The mood was somber this afternoon as people stopped by to offer their condolences. What had been the restaurant’s dining area was in the process of being boxed up or moved out.
A source tells ARLnow.com that financial problems may have been to blame for the closing.
At long last, Red Mango opened its doors for business today. Located just up the road from Whole Foods on Clarendon Boulevard, it’s the first Red Mango franchise in the DC area (a Tysons Corner location is also planned) and the only Korean-style frozen yogurt store in the Courthouse-Clarendon area.
Employees were handing out free samples outside the store this afternoon as a steady stream of new customers trickled inside. First-time franchise owners Monte and Betsy Winterhalter, who moved here from Connecticut in order to run the store, mingled with customers and provided guidance to their new hires.
“Arlington is one of the most bike-friendly communities in the United States,” Arlington County Board Chairman Jay Fisette said to kick off this morning’s Bike to Work Day event in Rosslyn. And the county’s efforts seem to be paying off: Fisette said that this was the best-attended Bike to Work Day he has ever been a part of.
Hundreds of bicyclists stopped at Bike to Work Day “pit stops” in Rosslyn, Ballston and Crystal City before pedaling to work this morning. There was no denying that there were more bikes on the road than usual, as normally car-bound or transit-hopping commuters took advantage of the nice weather and the communal experience of riding into the city en masse.
At a Bike to Work Day event at Gateway Park in Rosslyn, Fisette called the program “a great system to help us promote cycling and promote health in Arlington.”
Initially launching in Crystal City this fall, the Arlington-DC bike share system will feature 1,100 bikes that will be available for rent at docking stations located primarily around transit centers. Bike usage will cost $5 per day or $80 for a year. Fisette said the county hopes to eventually expand the system to the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor.
The widening of Interstate 66 inside the Capital Beltway is moving forward.
Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell this week hailed a $10.2 million contract that was awarded to a construction firm for spot improvements on the four-lane highway inside the Beltway.
New County Manager Michael Brown has been so busy with staff briefings and catch-up readings this week that some county officials say they’ve barely seen him outside his office.
Residents will get their first opportunity to see Brown in person on Saturday morning, when he makes his debut at the county board meeting.
There are several very good options for people who want to get out of their house or apartment and do something tonight:
As always, see our events calendar for lots more to do this weekend.
Around 12:30 this afternoon, outside the Courthouse Metro, it was a springtime scene to delight the senses.
The warmth of the sun reflecting off the sidewalk. The smell of Cubano sandwiches wafting over from the Rebel Heroes truck. The sight of smiling, sunglasses-clad people, taking in the perfect weather after an extra-dreary start to the week.
Lee Highway was shut down in the area of North Glebe Road this morning due to a pedestrian accident.
Police say a 31-year-old man and his son, a toddler, were attempting to cross Lee Highway around 9:00 when they were struck by a large vehicle, possibly a truck or a van. They were not crossing in a crosswalk, police said.
On June 5, Arlington County will hold a focus group to hear the citizen ideas for the future of the library system. And they’re giving away an iPod to boot.
The county is specifically seeking ideas for ways to improve its libraries. Officials will be asking questions like “why do you use the Library?” and “what should the ‘library of the future’ look like?”
From this week’s Arlington County Police Department crime report:
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY/EXPOSURE-ARREST 05/13/10, 3800 block of Wilson Boulevard. On May 13 at 6 pm, a man attempted to flag over a transit bus. When the bus did not stop, the suspect punched a window on the bus, breaking it. The suspect then exposed himself to the driver. Brian Lavoie, Jr, 28, of Arlington, was charged with Destruction of Property, Indecent Exposure and Drunk in Public. He was held on a $3,500 bond.
Change-of-Government Petition Issues — The Sun Gazette reports that the Arlington County registrar’s office may have a difficult time processing the thousands of signatures being gathered for the Committee for a Better Arlington’s change-of-government proposal. Officials are worried that the county may have to hire temporary workers and pay overtime in order to verify all the signatures. In a separate article, a Committee for a Better Arlington spokesperson says that the group will probably not honor any requests by petition signers who have reconsidered and now want their name removed from the list, saying it’s “not required by the law.”
Final Jeopardy for Arlington Contestant — Despite a valiant comeback and a down-to-the-wire finish, Arlington resident Liz Murphy placed second in last night’s semifinal round of the Jeopardy Tournament of Champions, which means she will not advance to the finals.
