This past weekend was spring forward for time. This week as been spring open for cherry blossoms.
Thanks to warm and sunny weather, tree blossoms have been opening at a rapid clip, and that includes those on Arlington’s cherry blossom trees.
Blossom seekers can enjoy the bloom by visiting some of the local sites with cherry tree clusters, including:
- Cherrydale Baptist Church (3910 Lorcom Lane)
- Arlington National Cemetery (1 Memorial Ave)
- Long Bridge Park in Crystal City (475 Long Bridge Drive)
- Quincy Park in Virginia Square (1021 N. Quincy Street)
- Welburn Square in Ballston (901 N. Taylor Street)
Arlington has a few events and activities planned coinciding with blossom season, including a pop-up market with local vendors at Metropolitan Park in Pentagon City and live music at the Crystal City Water Park.
The more famous Tidal Basin cherry blossoms in D.C., meanwhile, have reached the final stage before peak bloom. The National Park Service made the announcement this morning.
Here are some more pictures of the blossoms in stage 5: puffy white. Learn more about the blossom cycle & plan your visit at https://t.co/h04Gu0ksc1
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸/🌸#Cherryblossom #BloomWatch #WashingtonDC pic.twitter.com/phjKOaZXYF— National Mall NPS (@NationalMallNPS) March 15, 2024
Italian restaurant Carbonara is nearing an opening in Virginia Square.
Interior work on the new eatery at 3865 Wilson Blvd could be seen in progress over the past few weeks, with tiling and some decor already installed.
Originally hoping for a mid-2023 opening, Carbonara is “nearing the finishing line and should open within the next couple of months,” a spokesperson told ARLnow in late January. Social media accounts for the restaurant tout a “February 2024” opening.
With the tagline “Old School Italian & Wine Bar,” Carbonara will offer classic Italian dishes and a “carefully curated” wine list. It’s being opened by a notable figure in the local restaurant scene: Chef Mike Cordero.
Cordero also owns and operates Bronson Bier Hall, Barley Mac, Big Tony’s Pizza, Don Tito, and Taco Rock in Arlington, as well as other Northern Virginia establishments like Don Taco in Alexandria.
Update on 3/18/24: The restaurant opened today — Monday, March 18. More, below, from a press release.
A 25-year-old man was arrested near Clarendon over the weekend and charged with stealing money from the tip jar at two local businesses.
The suspect also threatened an employee during the early Saturday incident, according to Arlington County police.
More, below, from an ACPD crime report.
ROBBERY, 2024-02100055, 3300 block of Wilson Boulevard. At approximately 2:32 a.m. on February 10, police were dispatched to the report of disorderly conduct. Upon arrival, it was determined the male suspect allegedly entered a business and stole money from a tip jar. An employee confronted the suspect during which he made threatening statements and subsequently exited. The suspect then entered another nearby business and stole money from the tip jar before leaving the scene. Responding officers located the suspect in the area and took him into custody. [The suspect], 25, of No Fixed Address, was arrested and charged with Robbery and Petit Larceny. He was held without bond.
Also in the crime report, an Arlington man was arrested this weekend after police say he jumped in front of a car while holding a boxcutter in the Courthouse area, then injured an officer who responded to the scene.
From ACPD:
ASSAULT ON POLICE, 2024-02100013, 2000 block of Clarendon Boulevard. At approximately 12:34 a.m. on February 10, police were dispatched to the report of a suspicious person. The reporting party stated the male suspect jumped in front of their vehicle and began yelling while holding what appeared to be a boxcutter. The reporting party was able to leave the scene in their vehicle. Â Responding officers located the suspect in the area and took him into custody. The suspect was allegedly noncompliant, resisted officers and assaulted an officer, causing minor injuries. The suspect was evaluated and released on scene by medics for minor injuries sustained prior to police arrival. During a search of his person incident to arrest, a boxcutter was recovered. [The suspect], 37, of Arlington, Va. was arrested and charged with Assault on Police, Carrying a Concealed Weapon, Obstruction of Justice and Public Intoxication. He was held without bond.
Monday’s crime report also included a trio of weekend robberies, in Pentagon City, Ballston and Crystal City.
ROBBERY, 2024-02100172, 1000 block of S. Hayes Street. At approximately 1:07 p.m. on February 10, police were dispatched to the report of an armed robbery. Upon arrival, it was determined the male suspect and another male subject entered the business and the suspect allegedly concealed merchandise and attempted to exit the store without payment during which he was confronted by loss prevention personnel. The suspect then brandished a knife and left the store on foot with the male subject. Loss prevention personnel called police and a lookout was broadcast. No injuries were reported. Responding officers canvassed the area, located the male suspect and took him into custody. [The suspect], 34, of Washington D.C. was arrested and charged with Robbery. He was held without bond. The male subject was located in the area, detained and determined to be wanted by the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office. [The subject], 33, of Suitland, Md. was arrested and charged with Probation Violation (x2).
ROBBERY, 2024-02110114, 700 block of N. Glebe Road. At approximately 12:07 p.m. on February 11, police were dispatched to the report of a larceny just occurred. Upon arrival, it was determined the male suspect allegedly entered the business and concealed merchandise during which loss prevention personnel confronted him. The suspect then made threatening statements towards them and exited the store without payment. Loss prevention called police and a lookout was broadcast. Responding officers canvassed the area, located the suspect in the Ballston Metro and took him into custody. The stolen merchandise was recovered. Identifying information for the adult male suspect was unable to be located during the preliminary investigation. He was arrested and charged with Robbery.
ROBBERY, 2024-02100027, 300 block of 23rd Street S. At approximately 1:12 a.m. on February 10, police were dispatched to the report of an assault in progress. The preliminary investigation indicates the male victim exited a business and was standing on the sidewalk when three unknown male suspects approached and began assaulting him. The suspects then stole the victim’s wallet, cash, glasses and cell phone before fleeing the scene on foot. The victim’s wallet was later recovered. The victim was transported to an area hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries. A male witness, who is known to the victim, attempted to intervene during the assault, during which the witness suffered minor injuries but did not require transport to the hospital. The suspects are described as Black males wearing dark clothing. The investigation is ongoing.
A D.C.-area pizza shop known for its pepperoni cups and specialty slices appears to be opening in Virginia Square.
Andy’s Pizza will replace the now-closed Ballston Place Gourmet, a local deli operated by the Chang family since 2004. It sold everything from wine and local beer to breakfast platters, Korean bibimbap, condiments and microwave popcorn.
A commercial electric permit posted on the window of the former deli at 901 N. Pollard Street was issued on Jan. 12. The storefront is largely vacant with the exception of some bare equipment and furnishings.
Neither the permit holder nor the property owner have responded to requests for comment, but a Virginia filing for “Andys Pizza Pollard St LLC,” filed last July, is consistent with LLC filings for other Andy’s Pizza locations in Virginia.
The forthcoming pizzeria joins eight existing Andy’s Pizza locations: five in D.C., one in Maryland, and two in Virginia — at Tysons Galleria and in Old Town Alexandria.
It is unclear when Ballston Place Gourmet shuttered but it could have been upwards of one year ago, per a social media post.
Hat tip to several tipsters
There is a new twist in the stand-off between Arlington County and neighbors over bus parking on a county site in North Arlington.
Arlington County recently dropped litigation against three neighbors and the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association, who tried to use the Board of Zoning Appeals process to block the county from parking 29 Arlington Transit (ART) buses on a county lot near Washington-Liberty High School.
The parking is a temporary arrangement while a new ART bus facility is built in Green Valley. The Arlington County Board allowed this when it approved a special exception use permit in the spring of 2022.
Nearly two years ago, the county zoning administrator determined the Dept. of Environmental Services could park the buses on the site — a requisite step for obtaining a use permit. One resident appealed the decision but a county staff member rejected it. A week later, the county sued him, his wife, a third resident and the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association, alleging he used the BZA process improperly to block the parking use.
The defendants say the county sued them preemptively and that the bus activity would seriously undercut their property values and quality of life.
“This could and should become a case study in how not to run a county government and then considering your role you and not considering your unique role as owners of the site and how your actions may affect neighbors,” said Maurya Meiers during public comment on Saturday, when the Arlington County Board reviewed the special exception permit for the site.
A BZA appeal had been filed on Meiers’ behalf two years ago and she is named in the lawsuit, per meeting materials and court documents.
Some residents came to the defense of their neighbors and their legal plight.
“It’s a SLAPP [Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation] suit: a use of superior resources to haul citizens into court wear them down and demoralize them, perhaps even beggar them lest they become too vociferous and their concerns about pollution, noise and other avoidable nuisances, such as those which this permit enables,” said neighbor Thomas Viles. “So far your lawsuit has accomplished nothing expensive as it was it proved insufficient to shut these voters up.”
Indeed, Arlington County says it dropped its suit because the BZA is now set to hear the appeal case built by neighbors who live in homes overlooking the parking lot. The hearing will determine whether the county zoning administrator acted properly or if her decision runs afoul of zoning ordinances, a site plan and a 1985 deed of covenant.
Viles says the BZA agreed to take up the appeal after hearing about the suit in ARLnow.
“When they did learn, however, the BZA repudiated [county government] for having kept them in the dark,” he said.
This fracas is obliquely referenced in a resolution the BZA passed last September, directing the zoning administrator to avoid this situation again by sharing all appeals with members regardless of their merit.
“The BZA has never authorized any person to decline to accept an appeal on the BZA’s behalf,” the resolution says. “County staff did not consult the entire membership of the BZA before declining to accept any appeals of a zoning administrator determination, nor did County staff inform the BZA of its communications and actions in regards to any appeals filed between March 7, 2022 and the date of the adoption of this resolution.”
A woman was sexually assaulted Monday night on a train near the Virginia Square station, according to Metro.
“At approximately 10 p.m. [Monday], Metro Transit Police responded to a report of a sexual assault aboard a train near Virginia Square Station,” a Metro spokesman tells ARLnow. “An adult female victim was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. A male suspect was stopped by MTPD officers at Metro Center Station a short time later.”
The incident was first reported online by local public safety watchdog Dave Statter.
New: @ArlingtonVaPD are with an injured woman at the Virginia Square Metro Station. Preliminary information is that she was struck and robbed by a man while on a train two or three stops west of that station. The woman says the man had a knife and attempted to sexually assault…
— Dave Statter (@STATter911) January 9, 2024
The suspect was identified by Metro as 18-year-old Saiquan Jackson of Northeast D.C. He’s expected to be charged with attempted rape and strangulation, the spokesman said last night.
A man of the same age, name and quadrant was reported missing by D.C. police last month. The report noted that he “may be in need of medication.” He was also reported missing as a teenager in 2018.
The Staples store in Virginia Square is closing next month.
A sign posted on the entrance to the office supply store at 3804 Wilson Blvd says the location is closing on Feb. 23.
“We’re still here for you,” the sign says, listing locations in Bailey’s Crossroads, Falls Church and Alexandria.
It will not be long before a new business moves in. The replacement for Staples is a franchise location of the national Spanish immersion, STEM-focused preschool and daycare called Tierra Encantada.
Franchise co-owner Mustafa Durrani says he is still in the permit review phase but construction could start sometime in April. He anticipates the work will take four months and the school could open one month after that.
“It depends on the permitting process, really,” he told ARLnow. “Once that happens, our construction team is ready, everything is ready, and we’re excited for the Arlington location.”
Once open, the preschool would operate Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and serve up to 150 children. One highlight of the preschool, for Durrani, is the organic food it will serve to students.
“I believe we’re one of the only schools in the area offering organic food,” he said.
Durrani has already opened a Tierra Encantada franchise location in Alexandria. He is working to open one in Falls Church around the same time that the Arlington location opens.
The Arlington County Board approved a use permit for Tierra Encantada this July. A county report at the time noted nearby civic associations had concerns about traffic and noise.
Durrani said traffic engineers were enlisted to help come to traffic solutions, while a fence will be built to reduce noise.
“As far as traffic is concerned, we’re going to have a lot more parking than currently exists,” he said. “We’re also going to have off-site parking where we’ll be leasing from a local garage, so that should alleviate some of the things.”
The Unleashed by Petco store near Ballston is closing this month.
The smaller-format chain pet store — which also offered pet vaccinations, dog training and a self-serve washing station — has been in business at 3902 Wilson Blvd for just over 10 years.
It plans to close on Saturday, Jan. 20, and is offering discounts of 10-60% as part of a store closing sale.
ARLnow reported on a “for lease” sign outside of the single-story, 4,666 square foot commercial building early last year.
Unleashed opened in the space in September 2013, replacing the quirky, homegrown burger-and-hot-dog restaurant Wiinky’s.
A leasing flyer noted that the building was last renovated in 2013, when Petco moved in, and that it has 19 parking spaces.
The last remaining Unleashed store in Arlington is located at 5400 Langston Blvd. It opened in 2011. A previous Pentagon City location closed in 2021.
While store employees were not sure what would be replacing Petco, permits filed in September show that it will be an Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care clinic. Planned interior construction work to the circa-1925 building includes new rooms, walls, ceiling soffits, restrooms, lighting and relocated stairs.
An Inova spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment by publication time. The healthcare system is in the midst of a major expansion that will see new hospitals in Springfield and Alexandria, as well as a sizable healthcare facility near Potomac Yard.
Jo DeVoe contributed to this report
The outer structure of George Mason University’s $235 million expansion project in Arlington is complete.
The university celebrated the “topping out” milestone last Friday with tours of the under-construction FUSE at Mason Square structure on its Virginia Square campus.
During the event, students and faculty showcased the types of work the new, tech-oriented facility will house, including the development of robotic limbs and disaster simulation research.
The university broke ground on the 345,000-square-foot building at 3351 Fairfax Drive in January 2022. Previously, the site was home to the old Kann’s Department store, which was demolished in March 2021.
Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. The new facility is expected to serve 750 students initially and up to 2,000 students within the next five years, according to a GMU spokesperson. It will dedicate 60% of its space to university programs and lease the remaining area for retail and private office use.
The building will house GMU’s Institute for Digital Innovation and the newly minted School of Computing, which will offer courses in artificial intelligence, data analytics and cybersecurity.
The Arlington campus is already a hub for several of GMU’s schools, spanning policy, law, conflict resolution and business.
The university’s president, Gregory Washington, told ARLnow that housing technology and social science disciplines under one roof will improve how society adopts new technologies, such as artificial intelligence.
“Engineers alone can’t do it. You need humanists. You need social scientists, and you need business people. We got all of them here working together on the next generation of problems,” he said. “That’s the difference you will see here that you don’t see many other places,”
Washington is also betting on the new facility in Arlington attracting talent that might otherwise choose bigger-name research institutions, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“If you go to MIT, what you’ll find is that the facility we’re building is… better than 95% of the facilities they have,” he said.
During the event, Arlington Economic Development Director Ryan Touhill highlighted the potential for the new facility to energize the local tech sector, which has grown rapidly in recent years, particularly with the arrival of major tech companies like Amazon.
“This project can’t be coming online at a better time,” he said. “We’re really focused in Arlington County and regionally on growing our homegrown tech sector. And that’s part of our long-term economic growth strategy.”
A new deli and coffee shop has opened in Virginia Square and it is hoping that Arlington mid-century nostalgia will bring in customers.
Super Garden Market has opened at 3444 Fairfax Drive, in the former Coffee Beanery location that closed earlier this year.
The new name references the original Super Garden Market and Deli — which operated in the same location for 47 years, before closing over three decades ago. Although the new coffee shop shares the same name as its predecessor, Asefaw Redai Sultan, the shop’s owner, clarified there’s “no relation” between the two.
“We are renewing the name,” Sultan said. “Everyone remembers the older name… we hope they’ll come back.”
Unlike the original grocery store and deli, Super Garden Market sells breakfast sandwiches, salads, smoothies, pastries and coffee.
Eventually, Sultan plans to expand the menu to include lunch items and is waiting for the state to greenlight a liquor license to sell beer and wine.
Sultan, a resident of Arlington for two decades, acquired Coffee Beanery from a friend he said was eager to leave the coffee industry. He filed for a new business license with the state this past June, according to the State Corporation Commission website.
Sultan says he began refurbishing the space in July. Super Garden Market held its grand opening this past Sunday.
If you’re a fan of art and tacos, today is your lucky day.
This afternoon (Thursday), from 3-7 p.m., local art galleries in the Ballston and Virginia Square neighborhoods will open their doors for the annual Arlington Art Walk.
Meanwhile, Rosslyn Business Improvement District is staging “Rosslyn’s first-ever Taco Crawl” from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Here is how to participate in each event today.
Arlington Art Walk
The art walk, sponsored by Arlington Economic Development, is free to everyone and features 12 local galleries and artists throughout the Ballston and Virginia Square neighborhoods between N. Glebe Road and Washington Blvd.
“The ‘Arlington Art Walk’ is a self-guided art experience that connects local galleries, artist studios and cultural events,” Arlington Economic Development says on its website. “During the walk, gallery hours for participating organizations will be extended so that our friends, neighbors and artists may come see what we’re up to.”
The walk kicks off at Mason Exhibitions, located at 3601 Fairfax Drive, next to Quincy Park. Art aficionados can pop into nearly a dozen participating venues and see outdoor, permanent installations from Arlington Public Art along the way.
Exhibits are on display at the following places:
- Arlington Independent Media
- ARC 3409 Art Studios
- Arlington Art Truck
- Arlington Public Library Maker’s Studio ‘The Shop”
- Cody Gallery
- Fred Schnider Gallery
- Mason Exhibitions Arlington
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Northside Social Arlington
- WHINO
Rosslyn Taco Crawl
If the art walk leaves you hungry, the Rosslyn BID and DC Fray are hosting a guided taco tour in Rosslyn to celebrate National Taco Day, which the U.S. celebrated yesterday.
Tickets for the Taco Crawl are $15 and come with tacos at every stop.
Check-in takes place at Central Place Plaza, which will also feature live music and games to enhance the walking experience.
Photo (top) via Mason Exhibitions/Facebook