holiday

Obligatory Turkey Fryer Inferno Video

By ARLnow.com

Every year around this time, fire departments around the country take to the airwaves to remind the public that turkey fryers are incredibly dangerous and will probably catch your house on fire if you ever use one.

If you’re still using a turkey fryer at this point, really, you’re either a professional cook or an amateur daredevil.

Nonetheless, the Arlington County Fire Department has asked us to pass this video and a few turkey fryer safety tips along, just in case you’re the kind of person who likes your Thanksgiving dinner cooked in the same manner as your french fries.

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Morning Poll: Black Friday Shopping

By ARLnow.com

Contrary to popular belief, the Friday after Thanksgiving is not the busiest shopping day of the year. Americans actually buy more in the days leading up to Christmas.

But Black Friday is one of the biggest “traffic” days of the year at shopping centers, as consumers, unburdened by work or the need to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner, head out to the mall just for the sake of getting out and doing something. And of course there are those doorbuster specials, too.

The good news if you are heading out on Friday is that we know more people will be out of town this year. But it’s not clear whether that will have any noticeable effect on the normally horrendous mall parking lot traffic.

Are you planning on joining the crowd?

Give Back by Volunteering This Holiday Season

By ARLnow.com

The holiday time is a time for many things. It’s a time for family togetherness. It’s a time for eating too much. It’s a time for getting really angry about parking spots. And, of course, it’s a time for giving and helping those less fortunate than you.

If you want to give back on Thanksgiving, there are a number of ways to do so.

Volunteer Arlington has numerous volunteer opportunities listed on its web site, from spending part of a day with residents at a local nursing home to delivering Thanksgiving food baskets to families affected by HIV/AIDS to helping out with the annual Lyon Park/Ashton Heights Turkey Trot 5K.

See more holiday volunteer opportunities here.

Flickr pool photo by Chris Rief

Morning Poll: Thanksgiving Travel on the Rise

By ARLnow.com

According to AAA Mid-Atlantic, more than 1 million people in the D.C. area are expected to head out of town for the holiday.

That’s a 11 percent increase over least year and the highest number of area residents heading out for Thanksgiving since 2007.

“The Washington metro area has one of the strongest economies in the nation, and as evidence of this, we will likely see a double digit up-tick in the number of area residents traveling 50 miles or more from home for the holiday,” AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson John B. Townsend II said in a statement.

Also driving Washington area travel is the fact that “only 40 percent of D.C. residents were actually born in D.C.,” according to AAA.

Surprisingly, a whopping 95.4 percent of those leaving town are expected to do so in a car. Only 3.4 percent are flying, and only 1.2 percent are taking a bus, train or boat.

How are you going home this year?

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Bayou Bakery Sneak Peak — Eat More Drink More scores the first photos inside Courthouse’s new Bayou Bakery. The elaborately-decorated cafe/restaurant has a distinct New Orleans theme, which extends from the decor to the food. It could be open as soon as Monday, Nov. 15.

County Government Closed for Veterans Day — Most Arlington County offices will be closed on Thursday in honor of Veterans Day. More from the Sun Gazette and Arlington County.

Virginia’s Redistricting Process Demystified — The Virginia Public Access Project has a handy video guide to the upcoming redistricting process in the Commonwealth.

Immigrant Groups Continue Push — Arlington has more or less given up on trying to opt out of the Secure Communities immigration enforcement program. But the immigrant rights groups that led the charge for withdrawing from the program aren’t done fighting. They filed a Freedom of Information Act request last month for more details about the opt-out process, and plan on sharing the results with Arlington County. More from the Washington Independent.

Flickr pool photo by pderby

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Happy Columbus Day — Normally-clogged commuter routes are clear as government employees and many private sector workers have the day off to celebrate Columbus’ discovery of the New World. Arlington government offices are closed, as are all library branches. It’s expected to be the hottest Oct. 11 on record in the DC area, so if you have the day off, get outside and enjoy it.

Blue and Orange Line Cut in Two, No Major Problems — Commutepocalypse didn’t quite go the way some media outlets expected. More from TBD.

Savannah Might Not Want Brown Back — Former Arlington County Manager Michael Brown may not be wanted back in Savannah, after all. The Savannah Morning News has compiled a list of four “discoveries about city operations” that have occurred since Brown left for Arlington. Among them: “More than $2 million in pay raises and special merit increases Brown awarded each year for the past three years.”

Meaningless Real Estate Data — Home sales are down in Arlington, but only if you compare it to one year ago when the federal government was offering generous real estate tax credits. Median home sale prices are up compared to one year ago. More from the Sun Gazette.

Protests at CAIR Convention — The Council on American-Islamic Relations held its national convention at the Marriott Crystal Gateway in Crystal City Saturday night. Outside the sold-out event, Tea Party leaders planned a protest against CAIR and Sharia law.

Flickr pool photo by Michael C. White

Weekend Event Roundup

By ARLnow.com

If you’re staying in town for Columbus Day weekend, consider yourself lucky. The forecast calls for perfect warm and sunny weather, and there’s plenty of events around town to keep one busy.

Tonight, we already told you about the Capitals Rock the Red Season Opening Party at The Front Page in Ballston.

Tomorrow, you already know about the Burst @ Artisphere event, presented by Pink Line Project and Brightest Young Things.

You may not know about the Arlington History Bike Tour, a “leisurely” 23-mile ride past some of the notable historic points in Arlington.

Two notable events taking place just outside Arlington on Saturday may be of interest. Rustico in Alexandria will be holding its annual Oktobeerfest from noon to 6:00 p.m. — which may of interest to Ballston residents who are waiting with bated breath for Rustico Ballston to open (as soon as Oct. 25, we’re told).

On Saturday night, the Friends of the David M. Brown Planetarium will be holding a benefit concert at the State Theater in Falls Church. Cobra Collective will headline the show.

Finally, on Sunday, Artisphere will hold its grand opening. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be followed by a free open house featuring music performances and art installations. An open house will also be held on Monday.

Happy Columbus Day!

Afternoon Notes: Fake FBI Agent Pleads Guilty

By ARLnow.com

Fake FBI Agent Pleads Guilty — Brenna Marie Reilly, 29, was arrested in Arlington in March and accused of impersonating an FBI agent. Prosecutors say that as part of the elaborate ruse, Reilly went so as to hire an unwitting neighbor as an assistant. Reilly pleaded guilty in federal court today. She faces up to three years in prison.

Arlington Releases Memorial Day Closure List — Unsurprisingly, just about everything county-related will be closed. However, trash collection will continue as normal and the Barcroft Sports and Fitness Center will be open for part of the day.

Write-Up for China Garden Dim Sum — If you haven’t had dim sum at Rosslyn’s China Garden restaurant, it’s worth it just for the experience, if not the food, according to I Spy Things DC. China Garden is located inside the ABC7 building at Wilson Blvd and North Lynn Street.

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