UPDATED: Serious Motorcycle Accident on I-395
The HOV lanes of I-395 have been shut down near the Glebe Road exit due to a serious accident involving a motorcycle.
Initial reports indicate the accident happened when a vehicle ran into a motorcycle. The motorcyclist is being treated for critical injuries and will be transported to a local trauma center via ambulance, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.
All HOV traffic is being diverted onto the main southbound lanes of I-395. Southbound backups extend to the 14th Street Bridge.
Update at 2:45 p.m. on 6/5/12 — An update, per Sternbeck: “The driver was charged on scene by Virginia State Police with Reckless Driving and violation of HOV-3. As for the condition of the motorcyclist, he suffered significant injuries but is expected to survive.”
New Stores Opening at Pentagon City Mall
A number of new stores have opened or are planning to open soon at The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City.
A Bose store is now on the mall’s Metro level (ground floor). According to a mall press release, the location is a Bose “Personal Audio Store,” described as “the newest concept retail store featuring select products for the on-the-go customer who wants Bose to be a part of their active lifestyles.”
The Limited has moved into a new storefront in the mall. “The newly enlarged store will continue to offer the exclusive array of The Limited brand clothing and accessories and will introduce eloquii, their new line of full-figure fashion for plus sized women,” the press release says.
Coach is launching its first “dual concept” side-by-side men’s and women’s store in the nation. Set to open in “early June” on the mall’s second level, the expanded store will “feature a full line of Coach, America’s preeminent designer brand for both men and women.”
Tumi is scheduled to open a new showcase store on the mall’s second level. The travel and business accessory maker hopes to open on June 14.
Chioptle is set to open in the food court at some point during “the week of June 14.” The Mexican restaurant will be located next to a Taco Bell restaurant.
Finally, a Microsoft Store is expected to open at some point later this year. A rep says the store will be “opening soon” — but declined to elaborate. Microsoft currently has 20 retail stores in the United States.
“These incredibly successful retailers enhance the powerful and exciting offerings at The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City,” mall marketing director Todd Jerscheid said in a statement. “We’re extremely pleased to welcome their brands and unique fashion forward designs to our center.”
Cooling Assistance Program Available During the Summer
As the warm weather ramps up, Virginia’s Cooling Assistance Program is starting to accept applications from local residents.
The program, which is administered by Arlington County, helps residents in need with the cost of cooling their homes for the summer. Funding can assist with acquiring or repairing cooling equipment, and with paying utility bills.
To be eligible for assistance, a household must have a person with a disability, a person aged 60 or older, or a child under the age of six. Eligibility is also based on income and the number of people residing in a household.
Every year, the state determines what the maximum payment will be to each family participating in the program. Some years it’s around $100 for the summer, and last year it was $600. The applicant is responsible for any costs in excess of the limit. The state has not yet announced this year’s maximum payment.
Applications are currently being accepted, but can’t be processed until June 15. The last date applications and utility bills will be accepted is August 15. For more information contact Kay West at 703-228-1490 or Ive Ruiz at 703-228-1488.
Library’s New Online Collection Features Old Postcards
The Arlington Public Library has launched a new online collection featuring vintage postcards from one-time Arlington landmarks and historic moments.
The library’s Virginia Room put together the collection of 55 postcards from its holdings and from donated materials. The postcards feature historic images from around Arlington, including Orville Wright’s plane flying over Ft. Myer, a ticket counter at Washington National Airport and Gunston Junior High School.
Some of the postcards, like the one above featuring the Red Barn Restaurant in 1970, appear to be promotional mailings highlighting businesses and their specials. This one boasts two complete chicken dinners for just $1.29.
Others, like the 1917 Ft. Myer postcard below, have personal messages written on the back. This one reads: “Glad ‘sis’ came over with you. Know she enjoyed the trip.” Note there’s not even a modern address, but simply the recipient’s name and town.
Historic postcards courtesy of Arlington Public Library’s Virginia Room
Air Force Cycling Classic to Roll into Arlington
(Updated at 1:55 p.m.) Thousands of spectators will line the streets of Arlington this weekend, as bicyclists roll through for The Air Force Cycling Classic.
This Saturday, June 9, the event kicks off with the Clarendon Cup, near the Clarendon Metro. There will be a number of races throughout the day for men and women of various abilities. There will also be a children’s event. On Sunday, June 10, the action moves to Crystal Drive in Crystal City.
Registration can be found online, and the schedule is as follows:
Saturday, June 9
- 8:00 a.m. — Men’s Masters Amateur Race
- 8:55 a.m. — Men’s Elite Amateur Race
- 9:55 a.m. — Women’s Elite Race:
- 11:35 a.m. — Kids’ Race
- 12:00 p.m. – Men’s Pro Race
Sunday, June 10
- 7:30 a.m. — Crystal Ride
- 11:15 a.m. — Kids’ Race
- 11:30 a.m. — Men’s Pro Race
- 1:25 p.m. — Women’s Elite Race
- 2:30 p.m. — Men’s Elite Amateur Race (Category 3 racing license)
- 3:25 p.m. — Men’s Elite Amateur Race (Category 4 racing license)
A number of roads will be closed for the races, and the Arlington County Police will be helping to direct traffic. Parking may be restricted in the affected areas, so residents should look for temporary “No Parking” signs. Illegally parked vehicles may be ticketed or towed. The closures are below:
Saturday, June 9, from 4:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
- Wilson Blvd from N. Fillmore Street to Washington Blvd
- Clarendon Blvd from Washington Blvd to N. Fillmore Street
- Washington Blvd from Wilson Blvd to N. Highland Street
- Highland Street from Wilson Blvd to Washington Blvd
- Garfield Street and Fillmore Street from Wilson Blvd to Washington Blvd
- Joyce Street from Army Navy Drive to Columbia Pike
- Columbia Pike from Oak Street to Pentagon South Parking (access to Pentagon, Eads and Fern Street)
- South Gate Road, no access to Columbia Pike
- Eastbound Washington Blvd at I-395
- Westbound Washington Blvd from Memorial Bridge
- Boundary Channel Drive
- Crystal Drive from 23rd Street to Army Navy Drive- no vehicle traffic permitted northbound or southbound on Crystal Drive Access (will be granted to Clark Street from 12th Street)
- 15th Street and Jefferson Davis Highway – no traffic permitted east of Jefferson Davis Highway. All traffic that comes east of Eads Street must use Route 1.
- 18th and Clark Street – no vehicle traffic permitted eastbound towards Crystal Drive unless parking. All traffic will be detoured southbound on Bell Street.
- 20th and Jefferson Davis Highway – no traffic permitted from Jefferson Davis Highway to 20th Street or to the access road that parallels Jefferson Davis Highway to the east.
- 23rd and Jefferson Davis Highway – All traffic coming from or across Jefferson Davis Highway will be sent south on Clark Street. The normal lanes of traffic on 23rd Street coming from Crystal Drive will be used for the race route. Traffic coming from Crystal Drive on 23rd Street will be using the eastbound lanes.
- Southbound Route 110 ramp to northbound I-395 will be closed until noon.
- Southbound Route 110 from Rosslyn to S. 15th Street will be closed until noon.
Disclosure: Crystal City BID is an ARLnow.com advertiser
Viewing Events on Tuesday for Rare Solar Occurrence
A rare solar event is taking place on Tuesday, June 5. The Transit of Venus will be visible throughout Arlington around the time of the evening rush hour tomorrow.
During the event, Venus passes between Earth and the sun, making the planet look like a dark dot on the sun. It’s one of the rarest predictable astronomical phenomena. The passing should last for about six hours, but will be visible at different times around the world. According to the Transit of Venus website, Arlington residents should be able to see the transit starting at 6:04 p.m.
Friends of Arlington’s Planetarium will hold a viewing at the top of the Kettler Iceplex (627 N. Glebe Road, #800), starting at 5:45 p.m. Displays, telescopes and safety glasses for viewing the transit will be available at the free event.
The National Science Foundation is also sponsoring a free Transit of Venus event. A lecture by Dr. Larry Marschall, Professor of Physics at Gettysburg College, will take place from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in the National Science Foundation (4201 Wilson Blvd) atrium. He will use pictures, movies and stories to describe the significance of the event. There will also be a telescope set up outside the north entrance to observe the transit, around 6:15 p.m.
If you want to watch the transit but can’t make it to one of the viewing events, be sure to take measures to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays. The Transit of Venus website lists some safe ways to view the passing, and specifically says looking at the sun through common sunglasses is not safe enough. Slooh, an online space camera, will also provide a live feed of the event that is safe to watch, starting at 6:00 p.m.
This will likely be your only chance to see the Transit of Venus, because the next one doesn’t happen until December 2117. The last one occurred on June 8, 2004. The events take place in a paired pattern, with transits eight years apart, then more than 100 years apart.
Photo via Wikipedia
O’Sullivan’s to Expand into Sam’s Corner Space
O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub (3207 Washington Blvd) in Clarendon has signed a new lease that will allow it to expand into two adjacent storefronts.
O’Sullivan’s will soon take over the next-door Fragrance World and Sam’s Corner storefronts, owner Anselm Griffiths tells ARLnow.com. Fragrance World will move to a new storefront on N. Irving Street while Sam’s Corner, a deli, will close permanently, Griffiths said.
Griffiths hopes to start construction on the expansion in July. O’Sullivan’s is expected to remain open during most of the construction, which Griffiths hopes will wrap up around mid-September. When it’s all said and done, O’Sullivan’s will expand from about 1,800 square feet to 3,350 square feet. In addition to making more room for concert and happy hour crowds, the new space will allow O’Sullivan’s to focus a bit more on its dining business, Griffiths said.
The popular but often cramped pub first opened as Molly Malone’s in 2004, before Griffiths became an owner and changed the name in 2006. A second O’Sullivan’s location opened in Herndon about two years ago.
O’Sullivan’s and other storefronts along Washington Boulevard and N. Irving Street are not part of the Waverly at Clarendon Station apartment project behind it and will remain open even after the development gets underway, Griffiths said.
Morning Notes
Bike Meeting to Discuss Bollards — The Arlington County Bicycle Advisory Committee will discuss bollard installations and removals at its meeting tonight, June 4. The meeting is being held at 2100 Clarendon Blvd at 7:00 p.m. Bollards are posts put at the entrance to a trail to keep cars out; some believe they are a safety hazard to cyclists. [CommuterPage Blog]
A-Frame Sign Rules Enforced — Even though A-frame (sandwich board) signs are now allowed in Arlington, county zoning officials are beginning to enforce the the rules related to A-frame sign placement and size. [Arlington Mercury]
Froyo Store Coming to the Pike – Menchies Frozen Yogurt has signed a lease for a store at Penrose Square, along the 2500 block of Columbia Pike. The self-serve frozen yogurt chain currently has 185 locations worldwide. [CityBiz Real Estate]
Flickr pool photo by Divaknevil
