February, 2012 | ARLnow.com

Battle Brewing Over Westover Beer Garden Re-Opening

Published February 24, 2012 at 4:55PM | Updated February 24, 2012 at 6:29PM

Owner Devin Hicks said he’s tried working with the county on the matter but his efforts have not been successful. Now he’s going to do what he believes Westover Market is entitled to do by law — operate a year-round patio area.

Bob Brosnan, Director of the Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, clarifies that Hicks did not receive an actual citation — as stated in a previous article — but rather a courtesy letter requesting compliance. A violation notice will likely be sent out on Monday and Westover Market will have 10 days to bring itself in compliance, or face fines, Brosnan said.

Traffic

TRAFFIC ALERT: HOV Lanes Blocked Due to Accident

By ARLnow.com

Published February 24, 2012 at 4:30PM | Updated July 12, 2017 at 1:36PM

Police, fire firefighters and paramedics are on the scene, just south of Washington Boulevard. Paramedics are said to be evaluating several injuries, but so far no serious injuries have been reported.

Southbound traffic on both the mainline and HOV lanes of I-395 is very heavy approaching the accident. One lane of HOV traffic is now slowly squeezing by the scene.

Around Town

Marine Corps Marathon Active Duty Registration Opens

By Katie Pyzyk

Published February 24, 2012 at 2:30PM

The special discount and early registration applies to all active duty and reserve service members. Military personnel from all branches of the armed forces will receive a 15 percent discount off the regular $92 entrance fee.

Military personnel have until March 6 to take advantage of the discount. Registration opens to the general public on March 7.

Around Town

Girl Scout Cookie Booth Sales Begin Today

By Katie Pyzyk

Published February 24, 2012 at 1:00PM

If you’ve been fiending for some sweets that only come around once a year, you’re in luck. Girl Scout cookie booth sales start today.

Here’s a list of some of the places you can pick up boxes of the famed cookies today:

Feature

Your Beermonger: ‘Tis the Saison

By ARLnow.com

Published February 24, 2012 at 12:00PM

Editor’s Note: This sponsored column is written by Nick Anderson, beermonger at Arrowine (4508 Lee Highway).

It’s hard to imagine here in 2012 American, but the Belgian style of beer known as Saison was near-death not 15-20 years ago. Like many other beer styles, the rise of the American craft beer scene created an interest in Saison that brought this clean, refreshing Ale back from the brink and then some. In fact, it seems difficult these days to find a brewery that isn’t making a Saison of one form or another. Let’s take a look at a style of Belgian beer that has charmed the world.

Weather

Wind Advisory Issued for Region

By ARLnow.com

Published February 24, 2012 at 11:15AM

Get ready for some breezy weather tonight. The National Weather Service is predicting 20 to 30 mph sustained winds, with gusts up to 55 mph, starting late this afternoon.

The winds carry the possibility of blowing debris and downed power lines, among other hazards. From Arlington Alerts:

Around Town

Artisphere’s Opening Night of Kahlo Exhibit

By Katie Pyzyk

Published February 24, 2012 at 10:35AM

Dignitaries from Kahlo’s native Mexico, such as Alejandra de la Paz from the Embassy of Mexico and Jefe Delegacional en Coyoacan (similar to a mayor) Raul Flores Garcia, also attended. Coyoacan is a suburb of Mexico City, and a sister city to Arlington.

The exhibit contains 259 of the artist’s personal photographs. Artisphere is the only venue in the United States to display these photographs. The free exhibit will run through March 25.

News

Drill Planned at Water Pollution Control Plant

By Katie Pyzyk

Published February 24, 2012 at 9:30AM

The Arlington County Fire Department will assist the County with conducting a safety drill at the facility from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. The activity will center around the Methanol Facility at the southwest end of the WPCP, near S. Glebe Rd. A number of fire department vehicles will be on scene and there will be audible alarms sounding.

The WPCP has spent several years going through a massive upgrade and renovation period. Most of the renovations are expected to be finished this summer.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published February 24, 2012 at 8:45AM | Updated January 16, 2018 at 2:46PM

Fetus Personhood Bill Defeated — A coalition of Democrats and Republicans helped defeat a bill that would have granted legal “personhood” status to unborn children at the moment of conception. The Virginia House of Delegates had approved the bill, but the state Senate voted yesterday to delay consideration of the bill until next year in order to allow further study. Pro-choice advocates argued the bill would have had unintended consequences, like outlawing some forms of contraception and granting expectant mothers use of HOV lanes. [Huffington Post]

Amazon to Pay Sales Tax in Virginia — Get ready to start paying a 5 percent sales tax on your Amazon.com purchases. The online retailer agreed yesterday to start collecting sales taxes in Virginia. Traditional brick and mortar retailers were pushing state legislators to force Amazon to pay sales taxes, saying that the company’s sales tax “loophole” gave them an unfair competitive advantage. [WAMU]

News

Westover Beer Garden Closed, But Will Return With Music in April

By ARLnow.com

Published February 23, 2012 at 4:50PM | Updated February 24, 2012 at 4:50PM

Arlington County requires that certain outdoor cafes, like the beer garden, be closed for three months of the year due to the seasonal nature of the business. Hicks says he wasn’t serving beer outside, but was allowing customers to bring their beers to the garden (which has a fire pit) from his indoor bar area. That, he says, earned him a ~~citation~~ warning letter from the county.

Until it reopens on April 1, the beer garden will be off-limits to customers. Hicks says he’s disappointed with the county’s strict enforcement.

Around Town

Changes To Crystal City Skyline On The Way

By ARLnow.com

Published February 23, 2012 at 2:51PM | Updated February 23, 2012 at 3:10PM

The gleaming 24-story office building, complete with a unique cantilevered roof, would replace what is now an older government office building that’s nearly vacant as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC). Under the proposal currently under initial consideration, the existing building — 1851 S. Bell Street — would be torn down and the new building would be built and relabeled 1900 Crystal Drive.

At some 730,000 square feet, we’re told that 1900 Crystal Drive would be the largest private office building in Arlington County. Developer Vornado is hoping to achieve LEED Silver or Gold environmental certification for the building.

Around Town

Photos: The Dog Days of Winter

By ARLnow.com

Published February 23, 2012 at 1:32PM

With temperatures climbing into the mid-to-upper 60s today and tomorrow, Arlingtonians are getting outside for some rare fun in the February sun.

We snapped these photos in Ballston, Clarendon and Pentagon City around lunchtime today.