sale

‘Couture’ Returns to Crystal City Next Week

By Katie Pyzyk

The annual Crystal Couture fashion show and sale is returning to Arlington next week.

Starting on Tuesday, designers, models and fashionistas will take over the former food court at the Crystal City Shops (1750 Crystal Drive) for five days devoted to all things fashion.

Attendees can take part in trunk show sales, watch models sport the latest trends on the runway, or indulge in food and drinks while taking in music. They can also find deals of up to 50 percent off on items at some boutiques. Makeovers for hair and makeup will be available, as well.

Events run from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. each night from Feb. 7 through Feb. 11, and are free to the public. Some of the local personalities who will be hosting the events include NBC4’s Angie Goff, Hot 99.5’s Sarah Fraser, D.C. Magazine’s Karen Sommer Shalett, Pinkline Project’s Philippa Hughes, former Miss D.C. Kate Michael and former America’s Next Top Model contestant Bianca Chardei.

Organizers are promising even more shopping opportunities at this year’s five-day event, where more than 40 local designers and boutiques will be represented. A full list of participants can be found online.

Disclosure: Crystal City BID is an ARLnow.com advertiser

Borders Book Bonanza

By Katie Pyzyk

Here’s your chance to catch up on summer reading at a lower cost than expected. Borders’ liquidation sale is officially on.

It’s no secret that Borders filed for bankruptcy in February and then announced last week that all stores would be closing, including the one in Pentagon City. Now you can pick up books and basically anything in the remaining Borders store in our area, at 1201 S. Hayes Street in Pentagon Centre, for 10-40% off.

The sale will continue until the stores close, which is expected to be in September.

Moon-Linked Sheraton National Hotel Sold

By ARLnow.com

The 417-room Sheraton National Hotel has been sold to a Connecticut-based hotel investment firm.

The hotel, located just off of Columbia Pike at 900 S. Orme Street, had been owned by National Hospitality Corporation, a company linked to Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church.

HEI Hotels and Resorts purchased an ownership interest in the hotel for an undisclosed sum. The company owns 39 hotels in 16 states, including the Sheraton Crystal City.

HEI plans to keep operating the hotel as a Sheraton.

Christmas Trees Prepped for Sale in North Arlington

By ARLnow.com

With just two days until Thanksgiving, the Optimist Club of Arlington is getting ready for its annual Christmas tree sale.

The sale will begin on Saturday, at the Wachovia Bank parking lot near the corner of North Glebe Road and Lee Highway. Prices we saw posted ranged from $30 to $210.

The Optimist Club has been selling Fraser firs, Scotch pines and other tree varieties in Arlington since 1950, according to the Sun Gazette. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the club’s youth programs.

If you celebrate the holiday, where do you go to buy your Christmas trees?

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

End of the Rainbow Found — During yesterday’s sunny downpour in Pentagon City, we spotted the actual end of the rainbow. Turns out it’s the shuttered Crystal City Motel on Old Jefferson Davis Highway. Bad news for anyone wanting to search for a pot of gold: you’ll first have to scale the high fence around the decaying property.

Library Book Sale This Weekend — Central Library (1015 N. Quincy St.) is holding its two-day Friends of the Library Summer Book Sale this coming Friday and Saturday. The sale will take place outside, next to the garden and the tennis courts. See the Library Blog for more info.

Crystal City Apartment Building Sold — The Hampton Apartments at 1425 South Eads Street have been sold for a cool $33.5 million to Arlington-based MRP Realty and New York City-based Angelo, Gordon & Co. This article about the sale suggests that the relatively moderately-priced apartments may be ripe for renovation, which could turn the building into “a Class A asset in one of the top D.C. submarkets.”

Busy Weekend for Bargain Hunters

By ARLnow.com

It’s going to be an especially busy Saturday for bargain-hunters. Here’s a chronology of where to get good deals and score some free stuff.

7:00 a.m. — The weekly Arlington Civitan flea market starts the morning bright and early. About 150 vendors will be selling their wares until 1:30 p.m. in the parking garage between I-66 and Washington-Lee High School.

8:00 a.m. — The Arlington Farmer’s Market will take place, as it does every Saturday, in the parking lot across from the county courthouse from 8:00 to noon. Affordable fresh food and free samples abound.

9:00 a.m. — Hunt for hidden gems at the Aurora Hills Senior Center Trash ‘n’ Treasure Sale. One person’s old, unwanted piece of junk may be another’s cherished antique. The Aurora Hills Branch Library will also take part, selling books and music CDs as part of their ongoing Friends Sale.

10:00 a.m. — Boutique pet store Wylie Wagg is holding a grand opening celebration for its new Clarendon store. Located in the former a.k.a. spot storefront at 2509 Franklin Road, next to the Java Shack,  Wagg will be offering a 10 percent store-wide discount and a chance to win a $200 shopping spree. There will also be free doggie “smoothies” while supplies last, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

11:00 a.m. — Clarendon’s new frozen yogurt mecca, Red Mango, will also be celebrating its grand opening on Saturday. The store (at 2831 Clarendon Boulevard) will be giving away free froyo from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. There will also be free t-shirts for the first 100 customers.

2:00 p.m. — Join the Washington Shakespeare Company for a “pay-what-you-can” showing of “Every Young Woman’s Desire.” You decide how much you want to pay to see the show, a psychological thriller that examines the brutality of unchecked power. Presented at the Clark Street Playhouse (601 S. Clark Street).

See our events calendar for more details and for more things to do this weekend.

Flickr pool photo by Pseudo-Melancholy.

It’s Ladies’ Night at Shirlington Village

By ARLnow.com

Shirlington Village is holding a “Ladies’ Night” tonight, with special discounts on food, wine and gifts. You must mention “ladies’ night” to take advantage of the deals, which are listed below.

  • The Curious Grape — 10% off featured wines
  • Illusions Hair and Nail Studio — Complementary makeup session from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
  • Le Village Marche Vintage Home Decor and Gifts — 20% off whole purchase over $50
  • Periwinkle — 50% off Before and Again t-shirts and dresses
  • T.H.A.I. Restaurant — 10% off bill (excluding alcohol)
  • Verbena Parer & Gifts — 20% whole purchase over $50