The Food Network show “Heat Seekers” is stopping by Tandoori Nights restaurant (2800 Clarendon Blvd) this afternoon.
The Indian eatery, located on the second floor of the Market Common Clarendon shopping center, is inviting interested foodies to stop by and sample some of their spiciest dishes — for free — while a camera crew tapes a segment for the show. You have to hurry, though — it’s happening from 3:30 to 4:00 p.m. today.
“You may even have the chance to be interviewed!” noted Tandoori Nights’ PR rep.
Heat Seekers, hosted by Aaron Sanchez and Roger Mooking, tries to find the hottest dishes from around the country.
The Arlington County Police Department has hired a new spokesman.
Dustin Sternbeck is taking over the role of Public Information Officer later this month, as the ACPD spokeswoman for the past 4 years, Det. Crystal Nosal, is heading back to the department’s patrol division. Nosal, a familiar face on local news broadcasts when a significant crime or accident happens in Arlington, is a uniformed police officer while Sternbeck comes to the department as a civilian employee.
Sternbeck was formerly a uniformed Public Information Officer for the Loudoun County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management. More recently, he served as the spokesman for Northern Virginia Community College.
‘Bookhouse’ in Bluemont Profiled — The Washington Post profiles the Bookhouse, a rare book business in Bluemont run by Natalie Hughes, 80, and her husband Edward, 91. The couple say they plan to close the business — which features a collection of about 30,000 volumes — in a year or two. [Washington Post]
Board Declines to Appoint Tie-Breaker — The Arlington County Board, down to four members since Barbara Favola resigned on Dec. 31 to start her new career as a state Senator, has opted not to appoint a designated tie-breaker, as permitted by state law. Instead, measures that garner a 2-2 tie vote will simply fail. [Sun Gazette]
An Arlington resident has created a new web-based video series.
Mike Kravinsky, 57, was working as a video editor and technical editor for the ABC News D.C. bureau when, in 2010, he decided to take a buyout package offered by the company. After 29 years at ABC, Kavinsky now found himself pondering what to do next. In the end, he decided to pursue a passion for filmmaking by creating a six-part scripted video series.
“The Nextnik,” as the series is called, follows the trials and tribulations of Larry Zimmerman, a 55-year-old upper-middle management type who is abruptly fired and has a year to find a new vocation before his severance money runs out.
The series — which is described as part drama, part comedy — was filmed in Arlington, at locations like Java Shack, Restaurant 3, Silver Diner (Clarendon) and several residential locations. Additional filming took place in the District and at Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Kravinsky says The Nextnik is especially topical given the current state of the job market.
“As the economy improves, many people are exploring starting over professionally, whether by choice or layoff,” Kravinsky said. “‘The Nextnik’ will focus on both professional and personal reinvention.”
A famous face visited Arlington to help the National Guard celebrate its 375th birthday on Tuesday. Mauro Castano from TLC’s hit show “Cake Boss” showed up with a tasty treat in hand.
Castano and crew drove the cake down from their Hoboken, NJ bakery to the Army National Guard Readiness Center in Arlington. The New Jersey National Guard assisted in the transport and during the four hour drive.
Several months ago, a member of the New Jersey National Guard contacted Castano and asked about creating a cake for the birthday celebration. Despite being involved with “Cake Boss” and two other spin-off programs, Castano was eager to contribute to the event.
The two-foot by three-foot cake sports a replica of the Minuteman statue on top, a symbol Castano researched and decided should be a focal point of the cake.
“You know what,” said Castano, “we’ve got to put that in there. That’s the symbol of the National Guard.”
The Minuteman is made of chocolate, and like every other decoration on the cake, is edible. Along the sides, all the states and territories the National Guard serves are represented by patches made out of sugar.
More than 200 military and civilian employees of the National Guard Bureau and Army National Guard Readiness Center enjoyed the cake.
Earl’s Sandwiches in Courthouse (2605 Wilson Blvd) is thinking about expanding with a second location.
The restaurant has proven popular with local lunch-goers, but is somewhat constrained by its small space. Owner Stephen Dugan told the county’s Food for Thought television program (above) that he’s “would love to set up a second location” and is “looking for something with a little space.”
Earl’s, which uses fresh, house-made ingredients in its sandwiches, bills itself as “homemade without the hassle.”
White House Shooting Suspect Arrested — The man wanted for firing bullets at the White House Friday night, who may or may not have been squatting in Arlington, was arrested in Pennsylvania yesterday. Investigators now say Oscar Ramiro Orgeta-Hernandez was “obsessed” with President Barack Obama. One of the bullets that was fired cracked a window of the first family’s living quarters. [CBS News]
Arlington-Based Firm Considering IPO — Courthouse-based Opower, an energy software company that was visited by President Obama last year, is growing and eying a possible initial public offering. [GigaOm]
News Anchor Remembers Arlington Childhood — In a recent interview, NBC4 anchor Doreen Gentzler reminisced about growing up in Arlington. She marveled at some of the changes that have taken place over the years and recalled the time when there was a nearby A&P store. [Sun Gazette]
A trio of Good Samaritans were rewarded for their heroic deeds with a fresh pizza delivered by the Arlington County Police Department.
Police officers dropped off the pizza and some commemorative plaques on Friday night as a way to say ‘thank you’ to three men who helped stop a late night attack in Ashton Heights over the summer.
According to police, two of the men were sitting out on their porch, waiting for a pizza delivery around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 14, when they heard a woman scream. The woman, police say, was knocked to the ground by a 25-year-old man after repeatedly rebuffing his unwanted advances. Upon hearing the scream, the men chased down the suspect and held him until police arrived. The third man rushed to the victim to comfort her while awaiting police.
The suspect, Fidencio Gonzalez-Acetun, was arrested and charged with abduction. He’s currently awaiting trial.
During the course of their heroism, the men missed their pizza delivery. As a good-humored recognition of their small sacrifice, police delivered a hot, fresh pizza along with the plaques on Friday.
The men told NBC4 that the gesture “means a lot” to them.
Problems at PBS NewsHour — The PBS NewsHour is facing serious challenges. The hour-long news program, which is produced at the WETA facilities in Shirlington, has been shedding staff and viewers. A number of top news and business personnel have left recently, while viewership is down 11 percent year-over-year. Meanwhile, a top sponsor is pulling out at the end of the year, leaving a $2 million hole in the NewsHour’s budget. [New York Times]
Elementary School Goes Solar — A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at Glebe Elementary School yesterday to mark the installation of a 1.1 kilowatt solar panel system. The solar panels will not only generate enough clean energy to power one classroom, but will also serve as an educational tool. Students, parents and teachers will be able to monitor the system’s electricity output using any web-enabled device or smartphone. [Arlington Public Schools]
Park Gives Marymount New Athletic Facilities — Long Bridge Park is more than an attractive new green space to Arlington’s only four-year university. Marymount University paid about $2 million toward the cost of one of the three multi-use synthetic-turf fields at the park. In exchange, the school’s Division III soccer and lacrosse teams will utilize the field as their “home base.” When the field is not in use by the school, it will be available for use by the public. [Sun Gazette]
Ballston BID Director Hired — The newly-created Ballston Business Improvement District has a new executive director. Tina Leone is leaving her post as president of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce to run the BID. [Alexandria Times]
This summer Joel Orbina Laguidao, the Red Top Cab driver who keeps a portable karaoke machine in his taxi, gained regional notoriety thanks to local media coverage.
As part of the five-minute segment, Today Show co-host Savannah Guthrie took a musical ride around Arlington in the Karaoke Cab with Joel. As Arlington landmarks like Whitlow’s passed by in the background, Guthrie was joined in the cab by a number of random taxi passengers and by one not-so-random Arlington resident: NBC News White House Correspondent Chuck Todd.
Guthrie called the cab “a new innovative way of getting around the D.C. area” that “gives a whole new meaning to ‘traffic jam.'”
The segment was filmed on Friday, Sept. 16, with the cooperation of Clarendon-based Red Top Cab.
Bayou Bakery owner and chef David Guas made an appearance on the Today Show this morning.
Guas was featured in a cooking segment called “Hot Chef,” during the show’s 9:00 hour. The segment focused on seasonal, “all-American desserts” — specifically a blackberry and blueberry crumble, an apple-spiced upside down bundt cake and a “lemon icebox pie.” Guas showed hosts Al Roker and Tamron Hall how to make the desserts, while discussing the use of apples and other seasonal ingredients during the fall.
Bayou Bakery is located at 1515 N. Courthouse Road in Courthouse.
The Food Network show “Heat Seekers” is stopping by Tandoori Nights restaurant (2800 Clarendon Blvd) this afternoon.
