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Morning Notes

Published March 24, 2016 at 9:25AM

Metro Delays This Morning — Metro is experiencing big delays on the Blue and Orange lines after reports that a teenage girl intentionally jumped onto the tracks at the Eastern Market station. The Blue and Orange line is single-tracking between Eastern Market and Federal Center, while the Silver Line is only operating between Wiehle-Reston and Ballston. [Hill Now, Twitter, Twitter]

Gondola Feasibility Study Gets Eight Responses — Eight firms have responded to a Request for Proposals to conduct a feasibility study of a Rosslyn-to-Georgetown gondola system. The team for the study is expected to be chosen in about a month. The study is expected to be complete by the end of the year. [UrbanTurf]

Fire Danger Today — There’s an enhanced threat of brush fires today, even in Arlington. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the area as low humidity and gusty winds combine for a significant fire danger. “Any fires will have the potential to spread very rapidly,” NWS says. [National Weather Service]

Parking Lots Crowded at DCA — Spring break and the Easter weekend are combining for a busy week and crowded parking lots at Reagan National Airport. As of this morning, the airport’s 2,613-space economy lot is full and there are only a few hundred spaces left in the 5,223-space Terminal B/C garages. [Twitter, Fly Reagan]

AYD Date Auction Next Week — The Arlington Young Democrats will hold their 15th annual charity date auction this coming Tuesday. Eligible bachelors and bachelorettes — along with face time with prominent elected officials — will be auctioned off to benefit the Arlington Food Assistance Center. [Arlington Young Dems]

Spring Beer Festival Returning to Shirlington

By ARLnow.com

Published March 15, 2016 at 2:35PM

Shirlington’s spring beer festival is returning for its third year.

Hosted by Capitol City Brewing, the third annual Mid-Atlantic Spring Beer Festival will take place Saturday, April 30 from noon to 7 p.m., rain or shine.

“The springtime beer-tasting event will include a line-up of 35 regional breweries,” according to a press release. “Admission for beer drinkers is $30 (one general admission pass per person), which includes a wristband, official tasting glass and 10 drink tickets. Additional drink tickets can be purchased for $1 each with a five-ticket minimum. The event is free for non-drinkers and children.”

Participating breweries include:

DC Brau
Pleasure House Brewing
Starr Hill
Flying Dog
Adroit Theory
Hellbender
Fair Winds
Bold Rock
Caboose
Union

A number of Shirlington restaurants will be participating, offering springtime fare to festival-goers, including Busboys & Poets, Café Pizzaiolo and Luna. Music will be provided by DJ Julius Talvik.

Ticket sales will begin at 11:30 a.m. the day of the event.

Easter Bunny Arrives in Arlington Tomorrow

By ARLnow.com

Published March 10, 2016 at 9:00AM

Yes, it’s that time of year again.

This Sunday, Daylight Saving Time begins. Next Sunday is the start of spring. And the Sunday after that is Easter.

To celebrate the season, the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City mall is bringing the Easter bunny himself (or is it herself?) to the mall for photos with children.

The Easter bunny’s first official day on the job at the mall is Friday. The photo sessions will run though Saturday, March 26.

Look for the bunny and his photographer on the ground floor of the mall (not to be confused with the lower, “Metro” level), near Nordstrom. From the mall’s website, here are the dates and times for bunny photos.

3/11- 11am-8pm
3/12- 10am-8pm
3/13- 11am-6pm
3/14- 12pm-8pm
3/15- 12pm-8pm
3/16- 12pm-8pm
3/17- 12pm-8pm
3/18- 11am-8pm
3/19- 10am-8pm
3/20- 11am-6pm
3/21- 11am-8pm
3/22- 11am-8pm
3/23- 11am-8pm
3/24- 11am-8pm
3/25- 10am-8pm
3/26- 9am-8pm

Despite Warmth, Pentagon Row Ice Skating to Continue Through March 27

By ARLnow.com

Published March 8, 2016 at 12:05PM

As of noon today, there was no one skating at the Pentagon City Row ice skating rink, as the sun shone and temperatures reached into the 70s.

With above-average temperatures in the forecast for the foreseeable future, the skating rink may soon look as much like a swimming pool as a winter wonderland.

Nonetheless, the rink is slated to stay open until Easter Sunday, March 27, according to a press release sent last week.

The rink’s website says it is “open everyday including all holidays, even in warm weather.” Last year the rink was open until March 22.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published March 8, 2016 at 9:50AM

‘Sound of Music’ Star Recalls Arlington Upbringing — Showbiz star Nicholas Hammond, who played Friedrich von Trapp in the “Sound of Music” 50 years ago, recently recounted his childhood in Arlington. “I loved growing up there, in a much simpler time,” he told Charlie Clark. “My brother and I had paper routes. Your parents thought nothing of kids going off on their bikes pre-dawn and throwing papers onto front-door steps. We’d play ball, or go on our bikes or explore the woods. It all seemed very safe.” [Falls Church News-Press]

Local Masseuse Working Out Trump Stress — Locals are stressing out about the idea of Donald Trump becoming the next president of the United States. Reports the Post: “Amanda Long, an Arlington, Va., massage therapist… has grown accustomed in recent weeks to clients laying down on her table and bellowing, ‘Can you believe this guy?’ Long allows her clients to vent for a few minutes before she tries to quiet them, if only so they can relax and she can attend to their aches.” [Washington Post]

Comcast Outage in Crystal City — Comcast customers in parts of Crystal City and South Arlington were without their TV, voice and internet service for most of the day yesterday. Service has since been restored, we hear.

Garvey: Use Garages During Snowstorms — To speed up snow plowing on local streets, county leaders want to try to reduce the number of cars parked on the side of the road during snowstorms. To facilitate that, County Board Chair Libby Garvey has asked county staff to look into the idea of opening up Arlington’s parking garages as emergency snow parking areas. [InsideNova]

Winter Is Over — The groundhog was right: an early spring is here. It may still be officially winter, but all computer models are pointing to warmer-than-average weather through April. [Capital Weather Gang]

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published March 1, 2016 at 9:15AM

It’s March 1 — Not only is today the first day of March, with spring (March 20) and Daylight Saving Time (March 13) around the corner, but it’s also the Super Tuesday presidential primary day here in Virginia. Arlington’s 52 polling places opened at 6 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m. [Arlington County]

Committee of 100 to Discuss Racial Tensions — On Wednesday, March 9, the Arlington Committee of 100 will hold a discussion entitled “Are Arlington’s Police and Justice Systems Prepared to Respond to Community and Racial Tensions?” Among the speakers are Commonwealth’s Attorney Theo Stamos and Police Chief Jay Farr. [InsideNova]

Bowen McCauley Dance Performing at Kennedy Center — Arlington’s Bowen McCauley Dance company will be celebrating its 20th anniversary with performances at the Kennedy Center later this month. [WJLA]

It’s a Good Time to Lease an Office in Arlington — D.C.-based commercial real estate firm West, Lane & Schlager is advising companies to consider leasing office space in Arlington in the near future. The firm says the D.C. area is definitely a tenant’s market at the moment, but the tide will eventually turn. With vacancy rates stabilizing, companies can take advantage of lease concessions now, before the market turns in favor of landlords, the firm says. [Patch]

Four Courts Four Miler Coming Up — The popular annual Four Courts Four Miler race will take place Saturday morning, March 12. Registration is currently $40 and will, in part, benefit the Arlington County Police Benevolent Fund. As in previous years, those who beat the runner dressed up as a leprechaun — Ireland’s Four Courts manager Dave Cahill, a 3:10 marathon runner — will get a special gift from the pub. [Pacers Running]

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published February 2, 2016 at 9:20AM | Updated February 2, 2016 at 9:43AM

Expect Early Spring, Says Groundhogs — Updated at 9:40 a.m. — Punxsutawney Phil and Potomac Phil both did not see their shadow this morning and thus have predicted an early spring. Unfortunately, the former Phil is wrong more often than he is right. [CNN, Borderstan]

New County Manager Inks Contract — The Arlington County Board last week ratified a contract with Mark Schwartz, the county’s newly-appointed county manager. (Schwartz served as interim county manager for six months before his appointment.) Under the contract, Schwartz will earn $245,000 in his first year, which is less than the $270,000 annual salary of his predecessor and former boss, Barbara Donnellan. [InsideNova]

WeWork Now Open in Crystal City — The WeWork co-working space in Crystal City officially opened yesterday. The office space is decorated with plush couches, hardwood floors and oversized light fixtures, among other design elements. [Twitter]

Online Plan Review System Up and Running — Arlington County launched its Electronic Plan Review system yesterday, allowing plans for building permits and land use to be submitted, reviewed and approved online. The system is expected to save time and money compared to the previous, in-person submissions, though those submitting plans still have to go to the county offices to pay the permit fees in person. [Arlington County]

Praise for Texas Jack’s — A food critic finds a lot to like at Texas Jack’s, the new barbecue restaurant in the former EatBar space in Lyon Park. Writes Tim Carman: “[Chef Matt Lang’s] moist brisket is A-lister stuff, thick, succulent slices with a pink smoke ring lingering just below a dark outer bark of salt, pepper, smoke and fat, all fused together in a Southern Pride smoker set low and slow.” [Washington Post]

Photo via Twitter/Scott Kelly

Crystal City 5K Fridays Start This Week

By ARLnow.com

Published March 30, 2015 at 10:00AM

It’s almost April which means it’s almost time for Crystal City’s 5K Fridays to start up again.

Starting this week, four 5K races will be held on consecutive Fridays — April 3, 10, 17 and 24. The races kick off from 2121 Crystal Drive at 6:30 p.m. each Friday, with a course that runs up and down Crystal Drive and Long Bridge Drive.

Registration for a single race is $20. Registration for all four races is $60. Runners can register online.

Drivers should expect road closures in the area during the race.

After each race there will be a post-race party at a local watering hole, with special deals for participants.

More information about the race is available on the Pacers website.

Disclosure: The Crystal City Business Improvement District is an ARLnow.com advertiser

Pentagon Row Ice Skating to End With Party

By ARLnow.com

Published March 19, 2015 at 10:05AM

Sunday is the last day of ice skating for the season at Pentagon Row, and the shopping center plans to end the season with a party.

On Saturday, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., the ice rink at 1201 S. Joyce Street will host a “Decades Night on Ice” party, in which participants are encouraged to dress according to their favorite decade.

“A DJ will be spinning the best tunes of each decade starting with the 60s at 6 pm, then the 70s at 7 pm, the 80s at 8 pm, and the 90s at 9 pm, through 10 pm,” according to a PR rep.

Admission for adults is $9, for children 12 and under and seniors 55 and up it’s $8. Skate rental, for those who don’t have their own, is $3.

Just don’t expect a throwback to this winter’s cold for the party. While snow is expected on Friday, the first day of spring, on Saturday the high temperature is expected to reach the upper 50s.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 1, 2014 at 8:45AM

False Alarm at Arlington National Cemetery — The Arlington County Fire Department responded to Arlington National Cemetery yesterday afternoon for a fire alarm. Once on scene, firefighters determined that the alarm was set off by the tomb guards steam pressing their uniforms. [Twitter]

Arlington Real Estate Market Profiled — CNBC’s “Power Lunch” program profiled the real estate market in Arlington last week. The program took a look at three properties in the county, from a $364,900 condo in Ballston to a $1,275,000 luxury townhouse in Rosslyn. [CNBC]

Arlington Dems Have Plenty of Beads — Arlington Democrats are trying to figure out what to do with more than 200 pounds of Mardi Gras beads. The party purchased the beads for the annual Clarendon Mardi Gras parade, which was rescheduled and then canceled due to snow this year. [InsideNoVa]

Doorways Fundraiser Planned — Rocklands Barbeque (3471 Washington Blvd) will open its patio for the season on Thursday, April 17, with its annual “Shed Your Coat” fundraiser. The event, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., will benefit Doorways for Women and Families. [Doorways]

Flickr pool photo by Joseph Gruber

Two-Story Snow Fort Reduced to Rubble

By ARLnow.com

Published March 31, 2014 at 2:30PM

Old man winter is losing his grip on the area as spring-like temperatures have finally arrived.

Aside from the sunny, blue skies, the arrival of spring can perhaps best evident by looking at the remains of a formerly two-story snow fort.

The snow fort, built by a 19-year-old Leeway-Overlee resident, once stood 12 feet high. Now, it’s a small pile of “snow rubble,” surrounded by an area of brown grass about the size of the fort’s 11-foot-by-11-foot base.

Photo courtesy @StuNagurka