Around Town

We asked an AI to write some Arlington fanfiction. Here’s what it came up with.

By ARLnow.com
AI-generated digital art of the Arlington skyline on a dreary, misty winter day (via DALL-E 2)

Last week we asked the recently updated AI writing tool GPT-3 to weigh in on the proposed Rosslyn-to-Georgetown gondola. After that seemed to receive a positive reception, this week we’re branching out further into some Arlington fanfiction.

The following do not quite reach the creative heights of the Jane Barcroft novels of the mid-aughts, but if you’ve followed some of the comment section’s favorite topics over the years these short stories and poems might provide some dreary-December-day amusement.

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Here’s what an AI had to say about the Rosslyn-to-Georgetown gondola proposal

By ARLnow.com
AI-generated image of a gondola over the Potomac near Rosslyn (via DALL-E 2)

(Updated at 10:35 a.m.) The proposal to build a Rosslyn-to-Georgetown gondola remains just a gleam in the eye of aerial lift transport fans and Georgetown business owners.

But it has captured the imagination of Arlington residents to a degree few issues have.

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Santa and his fire engine will roll through parts of Arlington near Falls Church ahead of Christmas

By Jo DeVoe
The Falls Church fire department SantaMobile (courtesy photo)

Just before Christmas, Santa Claus and his helpers are coming to town, on a fire engine instead of an eight reindeer-powered sleigh.

From Dec. 20-23, Saint Nick and his elves will visit Arlingtonians who live near the Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department station, located near Fairfax Drive and Langston Blvd at 6950 Little Falls Road. He will be riding a decked-out reserve fire engine, dubbed the “Santamobile” and decorated by the department.

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Wagamama in Clarendon does not look like it will be opening this year

By Matt Blitz
Oz signage remains up on the new home of Wagamama in Clarendon (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 10:20 p.m.) It does not appear that the Asian-inspired restaurant Wagamama will be opening in Clarendon this year.

Back in March, the London-based chain with more than 200 locations in 27 countries announced it was set to move into Oz’s former home at 2950 Clarendon Blvd by the summer. It was a move that elicited excitement from many, considering Wagamama’s popularity overseas.

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Top dogs of DCA grace pages of TSA’s 2023 Canine Calendar

By Jo DeVoe
Explosives detection canine Messi works Reagan National Airport and is featured in TSA’s 2023 calendar (via TSA)

Two dogs with the ruff job of sniffing out danger at Reagan National Airport are in the limelight.

Ava and Messi — the pair of pooches prowling DCA for smelly signs of explosives — are among the dozen good boys and girls featured in a free, downloadable 2023 monthly calendar from the Transportation Security Administration. It features dashing photos of these daring dogs accompanied by facts about them.

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