wine

Cafe Caturra Now Open on Glebe Road

By ARLnow.com

Cafe Caturra, a Richmond-based coffee shop/wine bar/soup-salad-and-sandwich restaurant, is now open in the Arlington Ridge Shopping Center. The 3,400 square foot eatery, which features a decor partially made from reclaimed materials, officially opened its doors to customers on Friday.

Located at 2931 S. Glebe Road, Cafe Caturra offers specialty coffees, 24 boutique wines, two draft beers, and 20 bottled beers. The restaurant is offering mimosa specials on Sunday and is planning to eventually offer a weekday happy hour, according to marketing director Melissa Kirkpatrick.

The food menu includes soups, salads, paninis, pizzas, brioche sliders, small plates, cheese, charcuterie and desserts.

The restaurant will be hosting local musicians between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. It also has a local art program that will display works from local artists. Founder Jeff Grant says he hopes Cafe Caturra becomes a neighborhood hangout.

“We’ve built a strong heritage as a gathering spot for people in the communities we serve,” he said.

Cafe Caturra opens at 11:00 a.m. seven days a week. It closes at 10:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 9:00 p.m. on Sunday.

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Photos from Sunday’s Vintage Crystal Festival

By ARLnow.com

The annual wine and food festival known as Vintage Crystal: A Taste of Wine and Jazz was held Sunday afternoon in Crystal City.

The event featured tastings of more than 30 types of Spanish and South American wines, as well as free food samples from local eateries like Jaleo, Ruth’s Chris Steak House and Kora. There was also live performances of Latin jazz, rumba, salsa, and samba music — complete with dancing.

Here are a few of our photos from the event.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

September Sunset — As warm temperatures gave way to fall-like temperatures yesterday, mother nature compensated by providing the D.C. area with an exceptionally beautiful sunset.

Gunfire on the GW Parkway — An SUV was struck by a bullet while driving on the GW Parkway near the Chain Bridge early Thursday morning. [NBC Washington]

Chain Bridge Closure — The Chain Bridge will be closed to all traffic and pedestrians this weekend, from 8:00 p.m. on Friday to 5:00 a.m. on Monday. The closure is one of a series of weekend closures planned through the end of the year. [DDOT]

Pike Outdoor Movie on Saturday — It was supposed to have taken place on Aug. 27, but thanks to Hurricane Irene the outdoor screening of The Blind Side at Penrose Square (Columbia Pike and S. Barton Street) is now being held on Saturday night. The free family-friendly flick will get underway around 8:00 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring friends, a blanket or lawn chair, and (unofficially) a jacket — since the temperature could get down to the low-to-mid 50s on Saturday night. [Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization]

Vintage Crystal Wine and Jazz Fest on Sunday — Crystal City will be holding its annual Vintage Crystal wine and jazz festival from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. The Latin-themed event will feature tastings of 30 wines and food from more than 20 local restaurants. Latin jazz group Trio Caliente and Latin dancers will perform. Tickets are $10 for food only or $20 for wine and food. [Crystal City BID]

Disclosure: Crystal City BID and CPRO are both ARLnow.com advertisers.

Flickr pool photo by BrianMKA

Morning Poll: Post-Labor Day Events

By ARLnow.com

Now that the first day of September has arrived, it’s time to start looking forward to some of the later summer and fall events that Arlington has to offer.

The first major event after Labor Day is the Rosslyn Jazz Festival on Saturday, Sept. 10. Jazz luminaries Dee Dee Bridgewater, Henry Butler and Grace Kelly will perform at the annual event, which is held in Rossslyn’s Gateway Park.

The annual Vintage Crystal wine and jazz festival is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 18. The event, held in a Crystal City parking lot, features wine tastings and food samples, as well as jazz and dance performances, all with a “Latin twist.”

Clarendon Day, another local favorite, will happen on Saturday, Sept. 24 this year. Food vendors, live music, a 10K/5K race and family activities round out the day’s excitement.

The Capital City Brewing Shirlington Oktoberfest is back this year for more Teutonic debauchery in Shirlington Village. Sample enough Märzen-style beers and you’ll forget all about the boisterous crowds and long lines. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 8.

Finally, for the political wonks, Election Day will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 8 this year. Will Barbara Favola successfully fend off a challenge from Republican Caren Merrick? Will Democrats hang on to the Virginia state Senate? Local political types will be watching closely.

Which event are you most looking forward to?


 

Crystal City Plans Wine-Filled September

By ARLnow.com

Bummed out about the approaching end of summer? Crystal City’s Business Improvement District hopes to ease the transition to cooler weather with a little vino.

Crystal City will be holding six wine events during the month of September, including its popular annual ‘Vintage Crystal’ wine and jazz festival on Sunday, Sept. 18.

The wine-filled month will start on Sept. 2, with the first of five ‘Wine in the Waterpark’ events. The Washington Wine Academy will pour $5 glasses of wine and $4 beers in the Crystal City Water Park (across from 1750 Crystal Drive) while Crystal City’s Jaleo restaurant serves up free snacks and while DJ Adrian Loving spins “mood-setting, ambient music.”

Wine in the Waterpark will take place from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. It will continue every Friday through Sept. 30, when Pacers will host a special ‘5K Friday’ race. The race will start at 6:30 p.m. and will count the night’s Wine in the Waterpark event as its official after party.

The marquee Vintage Crystal event on Sept. 18 will feature tastings of 30 different wines from Spain, Argentina and Chile. More than 20 local restaurants will be there, handing out free samples. Latin jazz group Trio Caliente will perform, as will dancers from Columbia Pike’s The Salsa Room.

Tickets to the event — which will take place from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. — are $20 and include a free wine glass.

Disclosure: Crystal City BID is advertising its September wine events on ARLnow.com.

The Curious Grape Announces New Location

By Katie Pyzyk

Fans of The Curious Grape in Shirlington no longer have to wait to find out where the wine and cheese shop will reappear.  The store has announced its new location, and it’s not moving far.

The business, previously located at 4056 Campbell Avenue, will move around the corner to 2900 South Quincy Street.

“After 10 years, it certainly would have been hard to leave Shirlington Village,” said Suzanne McGrath, CEO and president of The Curious Grape. “You can’t beat that sense of becoming part of a thriving community.”

The new store will be twice as large, and will branch out into the restaurant business with the addition of a wine bar.  Customers will be able to try wine-friendly small plates and entrees.

Construction is set to begin soon and the store should reopen late in the fall.

Coming Soon to Clarendon: Rabbit Salad and Grill

By ARLnow.com

Clarendon’s new salad-sandwich-and-cupcake concept, Rabbit Salad and Grill, now has a name and an opening date.

A web site for the new restaurant, located at 3035 Clarendon Boulevard, appeared online yesterday. A representative tells us that they’re hoping to hold a grand opening on July 28.

Rabbit will offer “quality salads, sandwiches and meals in a comfortable dining room,” along with a selection of beer and wine.” In addition, sweets will be offered thanks to an in-store Red Velvet Cupcakery counter (Rabbit and Red Velvet share the same owners).

The restaurant is now hiring cooks, dishwashers and servers.

Best Cellars Closing in Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

You only have about two more weeks to get your wine fix at Best Cellars in Clarendon.  The store will be closing mid-month.

For the past seven years, the store at 2855 Clarendon Boulevard has been frequented by customers who tout knowledgeable staff, fun wine tastings and low prices as their top reasons for shopping there.

So far, there’s no official word on why Best Cellars is closing, but we’re told employees aren’t happy about it.

The store is advertising a sale to get rid of inventory. Customers can take 25% off the price of wine, food and other various items, and 20% off of beer.

Best Cellars’ last day will be July 16.

Patrons Can Now Bring Wine to Virginia Restaurants

By ARLnow.com

Starting today, Virginia residents can bring their own bottles of wine to restaurants.

In February, the Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill allowing the practice, and it was later signed into law by Governor Bob McDonnell.  Restaurants that choose to allow BYOW can charge a corkage fee, which would vary by establishment. No requirements on minimum or maximum prices for the fees were established in the law.

While some are calling this a move that will prevent consumers from paying inflated prices on alcohol in restaurants others, like chefs, believe it could cheapen the dining experience.  Opponents of the practice say bringing wine to a restaurant is the equivalent of bringing outside food into a restaurant.

The District already allows patrons to bring their own wine to restaurants, and Maryland is expected to take up the measure sometime this year.

Cafe Caturra Coming to Arlington Ridge

By ARLnow.com

A Midlothian, Va.-based coffee shop/wine bar/soup-salad-and-sandwich restaurant is coming to the Arlington Ridge Shopping Center (2901 South Glebe Road).

Interior construction is underway on Cafe Caturra, located in a storefront once occupied by a Blockbuster video store. The store’s arrival coincides with a pedestrian-oriented renovation of the 85,000 square foot shopping center, which is anchored by a Giant supermarket.

Founded in 2005, Cafe Caturra offers specialty coffees and boutique wines to drink, as well as breakfast sandwiches, soups, salads, paninis, mini pizzas and other fresh fare to eat. The growing chain currently has five locations in Virginia and North Carolina. This will be the company’s first D.C.-area restaurant.

No word yet on an opening date.

Hat tip to John Breyault

Greenberry’s Becomes “Bean Good: The Coffee Pub”

By ARLnow.com

Say goodbye to Greenberry’s (1737 Wilson Blvd) and hello to “Bean Good.”

After about eight years in business as Greenberry’s, the new owner of the coffee shop between Rosslyn and Clarendon has decided to go “indie.” Out is the Charlottesville franchise that just won a “Best of NoVA” award in the latest issue of Northern Virginia Magazine. In is “Bean Good: The Coffee Pub,” a brand of owner Shain Noorali’s own creation.

Without the legal constraints of a franchise, says Noorali, the cafe will be able to offer more items, including locally-roasted coffee, locally-sourced food and, of course, beer and wine.

“It gives us the freedom to do things we wanted to do,” said the McLean resident, who grew up on a coffee farm in Tanzania.

Later this summer Noorali expects to introduce new desserts — gelato and cupcakes are both possibilities. Then this fall she expects the license to come through to serve beer and wine. At some point Noorali also hopes to introduce live entertainment — local musicians, mostly.

While the name has changed and new offerings are being added, Noorali — who has owned the store for a couple months now — says that the low-key vibe will remain.

“There are not going to be any drastic changes… we’re not going to change the culture of this place,” she said. “We really want this to be a place where everyone feels comfortable… a living room away from home.”

H/t to Lauren Hassel

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