Ethan Rothstein | ARLnow

Andrew Schneider to Run for County Board

Published February 13, 2015 at 2:00PM | Updated February 13, 2015 at 2:34PM

Schneider, 40, will vie for one of the two open seats on next year’s Board after members Mary Hynes and Walter Tejada retire. The Democrat will be on the ballot for the party’s primary on June 9.

“I’m excited to talk to Arlingtonians from all corners of the county to hear their ideas, frustrations and potential solutions. I believe in one Arlington, one community,” Schneider said in statement announcing his candidacy. “Our county is at its best when we’re having real dialogue with friends and neighbors about how to move our community forward together.”

Feature

Open Houses in Arlington This Weekend

By Ethan Rothstein

Published February 13, 2015 at 12:45PM

This weekend is supposed to be a mix of wintry precipitation and brutal cold. If you’re brave enough to venture out into the weather, there will be plenty of open houses to warm up in.

See our real estate section for a full listing of open houses. Here are a few highlights:

Around Town

Arlington Community Radio Station to Launch This Year

By Ethan Rothstein

Published February 13, 2015 at 11:15AM | Updated February 18, 2015 at 3:54PM

Arlington Independent Media‘s low-power FM station was approved by the Federal Communications Commission for 96.7 on the dial, with call letters WERA-LPFM. As part of their FCC approval, the radio station must be broadcast-ready by Dec. 9, according to AIM Executive Director Paul LeValley.

When the radio station does launch — and LeValley has no doubt they will be ready to air by the deadline — it will be a platform for anyone interested in broadcasting to get real, on-air experience.

Events

Drafthouse Offering ‘Princess Bride,’ Wine Tasting for Valentine’s Day

By Ethan Rothstein

Published February 12, 2015 at 4:30PM

The theater, at 2903 Columbia Pike, is hosting three showings of the 1980s classic film, “The Princess Bride,” at 4:00, 7:00 and 10:00 p.m. Before the 7:00 p.m. show — currently listed as sold out on the Drafthouse’s website — there will be an optional wine tasting and standup comedy performance.

There will also be standup comedy performed before the final showing of the day, at 10:20 p.m.

Around Town

Cherry Blow Dry Bar, Pure Barre Open in Clarendon

By Ethan Rothstein

Published February 12, 2015 at 11:00AM

Cherry Blow Dry Bar at 1041 N. Highland Street

Two new businesses in Clarendon have opened their doors, in the new retail space on the ground floor of 3001 Washington Blvd.

Cherry Blow Dry Bar, which offers blow outs and extensions for women’s hair, opened on Jan. 30 at 1041 N. Highland Street, next door to the even-more-recently opened Citizen Burger Bar. Salon owner Jennifer Weiss said last week they offered a $15 blow out special and were booked solid all week.

News

Bill to Allow County Board to Hire Auditor Passes House

By Ethan Rothstein

Published February 11, 2015 at 5:00PM | Updated January 16, 2018 at 2:32PM

Del. Patrick Hope is chief patron of HB 2308, which allows counties with the county manager form of government — namely, Arlington — to hire an auditor with the power to “make performance reviews of operations of county agencies or county-funded programs.” The auditor would ensure money is being spent wisely and evaluate the effectiveness of those agencies and programs.

The bill passed the House of Delegates unanimously yesterday.

Around Town

Peet’s Coffee Coming to Clarendon

By Ethan Rothstein

Published February 11, 2015 at 3:45PM | Updated February 13, 2015 at 7:51AM

(Updated on 2/13/15) Clarendon residents will soon have another option to get their caffeine fix.

A Peet’s Coffee & Tea appears on its way, with signs up in the windows of the building at the corner of N. Highland Street and Washington Blvd. The store is expected to open this spring, but “our exact date is still to be confirmed,” according to a company spokeswoman.

News

Photos: Demolition Begins on ‘The Blue Goose’

By Ethan Rothstein

Published February 11, 2015 at 1:15PM | Updated February 11, 2015 at 6:26PM

Debris surrounds the north side of the Blue Goose building

(Updated at 6:25 p.m.) The distinctive “Blue Goose” building on the corner of Fairfax Drive and N. Glebe Road in Ballston is starting to be torn down.

The building, built in the 1960s, will be replaced by a nine-story office building and 15-story residential building. The redevelopment is a partnership between Shooshan Company and Marymount University. Shooshan has a ground lease for the land and is developing the new buildings, while MU owns the land and will occupy six of the nine floors of the new office building, with plans to fill the other three over time.

News

Sexual Assault Bill Sponsored by Favola, Ebbin Passes Senate

By Ethan Rothstein

Published February 11, 2015 at 11:05AM | Updated January 16, 2018 at 2:33PM

Sens. Barbara Favola (D) and Adam Ebbin (D) are co-patrons of SB 1329, which would require colleges to establish memorandums of understanding with “a local sexual assault crisis center or other victim support service,” refer victims to the center and encourage them to preserve physical evidence for a police investigation.

“This legislation represents a positive step in protecting our young people and making college campuses safer,” Favola said in a press release. “SB 1329 strengthens support systems for sexual assault survivors and empowers these survivors to pursue charges against their assailants.”

News

Historic Homes Built for Blacks Displaced by Pentagon May be Demolished

By Ethan Rothstein

Published February 10, 2015 at 5:10PM | Updated February 12, 2015 at 5:12PM

(Updated at 5:25 p.m.) The last remaining homes built for African-Americans displaced by the construction of the Pentagon could soon be history.

The George Washington Carver Homes on S. Rolfe Street are in the process of being sold to a developer that plans on replacing them with 50 townhouses, including 23 duplexes. The Arlington County Board is expected to decide the proposal’s fate at its meeting later this month.

Around Town

Flat Rate, Bottomless Food and Drink Cafe Coming to Rosslyn?

By Ethan Rothstein

Published February 10, 2015 at 3:15PM | Updated February 10, 2015 at 5:11PM

A rendering of the possible interior of The Third Place (photo via Facebook)

(Updated at 3:25 p.m.) Would you pay $25-30 for a day of unlimited coffee and snacks in a place that offers video games, board games, poker, foosball and the occasional standup comic or musician?

A husband and wife team are banking that the answer is “yes.” Vitaliy Hayda and Kseniia Shnyreva, immigrants from Ukraine and Russia, respectively, are planning on starting a new type of coffee shop, called The Third Place, in Arlington.

Around Town

Flower Delivery Startups Preparing for Valentine’s Day

By Ethan Rothstein

Published February 10, 2015 at 11:00AM

According to the National Retail Federation, 37.8 percent of Americans will buy flowers for Valentine’s Day this year, spending $2.1 billion.

Crystal City-based Bloompop launched in September 2013, and it’s currently gearing up for its second Valentine’s Day this Saturday. The company offers $10 delivery of flower bouquets from $50 to $150 from local florists. To become a Bloompop partner, a florist must have four- or five-star reviews on a combination of online review websites.