tells us that more interior touches will be put into place in the two weeks after opening. A bare wall near the bar will be decorated, a raw wooden wall in the dining area will be illuminated with LED lighting and more mirror accents will be installed.

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Sweetgreen Ballston Opening Nears

By ARLnow.com

Arlington’s first Sweetgreen store is less than three weeks away from opening in Ballston.

The environmentally-friendly salad and frozen yogurt store is expected to open in the second week of November, the company said today. An exact opening date has not been chosen.

The store will be located at 4075 Wilson Boulevard, next to Rustico, which is expected to open for business tomorrow. The store will be Sweetgreen’s second in Virginia, following the opening of a location in Reston Town Center last month.

From a company press release:

As a standard in all Sweetgreen stores, the Ballston location will be outfitted with reclaimed hickory from an old Virginia barn, recycled bowling alley wood tables and chairs, energy efficient lighting, and providing plant-based compostable packaging.  “It’s been a long time coming,” said co-founder, Nathaniel Ru, “the values that we have are very parallel to the vibrant, progressive culture of Arlington, and we’re excited to be a part of that.”

Sweetgreen’s food truck, Sweetflow Mobile, will be making the rounds around the R-B corridor until 2:30 this afternoon “as a teaser” for the Ballston opening.

The truck will also make a regularly-scheduled appearance at the last Crystal City Freshfarm Market of the season tomorrow, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Traffic Lights Out Near Ballston Metro

By ARLnow.com

The traffic lights at the intersection of Fairfax Drive and North Stafford Drive are dark due to a small power outage in the area.

About 100 Dominion customers are affected by the outage. The company expects to get the power back on by 4:00 this afternoon.

Police are placing portable stop signs on the road to remind drivers to treat the intersection as a four-way stop.

Earlier this morning, fire fighters responded to the adjacent Central United Methodist Church for a report of smoke in the boiler room, likely a result of the power outage.

Crime Report: Brandishing in Ballston

By ARLnow.com

The following item from this week’s Arlington County crime report might make you think twice before honking the horn, even if the other guy is clearly in the wrong. This happened less than a block from the Ballston Metro station.

BRANDISHING 10/16/10, 4200 block of Fairfax Drive. On October 16 at 6:30 pm, a man honked his vehicle horn at three males crossing against a traffic light. One of the subjects lifted his shirt and displayed a handgun. The suspect is described as an African American man in his 20’s wearing a red jacket and a skullcap.

The rest of the crime report, including a brandishing in south Arlington, after the jump.

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Accident at Dangerous Ballston Intersection

By ARLnow.com

Police are reporting a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Fairfax Drive and Glebe Road in Ballston. At least one person — an occupant of one of the cars — was reported to be in need of medical assistance. The emergency response may be causing some traffic issues.

The intersection and its approaches have been the scene of two serious pedestrian accidents this month. One happened in a slip lane at the intersection. Another happened before the intersection on Fairfax Drive.

No pedestrians were hurt in this morning’s crash.

Update at 1:30 p.m. — Yet another accident happened on Fairfax Drive near the intersection with Glebe Road just before 1:00 this afternoon. At least two cars were hauled away from the scene on flatbed tow trucks. One injury was reported but not confirmed.

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