Airey | ARLnow

Section of Custis Trail Near Bon Air Park to Close for a Year

Published September 12, 2019 at 2:30PM | Updated September 12, 2019 at 3:23PM

(Updated at 3:15 p.m.) A portion of the Custis Trail in Arlington will be soon detoured for the next year as crews continue to work on the widening of Interstate 66.

Starting Monday, September 16, trail riders and walkers will not be able to follow the Custis under I-66 where the trail now passes near Bon Air Park until fall 2020, per the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Instead, the department will detour people over the highway via an existing pedestrian bridge about 750 feet from the underpass.

News

EXCLUSIVE: You May Be Able to Take Your Drink to Go Near HQ2

By Airey

Published September 11, 2019 at 3:35PM | Updated September 12, 2019 at 9:38AM

Rendering of retail building at 18th Street S. and Crystal Drive in JBG Smith's plans for a Crystal Center (Image via Arlington County)

Developer JBG Smith may be planning to let people sip alcohol as they browse shops and sit outdoors in shopping areas near Amazon’s future headquarters in Pentagon City and Crystal City.

State records with the Virginia Alcohol Beverage Authority Control Authority indicate that the developer applied for a “Commercial Lifestyle Center” license this week. The special license is part of a 2018 law allowing shoppers to bring alcoholic beverages into shops or outdoor plazas to encourage consumers to stay longer and attend outdoor events.

Around Town

New Gunston Park Field Open this Saturday with Games, Food

By Airey

Published September 11, 2019 at 9:00AM

New baseball diamond in Gunston Park (Image via Arlington County)

The new baseball diamond in Gunston Park will open this weekend with a game and food-filled celebration.

Officials from the Department of Parks and Recreation will open the sports field at 1401 28th Street S. this Saturday, September 14 at 11 a.m. and are inviting families to attend the free event.

Around Town

Opening Nears for New Harris Teeter Store on the Pike

By Airey

Published September 10, 2019 at 1:15PM

Harris Teeter on Columbia Pike at the time of opening in 2019 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The new Harris Teeter along Columbia Pike appears to be one step closer to opening.

State records indicate that the grocery store replacing the Food Star market at the corner of the Pike and S. George Mason Drive applied for a Virginia ABC permit to sell wine and beer last week, and a Harris Teeter spokeswoman said it’s expected to open soon.

Traffic

Apple Maps is Still Not Recognizing Richmond Highway in Arlington

By Airey

Published September 10, 2019 at 9:05AM

Route 1 may have a new name, but users of Apple Maps still need to enter the old name lest they be led astray.

Arlington County placed new “Richmond Highway” signs along Route 1 in Crystal City last week. During a ceremony marking the occasion, Arlington County Board Chair Christian Dorsey and Del. Mark Levine stomped on the old signs honoring Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

News

Arlington Paralympian Wins Gold, Silver Medals in Parapan American Games

By Airey

Published September 9, 2019 at 5:30PM

Paralympian Alyssa Gialamas poses for a portrait on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019 in Arlington. (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington resident Alyssa Gialamas brought back two medals and a new record from the Parapan American Games in Lima.

The two-time Paralympian athlete won a Gold medal for the 50 meter backstroke as well as a Silver medal for the 200 meter freestyle. Gialamas said she began the multi-event Games with her best race, the backstroke, and finished the with another strong race, the 200 meter freestyle.

News

Local Lawyer Suing to Strip Racial Checklist from Va. Marriage Licenses

By Airey

Published September 9, 2019 at 4:30PM | Updated September 9, 2019 at 4:49PM

Attorney Victor Glasberg poses for a portrait on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019 in Alexandria. (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

One local attorney and a handful of couples are hoping a lawsuit will force the state of Virginia to remove the vestiges of a Jim Crow law from marriage licenses.

Attorney Victor Glasberg filed a lawsuit in federal court Friday to remove a requirement that all couples seeking to get married in the state list their race on the license. The long-time civil rights attorney argued in the filing that the mandatory question subjects people to the relics of slavery forbidden by the Thirteenth Amendment, and the right to due process enshrined by the Fourteenth Amendment.

News

Report: 374,000 New Homes Needed to Alleviate Housing Shortfalls

By Airey

Published September 6, 2019 at 3:30PM | Updated September 11, 2019 at 10:04AM

(Updated on 9/11/19) The D.C. area needs 374,000 new homes in the region to keep up with population growth and prevent a Bay Area-like increase in housing prices, according to a new report.

Local leaders will vote on a resolution expanding their housing goals at the next Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) meeting in D.C. on Wednesday, September 11. The vote comes after the Urban Institute’s 130-page report on the region’s housing needs, which predicts 220,000 families could be at risk of displacement if the goals are not met.

News

First ‘Richmond Highway’ Signs Now Up Along Route 1 in Crystal City

By Airey

Published September 5, 2019 at 10:45AM | Updated September 5, 2019 at 12:05PM

Crews began the process of replacing signs along Route 1 today (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 11 a.m.) County crews replaced the first “Jefferson Davis Highway” sign this morning as officials work to complete Route 1’s renaming to “Richmond Highway” in Arlington.

Arlington County Board Chair Christian Dorsey and Del. Mark Levine stomped on the sign honoring Confederate President Jefferson Davis, folding it up as crews placed the first new “Richmond” signs in Crystal City this morning at the 23rd Street S. intersection.

News

New Reality TV Show Films Scene at Lyon Park’s Texas Jack’s BBQ

By Airey

Published September 5, 2019 at 9:45AM

Texas Jack's BBQ in Lyon Park

Lyon Park barbecue joint Texas Jack’s may be featured in a new reality TV show.

A crew of a new reality show about D.C. area young professionals visited the restaurant’s private dining room last month to film a conversation between one cast member and his father.

News

One More Page Passes Fundraising Goal, Pays Bills

By Airey

Published September 4, 2019 at 3:30PM

One More Page Books owner Eileen McGervey poses for a portrait on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019 in Arlington. (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Local bookstore One More Page (2200 N. Westmoreland Street) will be able to pay the bills after all, thanks to its auction last month.

“We received donations of wine, window washing service, and many other items,” said owner Eileen McGervey, of the items the store auctioned off. “It was really quite overwhelming.”

News

New Flight Logs, Photos Show Former Local Congressional Candidate with Epstein and Prince Andrew

By Airey

Published September 3, 2019 at 3:45PM | Updated December 18, 2019 at 2:18PM

Gwendolyn Beck

Arlington’s one-time Congressional candidate Gwendolyn Beck reportedly flew on notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s private jets, and was photographed partying with him and Prince Andrew.

Two British newspapers reported on the revelations last week, focusing on the prince’s association but also mentioning Beck. The 2014 independent candidate for Virginia’s 8th Congressional district told ARLnow today that her name is being “dragged into this” despite not doing anything wrong.