Clarendon

Volunteer Opp: Storm Drain Marking

By ARLnow.com

Did you know that all of Arlington’s storm drains empty directly into local streams and waterways? Many people do not, which is part of the reason why 50-100 cases of stream contamination are reported each year.

To help reduce that number, Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment and Whole Foods are teaming up to put “Don’t Dump” markers on neighborhood storm drains.

The project is taking place this Saturday. Volunteers are asked to meet at the Clarendon Whole Foods (2700 Wilson Blvd) at 1:00 p.m. A light snack will be served at Whole Foods afterward.

Contact Jackie Zovko (jackie.zovko[at]wholefoods.com) for more information.

Lindy Hopping at the Clarendon Ballroom

By Ashley Houghton

More than 60 swing dancers packed onto the Clarendon Ballroom dance floor Tuesday night as the Fabulettes — a trio of singers with polka dots and hair that would make Snooki jealous — sang hits from the ’50s and ’60s.  Most of the dancers were members of the GottaSwing beginner and intermediate dance classes led by Tom Koerner and Debra Sternberg.

Each Tuesday, Tom and Debra teach a beginner’s class at 7:00 p.m. followed by an intermediate class at 8:00 p.m. and a dance open to the public at 9:00 p.m. Admission for dancers who are not attending a class is $10.

Note that the moves in this video of Tom and Debra are not necessarily covered in the beginner classes.

New classes start May 11. Tuition for the eight-week session is $125.

A live band performs every week — next week expect the Jeff Carmella Band to blast some rhythm and blues.

Both singles and couples are welcome, says Tom.

“We’ve had over 147 couples get engaged after meeting at one of our lessons or dances. Even if you’ve already got a significant other, nothing says ‘I love you’ better than committing to a relationship on the dance floor. You can always divorce your wife, but not your dance partner!”

What To Try At Lyon Hall Tonight

By Scott Brodbeck

So you got lunch at The Burger Joint and you’re planning to go to P. Brennan’s for happy hour — now all you need to do to complete today’s “official opening” trifecta is dinner at Lyon Hall in Clarendon.

We stopped by the hotly-anticipated European brasserie over the weekend for one of the “soft opening” events and, despite the high expectations, left thoroughly impressed.

The first thing we tried was the mussels. Lyon Hall has two distinct mussel varieties: spring garlic/English peas/fontina/mustard and Hungarian lamb sausage/celeriac-apple-beer broth. We went with the Hungarian lamb and were not disappointed. You’d be hard-pressed to find a tastier plate of mussels anywhere in the D.C. area. And the $14 “large” option was more than enough for two people.

Since it was a late night, we skipped the entrees and went straight for dessert. The chocolate praline cake was uber chocolate-y, with some subtle hazelnut and praline crunch action. It was good, as was the chocolate stout ice cream that came with it. But the best part was the shot of sweet chocolate goodness . We’re not sure what exactly was in it, but “nectar of the gods” seems to be a good description.

We also tried a few selections from Lyon Hall’s sizable but well-curated wine and beer menus. The Hoffbrau Malbock was a bold but accessible brew, and it sold for just $5 on draft. At $9 the Gouldan Cardus Tripel was more expensive but it packed a punch. The favorite beer of the night was the Silly Saison, a Belgian beer that was darker, slightly sweet, and a steal at $6.

We tried one red wine from the menu, a 2008 Domaine De la  Guicharde from Cotes du Rhone, France, which came recommended by the bartender and by the gentleman sitting next to us, who happened to be its local distributor. It was sharp and spicy, and left a bit of sediment in the bottom of the glass. One member of the party loved it, the other was not a fan.

We didn’t order any items from the other menu categories — salads, raw bar, cheeses, sausages, charcuterie, spaetzle — but we’re definitely looking forward to trying more.

(more…)

Parking Attendant Hit By Van

By ARLnow.com

A man that witnesses identified as a parking attendant was hit by a van as he directed the driver into a parking spot in a small lot behind Boulevard Woodgrill (2901 Wilson Boulevard) in Clarendon Friday night.

The driver of the van accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake, a police officer at the scene said. The van apparently hit the man, smashed into a wood fence and sideswiped an adjacent car.

The man was lying atop the van when rescuers arrived. Several climbed onto the roof to stabilize the victim and put him on a backboard.

He was taken by ambulance to Virginia Hospital Center with a probable broken leg.

No word on whether the driver of the van will face any charges.

Lyon Hall Set To Open on Tuesday

By ARLnow.com

Update at 2:15 p.m. — Management is hinting that the public may be able to stop by “soft-opening” events this weekend. One such event is taking place tonight — they’re advising people to stop by after 10:00 p.m.

The ink still damp on the ABC permit that arrived this morning, management at Lyon Hall (3100 Washington Boulevard) is hard at work preparing to open to the public on Tuesday. A small armada of beer and wine vendors will start delivering their wares today.

It’s the most highly-anticipated restaurant opening in recent memory in Arlington. This site alone has received more than 1,100 hits from people who searched for “Lyon Hall” on Google.

Opening in a historic property in Clarendon that most recently housed Dan Kain Trophies (there are trophies used as decorative items throughout the restaurant), Lyon Hall is a Euro-style brasserie with a heavy emphasis on beer, wine and charcuterie.

See more photos, including a glimpse at the menus and beer taps, after the jump.

(more…)

Wylie Wagg to the Rescue for a.k.a. spot Loyalists

By ARLnow.com

Last month came the sad news for local pet owners: a.k.a. spot (2509 North Franklin Road) was closing. The off-the-beaten-path Clarendon pet store had a loyal following that immediately began mourning the loss of a true Arlington original.

The circumstances were even more somber. Lucy McCausland, the owner of a.k.a. spot, was moving to Florida to be closer to her family following the passing of her mother. After some soul-searching, she had decided that traveling back and forth between Florida and Arlington would not be feasible.

But last night McCausland made the bittersweet announcement. While a.k.a. spot was closing, its legacy of promoting pet wellness would be preserved.

Thanks to the intervention of one of a.k.a. spot’s vendors, another local pet retailer, Wylie Wagg, will take the store over, possibly as soon as mid-May.

In an email, Wylie Wagg co-owner Laura Clark said she and her husband, Larry, are excited that Clarendon will now be the location for their fourth store.

We feel very, very fortunate to be able to continue offering the kind of great service and products that Spot has offered for years. We were drawn to the opportunity because we so deeply respect what Spot has done for the community. Following Spot’s success and earning the trust and loyalty of their customers will be a very tall order and we’re committed to making sure that we honor the high standards they have set.

Additionally, we are dedicated to supporting animal rescue and will continue Spot’s tradition of working with adoption groups.

On a personal note, I used to live in Clarendon and absolutely loved being part of the neighborhood. When I had to leave because of a job relocation, it was very sad for me. I’m so happy that we’re opening Wylie Wagg in one of my very favorite places! This is so exciting for us!

New Fitness Center Opening in Clarendon This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

A new kind of fitness center will be opening its doors on Saturday. The Clarendon Fitness Collective is “a total change from the mega gyms in the area,” says spokesperson Sandra Rodriguez.

This will the first mid-Atlantic location for the Brooklyn, New York-based Fitness Collective, which some have described as “a gym for people who don’t like going to gyms.”

“Clarendon Fitness Collective is a specialized fitness center that combines strength, cardio, flexibility, and nutrition into a program specialized for each individual,” Rodriguez said

There will be free classes, massages, snacks and beverages for Saturday’s grand opening.

The press release announcing the Collective’s arrival, after the jump.

Photo via Facebook.

(more…)

Pete’s New Haven Apizza Coming to Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

We just told you about Fire Works Pizza, the huge new wood-fired pizza restaurant that’s coming to Courthouse. Now, a tipster tells us that yet ANOTHER specialty pizza restaurant is on the way.

Pete’s New Haven Apizza, currently of Columbia Heights in the District, will lease a storefront in the new Clarendon Center development. Co-owner Joel Mehr confirms that Pete’s is hoping to open the Arlington restaurant — its third in the D.C. area — at some point this winter.

Washingtonian said the slices at Pete’s are “not only the best in town; they’re worthy of comparison with the best in the country.” Pete’s even got a glowing endorsement from President Obama last fall… seriously.

Mehr says the new Pete’s will likely feature a larger beer and wine menu than the Columbia Heights location.

Between American Flatbread, Faccia Luna, Liberty Tavern and — soon — Fire Works Pizza and Pete’s, locals will have plenty of pizza options.

Writes our tipster: “Clarendon will be the pizza capital of Arlington…  I hope there are enough eaters to go around.”

To Do Tonight: Meet the Artist at Northside Social

By ARLnow.com

Northside Social (3211 Wilson Blvd) will be holding a “Meet the Artist Opening Reception” tonight. It’s a chance to meet some of the photographers whose work is temporarily on display at the Clarendon hangout.

The reception is open to the public. It’s taking place between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m.

Find more things to do around Arlington in our events calendar.

Profile: Whole Foods Store Chef Michael Kiss

By Stacey Viera

The following is excerpted from the blog Every Food Fits.

A traditionally-trained chef, Michael Kiss dared to leave his traditional kitchen gig and, through his “friend named serendipity,” found his calling.

Five years ago he was living in Georgia, working as a chef and teaching cooking classes at a cookware shop, a job that he loved. Then, when his wife’s career moved them to Washington, D.C., Kiss took it as an opportunity to change his career.

Having worked with domestic artisan cheeses as they were gaining popularity at the turn of this century, he took his positive attitude to the cheese counter at the Silver Spring, Md., Whole Foods Market. “I went from executive chef in a restaurant to a $7-an-hour job in the cheese department.”

Kiss moved up the ranks within Whole Foods, moved to the Arlington store, and eventually, the “Store Chef” position was created for him. “When you have a passion,” Kiss said, “you find a way to do it.”

Nearly every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at 2700 Wilson Blvd., Kiss teaches basic cooking classes on the store’s second floor. Classes like “29 ½ Minute Meals,” “Cook Like a Chef” and others to help new cooks get comfortable with meal preparation while providing tips for the seasoned home cook.

“I used to write more complicated classes, but those were more intimidating,” Kiss said. “I teach the simple ABCs of cooking for people who need inspiration.”

Read the part one or part two of the interview in its entirety.

Photo courtesy Stacey Viera

Look Inside the Finished Northside Social

By ARLnow.com

Northside Social, Clarendon’s hotly-anticipated coffee and wine bar, officially opened its doors to the public at 7:00 Monday morning.

On Saturday night, with the smell of fresh paint mixing with the aroma of espresso beans, Northside Social opened for a private pre-opening celebration.

It was a chance for the new neighborhood hangout to show off some of its well-curated wine and beer selections, as well as a few items from the food menu. It was also a chance for employees of Northside Social and Liberty Tavern — both co-owned by brothers Mark and Stephen Fedorchak — to step back, take a breather, and marvel at the fruits of their labor.

Despite the momentary respite from the grind of planning, building, and permitting, Stephen Fedorchak said that much work remains. For one, the other jewel in the Liberty Tavern crown, Lyon Hall, will be opening soon. And, he said, the real work starts after a place opens.

Fedorchak said he expects his employees — including Northside Social general manager Alison Christ, formerly of Willow Restaurant in Ballston, and director of coffee Marianne Tolosa, formerly of Murky Coffee (Northside’s predecessor) — will have no problem stepping up to the plate and creating an enjoyable experience for customers and employees alike.

“We’re really excited about the team we have,” Fedorchak said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Store hours and more photos after the jump.

(more…)

View More Stories