Shirlington

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

The Curious Grape to Reopen — There will soon be two competing boutique wine and cheese stores in Shirlington. The Curious Grape, which moved out of its storefront in Shirlington Village earlier this year in order to make way for Cheesetique, just announced that it will be reopening next month in a larger storefront one block away. [Shirlington Village Blog]

Loyalty Oath for Va. GOP Primary — Voters who want to cast their ballot in the March 6 presidential primary in Virginia will be required to sign a loyalty oath. The Virginia Republican Party requested the pledge — which is perfectly legal under Virginia law — as a condition of participation in the primary. The pledge (of support for the eventual Republican presidential nominee) is intended to reduce the number of non-Republicans voting in the otherwise open primary. [Richmond Times-Dispatch]

Earthquake Still Affecting Local Theater Troupes — The temporary closure of the Thomas Jefferson Community Theater due to earthquake damage is still having repercussions in the local arts community. As a result of the closure, a planned Spring 2012 production of Cats has been postponed until 2013. Also, the county’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. tribute has been moved to Washington-Lee High School. [Sun Gazette]

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Gingrich Doesn’t Make Cut for Va. GOP Ballot — Despite a last-minute push for signatures, Republican presidential candidate Next Gingrich failed to get enough valid signatures to make it on the Republican primary ballot in Virginia. Texas Governor Rick Perry also fell short of making it on the ballot. [Bloomberg]

Dominion Hills Gets Historical Designation — The Virginia Department of Historical Resources has added the Arlington neighborhood of Dominion Hills to its register of historic places. [News Leader]

Cheesetique Now Open — The new Shirlington location of Alexandria-based wine and cheese store Cheesetique is now open. The store opened its doors to the public for the first time on Monday. [Shirlington Village Blog]

Flickr pool photo by Michael T. Ruhl

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Shirlington, Pentagon Row to Get Electric Car Chargers — Federal Realty Investment Trust is installing electric vehicle charging stations at five of its D.C. area shopping centers, including The Village at Shirlington and Pentagon Row. [Washington Business Journal]

Daggers Found in Book at DCA — Two throwing daggers were found in a hollowed-out book in a passenger’s carry-on baggage at Reagan National Airport on Monday. The knives and the book were confiscated by authorities. [NBC Washington]

ART Canned Food Drive Ends — ART bus passengers donated a total of 376 canned food items from Nov. 14 to Dec. 16, during the transit service’s food drive. The canned items are being donated to the Arlington Food Assistance Center. [CommuterPage Blog]

Village at Shirlington Kicks Off Holiday Giveaway

By Katie Pyzyk

It’s often said that giving is better than receiving, especially during the holidays. The Village at Shirlington is doing its part to honor the mantra, with “Shirlie’s 10 Days of Giving.”

The giveaway kicked off yesterday and runs through December 23. Each day one entrant will be picked to receive a gift set valued at $150 or more. The various goodies will be from Shirlington merchants, with the grand prize including dinner at Extra Virgin, tickets to see Hairspray at Signature Theatre, and a one night stay at the Hilton Garden Inn.

If you’d like to enter, click here. No purchase is necessary, but participants must be at least 18 years old.

Plenty of Holiday Events in Arlington This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

There’s going to be plenty of Christmas cheer to go around in Arlington this weekend. A sleigh-ful of holiday events are planned around the county. Among them:

  • Winter Wonderland in Clarendon — This event will feature family-friendly holiday activities and entertainment, including strolling carolers, professional ice sculptors and free photos with Santa. Mix 107.3 FM will be broadcasting live and the Marine Corps will be collecting toys and cash for their Toys for Tots campaign.
    • Saturday, 4:00 to 7:30 p.m., Market Common Clarendon (2700 Clarendon Blvd)
  • The Gift of Art Reception — Support local artists and buy a unique, artful gift at this holiday showcase event.
    • Saturday, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Arlington Arts Gallery (5179 Lee Highway)
  • Shirlington SantaCon — This daytime bar crawl encourages participants to come dressed as Mr. or Mrs. Claus as they go from bar to bar in Shirlington Village. The $15 registration fee will benefit the charity Dreams for Kids.
    • Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Shirlington Village (2700 S. Quincy Street)
  • Good Sports Holiday Party — Good Sports of Arlington will be holding its 6th Annual Holiday Party to benefit its Scholarship Fund for Arlington students. This year’s event will feature a raffle with prizes such as Capitals tickets, Presidents Club seats to a Nationals game, and a weekend getaway to Virginia’s brewery and vineyard area outside Charlottesville.
    • Saturday, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., Crystal City Sports Pub (529 S. 23rd Street)
  • National Chamber Ensemble Holiday Concert — The National Chamber Ensemble and talented young guest musicians play seasonal favorites as well as a traditional carol sing-along. Tickets are $28 for adults and $15 for students.
    • Sunday, 4:30 p.m., Artisphere Spectrum Theatre (1101 Wilson Blvd)
  • Holiday Concerts and Sing Along — The award-winning, all-female Potomac Harmony Chorus will present its annual Holiday Concert and Sing-Along. Admission is free, but donations will be collected on behalf of Doorways for Women and Families.
    • Sunday, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., NRECA Conference Center (4301 Wilson Blvd)
  • Christmas Movie Festival — Christmas-themed movie classics are shown at the big screen at Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse. The lineup includes: How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Christmas Story, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Scrooged, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
    • Sunday, 12:00 to 9:00 p.m., Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike)

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Construction Progress in Rosslyn — Progress is being made on two major construction projects in Rosslyn. Despite a partial collapse of a retaining wall over the summer, the shell of one of the future Sedona and Slate apartment buildings (above) is nearing street level. We’re also told that the shell of the future 1812 N. Moore office tower is steadily making its way, floor by floor, toward the top of the construction pit and may be visible from street level in the near future.

Shirlington Lights Up the Village — Shirlington held its “Light Up the Village” holiday event last night, complete with angels on stilts, jesters on unicycles, horse-drawn carriage rides, live music and a Christmas tree lighting ceremony. [Shirlington Village Blog]

Puppies Help Stressed GMU Law Students — The Virginia Square-based George Mason University law school called in some cuddly support for its over-stressed students on Thursday. With exams approaching, students got to de-stress with 15 puppies from the Forever Home rescue organization. [Washington Post]

Another Possible County Board Candidate — Lyon Village Citizens Association president H.K. Park is mulling a run for state Senator-elect Barbara Favola’s Arlington County Board seat. If he does, he’ll be the seventh candidate to announce his or her candidacy. [Sun Gazette]

Tejada Endorses Bondi — County Board member Walter Tejada has announced that he’s supporting Melissa Bondi in the upcoming County Board special election. Bondi, who has been active in local Democratic politics for more than a decade, is also being supported by Delegate-elect Alfonso Lopez, Clerk of the Circuit Court Paul Ferguson and School Board member James Lander. [Bondi for County Board]

Shirlington Tree Lighting Rescheduled

By ARLnow.com

A planned Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Shirlington Village has been rescheduled due to a rainy forecast.

The “Light Up the Village” event will now be held on Thursday, Dec. 1, after originally being scheduled for Tuesday, according to the Shirlington Village Facebook page.

The evening’s festivities will still include carriage rides, carolers and children’s activities.

T-Minus Two Weeks to Shirlington Tree Lighting

By ARLnow.com

Update on 11/28/11 — This event has been rescheduled for Thursday, Dec. 1.

Ready or not, the holiday season is upon us. Case in point: Shirlington’s 9th annual holiday tree-lighting is only two weeks away.

The ‘Light Up the Village‘ event will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29. In addition to the tree lighting, which will take place at 6:30 p.m., there will also be live music, strolling entertainment, local merchant specials, photos with Santa (inside the UPS Store), horse and carriage rides (cost: a canned food donation to the Arlington Food Assistance Center), face painting, balloon twisting and more.

Shirlington also plans to get festive with two Pet Photos with Santa events. Pet owners can try to get their four-legged friends to pose with Ol’ Saint Nick from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Dec. 8 and 15. The photo events are taking place inside Dogma Bakery (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive). The store requests a $10 donation to benefit Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.

Photo courtesy The Village at Shirlington

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Ben Affleck Flick Filming in N. Arlington? — Local residents are telling us that ‘Argo,’ a new Ben Affleck-directed political thriller, is currently in production in the area near Overlee pool. [Forums]

New Restaurant Coming to Shirlington — A new Mediterranean restaurant called Medi is coming to Shirlington. The eatery will offer “uniquely blended flavors, healthy ingredients, and great value,” according to The Village at Shirlington Facebook page. [Shirlington Village Blog]

County Board Candidate Sims Launches Website — County Board candidate Terron Sims II has launched a new campaign website. Sims is one of three Democratic candidates who have formally announced for the upcoming special election to replace state Senator-elect Barbara Favola. The West Point grad and Iraq war veteran has already won support and endorsements from County Treasurer Frank O’Leary and Rep. Jim Moran. [Sims for Arlington]

County Scales Back Legislative Agenda — With Republicans firmly in control in Richmond, Arlington County may be abandoning hope of getting its quarter percent hotel taxing authority restored any time soon. [Sun Gazette]

Signs Biting the Dust in the Rosslyn Area — One local blogger has taken note of at least two recent incidents where signs have apparently been knocked down by out-of-control cars in the Rosslyn area. [Ode Street Tribune]

Zombies to Invade Shirlington Tonight

By Katie Pyzyk

(Updated at 1:58 p.m.) Don’t be surprised if you see moaning, pale people shuffling down the streets of Shirlington tonight. In fact, maybe you just want to join them. The second annual Shirlington Zombie Walk will take over the area.

Happy hour food and drink specials begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Signature Theater, followed by the stalking of the strip at 9:00 p.m.

If you aren’t sure how to properly prepare yourself for the zombie walk, bring your makeup and one of the “zombie experts” will give you a hand.

The event ends where it began, at the Signature Theater. More fun and dancing will happen inside “Club Blue” following the zombie walk.

Board Votes for ‘Big Box’ Restrictions

By ARLnow.com

Walmart, Target and other large format retailers are going to need to get County Board approval should they ever want to build a store in Arlington.

On Saturday the board unanimously approved a change to the county’s zoning ordinance that will require new “big box” retail stores to seek a Special Exception Use Permit. Before that, a large retailer could have theoretically built a store in certain areas on a “by right” basis, without the need to obtain board approval.

The amendment will apply to retail stores with a gross floor area of 50,000 square feet or more on any level, or stores with 200 more more dedicated parking spaces. Car dealerships were exempted from the rule.

“With the Board’s action, [large format retail] developments will only be built in Arlington after the community has an opportunity to review potential negative impacts and determine the appropriate conditions to mitigate those negative impacts,” Arlington County said in a press release.

ARLnow.com was the first to report that the board acted to make the zoning change after a developer, working on behalf of Walmart, started expressing interest in an industrial site near Shirlington. County staff warned that “big box” stores like Walmart could generate four times the amount of local road traffic as a similar-sized office building or hotel.

“This isn’t to impede someone from setting up shop if they want to do business here,” board member Walter Tejada said during Saturday’s board meeting. “It’s really saying that we should have a dialog, that there should be a process in which we can address any potential negative impacts to neighborhoods.

“By putting this in place we at least create for ourselves the opportunity to enter the conversation,” added County Board Vice Chair Mary Hynes.

Board member Jay Fisette noted that many other localities have similar rules already in place.

“We’re not breaking new ground,” he said. “This has been done all over the country, it has been done all over the region. We’re in fact the last major jurisdiction in Northern Virginia to take a similar action.”

Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman said economic conditions only recently started making Arlington attractive to large format retailers.

“I think perhaps the reason it came last here is because we don’t have as many of those big pieces of land — the targets of that sort of thing,” Zimmerman said.

“I didn’t mean a pun there, I promise,” he added.

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