October 9, 2012 | ARLnow.com

Published October 9, 2012 at 4:15PM | Updated October 9, 2012 at 5:21PM

Today the group No Labels, a “grassroots movement of Democrats, Republicans and independents dedicated to the politics of problem solving,” announced that Moran has earned its “official Problem-Solvers Seal of Approval.” No Labels co-founder and former Bush advisor Mark McKinnon said Moran “emphasize[s] working together and solving problems, not scoring political points.”

“Throughout his career in Congress, Moran has shown a continued willingness to work across the aisle and find common ground with members of the opposite party on important issues,” McKinnon said in a press release (below, after the jump). “His attitude is what Congress needs more of.”

News

‘Sultana Grill’ to Replace Castro’s Bakery in Bluemont

By ARLnow.com

Published October 9, 2012 at 3:00PM

Sultana Grill will replace the former Castro’s Bakery location, which closed earlier this year, at 5515 Wilson Blvd. The new restaurant’s owners tell ARLnow.com that it will serve Mediterranean/Lebanese cuisine like kebabs, crepes, couscous, and baba ghanoush.

The owners are hoping to open the restaurant as soon as this coming Saturday (Oct. 13). As of Friday afternoon, work was still in progress on the interior of the eatery.

Around Town

Bardo Rodeo to Return… in D.C.

By ARLnow.com

Published October 9, 2012 at 2:15PM

Last year we reported that co-owner Andrew Stewart had been raising money for a possible new Clarendon location for Dremo’s. That fell through, and almost exactly one year ago Stewart told Urban Turf that he was looking to open a “huge bar in DC with an in-house brewery.” Today, several news outlets are reporting that Stewart and his brother, Bill, will indeed be opening a Bardo Rodeo location at 1200 Bladensburg Road in Northeast D.C.

The Washington Post reports that Bardo will brew its own beer, using brewing equipment mothballed after the Arlington location ceased brewing operations.

Around Town

County to Hold Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for New Bus

By ARLnow.com

Published October 9, 2012 at 12:30PM

The disability-accessible, 41 seat bus was purchased by the county for use with DPR’s 55+ travel program, which conducts more than a dozen day trips per month for senior citizens who reside in Arlington. (October and November destinations include a tour of Philadelphia, a trip to the Graves Mountain Apple Harvest Festival in Syria, Va., and an outing to Hokkaido Seafood Buffet in Falls Church.)

The senior travel program has seen an uptick in demand over the past few years, the Sun Gazette reported this summer.

Around Town

New Italian Restaurant Coming to Ballston

By ARLnow.com

Published October 9, 2012 at 11:00AM

A new Italian restaurant is coming to Ballston early next year.

Il Forno Restaurant is coming to the ground floor of the Virginia Tech Research Center building at 900 N. Glebe Road, near the Greene Turtle. The restaurant will have 124 seats and a pizza oven that’s being imported from Italy, according to owner Charles Nejat, a sales manager at the nearby Arlington Mercedes-Benz dealership.

News

Minor Gas Explosion at Whitlow’s

By ARLnow.com

Published October 9, 2012 at 10:00AM

The incident happened around 6:00 p.m. A repair person was working on a stove at the restaurant when some gas that had built up in the stove ignited, according to Arlington County Fire Department spokesman Capt. Gregg Karl.

The repair person was injured by broken glass, Karl said. The injuries were non-life-threatening.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published October 9, 2012 at 9:00AM | Updated October 9, 2012 at 9:48AM

Greens Vote ‘No’ on Park Bond — The Arlington Green Party has joined the Arlington County Republican Committee in opposing the $50.5 million park bond that’s on the Nov. 6 ballot. The bond would largely help fund a new Long Bridge Park aquatics center. The Greens said the aquatics center is “wasteful” and a “vanity project.” The Greens stayed neutral on the $42.6 million school bond, with some members criticizing the plan to build two new elementary schools because it is “too costly and eliminates green space and recreation fields.” [Arlington Mercury]

APS Enrollment on the Rise — Enrollment at Arlington Public Schools is up 3.7 percent versus one year ago. The growth — mostly at the elementary school level and mostly in North Arlington — is in line with school administrators’ projections. There are now 22,657 pre-K to 12th grade students enrolled at Arlington’s public schools. [Sun Gazette]