Crystal City

Crystal City Wine/Beer 1K Returns

By Ethan Rothstein

Crystal City Wine/Beer 1K flyer (courtesy Crystal City BID)The Crystal City 1K Wine/Beer Walk is back for another season on March 1.

This year, participants can pay $40 and sample up to 22 options of either beer or wine, sponsored by the Washington Wine Academy, which owns the Crystal City Wine Shop.

In previous years, the wine and beer walks were separate, but now participants can drink beer and walk with friends who choose wine, according to the Crystal City Business Improvement District, which is hosting the event.

Walkers will start in separate heats between 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. The different wine and beer stands will close at 6:30 p.m. The entire race takes place indoors at the Shops at Crystal City, with the starting point at The Landing (1750 Crystal Drive).

Below is the list of beers and wines available, but the Wine Academy has promised some surprise selections.

Wine:

Ponga Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)
Wildewood Pinot Gris – Willamette Valley, Oregon
Chateau Valmer Vouvray – Loire Valley, France
Chamisal Chardonnay (California)
Whitehall Viognier – White Hall, Virginia
Selbach Oster Kabinett Riesling – Mosel, Germany
Degiorgis Moscato D’Asti – Piedmont, Italy
Atmosphere Rosé – Provence, France
Bellene Bourgogne (Pinot Noir) – Burgandy, France
Charles Smith Boom Boom Syrah Columbia Valley, Washington
Ventisquero Reserva Cermenere – Central Valley, Chile
Santa Julia Sustainable Malbec (Argentina)
Jefferson Vineyards Cabernet Franc – Charlottesville, Virginia
Bodegas Paso O Paso Tempranillo – Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Mountain View Cabernet Sauvignon – Central Coast, California
Heinz Eiffel Dornfelder (Germany)

Beer:

Dogfish Head Namaste
Great Divide Colette
Lagunitas Lil’ Sumpin’ Sumpin’
Evolution Sprung
Victory Lager
Hardywood Cream Ale
21st Amendment Brew Free or Die
SweetWater 420 Extra Pale Ale
Stone Ruination IPA
Stoudt’s Double IPA
Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout
Wolaver’s Alta Gracia Coffee Porter
Scotch de Silly
Fort Collins Chocolate Stout
Crabbie’s Ginger Beer
Fox Barrel Blackberry Pear Cider

Photo courtesy Crystal City BID. Disclosure: Crystal City BID is an ARLnow.com advertiser.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Airliner at sunset on Feb. 7, 2014 (Flickr pool photo by J. Sonder)

High Demand for Affordable Housing — The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing received more than 3,000 applications for 122 apartments at its new Arlington Mill Residences building on Columbia Pike. Demand for affordable housing is high. Arlington lost about 6,000 residents earning between $50-75k per year from 2000 to 2012, while gaining about 25,000 households that earn more than $200k. [Washington Post]

Remembering Classic Arlington Businesses — Local writer and historian Charlie Clark recently held a talk to recall the former mom-and-pop businesses and restaurants that have closed as a result of Arlington’s “creative destruction.” Among the restaurants remembered were the Buckaroo Steakhouse on Lee Highway, Speedy Gonzales Tex-Mex restaurant in Ballston, and Major Bo’s Chicken Delight. [Sun Gazette]

Charlotte Eyes Crystal City As Development Model — The city of Charlotte, N.C. is hoping to boost development around its airport. One developer has eyed Crystal City as a possible model, considering a “complex similar to Crystal City, a collection of apartment buildings, hotels, offices and shops next to Reagan National Airport.” [Charlotte Observer]

Flickr pool photo by J. Sonder

Photos: Crystal Couture 2014

By ARLnow.com
1/42

Crystal City’s annual Crystal Couture fashion show and sale got underway last night.

The show is being held through Saturday, every night from 6:00-10:00 p.m., across from the Crystal City Metro station at 251 18th Street S. In addition to models showing off the latest fashions from local designers, Crystal Couture features a cash bar, free makeovers and boutiques from more than 50 retailers.

Philippa Hughes of Pinkline Project guest hosted Tuesday night. Other scheduled hosts include 94.7 Fresh FM’s Tommy McFly (Friday) and WPGC’s Guy Lambert and former Miss D.C. “K Street” Kate Michael (Saturday).

Disclosure: Event organizer Crystal City BID is an ARLnow.com advertiser.

Police Investigate Armed Robbery

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County police car (file photo)Update at 11:55 p.m. — Police say that the victim reported the crime on Friday afternoon. The actual crime took place at 11:00 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30, we’re now told.

Arlington County Police are investigating an armed robbery that took place on a weekday afternoon.

The alleged incident happened just before 2:00 p.m. this past Friday, on the 2700 block of S. Eads Street near Crystal City. Police say a 37-year-old woman was approached by a man with a gun and robbed of her purse and cell phone. The armed man then handed the stolen items to a second suspect before fleeing toward nearby Eads Park.

There’s no indication that the woman was hurt during the robbery.

“The first suspect is described as a Hispanic male, in his early twenties, and approximately 5’3”. He was wearing a dark knit hat, dark scarf covering his face, a dark coat, and jeans at the time of the incident,” the crime report states. “The second suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his early twenties with curly black hair, and approximately 5’5” with a thin build. At the time of the incident he was wearing a black and blue hooded coat and dark pants.”

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

"Dusting" (Flickr pool photo by Ddimick)

Renovations for Crystal City Sheraton — The Crystal City Sheraton hotel (1800 Jefferson Davis Highway) will close in mid-April and undergo renovations.. The 218-room hotel will reopen as a Westin. Nearly 100 workers will be laid off during renovations. [Washington Business Journal]

New Signage for WJLA Building Approved — A divided Arlington County Board has approved new rooftop signage for the office building at 1100 Wilson Blvd in Rosslyn, also known as the WJLA building. The board split its vote 3-2 after residents expressed concern that the new signage would “be detrimental to their neighborhoods” and local monuments. The potential signage is for an unnamed prospective client. [Sun Gazette]

Board Approves New Transportation Funding — The County Board on Tuesday gave the okay to Arlington’s share of a new regional transportation funding stream. The county will receive $11.4 million in the first year, which will go to support projects like the Columbia Pike streetcar, a western entrance to the Ballston Metro station, local transit service and “complete streets” improvements. [Arlington County]

Galaxy Hut Named Top Karaoke Spot — DCist has dubbed Clarendon’s Galaxy Hut (2711 Wilson Blvd) “Arlington’s favorite dive” and one of the “best places for karaoke in the D.C. area.” [DCist]

Alexandria is Poised for Growth — Arlington’s neighbor to the south, Alexandria, is poised to begin booming with new development. The city expects a new Potomac Yard Metro station and the impending move of the National Science Foundation to the Eisenhower Valley area to further spur development. [Washington Post]

Flickr pool photo by Ddimick

Four-Day Fashion Show Returns to Crystal City

By Ethan Rothstein

2012 Crystal Couture fashion showThe Crystal Couture fashion show and sale — a four-day, free-to-the-public runway show and pop-up designer retail shop — is back for 2014.

The show will be held next week from Tuesday, Feb. 4 to Saturday, Feb. 8., 6:00-10:00 p.m. on each night, at 251 18th Street S. on the 11th floor. Models will pace up and down the runway showing off some of the season’s new designs, there will be a full cash bar and sales from more than 50 designers. There will also be free, five-minute “makeup and hair makeovers.”

Those interested in attending can choose which day they want to go to the show based on which designers will be on display, and for sale, on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Guest hosts include Philippa Hughes of Pinkline Project (Tuesday), 94.7 Fresh FM’s Tommy McFly (Friday) and WPGC’s Guy Lambert and former Miss D.C. “K Street” Kate Michael (Saturday).

Attendees can engage with the Crystal City Business Improvement District, which is hosting Crystal Couture, on Facebook and Twitter to be entered into prize drawings.

File photo. Disclosure: Crystal City BID is an ARLnow.com advertiser.

Taj of India Now Open in Crystal City

By ARLnow.com
1/6

A new Indian restaurant recently opened in Crystal City.

Taj of India opened in the former Cucina Vivace space at 509 23rd Street S. It’s a second storefront for Taj of India, which originally opened in Georgetown 12 years ago.

Entree prices at Taj of India generally range from $10-20. It also has a $12-13 lunch special.

Taj of India is located next to Bistro 7107, a Filipino restaurant that quietly opened in the former El Pollito space this past summer. Named after the 7,107 islands of the Philippine archipelago, Bistro 7107 is one of the few sit-down restaurants serving primarily Filipino cuisine in the D.C. area.

Coming Next Month: ARLive

By ARLnow.com

ARLive posterYou read ARLnow.com articles to stay on top of the latest goings on around town. You might even take our polls, Tweet us tips or participate in the comment section. In short, you’re a part of the community.

Now’s your chance to get even more plugged into the community for fun and profit, all while enjoying beer, wine and tasty food.

From 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 11, ARLnow.com will be hosting ARLive, a golden opportunity to meet the people behind the headlines. Sponsored by Crystal City BID, Vornado/Charles E. Smith, Click, Grade A Marketing, The Falcon Lab and Crystal City Wine Shop, the event is taking place on the spacious 10th floor of 2011 Crystal Drive in Crystal City.

Part business networking event, part interactive community gathering, ARLive will bring together Arlington residents, professionals and officials for thought-provoking conversations and in-person social networking.

View from 2011 Crystal DriveThere will be a DJ, newsy activities and complimentary food and drink. Plus, enjoy sweeping panoramic views of Washington, D.C., Crystal City, Reagan National Airport and the Potomac River from the event space.

Hors d’oeuvres will be provded by Jaleo, while wine is sponsored by the Crystal City Wine Shop and beer is sponsored by ARLnow.com.

The 2011 Crystal Drive building is easily accessible via Metro and other public transport. Free parking is also available.

Early bird ticket pricing is available through Tuesday. Tickets can be purchased online via Eventbrite.

Power Outage Impacting Crystal City

By ARLnow.com

Dominion logo(Updated at 5:30 p.m.) Some 1,525 Dominion customers are without power in the Crystal City area.

The power outage struck at the beginning of the evening rush hour on Wednesday, knocking out power to traffic lights at several key intersections. Arlington County police are on scene, setting up cones and directing traffic.

Several hotels were reported to be without power, and the fire department is responding to one for reports of multiple people stuck in hotel elevators.

No word so far on the cause of the power outage or when the lights might come back on.

Hamburger Hamlet Now Closed in Crystal City

By ARLnow.com

Hamburger-Hamlet1 Hamburger-Hamlet2

A long-time local restaurant has closed its doors in Crystal City.

Hamburger Hamlet, at the Crystal City Shops (1750 Crystal Drive), closed late last week. Its parent company filed for bankruptcy last year.

The owner of a California-based restaurant chain, which took over operation of the Bethesda Hamburger Hamlet location in 2012, had been hoping to acquire the Crystal City lease in order to open a 24-hour diner, but was ultimately unsuccessful.

“We offered the landlord a new lease,” W.W. “Biff” Naylor, owner of Du-par’s, told ARLnow.com. “The landlord decided he didn’t want to deal with anybody who was involved with Hamburger Hamlet so we packed it up and left. I’m only going to go where I’m wanted.”

Over the weekend a Hamburger Hamlet location in Pasadena, Calif. was expected to re-open as Du-par’s, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.

No word yet on what may replace Hamburger Hamlet.

Man Arrested After Locking Kids in Car to Gamble

By Ethan Rothstein

Arlington County police car (file photo)A 46-year-old man was arrested after he left his two children locked in a car to gamble on a video game in Crystal City Friday afternoon.

James Bentley, of Arlington, is charged with two counts of child endangerment after police say he locked his 10-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter in his vehicle, in a parking lot on the 500 block of S. 23rd Street, while he was gambling on a horse-racing video game inside Crystal City Sports Pub (529 23rd Street S.).

The children were locked in the car for about a half hour, according to police, with the car turned off. The mother was called to the scene, along with child protective services, to pick up the children.

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