Police Investigate Weekend Incident at Whitlow’s
Police are investigating an incident that happened at a popular Clarendon watering hole Friday night.
A man was knocked to the ground in a stairwell at Whitlow’s on Wilson (2854 Wilson Blvd) just before 9:00 p.m. A bar patron who saw the aftermath told ARLnow.com that the man was bleeding from his ear and from a fracture in the back of his head.
“This guy was in really bad shape,” said the tipster. “I am a former Marine and I’ve seen some nasty stuff, and this was pretty bad.”
The police report suggests that the man started arguing with a bouncer when he was told he couldn’t bring his drink outside. The bouncer then hit the man, knocking him over, according to the police report and a witness, who Tweeted a photo of the man lying on the ground. The man apparently suffered a head injury upon hitting the floor.
The injured man has not made a statement yet, police say, and at this point no charges have been filed. Police say the man is in the hospital with what appear to be non-life threatening injuries.
Photo by @joshbt
BREAKING NEWS — Bank Robbery in Courthouse
(Updated at 4:50 p.m.) Police responded to an armed robbery at the Wachovia Bank in Courthouse (2026 Wilson Boulevard) this afternoon.
Initial reports suggest that a man armed with a handgun robbed the bank around 3:30 p.m. He fled the scene and has not been located. No one was injured.
This is the third bank robbery reported in Arlington this month.
Northbound GW Parkway Shut Down Due to Accident
Both northbound lanes of the GW Parkway have been shut down near Reagan National Airport due to a three vehicle accident.
At least one minor injury has been reported.
A fire department unit at the scene says told dispatch that the accident is a “significant traffic hazard.” Airport and U.S. Park Police are responding to the call.
Meeting Tonight to Discuss Art Along Crystal City Transitway
A new bus transitway is coming to Crystal City and Potomac Yard, and planners are asking for the public’s help to decide what kind of art should be placed along the route.
To that end, a public forum will be held tonight at 6:30 at the the Aurora Hills Community Center at 735 18th Street S.
“An artist has been commissioned to create public art along the corridor,” a flyer advertising tonight’s meeting says. “Join us as we help the artist gain a greater understanding of the Crystal City and Potomac Yard communities so she can develop truly site-specific work that meets the goals of your community.”
Next week another public meeting is scheduled to discuss the transitway itself. That meeting will be held from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, June 27, also at the Aurora Hills Community Center.
The Crystal City/Potomac Yard Transit Improvements project will build dedicated bus lanes along Crystal Drive, S. Clark Street and S. Bell Street, often at the expense of on-street parking.
The transitway will eventually be expanded. There are plans for the route to extend south through Potomac Yard and down Jefferson Davis Highway to the Braddock Road Metro station. It will also be extended to the Pentagon City Metro station. The transitway will “set the stage” for a planned Crystal City/Potomac Yard streetcar, planners say.
Construction is expected to begin next year.
Tuckahoe Elementary Staff Lip Dubs ‘Party in the USA’
The relatively recent workplace tradition of the lip dub has spread to Tuckahoe Elementary.
Tuckahoe staffers produced and starred in a music video set to Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA” as an “end of the year gift” to students.
The video is intended to be “something to make [students] smile and uplift them before they go off for the summer,” in the words of one teacher.
New Pike Giant Will Offer Tastings, Prizes
The new Giant food store in the Penrose Square development on Columbia Pike is “rolling out the red carpet” for its Grand Opening on Friday.
The grocery store will be offering wine tastings, tapas samplings and prizes to customers from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday and from noon to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Prizes include free bags of Giant brand products and free groceries for a month.
The 60,000 square foot store, located at the corner of Columbia Pike and S. Adams Street, will open its doors at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, June 24.
Flyer image courtesy Jordan Higgins
Summer Movies at Westover, Shirlington Libraries
Two Arlington libraries recently announced their own weekly movie nights.
The Shirlington Branch Library will be screening family-oriented movies all summer, starting this week. At 2:00 p.m., every Friday through the end of August, the library will show a different kid-friendly flick. The selections include Tangled, How to Train Your Dragon, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, The Sword in the Stone, Cars, Shrek Forever After, Aladdin, Alice in Wonderland (1951 version) and The Tale of Despereaux.
For adults, the Westover Branch Library will be taking moviegoers on a cinematic tour of the world. The library will screen the “mid-week movies” every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., starting on July 6 and ending on August 10. The schedule includes Chariots of Fire, Motorcycle Diaries, Out of Africa, the Joy Luck Club, Under the Tuscan Sun and Enchanted April.
Westover will also be screening three family movies this summer: Princess and the Frog, Ponyo and Ratatouille. See the library blog for dates and times.
Photos from the Columbia Pike Blues Festival
The Columbia Pike Blues Festival was held on Saturday.
Featuring live music from acts like Tinsley Ellis and The Curbfeelers, plus nearly 50 market, craft and food vendors, the annual event drew a large crowd to the two-block stretch of Walter Reed Drive just north of the Pike.
Clarendon Alliance Names New Executive Director
The Clarendon Alliance has a new executive director.
Matt Hussmann is taking over the top spot at the neighborhood booster group. Hussman’s resume includes gigs with the Downtown Nanaimo Partnership Society, in British Columbia, Canada, and more recently with the Downtown DC Business Improvement District.
“I’m delighted and excited to begin work in Clarendon,” Hussman said in a statement. “This is a terrific neighborhood with a lot of attractions. It’s growing and changing, but I think it still retains its character as an urban village. The Clarendon Alliance has a long and successful tradition, and I’m proud to have the opportunity to work to make a great organization, and a great commercial district even better.”
Hussman’s first day, June 27, will coincide with the Alliance’s move to a new office on the ground floor of the Clarendon Center South building at 11th Street N.
Hussman will replace departing executive director Susan Anderson, who left for the Arlington County Treasurer’s Office.
The Clarendon Alliance was formed in 1985 to help guide the revitalization of the Clarendon area. It is partially funded by Arlington County. Additional funding comes from memberships and events.
Photo by Tom Petty
Morning Notes
Bomb Threat on DCA Flight — There were some tense moments at Reagan National Airport yesterday after a flight from Dayton, Ohio was sequestered and searched for explosives. Nothing was found, however. An individual who made a bomb threat at the Dayton airport ticket counter was taken into custody, the FBI said. [Bloomberg]
New Principals Named — Arlington Public Schools have named two new principals. Kenwyn Schaffner has been named the principal of Jamestown Elementary School and Bridget Loft has been named the principal of Swanson Middle School. “Ms. Loft was greeted by cheers and a standing ovation when she was introduced to the Swanson staff after the announcement of appointment,” an insider tells us. [Arlington Public Schools]
Rousselot Endorses Areizaga-Soto — Former Arlington County Democratic Committee Chair Peter Rousselot has endorsed Jaime Areizaga-Soto in his primary battle against Arlington County Board member Barbara Favola for state Senate. [JaimeForSenate.com]
ART Drivers File Human Rights Complaint — Striking Arlington Transit bus drivers have filed a complaint with the Arlington Human Rights Commission, claiming “ongoing sexual harassment from county contractor Forsythe Transportation.” [Washington Examiner]
Jogging With Grassley — Part-time Arlington resident Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) recently went jogging through his neighborhood with 15 young constituents who were in town for the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. [ECT.coop]
Flickr pool photo by Christaki
