Clarendon

Disabled Train at Clarendon Station Causes Major Delays

By ARLnow.com

Major delays on the Orange Line on 7/10/13 (photo courtesy @afranz409)Update at 9:50 p.m. — WMATA has issued a statement apologizing for the “significant delays.” The disabled train was rendered inoperable by a brake malfunction, which also made it impossible to tow, WMATA said.

A train that became stuck just outside the Clarendon Metro station caused major delays on the Orange and Blue lines tonight.

The Vienna-bound train stopped outside the station between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. due to a mechanical problem. Immediately, commuters heading from D.C. to Virginia on the Orange and Blue lines started experiencing delays as Metro began single-tracking around the crippled train.

On Twitter, passengers reported overcrowded platforms, delays in excess of an hour, and a mad rush for buses, taxis and Uber cars outside stations. A compilation of some of the tweets can be found below, after the jump.

The disabled train was finally moved around 7:30 p.m. Riders were stranded on it for about 90 minutes.

“Passengers were transferred to a second train that was brought to the disabled train,” Metro spokesman Dan Stessel told ARLnow.com. “They walked from the front car of the disabled train through the last door of the rescue train. Their total delay was quite significant due to train’s location on a grade.”

“Metro Transit Police boarded the train in the tunnel to make sure everyone was okay,” Stessel added. “Car maintenance techs also boarded while it was disabled.”

No medical issues were reported among the passengers.

Photo courtesy @afranz409

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Trains Running Despite Clarendon Station Power Outage

By Katie Pyzyk

Clarendon Metro stationWMATA reports that the Clarendon Metro station is experiencing a power outage, but trains continue to service the station.

WMATA took to Twitter to inform passengers of the outage and that all of the station’s escalators and elevators are currently out of service. Buses have been requested to the station, the agency said.

Spokesman Dan Stessel said the localized power outage is “not a big deal” and the station is still open for business.

There have been no reports of delays from the outage.

Police Arrest Peeper, Seek Additional Victims

By Katie Pyzyk

Michael Tomlin Michael Tomlin

Police have arrested a man accused of several recent peeping incidents, and they’re asking other potential victims to come forward.

On Sunday afternoon, 48-year-old Michael Tomlin allegedly hid in a stall of a women’s restroom in a movie theater and was caught looking over the stall at a juvenile victim. Tomlin reportedly fled when the girl’s father confronted him. The father immediately contacted authorities with a description of the suspect, and the Arlington County Police Department’s Special Victims Unit found Tomlin yesterday in the 4300 block of N. Carlin Springs Road.

Tomlin has been arrested and charged with Trespassing and Peeping Tom. He is being held at the Arlington County Detention Facility on a $5,000 secured bond.

Tomlin has a history of criminal behavior and has served jail time for peeping tom incidents. He was released from jail in May, and has been tied to three peeping incidents since then, including one at Ballston Common Mall last month and the Clarendon Barnes and Noble in May. Police believe he may be responsible for other peeping incidents and they’re asking other victims to come forward.

Anyone who recognizes Tomlin from his recent booking photo (above left) or previous booking photo (above right) and may have information about him or additional crimes he may be involved with is asked to call Detective Jamey Trainer at 703-228-4185 or email [email protected]. Information can also be reported anonymously by contacting the Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866-411-TIPS.

Weekend Crime: Alcohol-Related Incidents in Clarendon, Crystal City

By ARLnow.com

New Arlington police carIntoxicated bar- and pool-goers kept police busy over the weekend.

On Saturday, Arlington County police made 13 alcohol-related arrests in Clarendon during the All-American Bar Crawl, according to ACPD spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. Among the arrests were two for assault on a police officer and one for a man who attempted, unsuccessfully, to throw a chair through the front window of a business.

Sternbeck said calls for police in Clarendon were “steady” throughout the evening, up until about midnight. “Multiple” fights were reported during that time.

On Sunday, meanwhile, police were called to a pool on the 1600 block of S. Eads Street — at the Crystal Towers apartment complex — for an intoxicated man who allegedly exposed himself.

The 29-year-old Arlington resident exposed himself to about 25 people, including children, while sitting in a chair poolside, Sternbeck said. A lifeguard asked the man to leave, and police arrested him for indecent exposure at his apartment.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Fireworks trailer on Columbia Pike

Instagram Has Video Filter Called ‘Clarendon’ — Updated at 2:25 p.m. –Yesterday, Facebook-owned photo app Instagram rolled out a feature that allows users to record video. As with photos, users can apply filters to the video. One of those filters is called “Clarendon,” but it turns out it was named after a street in San Francisco, not the Arlington neighborhood. [Instagram, All Things D]

Abingdon Book Bus Returns — After a successful summer of book distribution last year, the Abingdon Elementary book bus will return on July 9. The book bus is one of several summer reading initiatives for Arlington students this year. [Arlington Public Schools]

Road Closure For Art Festival — A road closure is planned for the inaugural Arlington Festival of the Arts in Clarendon. N. Highland Street will be closed between Washington Blvd and N. Hartford Street. Wilson and Clarendon Blvds will remain open during the festival, which runs from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. [ArtFestival.com]

Pike Sculpture Honored — Echo, the sculpture on display at Penrose Square on Columbia Pike, has been honored as a “top 50” public art project for 2013. The sculpture “provides a modern interpretation of Arlington’s significant contribution to the history of communication.” [Arlington County]

Disclosure: Art festival promoter Howard Alan Events is an ARLnow.com advertiser. Hat tips (Instagram item) to @reddusfoximus and @jeffchin21.

Morning Notes

By Katie Pyzyk

Stormy skies over Pentagon City on June 13, 2013

Clarendon Center Wins Architectural Award — The Clarendon Center development has won a 2013 Charter Award, which is a global architectural award for excellence in urban design. The building straddles the 3000 block of Wilson Blvd and Clarendon Blvd. Clarendon Center was highlighted for being an example of walkable urban density in a suburban context and for its use of Art Deco styling. [Congress for the New Urbanism]

Arlington Transit Bus Survey — Arlington Transit is asking residents to fill out an online survey regarding the county’s bus service. Survey respondents are asked to suggest improvements for ART and Metrobus service. The information will help shape updates to the county’s six-year Transit Development Plan. The survey closes on Friday, June 28. [Arlington Transit]

Dream Scholarship Award Ceremony on Friday — Twenty-nine students from Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax will be honored at Friday’s Dream Scholarship award ceremony. Undocumented students in good academic standing qualify for the scholarship if they or one of their parents were born outside of the United States, and the student will attend an accredited college or university. The ceremony takes place on Friday at 7:00 p.m. at the Arlington Education Center (1426 N. Quincy Street). [Facebook]

Video: Race Official Hurt in Crystal Cup Crash

By ARLnow.com

A race marshal for Sunday’s Crystal Cup bike race was hurt when one of the competitors slammed into her, knocking her to the ground.

The moments before and the immediate aftermath of the crash, which happened near the VRE station on Crystal Drive, were caught on video (above).

The collision sent the cyclist tumbling into the path of a race vehicle, the driver of which managed to stop in time and render aid. Arlington County sheriff’s deputies and police motorcycle officers also responded to the crash.

About 30 seconds after the initial crash, a group of racing cyclists approach the scene. Unable to get out of the way in time, one ran over the race official, who was still on the ground, and himself fell hard to the pavement.

The race marshal was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. She was one of four race participants who required transport to the hospital on Sunday.

Clarendon Cup 2013 (photo by eschweik)The cyclist who ran over the official, identified by the website Bike Hugger as Timothy Rugg, wrote in a blog post that he didn’t suffer any injuries aside from “tons of road rash and a deep gash in my elbow.” He complained that the course for the Crystal Cup race and Saturday’s Clarendon Cup race, both part of the Air Force Association Cycling Classic, contained too many “obstacles and potholes.”

Aldo Imo Ilesic of Slovenia was the first place male finisher in the Clarendon Cup, according to CyclingNews.com. American Amanda Miller topped the field among elite women.

Argeninian Juan Jose Haedo placed first among elite men in the Crystal Cup, VeloNews.com reported. Lauren Stephens captured first place in the elite female race.

Photo (bottom) courtesy eschweik

Air Force Association Cycling Classic This Weekend

By Katie Pyzyk

Air Force Cycling Classic Crystal CupCyclists will fill the streets of Arlington this weekend for the annual Air Force Association Cycling Classic.

Activities begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, with various amateur races. The big event, however, is the Clarendon Cup which begins around noon. It is part of USA Cycling’s National Criterium Calendar and has been the Washington DC region’s premier Pro/Am race since 1998. According to the event website, the 100km Clarendon Cup (100 laps on a 1km course) is known as one of the most difficult criterium races in the U.S. due to technical demands of the course and the quality of the participants.

Cyclists of all abilities are welcome to participate in the Challenge Ride on Sunday, June 9, beginning at 7:30 a.m. Sunday’s featured event is the Crystal Cup men’s pro race.

Closures for the events are as follows:

Saturday, June 8, from 4:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.:

  • Wilson Blvd from N. Fillmore Street to Washington Blvd
  • Clarendon Blvd from Washington Blvd to N. Fillmore Street
  • Washington Blvd from Wilson Blvd to N. Highland Street
  • Highland Street from Wilson Boulevard to Washington Blvd
  • Garfield Street and Fillmore Street from Wilson Blvd to Washington Blvd

Street parking in the affected areas also will be restricted. Motorists should be on the lookout for temporary “No Parking” signs. Illegally parked vehicles may be ticketed or towed.

Sunday, June 9, from 5:00 a.m. to noon:

  • Crystal Drive between 23rd Street and 15th Street
  • 20th Street between Crystal Drive and Jefferson Davis Highway. Single lane provided westbound from S. Bell Street to Jefferson Davis Highway
  • Clark Street between 20th Street and 23rd Street. Vehicles will be able to enter/exit from the northern most garage entrance/exit when deemed safe.
  • Westbound lanes of 23rd Street between Crystal Drive and S. Clark Street will be closed and eastbound lanes will be converted to westbound traffic. All traffic from Route 1 bound for the Crystal Drive parking garage will be diverted to S. Clark Street• 18th Street between Crystal Drive and S. Bell Street –- Only local traffic destined for garage parking permitted east of S. Bell Street
  • Westbound lanes of 15th Street between Crystal Drive and S. Eads Street
  • Eastbound lanes of 15th Street between Crystal Drive and the southbound entry ramp for Route 1/Jefferson Davis Highway – east bound lanes between S. Eads and the south bound entry ramp will remain open.
  • Southbound Route 110 between Rosslyn and Route 1/Jefferson Davis Highway
  • Southbound Route 1/Jefferson Davis Highway between Route 110 and 15th Street
  • Washington Blvd eastbound at I-395
  • Washington Blvd westbound from Memorial Bridge
  • Columbia Pike from S. Washington Blvd to S. Oak St.
  • S. Joyce Street from S. Washington Blvd to Columbia Pike
  • Boundary Channel Drive from Connector Road to S. Washington Blvd
  • South Gate Road no access to Columbia Pike

Sunday, June 9, from noon to 4:00 p.m:

  • Crystal Drive between 23rd Street and 15th Street
  • Eastbound lanes of 15th Street between Crystal Drive and Jefferson Davis Highway
  • 20th Street between Crystal Drive and Jefferson Davis Highway. Single lane provided westbound from S. Bell Street to Jefferson Davis Highway
  • Clark Street between 15th Street and 18th Street
  • Clark Street between 20th Street and 23rd Street. A single lane will be provided at the exit to the parking garage for Plaza Apartments to allow vehicles to exit upon ACPD direction
  • Westbound lanes of 23rd Street between Crystal Drive and S. Clark Street. Eastbound lanes will be converted to westbound traffic. All traffic bound for the Crystal Drive parking garage will be diverted to S. Clark Street
  • 18th Street between Crystal Drive and S. Bell Street –- Only local traffic destined for garage parking permitted east of S. Bell Street

Disclosure: Air Force Association Cycling Classic is an ARLnow.com advertiser

Police Search for Clarendon Peeping Tom

By Katie Pyzyk

Arlington County Police Department badgePolice are looking for a man accused of peeping on a woman while she was in a restroom stall at the Barnes and Noble (2800 Clarendon Blvd) in Clarendon.

Around 7:50 p.m. on Friday (May 24), a woman was using the restroom at the store when she saw a man peek over her stall. She and her husband immediately reported the incident to the store manager. The man allegedly fled the store when he saw the manager calling police.

The suspect is described as a 5’10” white male in his 40s with shaggy brown hair. At the time of the incident he was wearing a red t-shirt with a grey button down shirt over it, and blue jeans. He was also carrying a large green bag.

Police are examining the store’s surveillance video from the time of the incident. Anyone who may have seen the suspect or who the may have more information about the incident is asked to call the Arlington County Police non-emergency number at 703-558-2222.

Art, Acoustic Music Festivals Coming to Clarendon Next Month

By ARLnow.com

Clarendon MetroShoppers and passersby will be treated to acoustic music and art in Clarendon starting next month.

On the weekend of June 22 and 23, national art show promoter Howard Alan Events will hold the inaugural “Arlington Festival of the Arts,” a “two-day juried outdoor gallery style art exhibit” featuring various works from “100 of the finest artists in the country.”

The festival is free and will take place each day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on N. Highland Street near the Clarendon Metro station.

“Festival patrons can expect to see bold and vibrant paintings, contemporary and whimsical art, life-size sculptures, photography, handcrafted jewelry and much more,” said a press release. “A food festival hosted by the Clarendon Alliance will be located adjacent to the Metro Station stop on Clarendon Boulevard and Highland Street. Admission to the art show is free and open to the public.”

Market Common at twilightIn addition to viewing art, festival-goers will, of course, also be able to purchase art. Prices will range from $25 to $30,000, according to organizers.

Also in June, the Market Common Clarendon shopping center (2700 Clarendon Blvd) will kick off a summer-long acoustic music festival. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring picnic blankets or lawn chairs to the free concerts, in the Market Common Clarendon courtyard.

The concerts will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday nights. The scheduled artist lineup is as follows.

Dog Park Reopening Delayed Until Summer

By Katie Pyzyk
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Construction issues will delay the anticipated “late spring” reopening of Clarendon’s James Hunter Park until summer.

According to Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation spokeswoman Susan Kalish, a number of unforeseen conditions turned up during construction at the dog park site on the corner of N. Herndon Street and N. 13th Street. Some of the problems include difficult soils, grading issues and the discovery of “buried structures.” Kalish said although such issues are not unheard of, they will push the expected park completion date into July.

“This is not unusual at an urban site and we were able to make adjustments to ensure the park will be a great place for the community to gather,” she said.

Workers will spend the next several weeks installing site furnishings and landscaping.

“This space should look more and more like a park by the middle of June,” said Kalish.

Despite the delay, the $1.6 million renovation project remains on budget.

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