mystery

Mystery Video Cameras on Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Over the past couple of weeks, people have been noticing mysterious, concealed video cameras mounted on lamp posts along Columbia Pike.

Some residents thought they were ingenious surveillance cameras in place for the 9-11 anniversary. Others thought they were part of some shady dealings, and called police to investigate.

In reality, however, the cameras are merely being used by Arlington County to monitor traffic patterns at intersections. According to Arlington Traffic Engineering and Operations Chief Wayne Wentz:

These are video cameras that are temporarily in place to collect intersection data. The videos will be viewed in the office and technicians will create vehicle turning movement counts. These data will be used for our periodic (every three years) traffic signal optimization effort.

As of yesterday evening, three cameras were in place at the intersections of Columbia Pike and S. Courthouse Road, S. Scott Street and S. Quinn Street.

Mystery Solved: New Sign Erected in 2008?

By ARLnow.com

An eagle-eyed tipster sent us this photo of a historic marker just erected on the 1400 block of Wilson Boulevard, in Rosslyn.

The plaque marks the building where employees of the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency helped to conceive ARPANET, the forerunner to the internet. Last week several of those former DARPA employees attended an Arlington County Board meeting, where the plaque was unveiled and dedicated.

Imagine the surprise of our tipster, then, when he saw the words at the bottom of the sign: “Erected in 2008 by Arlington County, Virginia.” The sign was only installed last week, so why does it say it was erected in 2008?

Turns out the plaque was actually conceived, written and produced in 2008, but it was never installed. According to Arlington spokeswoman Diana Sun, the county was unable to get permission from the building owner to put the sign on their property, so they had to go through a lengthy process of getting the sign installed in the public right-of-way (sidewalk). By the time all the pieces were in place, and by the time they could organize a small ceremony at a County Board meeting, it was 2011 — three years later than originally planned.

Photo courtesy Geoff Collins

What Left These Prints in the Snow?

By ARLnow.com

What kind of an animal left these unlikely prints in the snow overnight Sunday? That’s what one Arlington homeowner is asking.

I found these in the driveway early [Monday] morning.  I’ve Googled animal prints and sent copies to friends, but no one has figured out the type of animal responsible.

One theory is that the prints belong to a hobbled bunny. Any other guesses?

Where’s Cava?

By ARLnow.com

We believe the space above, the one with the big “retail space for lease” sign, is where Cava’s new Clarendon location is supposed to be. Yet the gas-lit entrance, on the ground floor of the Station Square development at 2900 Clarendon Boulevard, remains boarded up and there are no building permits to be found in the county’s public records system.

“Is Cava Restaurant still planning to come to the Station Square development?” a tipster asks. Does anybody know?

More on Mad Rose Tavern

By ARLnow.com

We’re learning more about the mysterious Mad Rose Tavern, coming soon to 3100 Clarendon Boulevard.

Mad Rose will be “an American style restaurant and bar with about 150 indoor seats, two bars, great food, and great times,” according to a new Facebook page.

The owners hope to open the restaurant “sometime this fall.” They also hope to open an outdoor patio at some point this spring. It promises to be “one of the largest patios in all of Arlington,” according to the page.

Mad Rose is opening on the ground floor of a Clarendon office building that houses SoBe Bar & Bistro, Mister Days Sports Rock Cafe, Pacers Running Store and offices of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

An demolition permit for 4,000 square feet of interior space has been posted in the window of the future restaurant.

Coming Soon to Clarendon: Mad Rose Tavern?

By ARLnow.com

A planned restaurant called Mad Rose Tavern has applied for a liquor license at 3100 Clarendon Boulevard. The license application, filed on July 27, describes the future establishment as a restaurant with a seating capacity of over 150 seats.

The restaurant’s parent company, Mad Rose Inc., was incorporated on July 7 , according to state records. Little else is known about it.

Curiously, all the storefronts at 3100 Clarendon Boulevard are either currently occupied or have “retail space for lease” signs in the window. A call to the leasing agent has not been returned.

As mentioned in this morning’s Notes, 3100 Clarendon Boulevard is home to such businesses as SoBe Bar & Bistro and Mister Days Sports Rock Cafe.

Hat tip to @jamesp326 for the link to the liquor license.

Mystery Construction Project Near Ray’s Hell Burger

By ARLnow.com

This morning a reader asked about a “bizarre” construction project happening at the corner of Wilson Boulevard and North Quinn Street, near Ray’s Hell Burger.

We dutifully checked it out and yes, it was pretty weird. First of all, you don’t typically see that much construction debris sitting out in the open near a main thoroughfare. When we arrived workers were busy laying brick next to the building and doing some sort of metal work inside. We asked the workers what was being built — and got no response.

We checked with the county zoning records system to see if any building permits had been issued for the address — and couldn’t find any (Update: Per the discussion in the comments section, it looks like a building permit was applied for last year and approved this year). We would have asked a zoning employee about it, but for about two hours no one in the office has answered the phone.

The building was previously a service station. Does anybody know what it’s going to be once this work is completed?