Local Sport Stacker Wins World Title, TV Appearance
The 11-year-old Arlington kid who won a sport stacking championship in Colorado in March has racked up a new title.
William Polly, of Penrose, has been named World Sport Stacking Champion for the second year in a row. That’s according to The Wauneta Breeze, a local newspaper in the Nebraska town where Polly’s grandparents live.
Not only did Polly capture the coveted Individual All-Around honors at the tournament — with a combined time of 9.34 seconds in the 3-3-3, 3-6-3 and cycle sequences – but he’s also getting another TV appearance out of it.
Tomorrow, Polly is scheduled to appear on Live! With Kelly, where he’ll challenge host Kelly Ripa to a timed cup stacking competition. It won’t be the first time Polly has appeared on national television; last year he showed off his skills on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
This year’s World Sport Stacking Association tournament was held in Butzbach, Germany. Despite the fact that there are active stacking competitors in 19 countries, this was the first time the international, invite-only competition has been held outside the United States. Polly was one of 250 participants.
DelMarVa’s Southern Cafe Coming to Crystal City
Some comfort food is coming to Crystal City. DelMarVa’s Southern Cafe and Taphouse is apparently moving in at 2450 Crystal Drive, according to its website.
The restaurant touts itself as serving comfort foods traditional to the Delmarva Peninsula. Some menu items include the “Chesapeake Chicken” sandwich, which is topped with crab dip, and the “Eastern Shore” fried egg sandwich. The drink menu features wines and beers crafted in the Delmarva area.
The website says the restaurant, which will offer a casual atmosphere, hopes to be open this fall. A location in Baltimore is scheduled to open sometime this spring.
Eventide Rooftop Barbecues Begin on Sunday
Eventide Restaurant (3165 Wilson Blvd) is kicking off the summer grilling season this weekend by beginning its annual rooftop barbecues.
The barbecues will take place on the first Sunday of each month throughout the summer.
On the menu are items like grilled bratwurst, barbecue chicken and angus burgers. The bar team will be featuring summer beers, bourbon and specialty cocktails.
The events run from 4:00-8:00 p.m., and are $30 per person for all-you-can-eat food and samplings of bourbon. Children under 10 will eat free when they accompany a paying adult.
Anyone with questions can call Eventide at 703-276-3165.
Vietnamese Restaurant Coming Soon to Shirlington
A new French-Vietnamese style restaurant called Lotus Grill and Noodles is coming to Shirlington.
The restaurant, which currently under construction in a 2,100 square foot space next to Extra Virgin restaurant, will feature Vietnamese specialties like phở, crispy spring rolls, grilled pork rolls, and other lunch and dinner items.
Building permits for the 40-seat restaurant were issued in March. A liquor license application indicates the restaurant will serve beer and wine.
Photo by Kham Tran via Wikipedia
Then and Now: The Hicks Store on Lee Highway
The photo on the left is of the Hicks Store on Lee Highway at N. Culpeper Street, taken in 1960. The store was in an area known as Hall’s Hill — now often called High View Park — which became a predominantly black community when freed slaves settled there shortly after the Civil War. Many family run stores owned by black residents opened in the area during the early 1900s. Hicks store was one of several businesses owned by the Hicks family.
Near the store, the Hicks cemetery is where family members were buried, until the land was condemned in 1959, to accommodate for the widening of Lee Highway west of Glebe Road. The remains were moved to a cemetery in Herndon.
The photo on the right is how the corner of Lee Highway at N. Culpeper Street looks today. A Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant now sits on the site.
Historic photo courtesy Arlington Public Library’s Virginia Room
Event Gives a Peek Inside Planned ‘NOVA Fashion Week’
After a surprise cancellation last October, it looks like Northern Virginia Fashion Week is trying to make a comeback.
The event was cancelled just weeks before it was supposed to kick off at Clarendon Ballroom last fall. Now there’s word that Artisphere is holding an event tomorrow in anticipation of NOVA Fashion Week returning this October.
“Behind the Scenes of NOVA Fashion Week” will let the audience see the preparations that go into pulling off a fashion show. There will be live hair and makeup stylings, as well as a demonstration of how a runway is created.
Attendees can also hear live music, participate in a fashion and technology discussion panel, get a makeover or participate in a photo shoot.
An Artisphere spokeswoman confirmed that space has, in fact, been rented for the event, which runs from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online.
Details for NOVA Fashion Week in October haven’t yet been released. Its website homepage says more is “coming soon.”
ACPD Members Awarded for Fighting Crimes Against the Elderly
Two members of the Arlington County Police Department were recognized for their investigative prowess at a luncheon hosted by Arlington County Crime Solvers yesterday. Officer James O’Daniel and Detective Christine Everest both received the Detective of the Year Award for their efforts to end fraud and scams targeting the elderly.
One police official said the pair’s efforts were part of the department’s “War on Woodchucks” — a reference to the name sometimes given to scam artists who prey on senior citizens by performing unnecessary yard work and charging exorbitant amounts of money for it. Some of the offenders repeatedly target the same victims, or inform other scam artists of who to target. It’s not unusual for some of the victims to lose tens of thousands of dollars during interactions with woodchucks.
Even after being asked about winning the award, Everest turned the attention back to helping the elderly. She encouraged people to watch out for their neighbors and to call the police if they notice something suspicious. She added that there’s still a long road ahead in the fight to end these kinds of crimes in Arlington, and she’d like to see tougher laws put in place to bring the scam artists to justice.
“We’re both appreciative that the focus of today was on crimes against the elderly,” Everest said. ”It’s out there and it’s unfortunate, and these are not small amounts that we’re talking about. You can have one individual who can have upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars being taken from them from scams. A lot of times these individuals come in contract with a dozen or more people who are scamming them for this money.”
“As a sidenote, I guess we’re getting a little bit of a tribute ourselves,” Everest added. “We were not expecting anything like this. The recognition is overwhelming.”
Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck explained that in addition to their usual work, Everest and O’Daniel created informational brochures to help people identify if they’d been victimized, and to let victims know where to go for help.
“It’s important to note that both of these individuals didn’t just do the minimal amount required. They went above and beyond their typical day-to-day work on the streets,” said Sternbeck. “From the chief level down, we’re very proud to have them represent us.”
Some of Everest’s notable contributions include displaying compassion and establishing a rapport with victims, researching suspects and conducting surveillance in areas known for being targeted.
One of O’Daniel’s major accomplishments was performing traffic stops after observing questionable solicitation practices by known scam artists, which led to additional violations such as identity theft. He also exhibited proactive enforcement by speaking with residents who were having repair or yard work done.
The luncheon, which raised money that will support Arlington County Crime Solvers, was attended by a number of local officials and lawmakers, including County Board member Walter Tejada, Police Chief Douglas Scott, Commonwealth’s Attorney Theo Stamos, Del. Bob Brink, Del. Patrick Hope, Del. Alfonso Lopez and state Sen. Adam Ebbin. Lopez said this year’s awards will help highlight the problem of scams against the elderly, which often don’t receive as much attention as better-publicized crimes like robberies and burglaries.
“The two people who won the award today are doing critical work to try to protect elderly [residents] who are being scammed by folks coming to their houses,” Lopez said. ”This is a scam that’s happening far too often, and it’s hurting the elderly and immigrant populations more than others.
Lopez added that Everest and O’Daniel’s effectiveness in investigating such crimes is “a testament to how good our community policing efforts are in Arlington.”
Morning Notes
Arlington, Alexandria Compete for Federal Funds — Alexandria’s planned transit corridor along Route 1 is competing with Arlington’s proposed Columbia Pike streetcar for a limited pool of federal transporation funds. Meanwhile, Alexandria officials are still upset that Arlington declined to help pay for a study that could have helped Alexandria obtain federal funding for the Route 1 transit project, which the two jurisdictions have been otherwise cooperating on. [Connection Newspapers]
Democratic School Board Slate Set — Incumbent Emma Violand-Sanchez and political newcomer Noah Simon have received the Democratic endorsement for Arlington County School Board, all but guaranteeing their election in November. [Sun Gazette]
Condo Building Sells Out in Weeks — A new condo building at 1221 N. Quinn Street, in the Radnor/Fort Myer Heights neighborhood, sold out of all 13 units in just a matter of weeks this past winter. [CityBiz List]
