Completing today’s Pentagon City news trifecta, the county is fixing “major cracks” on the basketball and tennis courts at Virginia Highlands Park.
The cracks, which developed over the winter, were causing safety concerns on three of the six tennis courts and on the basketball courts. The work is expected to wrap up by the end of the month, a Parks Department spokesperson says.
A minivan caught on fire in the parking lot of the Costco store in Pentagon City today. The vehicle’s engine compartment was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived around 1:45 p.m.
No one was in the minivan when the fire broke out and there were no injuries, we’re told.
The cause of the fire is unclear, but the minivan’s front end appeared to be parked over a pile of mulch. Firefighters hosed down the scorched mulch after extinguishing the flames.
Unbelievably, at a time when it seems like almost everybody has a video-capable cell phone, no one who was watching the scene unfold got video of the flames. Not even the half dozen Best Buy employees watching from the store’s loading dock. C’mon, Geek Squad, step it up. –Ed.
Update at 4:15 pm. — The excitement outside the Pentagon City Costco continues. An hour after the car fire, paramedics were called to Fern Street, in front of the store, for an accident with injuries. As they were working on a woman who had arm and facial injuries, a good Samaritan pointed out a man with who was lying unresponsive under a bench. Medics gave him an IV and brought him to the hospital.
An employee with Metro’s Track and Structures/Systems Maintenance Department was arrested by Metro Transit Police at the Pentagon City Metro station Thursday night, a Metro spokesperson confirmed to ARLnow.com this morning.
“MTPD officers on patrol at the station observed a man who appeared to be unsteady on his feet around 5:15 p.m,” Metro spokesperson Ron Holzer said in an statement. “The man began to run as the officers approached. He then struggled with the officers when they apprehended him… He was charged with being drunk in public and impeding an officer with force (assault).”
The employee was off-duty at the time of his arrest, according to Holzer. He was in his uniform but “his shift had ended many hours before his arrest.”
The man was pepper sprayed during the struggle with police. At that point Arlington paramedics were called to evaluate him. After he was evaluated, officers could be seen pulling an empty glass bottle from the employee’s back pocket.
The man, who has not been identified, has been working for Metro since December 2006, Holzer said.
He could be overheard yelling as police officers surrounded him on a public sidewalk near the Pentagon Centre shopping center.
“I’ve been arrested so many times it’s hilarious,” he said at one point.
Philippe Cousteau, grandson of the legendary ocean explorer, has been making headlines lately for his efforts to help spearhead a cleanup of the Gulf oil spill.
If you’ve been watching TV coverage of the spill, there’s a decent chance you may have seen Cousteau talking about the disaster.
“This is a catastrophe beyond imagination,” he has said.
But what you might not know is that Cousteau lives in a well-decorated but relatively humble apartment in Pentagon City.
With a resume that includes television host, CEO of his own environmental charity, co-founder of an environmental marketing and design firm, prodigious world traveler and all-around dreamy do-gooder, you might think Cousteau would be living in a trendy loft somewhere in the District. But, for now, he’s chosen practical, unassuming Pentagon City instead.
Here’s hoping he makes a difference down in the Gulf.
Photo via Facebook.
Update at 6:15 p.m. on 6/3 — Tonight’s concert has been canceled due to weather.
Rosslyn isn’t the only Arlington locale with an outdoor summer concert series starting this week. Pentagon Row’s eighth annual “Rock at the Row” kicks off tomorrow.
Virginia party rock group the Shields Brothers Band will headline the first show. Check out their awesomely hokey music video for “Shark Attack,” featuring an unwitting guest appearance by Wendy Williams, below.
The concerts will be held from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. every Thursday. The series wraps up on August 26.
After the jump: the full concert schedule, which includes local favorites like Gonzo’s Nose, King Cadillac and Brother Shamus.
DHS Investigating DCA Bomb Sticker — The Department of Homeland Security is investigating a suspicious sticker found on a trash can at Reagan National Airport, reports Government Security News. The sticker appears to be a stencil-type illustration of a man with a bomb strapped to his chest. DHS and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency have emailed a photo of the sticker to various security companies and law enforcement agencies, GSN reports.
New ART Route To Pentagon City — A new ART bus line will connect Pentagon City with the Douglas Park and Nauck neighborhoods. The ART 84 line will run every 30 minutes during rush hour, starting June 21. More from the Arlington Transit Blog.
Meet the Artists Reception at Yorktown High Tonight — Yorktown High School (5201 N. 28th St.) is holding its annual art exhibit from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day this week. Tonight there will be a “meet the artists” opening reception and mural dedication from 6:00 to 8:00. All events are open to the public.
A man dressed in all black and armed with a silver handgun entered the lobby of the Crystal Gateway Marriott (1700 Jefferson Davis Highway) just after 2:00 last night. Hotel employees fled as the man jumped a front counter in an apparent robbery attempt.
After a short time the suspect left the building and headed south on Eads Street. No one was hurt.
When police arrived, however, they believed the man may have still been in the hotel. In a tense scene, officers surrounded the front of the building with shotguns and handguns drawn.
After security tape revealed that the man had exited the building earlier, officers split up to look for the him in the surrounding area. He was not found.
Congressman Jim Moran, who has heretofore ignored the challengers who hope to unseat him in November, fired the first salvo of his 2010 campaign last night at a forum sponsored by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce.
Following a short debate between GOP candidates Matthew Berry and Patrick Murray, and Green Party candidate Ron Fisher, Moran took the stage for a brief solo question and answer session with debate moderator and ABC7 reporter Scott Thuman.
“I give these three guys credit,” Moran said wryly in his opening remarks. Having spent ten years as a city councilman and mayor in Alexandria before running for national office, Moran said he “would have never had the gall” to run for congress without local government experience, as his opponents are doing.
The comment garnered a smattering of intended laughter from the buttoned-up crowd at the Pentagon City Ritz Carlton.
Prior to Moran’s question and answer session, Berry and Murray took turns swiping at the ten-term congressman’s policies but largely avoided criticism of one another. Fisher was a full participant in the debate, but his pacifist, pro-tax message did not receive a very warm welcome from an audience full of businesspeople.
Incumbent Rep. Jim Moran (D), whose eighth congressional district includes Arlington, will take the stage tonight with the men hoping to unseat him in the fall.
Republican primary opponents Matthew Berry and Patrick Murray are expected to participate in tonight’s debate, as is Independent-Green party candidate Ron Fisher. ABC7 reporter Scott Thuman will moderate.
The debate is sponsored by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce in partnership with a number of other local chambers of commerce. Tickets are $35 for Chamber members, and $45 for everyone else.
It will take place at the Ritz Carlton in Pentagon City from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Voters May Be Asked to Approve New High School — The fate of a proposed new $104.6 million building for Wakefield High School may be put to voters. Assuming debt limit concerns can be addressed, Arlington Superintendent Dr. Pat Murphy would like to fund the project through a bond issue that would need to be approved by voters in November. More from the Sun Gazette.
Nordstrom Rack Sets Pentagon City Opening Date — A Nordstrom Rack clearance store is coming to the Pentagon Centre shopping center (which houses Costco, Best Buy and others, across from Pentagon City mall). The store will open on August 26, according to the company’s web site.
Arlington Firefighters Respond to Falls Church Crash — Arlington firefighters responded to the scene of a scary-looking car wreck involving a flipped-over SUV and a car that crashed into a telephone pole. The wreck happened near the Broadale Village Shopping Center on Broad Street in Falls Church last night. One person was taken to the hospital. The Falls Church Times has photos.
Former Lady Laura Bush signed copies of her new memoir, Spoken from the Heart, at the Pentagon Costco (1200 South Fern Street) this afternoon.
As light country music played, the first lady warmly greeted fans who had waited in a line that snaked down one of the store’s long aisles.
Most of the autograph-seekers were women. Many had young children in tow.
A few well-dressed men were also waiting in line. At least one spoke to Mrs. Bush with the kind of familiarity that made it clear he had worked with her husband in the former administration.
Mrs. Bush will speak at George Washington University’s Lisner Hall at 7:30 tonight.
