Thanksgiving | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published November 23, 2021 at 7:30AM | Updated November 23, 2021 at 8:00AM

Construction cranes over Amazon HQ2 construction in Pentagon City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Initial Plan Filed for Americana Site — “JBG Smith has filed a conceptual site plan application with Arlington County for 1400 Richmond Highway [the Americana hotel site in Crystal City], proposing a by-right 19-story building with 650 residential units above retail. There will also be 325 parking spaces across two below-grade parking levels.” [UrbanTurf]

Apartment Fire in Ballston — A fire broke out in the kitchen of a fourth floor apartment at the View at Liberty Center building in Ballston yesterday evening. The fire was extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system, but water damage was reported in the apartments and ground floor retail space below. The incident prompted a large fire department response and closed lanes on Wilson Blvd and N. Randolph Street. [Twitter]

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 22, 2021 at 7:30AM

Shirlington Village on Thanksgiving Eve in 2019 (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

ACPD Thanksgiving Anti-DUI Event — “On Thanksgiving-eve, traditionally a time of celebrations with heavy alcohol consumption, ACPD, in partnership with WRAP, is hosting a Thanksgiving anti-drunk driving event to highlight the impact alcohol has on motor skills. This free event is open to the public and will take place on Wednesday, November 24, at N. Hudson Street and Wilson Boulevard, from 8:00-10:00 p.m.” [ACPD, Twitter]

Shirlington Apartment Employee Slashed — “An employee of the residential building discovered that the laundry room had been locked and upon opening it, discovered the unknown male suspect inside. The suspect produced a knife and struck the victim’s hand, causing a laceration. The suspect then fled the scene on foot. Arriving officers canvased the area with negative results. The victim was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.” [ACPD]

Around Town

Local Christmas tree sales kick off next week, despite shortage

By Matt Blitz

Published November 17, 2021 at 9:00AM | Updated November 17, 2021 at 7:03PM

A local Christmas tree lot (Photo courtesy of Peter Golkin)

(Updated at 6:30 p.m.) With cold weather here, holiday music returning, and Thanksgiving a week away, it’s time for many to pick out that perfect Christmas tree.

Arlington has several Christmas tree sales, though that number seems to have diminished in 2021 compared to recent years. Unsurprisingly the pandemic is playing a role, but another cause is a reported tree shortage.

News

Another Case Record in Arlington, Amid Pre-Thanksgiving Barrage of Testing

By ARLnow.com

Published November 25, 2020 at 9:45AM

More than 1,000 coronavirus tests were performed in Arlington on at least four days over the past week.

The surge in testing may be attributable to returning college students, traveling relatives and others seeking a virus-free Thanksgiving gathering. It has pushed the county’s seven-day testing average up to 928 daily tests and the test positivity rate down to 6.3%, from 7.6% just four days ago.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 25, 2020 at 7:30AM | Updated November 25, 2020 at 8:36AM

Thanksgiving County Closures — “Arlington County Government offices, courts, libraries & facilities will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 26 & Friday, Nov. 27 for Thanksgiving. Courts will close Wednesday Nov. 26 at noon… Metered Parking: Not enforced on Thurs. Nov. 26 or Fri., Nov. 27.” [Arlington County]

Development Plan for Silver Diner Site — “The Donohoe Cos. is targeting Clarendon’s Silver Diner for a major redevelopment. The company has yet to file specific plans with Arlington County for the triangular parcel at 3200 Wilson Blvd., a block from the Clarendon Metro station, but it has outlined a mixed-use vision for the newly dubbed ‘Bingham Center’ on a project page on its website. Specifically, the developer envisions 286 apartments, a 224-room hotel, 15,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, a public park and ‘a new public street designed with the principals of a woonerf (a curbless pedestrian-friendly street).'” [Washington Business Journal]

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 24, 2020 at 6:00AM

Arlingtonian to Join Administration — “President-elect Joe Biden said Monday he will nominate Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who served as the top U.S. diplomat overseeing African affairs in the Obama administration, to be his ambassador to the United Nations.” Thomas-Greenfield is a long-time Arlington resident. [USA Today]

Arlington’s Average Income Falls — “The county’s weekly wage averaged $1,926 in the second quarter of 2020, according to figures reported Nov. 18 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s up slightly more than 12 percent from the rate recorded a year before, but down from the $2,018 reported for the first quarter of 2020, which had placed Arlington in the rare company of just a handful of localities with incomes that high.” [InsideNova]

News

NEW: Coronavirus Cases in Arlington Continue to Soar, a Week Prior to Thanksgiving

By ARLnow.com

Published November 20, 2020 at 10:30AM | Updated November 20, 2020 at 10:47AM

For the fifth day in a row, Arlington has hit a new high point for coronavirus infections.

The Virginia Dept. of Health reported 59 new COVID-19 cases in the county overnight, bringing the seven-day trailing total to 412, or an average of 59 cases per day. That’s 10 times the level of infection at the end of June, at a local lull in the pandemic.

Have Your Thanksgiving Feast Delivered to Your Door From RSVP Catering

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Published November 17, 2020 at 4:45PM

With the holidays right around the corner, we’re feeling a glimmer of excitement — but we’re also very, very tired.

It’s been quite the year, so if you’re not in the mood to prepare a whole Thanksgiving feast this year, we get it. Also, with many families cancelling travel plans and get-togethers due to COVID, is it really worth spending an entire day in the kitchen for just a few people?

Events

Cranksgiving Charity Bike Event Returning to Arlington

By James Cullum

Published November 17, 2020 at 10:55AM

Cranksgiving 2019, in the pre-COVID times (courtesy photo)

The second annual Cranksgiving charity bike ride returns to Arlington this Saturday (Nov. 21), and this year the choose-your-own adventure experience includes COVID-19 safety rules.

“Cranksgiving is a way to have a lot of fun on a bike while also helping others during the holiday season,” said event organizer Sarah Billington. “COVID-19 has caused dramatically increased demand for food assistance, and we’re trying to engage people who ride bikes to help contribute to fulfilling that need.”

Opinion

Morning Poll: Thanksgiving Plans Amid the Pandemic

By ARLnow.com

Published November 5, 2020 at 9:30AM | Updated November 5, 2020 at 9:52AM

(Updated at 9:50 a.m.) Thanksgiving is only three weeks away, and with coronavirus on the rise in much of the country, plans for the holiday are in flux.

The usual gatherings of family and friends are now subject to a calculation: is a big turkey dinner worth the risk of contracting a potentially deadly or debilitating disease?

News

Police: Man Exposed Himself to Rideshare Driver on Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Published December 3, 2019 at 10:20AM

Police car at night (file photo courtesy Kevin Wolf)

An irate man exposed himself to a rideshare driver after being dropped off at his destination along Columbia Pike early Thanksgiving morning.

The incident happened just before 3 a.m. on the 1900 block of Columbia Pike, near the Columbia Crossing Apartments.