Another Sign of Spring: Birds Flying North
We spotted this big flock of birds flying north, in formation, over Arlington and the District. It’s a sure sign that spring is just around the corner.
The official start of spring, by the way, is March 20. And don’t forget to set the clocks forward an hour this weekend. Daylight Savings Time starts in the wee hours of this coming Sunday, March 14.
P. Brennan’s Won’t Be Open for St. Paddy’s Day
Hope that P. Brennan’s would open in time for a big St. Patrick’s Day celebration has been squashed. The owners of the new Irish pub on Columbia Pike were trying to wrap up construction and get the proper permits in time for the holiday, but we’re now told that it will instead remain closed.
In its place, however, P. Brennan’s sister pub, McGinty’s, will be hosting a St. Patrick’s Day “extravaganza” featuring a live radio broadcast, a band flown in from Ireland, dancers, specials and giveaways. McGinty’s, located in the Market Square at Potomac Yard development near Crystal City, says it hopes to be “the greenest spot in the county.”
More details on the festivities at McGinty’s and 15 other bars can be found in our St. Patrick’s Day Guide.
Bike Legend Gary Fisher Leading Ride in Crystal City Tonight
The first customer of Revolution Cycles City Hub, a brand new bike rental store in Crystal City, was no less than Gary Fisher himself. The legendary bike maker is in town this week for the National Bike Summit.
“At first we didn’t believe it,” said Revolution Cycles marketing manager Chris Huller. “We couldn’t ask for a better person to kick this off.”
Fisher, who rented a Trek bike with a polka dot saddlebag, told the staff he’d return tonight to lead a “tweet ride,” a group ride promoted on Twitter.
The ride will leave the City Hub store at 220 20th Street South, near the McCormick and Schmick’s, around 7:00 tonight, Huller said. The destination has not yet been set, but it’s likely to head into the District, possibly ending up at a bar.
City Hub, meanwhile, will have its “semi-official” opening tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. The store will rent bikes for $5 per hour or $35 per day.
City Hub will only rent bikes; it will not sell bikes. Huller says the store’s concept of “a bikeless bike shop” is new for the industry.
Pitbull on the Loose
Update: The situation has been safely resolved.
An “angry” and “aggressive” pitbull is on the loose in the Nauck section of Arlington, near Drew Model Elementary School. Police are on the scene and animal control is en route.
Beam Me Up, Crystal City
Crystal City’s Crystal Screen series is returning this summer with a theme that all generations of sci-fi fans will surely cheer. Every Monday night, starting on June 7, Crystal City will screen a different Star Trek movie.
The series will start with 1979′s original Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and will conclude on August 16 with last year’s Star Trek, J. J. Abrams’ well-received, contemporary take on the franchise.
Like last year, the big screen will be set up at 18th and Bell Street, across from the Crystal City Metro Station. Crystal City BID has more information.
DEVELOPING – Flasher Strikes on Again W&OD Trail
A man exposed himself to a jogger on a section of the W&OD trail near Ashlawn Elementary School Sunday morning. Arlington police are investigating whether this incident is related to a series of five indecent exposures that occurred in January.
In this latest incident, a woman was running on the trail around 9:15 a.m. when a man exposed himself, according to police. The man was wear a ski mask over his face at the time. He’s described as a white male, between 5’8″ and 5’10″ with a slim build.
Police are asking anyone with any information about the case to call Detective Comer at (703) 228-4243 or Detective Austin at (703) 228-4241.
