Around Town | ARLnow.com

Rosslyn Coffee Shop Garnering Rave Reviews

Published February 27, 2014 at 9:55AM | Updated February 27, 2014 at 12:41PM

Clark Donat at Caffe Aficionado (file photo)

(Updated at 12:40 p.m.) Adiam Berhane can be seen almost every day at her independent coffee shop at 1919 N. Lynn Street in Rosslyn buzzing about, bussing tables, serving drinks and carrying on conversations with customers like she’s hosting a large Sunday dinner.

Berhane opened Caffe Aficionado with her partner, Clark Donat, in October, and ever since it has been drawing something rare in this age of online criticism — almost universally positive reviews. It has a full five-star rating on Yelp after 26 reviews, rare for even the most well-regarded restaurants. Local food critic Don Rockwell was glowing in his review as well.

Bill Cosby to Attend Ben’s Grand Opening in Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com

Published February 26, 2014 at 12:05PM | Updated February 26, 2014 at 12:31PM

A grand opening celebration is scheduled for the new location, at 1725 Wilson Blvd, at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 6. Cosby is “100 percent confirmed” for the event, the Rosslyn Business Improvement District was told today by the restaurant’s owners.

Cosby is arguably the biggest celebrity fan of the landmark U Street eatery, and counts the owners, the Ali family, as friends. The comedian is expected to give a few remarks with the family before the store’s opening.

E-Cigarette Store Brings ‘Vaping’ to Arlington

By Ethan Rothstein

Published February 25, 2014 at 3:30PM | Updated February 25, 2014 at 11:35PM

My Vapez owner Jonathan Elias

In the lower level of the Garden City Shopping Center at the corner of Lee Highway and N. George Mason Drive, Jonathan Elias, Chris Bienlein and their friends can be found amidst a haze of vapor, puffing away on electronic metal tubes.

Elias, 30, owns My Vapez, a store at 5183 Lee Highway that sells vaporizers, a form of e-cigarette. Bienlein is his friend and partner in the fledgling enterprise, but it has become increasingly clear to them that, even though e-cigarettes are a new phenomenon, the market is booming.

Paisano’s Coming to Lyon Park

By ARLnow.com

Published February 24, 2014 at 3:35PM

The eatery plans to sell wine and beer, according to a permit application.

No word yet on an opening date for the new restaurant, which is located in Lyon Park. Paisano’s has one location in Arlington — near Crystal City — in addition to two in Falls Church and one in Alexandria.

Soldiers Deliver 700 Pounds of Food to AFAC, On Foot

By ARLnow.com

Published February 24, 2014 at 2:55PM

Photo courtesy AFAC

About 50 members of the Army’s 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment delivered nearly 700 pounds of donated food to the Arlington Food Assistance Center this morning.

In case the donation wasn’t impressive enough, the soldiers delivered the food on foot, marching 4 miles from Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall to AFAC’s building in Shirlington with rucksacks on their backs.

Sign Up at New Ben’s Chili Bowl in Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com

Published February 21, 2014 at 3:15PM

Workers erected a sign at the new Ben’s Chili Bowl in Rosslyn this morning.

The sign, advertising the landmark D.C. eatery’s half-smokes, burgers, hot dogs and milkshakes, is now up at 1725 Wilson Blvd, which was formerly the home of Ray’s Hell Burger. (Ray’s moved to a new location across the street.)

Full-Service Spa, New Restaurants Coming to DCA

By ARLnow.com

Published February 20, 2014 at 11:45AM

Courtesy MWAA

Some big changes are in store for Terminal A at Reagan National Airport.

The 40+ year old terminal will be getting the airport’s first full-service spa, plus new restaurants and stores, as part of a “comprehensive physical upgrade to the facility,” the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority announced last night.

‘DC Sliders’ Food Truck Debuts in Arlington

By Ethan Rothstein

Published February 20, 2014 at 10:00AM

A new food truck, DC Sliders, has come to serve lunch to customers in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor.

The truck’s first day in Arlington was Feb. 6. It serves an array of mini-burgers, including the “Elvis” slider, featuring the King’s favorite sandwich ingredients: peanut butter, banana and bacon. Currently, it has regular stops in Courthouse and Rosslyn, as well as Reston and Tysons Corner, but it has also stopped in Ballston in the last two weeks.

Renovations Coming to AWLA Cat Quarters

By Courtney Battle

Published February 19, 2014 at 1:30PM

New "cat condos" at AWLA

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington (AWLA) wants to make life a little better for its feline residents by upgrading their housing.

In the upcoming weeks, the shelter will undergo a complete facelift of its cat quarters that includes six cageless cat colonies, a separate kitten room, an adoption area with enlarged windows, and larger cages with spaces for hiding, perching and stretching. There will also be two isolation rooms for sick cats, two private rooms for potential adopters to “get acquainted” with the cats and a new HVAC system.

New Paint Job for Arlington Police Cars

By ARLnow.com

Published February 18, 2014 at 2:00PM

Arlington police car parked in the snow (file photo)

Arlington County police cars are getting a new look.

All new county police cars are receiving a sleeker paint job, as seen in the above photo (left). Existing patrol cars will keep the old decals (right) to save money, we’re told.

Heavy Seas Sets Feb. 27 Opening Date in Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com

Published February 18, 2014 at 10:00AM

Heavy Seas says it will open to the public on Thursday, February 27. It’s the Baltimore brewery’s second restaurant location.

A press release from the company notes that it plans to make food, not just beer, a major draw.

Schools, Gov’t Offices to Close for Washington’s Birthday

By Ethan Rothstein

Published February 14, 2014 at 3:30PM

Schools will close despite being shut down yesterday and today from the 10 inches of snow that fell from Wednesday night into Thursday. APS had already released a make-up schedule for elementary schools with early release after the snow day on Jan. 3 meant the schools would need additional instructional hours. No word yet on if or how that schedule will change.

County courts will close as well as the offices. ART bus and Metro services will run on holiday schedules and parking meters will not be enforced. Trash and recycling pickup will maintain its normal schedule.