Pentagon City mall

UPDATED: Police Respond to Fight at Pentagon City Mall

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 3:45 p.m.) Police responded to Pentagon City mall this afternoon after a fight broke out between two groups of people.

The call originally came in as a report of a man spotted with a gun near the Capital One Bank, on the food court level. Police took five people into custody near the Pentagon City Metro station, and soon determined that the initial report of a gun was erroneous.

The five people initially taken into custody were all banned from the mall, according to Arlington County Police spokeswoman Det. Crystal Nosal. One of the men was arrested for assaulting another man, she said, and the other four were released from custody.

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Installed at Mall

By ARLnow.com

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held this morning to unveil four electric vehicle charging stations that have been installed in the Pentagon City mall parking garage.

Arlington County Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman, Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), Rep. Janice Hahn (D-Calif.) and representatives from mall owner Simon Property Group were all on hand for the ceremony. Also present were reps from 350Green, the Los Angeles-based company that manufactures the charging stations.

The charging stations are located on level 2 of the mall parking garage. They can partially charge an electric vehicle in as little as 90 minutes, while the car’s owner shops.

Photo courtesy the Office of Rep. Jim Moran

Cops, Delegate Shave for Childhood Cancer Research

By ARLnow.com

Del. Patrick Hope (D) joined Arlington County Police Chief Doug Scott and about 20 ACPD officers at Pentagon City mall over the weekend for the third-annual Be Brave and Shave fundraiser for childhood cancer research.

Hope, who was scheduled to speak at the Sunday afternoon event, surprised the audience when he revealed that he was going to have his meticulously-maintained coif shaved off to help raise money and awareness.

Be Brave and Shave is the signature event of Heroes Against Childhood Cancer, which raises money for cancer research at Children’s National Medical Center. Since its founding in 2009, Be Brave and Shave events have raised some $1.5 million for the cancer programs at Children’s, making it possible for the hospital to hire its first professor of oncology. The organization is hoping to raise enough money to hire another pediatric cancer researcher in the near future.

“The medical team at Children’s is performing miracles everyday in the lives of children facing this dreaded disease,” Hope said in a statement. “We need to aggressively pursue innovative research and therapies and cure childhood cancers once and for all. I’m so honored to associate myself with Children’s and hope in some small way I can help raise awareness.”

Hope wasn’t the only notable local who went above and beyond the call of duty at the fundraiser, held this year in the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City food court. Chief Scott got his rank-and-file officers fired up when he announced that he would not only shave his head, but he’d also shave his mustache for the first time in 25 years. The mustache alone brought in $400 in donations, according to Det. Matt Owens.

“The response from our department is quite gratifying,” Scott said later, in a statement. “While about 20 officers had their hair shaved or cut off, many more participated in fundraising and donations. I think it is wonderful to be part of an organization that feels so strongly about giving back to the children in our community.”

Learn more about donating to Heroes Against Childhood Cancer here.

Courtesy photos. See more photos from the event on Flickr.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

By Katie Pyzyk

It’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but already local malls are getting into the Christmas spirit and setting up for Santa’s arrival.

The Pentagon City mall has its Christmas tree up, and Santa will arrive next Saturday, November 12, to pose for pictures with customers.

Ballston Common Mall is waiting until after Thanksgiving to bring in Santa. He’ll arrive there on Black Friday, November 25. There will also be special hours on December 4 and December 11 for people to bring their pets for photos with Santa.

Crime Report: Assault and Coffee Edition

By ARLnow.com

A woman was arrested at the Pentagon City mall on Saturday for allegedly throwing a drink at a coffee kiosk employee, according to this week’s Arlington County crime report.

ASSAULT AND BATTERY, 08/20/11, 1100 S. Hayes Street. On August 20 at 6 pm, a woman threw a drink at an employee of a coffee kiosk. Jennel Solomon, 27, of Washington D.C., was charged with Assault and Battery. She was released on a summons.

The accused drink thrower was charged with assault and battery. On Friday, a woman was arrested and charged with assault and battery, police say, for forcefully grabbing a co-worker by the arm in Rosslyn.

ASSAULT AND BATTERY-ARREST, 08/19/11, 1600 block of Wilson Boulevard. On August 18 at 6 pm, two women argued at their place of work, and one grabbed the other by the arm forcefully. Ashley Cauthen, 25, of Washington D.C., was charged with Assault and Battery. She was held on a $1,500 bond.

The rest of this week’s crime report, after the jump.

(more…)

Emergency Exercise to be Held at Pentagon City Mall

By ARLnow.com

The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City mall will be the site of a large-scale emergency training exercise next weekend.

From 4:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 28, first responders from Arlington’s police, fire and sheriff’s departments, as well as the Arlington County Office of Emergency Management and the Alexandria Police Department, will conduct a joint training exercise inside the mall.

“The purpose of the exercise is to test the response of Arlington County’s public safety agencies in a simulated emergency situation,” Arlington Police said in a statement. No word on the exact type of emergency that will be simulated.

“Residents are advised that there could be some temporary traffic delays as emergency equipment is moved into place,” the statement said. “There will be a large number of public safety vehicles in the area of The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, The Arlington County Trades buildings, and several parking lots along Army Navy Drive across from the mall. The vehicles will not use their lights or sirens during the exercise. The mall will open for normal shopping hours.”

“Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Arlington County has devoted its resources to emergency preparedness,” the statement continued. “This exercise is one example of the many ways the agencies of the National Capital Region train to ‘expect the unexpected.'”

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Pentagon City Water Balloon Prank Shatters Windshield — Someone apparently thought it would be funny to throw water balloons at cars leaving the Pentagon City mall parking garage on 15th Street. Perhaps it was funny, up until the point where one of the water balloons hit the windshield of a family’s minivan and shattered it as they were driving. [WUSA9]

Groundbreaking Set for Arlington Mill Center — The ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Arlington Mill Community Center (909 S. Dinwiddie Street) has been set for 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 24. [Sun Gazette]

Burglaries from Secure EFC Parking Garage — Two Cadillac Escalade SUVs had their tires and wheels stolen from the ‘secure’ parking garage under the luxury Crescent Falls Church apartment building (2121 Westmoreland Street) in East Falls Church yesterday morning, according to residents. Police are investigating.

Artisphere’s Shakespeare Co. Gets New Name — Washington Shakespeare Company, which now counts Rosslyn’s Artisphere as its home base, has a new name. The scrappy theater company is now known as WSC Avant Bard. [Washington Post]

Flickr pool photo by Jason OX4

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Happy Birthday, Mr. President — Last night’s Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting included a special birthday tribute to President Barack Obama, who turns 50 today. ACDC members sang a rendition of “happy birthday” and then chowed down on slices of birthday cake.

Suspect Eludes Cops, Helicopter — A man suspected of an unspecified crime in another jurisdiction fled from Arlington police just after 10:00 last night. The man took off on foot during a traffic stop on the 1700 block of N. Quebec Street, just north of W-L High School. Police set up a perimeter, called in K-9 units and requested assistance from the U.S. Park Police Eagle 1 helicopter, in an effort to find the man. The search was called off around 11:30, but all was not lost — police were able to nab the three other suspects in the vehicle.

Stolen iPhone Dealers Busted in Pentagon City — Two cellular phone kiosks in the Pentagon City mall have been busted by Metro Transit Police for allegedly selling stolen iPhones. The illegality was discovered while police were investigating “the theft of a large number of electronics equipment from Metro riders in early 2010.” [Washington Examiner]

Arlington’s Low Transportation Costs — Rent and real estate costs in Arlington may be high, but the average cost of transportation is relatively low. According to a new study, transportation (car and transit expenses combined) costs Arlington residents about $975 per month. The regional average is $1,246. “Transportation costs in Arlington County are significantly lower than the regional average due to high levels of transit connectivity and job access,” the report says. [Center for Neighborhood Technology, DCist]

Crime Report: Armed and Dangerous Edition

By ARLnow.com

Guns were involved in two notable incidents from this week’s Arlington County crime report.

Last Wednesday, an argument in the Pentagon City mall food court turned dangerous when a man brandished a handgun at three teenagers. Police say the suspect was accompanying a pregnant woman at the time.

BRANDISHING, 07/27/11, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street. On July 27 at 9:20 pm, a group of three teenage males argued with a male and female couple in the food court. The male brandished a handgun at the teenagers before leaving the area. The suspect is described as a white male with brown hair in his mid-30’s, 5’10’ and 200 lbs. He was wearing a black polo shirt and jeans. He was in the company of a pregnant white female in her early 30’s. She was wearing a long black dress.

On Monday, two suspects surprised a group of guys playing poker in a Rosslyn apartment when they burst in, displayed a handgun and took everybody’s money.

ROBBERY, 08/01/11, 1100 block of Arlington Boulevard. On August 1 at 1:50 am, numerous men were in an apartment conducting a poker tournament. Two unknown men entered the apartment, displayed a gun and demanded money and the victim’s wallets. One suspect is described as an African American male in his mid-20’s, 6’2″ and skinny. He wore a red bandana over his face and a red Washington national baseball cap. The second suspect was an African American male, 5’8″, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and a red bandana.

The rest of this week’s crime report, after the jump. (more…)

‘Top Model’ Auditions to Be Held in Pentagon City

By ARLnow.com

Think you’ve got what it takes to be America’s Next Top Model? You’re not alone — so do hundreds of other women in the D.C. area and thousands around the country.

But if you don’t mind the long odds and want to audition anyway, a casting call is being held at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City mall next weekend. Fill out this application and bring it along with a driver’s license or identification card between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 9.

In addition to seeking Top Model contestants, WDCW-TV (DC 50) is also looking for a models for a Macy’s Fashion show that evening and for a “Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle Expo” in September. Even if you don’t get picked, there will be prizes, giveaways and — of course — free psychic readings and massages.

Contestants must be between 18 and 27 years old.

Photo via dc50tv.com

Henri Bendel Coming to Pentagon City Mall

By ARLnow.com

Henri Bendel, an upscale women’s specialty store, is coming to the Pentagon City mall.

The NYC-based retailer currently operates 11 stores nationwide, including its flagship Manhattan store on Fifth Avenue. Founded in 1895, Henri Bendel sells fashion accessories, cosmetics, fragrances, gifts and gourmet foods. It stopped selling clothing in 2009.

The company says it expects the Pentagon City store to open in September 2011. The store itself is located on the second level, next to Victoria’s Secret.

View More Stories