wine

Crystal City Wine Festival Returns Sept. 14

By Ethan Rothstein

Salsa dancing at Crystal City's Sip and Salsa event on SundayCrystal City’s annual wine, food and music festival is back for 2014.

Sip and Salsa, as the event is called, will be held on Sunday, Sept. 14 from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. The event will fill the parking lot and courtyard of 220 20th Street S. with booths pouring Spanish, Argentinian and Portuguese wines, plus unlimited food pairings.

The event, hosted jointly by the Washington Wine Academy and the Crystal City Business Improvement District, will have live jazz and salsa dancing. Wine experts will also be giving talks and educating attendees about the varieties of wine they will be tasting.

Tickets are $20 online or $25 at the door, and designated drivers can pay $10 to partake in all the food tastings.

Sip and Salsa is the marquee fall event in Crystal City’s “Vintage Crystal” series of wine-related events. Starting Friday, Aug. 29 and running every Friday through Sept. 26, Crystal City will also be hosting Wine in the Water Park. That event, which takes place from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the park near 1750 Crystal Drive, features live music and various types of wine and beer for purchase.

File photo. Disclosure: Crystal City BID is an ARLnow.com advertiser.

New Wine Bar and Tapas Restaurant Coming to Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com
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A new wine bar and tapas restaurant is coming to Rosslyn.

Sip Wine Tasting & Tapas Restaurant plans to open in a currently vacant retail location at 1501 Wilson Blvd just after Labor Day. This will be the small Atlanta-based chain’s first D.C. area location, though it recently opened a location in Baltimore.

“Sip Wine Tasting & Tapas Restaurant will offer an extensive array of by-the-glass wine options, with more than 80 different wines that may be ordered by the sip, the half-glass, full glass and bottle, with seventy-two wine available through self-serve wine machines operated through a card system,” according to a spokeswoman. “The restaurant will include chef-inspired tapas-style menu items offered for lunch and dinner and a special brunch menu on Saturday and Sunday.”

On its website, Sip says it offers bottles to patrons at retail prices — as opposed to restaurant prices — with an added $14 corkage fee. It also offers one ounce sips of dozens of wines.

The full press release, from landlord Monday Properties, after the jump. (more…)

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Sunset landing (Flickr pool photo by Wolfkann)

Five Rideshare Drivers Nabbed in Arlington — Arlington police have issued citations to five drivers of rideshare services like Uber and Lyft since June 5, the department says. The drivers were all pulled over for separate traffic infractions and admitted to driving for the services, which are currently operating illicitly in Virginia. [Washington Post]

Teens Arrested for Skate Park Vandalism — Four teenagers have been arrested and charged with causing $35,000 in damage to the Powhatan Springs Skate Park earlier this month. The teens are accused of painting “graffiti containing vulgar language” at the park, which was closed until county crews could clean it up. [NBC Washington]

Arlingtonian Wins, Then Loses at Wimbledon — For the second year in a row, Arlington resident and tennis pro Denis Kudla advanced to the second round of Wimbledon. Kudla, 21, defeated Turkey’s Marsel Ilhan in the first round of the tournament before falling to No. 10 seed Kei Nishikori of Japan in straight sets. [Wimbledon]

Wine Bar Coming to Rosslyn — Bistro 360, a wine bar and gourmet market from Cassatt’s Kiwi Cafe owner Art Hauptman, is coming to the former Cafe Assorti space at 1800 Wilson Blvd in Rosslyn. The wine bar will have as many as 140 seats indoors and outdoors. Bistro 360 hopes to open its doors by the end of the summer. [Washington Business Journal]

Flickr pool photo by Wolfkann

New Retail Coming to Courthouse

By ARLnow.com

Retailers at the new 2001 Clarendon Blvd building (image via 2001clarendon.com)A 7-Eleven, a Hair Cuttery, a nail salon and a new gourmet store are all coming soon to the Courthouse area.

The four retailers are those announced so far for the nine ground floor retail spaces available at the new 2001 Clarendon Blvd building, which is expected to wrap up construction soon. The seven-story, mixed-use building, which replaced the former Taco Bell and the beloved Dr. Dremo’s Taphouse, has 30,000 square feet of retail space and 154 “trophy” apartments.

The nail salon, Modern Nails, appears to be from the same owner as the Modern Nails salons at the Pentagon City mall and Ballston Common Mall.

The 7-Eleven store is located on the Clarendon Blvd side of the building, only a few blocks away from an existing 7-Eleven store at the corner of Wilson Blvd and N. Quinn Street.

On the Wilson Blvd side, the Hair Cuttery will be adjacent to a gourmet store called The Olive Oil Boom. Reached by phone today, owner Judith Westfall — who moved with her husband from Texas to Arlington (Va.) just over a year ago, following a career in the oil industry — says Olive Oil Boom will sell  olive oils, balsamic vinegars, wine, beer, cheese and other gourmet products.

The 1,360 square foot store will have an “oil company theme,” she said. Customers will be able to enjoy their purchases outdoors in a courtyard space next to the store.

Westfall says she’s hoping to open at some point this fall.

Image via 2001clarendon.com

Crystal City Wine/Beer 1K Returns

By Ethan Rothstein

Crystal City Wine/Beer 1K flyer (courtesy Crystal City BID)The Crystal City 1K Wine/Beer Walk is back for another season on March 1.

This year, participants can pay $40 and sample up to 22 options of either beer or wine, sponsored by the Washington Wine Academy, which owns the Crystal City Wine Shop.

In previous years, the wine and beer walks were separate, but now participants can drink beer and walk with friends who choose wine, according to the Crystal City Business Improvement District, which is hosting the event.

Walkers will start in separate heats between 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. The different wine and beer stands will close at 6:30 p.m. The entire race takes place indoors at the Shops at Crystal City, with the starting point at The Landing (1750 Crystal Drive).

Below is the list of beers and wines available, but the Wine Academy has promised some surprise selections.

Wine:

Ponga Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)
Wildewood Pinot Gris – Willamette Valley, Oregon
Chateau Valmer Vouvray – Loire Valley, France
Chamisal Chardonnay (California)
Whitehall Viognier – White Hall, Virginia
Selbach Oster Kabinett Riesling – Mosel, Germany
Degiorgis Moscato D’Asti – Piedmont, Italy
Atmosphere Rosé – Provence, France
Bellene Bourgogne (Pinot Noir) – Burgandy, France
Charles Smith Boom Boom Syrah Columbia Valley, Washington
Ventisquero Reserva Cermenere – Central Valley, Chile
Santa Julia Sustainable Malbec (Argentina)
Jefferson Vineyards Cabernet Franc – Charlottesville, Virginia
Bodegas Paso O Paso Tempranillo – Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Mountain View Cabernet Sauvignon – Central Coast, California
Heinz Eiffel Dornfelder (Germany)

Beer:

Dogfish Head Namaste
Great Divide Colette
Lagunitas Lil’ Sumpin’ Sumpin’
Evolution Sprung
Victory Lager
Hardywood Cream Ale
21st Amendment Brew Free or Die
SweetWater 420 Extra Pale Ale
Stone Ruination IPA
Stoudt’s Double IPA
Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout
Wolaver’s Alta Gracia Coffee Porter
Scotch de Silly
Fort Collins Chocolate Stout
Crabbie’s Ginger Beer
Fox Barrel Blackberry Pear Cider

Photo courtesy Crystal City BID. Disclosure: Crystal City BID is an ARLnow.com advertiser.

Fact: Red Wine Tastes Better Than Red Roses

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This post is sponsored by Grateful Red Wine & Gift Shop (2727 Wilson Blvd)

Roses are nice, but wouldn’t your sweetheart prefer something tastier than flowers for Valentine’s Day?

Your loved one will be the talk of the office when you surprise him or her with the gifts that keep on giving — wine and chocolate!

Clarendon wine and gift store Grateful Red has an easy-to-use website where you can build your own custom wine gift basket, or select from several pre-made gift baskets that are more affordable than a dozen roses.

We will happily deliver any basket purchased between now and midnight Thursday anywhere in Virginia within 25 miles of our shop on Valentine’s Day — home, office or otherwise.

We also have great beer baskets for the beer lover in your life. Choose from several beautiful pre-made baskets or build your own custom basket on our aforementioned website — just pick a gift basket or tin and fill it up with wine, beer, cheese, chocolate and other fun accessories.

Or, if you want to indulge your guy or gal with the ultimate “Beer Mine” present, why not purchase a beers of the month membership? Beers of the Month Club memberships are available in 3-month, 6-month or 1-year subscriptions. Applications for beer club can be found here.

ARLnow readers ordering online can save 10% on any gift basket from now until the end of February by using the code ARLnow10.

Morning Notes

By Katie Pyzyk

Colorful park in Crystal City

Victim, Witnesses Testify During Krusinski Trial — The 23-year-old woman accusing the Air Force’s former sexual assault prevention chief of groping her in May testified about the incident yesterday during the first day of Lt. Col. Jeffrey Krusinski’s assault and battery trial. The woman broke down in tears while describing how Krusinski allegedly grabbed her buttocks after he spent the night drinking in Crystal City. Witnesses reported the woman repeatedly punched Krusinski following the alleged groping. One of the witnesses who testified — a transgender woman who goes by Jordain — also reported being groped and propositioned by Krusinski that night. Jordain said Krusinski appeared to be a “happy drunk” and she brushed him off. The trial is expected to last three days. [Stars and Stripes, Military Times]

County Prepares for Winter — No snowflakes have fallen yet, but Arlington County has already launched preparations for the 2013-2014 winter season. The snow removal team includes 92 drivers and 46 trucks that are equipped with plows and salt spreaders. Residents will be able to track the progress of road clearing online, including the ability to check traffic cameras at certain intersections. Residents are asked to clear snow from sidewalks within 24 hours of a storm, per the county’s Snow Removal Ordinance. [Arlington County]

1K Wine and Beer Walk on Sunday — The Washington Wine Academy is hosting its semi-annual 1K Wine and Beer Walk in Crystal City on Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 16-17). Start times will be staggered from 1:00-5:00 p.m. and participants get to sample 22 different types of wine or beer while strolling through the Shops at Crystal City. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased online. [Washington Wine Academy]

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Morning sky in Rosslyn

Terminal A Revamp Underway at DCA — A $37 million renovation project at Reagan National Airport’s Terminal A is proceeding swiftly. The project isn’t adding a significant amount of extra space to the historic terminal, but it will make the existing space seem brighter and more open. Most of the work is expected to be complete by the holiday travel season. [Washington Post]

Pupatella Makes National Pizza Rankings — Bluemont’s Pupatella Neapolitan Pizzeria (5104 Wilson Blvd) serves one of the top 40 slices of pizza in the country, according to new rankings. Pupatella’s capricciosa pizza was ranked No. 36 on the list, as judged by the Daily Meal website. [Daily Mail]

Students Receive Scholarships at NAACP Banquet — Through a partnership with the Arlington NAACP, a new scholarship fund awarded $2,500/year college scholarships to four high-performing local students over the weekend. The scholarship fund allows the NAACP to “invest in our youth,” said the head of the Arlington branch of the organization. [Sun Gazette]

Beer and Wine Walks Return to Crystal City — Crystal City’s 1K wine and beer walks will return next month. The walks — which allow participants to sample various wines and beers while walking through Crystal City’s underground shopping center — will take place on Nov. 16 and 17. [Crystal City]

County Board Adopts Public Safety Radio Resolution — The Arlington County Board adopted a resolution yesterday (Tuesday) that calls on builders to install technology that allows better police and fire department communications in new buildings. Modern construction materials have made it difficult for first responders to receive radio signals in newer buildings. The Board’s non-binding resolution calls on builders to install in-building wireless systems to better transmit public radio signals. [Arlington County]

Disclosure: Crystal City BID is an ARLnow.com advertiser

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Autumn morning in Bluemont Park (Flickr pool photo by Ddimick)

Tighter Security at Marathon — This Sunday’s Marine Corps Marathon will include tighter security than years past. Camelback-style hydration backpacks have been banned, as have Halloween masks. Runners will only be able to check items in clear plastic bags. [WJLA]

Google Maps Arlington National Cemetery — Google has used its Street View technology to map Arlington National Cemetery from the ground. Using a backpack-mounted array of 15 cameras and a hired walker, the company has gathered 360 degree images from around the hallowed grounds. [Washington Post]

Virginia ABC Wine Tasting Crackdown — Virginia ABC is cracking down on wine tasting events organized by wine distributors. Virginia law only allows winemakers or winery representatives to hold tasting events in restaurants. Among the retailers impacted by the recent enforcement effort is Cheesetique, which has locations in Shirlington and the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria. [Washington Business Journal]

Lawsuit Filed Over NSF Lease — The broker that helped arrange the National Science Foundation’s pending move from Arlington to Alexandria is suing Hoffman Family LLC, the owner of the land where the new NSF headquarters will be built.  Hoffman is only offering to pay $1 million of the $6.7 million that Jones Lang LaSalle says it’s owed. The deal is also being criticized for incentives that exempted payments to Alexandria’s affordable housing fund.  [Washington Post]

Plantations in Arlington — Writer Alison Rice takes a look back at some of Arlington’s former plantations. Among them are Abingdon Plantation, located on what’s now Reagan National Airport; Analostan Island, on what’s now Theodore Roosevelt Island; and Arlington House, the former home of Robert E. Lee. [Arlington Magazine]

Flickr pool photo by Ddimick

Events Planned for Vintage Crystal Festival

By Katie Pyzyk

Photos from Vintage Crystal: A Taste of Wine and Jazz (2011)Wine and beer aficionados will have a number events to quench their thirst for adult beverages next month thanks to the annual Vintage Crystal wine festival.

The Crystal City Business Improvement District teamed up with the Washington Wine Academy for the month-long wine and beer celebration, which kicks off with Wine in the Water Park on Friday, September 6. Wine in the Water Park runs every Friday in September from 6:00-10:00 p.m. at the Crystal City Water Park across from 1750 Crystal Drive. Visitors can take in live music while getting help with finding the perfect wine. Admission is free, and there is a $5 charge for beer and wine.

The celebration continues on Sunday, September 15 with Sip and Salsa, the Vintage Crystal signature event. Wines from Spain, Portugal and South America will take center stage, along with tapas from local restaurants. Attendees can participate in free salsa lessons and wine tasting classes. Sip and Salsa runs from 2:00-6:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 for food and wine or $10 for just food, and can be purchased online or at the event.

Pups and Pilsners will cater to the beer loving crowd on Sunday, September 22. The dog-friendly festival will have a beer garden with ten stations featuring different beers, including fall brews like Devil’s Backbone Ichabod Crandall Pumpkin and Weihenstephaner Festbier. Crystal City restaurants will be on hand to serve food during the event, which runs from 2:00-6:00 p.m at 1405 Crystal Drive. Tickets are available online for $20, and will be available at the door for $25 until they sell out. The admission covers six tasting tickets and one full beer.

Additional information about the events can be found online.

Disclosure: Crystal City BID is an ARLnow.com advertiser

New Shirlington Music Fest Starts Next Week

By ARLnow.com

Shirlala Music Festival logoThe Village at Shirlington will be hosting a new summer music festival starting next week.

The “Shirlala Music Festival” will include 10 weeks of live music from various genres, plus wine tastings from Shirlington’s Cheesetique store. The festival is an outgrowth of the former Shirlington jazz festival.

The event is free and open to the public, but the wine tasting is $5. It will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Thursday, from June 13 to August 22 (except July 4).

This year’s musical lineup includes:

  • June 13 — Jeff Carmella Band (Rock)
  • June 20 — MARS 4-tet (Jazz)
  • June 27 — King Teddy (Swing)
  • July 11 — Dan Haas Trio (Pop Rock)
  • July 18 — Lloyd Dobler Effect (80s & 90s Covers)
  • July 25 — The Shack Band (Rock & Funk)
  • August 1 — Ewabo (Steel Tropical Drums)
  • August 8 — Taylor Carson (Acoustic Rock)
  • August 15 — The Morrison Brothers (Southern Rock)
  • August 22 — Beach Bumz (Jimmy Buffett Tribute Band)
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