Around Town

Several people have emailed us and asked about the Shell station at 2835 Washington Boulevard in Lyon Park. Fences have been erected around the station and heavy equipment brought in to dig up the concrete around the pumps. That has led some to fear that another area gas station might have fallen victim to development.

Fear not, the station is merely upgrading.


Events

If there was ever a day to skip out of work after lunch, this is it. Between the nice weather, the start of the NCAA basketball tournament and — of course — the fact that it’s St. Patrick’s Day, this is not a day that should be spent cooped up in an office filing TPS reports.

Here are a few places you can go to wear the green, watch the game or otherwise have a good time.


News

How did a slightly overweight 18-year-old manage to steal an elderly woman’s purse in or around the Rosslyn Metro station during the evening rush hour on a Wednesday — and apparently get away with it? The brazen crime was reported in this week’s Arlington County crime report.

ROBBERY 03/09/11, 1700 block of N. Moore Street. On March 9 at 5:30 pm, an unknown man stole a purse from an elderly woman with a walker. The suspect is described as an African American male around 18 years old, 6′ and 200 lbs. with a round face. He was wearing a red and black flannel shirt and dark pants. A teenage African American female was also seen with the suspect.


Around Town

Borrowing the last four letters of Artisphere, HERE is the new name of the cultural center’s cafe. HERE will feature a “seasonal menu of comfort food with Latin flavors made from locally-sourced and fresh ingredients.”

In addition to being a restaurant, HERE will be a full bar, a nightclub and a catering service. It’s owned by Barroso, Inc., the same group that runs Guajillo on Wilson Boulevard in Rosslyn and Casa Oaxaca in Northwest D.C.


News

Spring Cleaning For Bikes — Forecasts suggest we’re in for two very nice days to end the work week. It’s going to be warm enough that many seasonal cyclists may be thinking about dusting off their bike for a spin. Local cycling advocate Mark Blacknell has advice for getting your bike into proper riding condition after a winter in storage. [Patch]

Gas Company Urges Residents to Report Leaks — A public forum about gas leaks didn’t attract a large crowd, but it did feature officials from Washington Gas who asked residents to report leaks as soon as they smell them. [Sun Gazette]