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Morning Notes

Published July 18, 2022 at 7:30AM

A turtle, seen in Arlington (Flickr pool photo by Wolfkann)

New Rail Bridge Design Revealed — “The new rail bridge will be built with many of the features in the existing span, including its structure, material and form, with steel girders and similar pier spacing, according to preliminary site plans approved this month by the National Capital Planning Commission. The plans also call for the use of Ashlar stone cladding for the bridge piers, and abutments and walls near the George Washington Memorial Parkway.” [Washington Post]

County Board Approves ‘Heights’ Parking — From School Board member Barbara Kanninen: “‘APS did us a solid.’ Thx @kcristol for that comment regarding our hosting the County’s temp fire station for several years! Glad to see the use permit for Phase 2 [of The Heights building in Rosslyn] approved this morning, providing important universal access improvements for all students, esp @APS_Shriver.” [Twitter]

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published July 11, 2022 at 7:00AM

Sunset along Columbia Pike near Dama restaurant (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Baseball Tourney in Arlington — “One area’s loss became another’s big gain in recent days when Arlington County was added as an emergency replacement site for this month’s American Legion state-baseball tournament. The eight-team competition, which will include local District 17’s Arlington Post 139 as the host team, will take place July 26-30 at the Barcroft Park and Wakefield High School fields.” [Sun Gazette]

Grant for Second Ballston Metro Entrance — From the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission: “[Arlington County] received $4.5M from I-66 Commuter Choice to construct a second entrance at Ballston-MU Station that will improve access to transit and support continued redevelopment in the area.” [Twitter]

Around Town

All About Burger is all but gone in Ballston Quarter

By ARLnow.com

Published July 7, 2022 at 2:35PM

All About Burger space cleared out at Ballston Quarter (staff photo)

All About Burger appears to have vacated its storefront in the Ballston Quarter mall.

“Completely cleaned out,” is how one tipster described the space, which is located between Slapfish, which closed this past December, and the still-open Mezeh, near the N. Glebe Road entrance to the mall.

Around Town

Local Oyster in Ballston appears to have closed, after another seafood spot ran aground

By Matt Blitz

Published June 28, 2022 at 11:30AM

Local Oyster in Ballston appears to have closed (staff photo)

The catch is a little bit less fresh in Ballston with the likely recent closing of another seafood spot.

The Local Oyster at Ballston Quarter appears to have ceased operations in recent weeks. Its former stall in the back right corner of the downstairs food hall is now dark and cleared out, with signs removed and the walls blank.

Around Town

Union Kitchen employees in Ballston have officially unionized

By Matt Blitz

Published June 22, 2022 at 1:45PM

Union Kitchen in Ballston (staff photo)

Union Kitchen employees, including those at the Ballston location, have officially won their election to form a union.

Yesterday (June 21), employees at five Union Kitchen locations announced that a majority voted in an election to unionize with the United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400. This includes employees at the Ballston retail shop and restaurant located at 4102 Wilson Blvd.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published June 16, 2022 at 7:30AM

Wilson Blvd in Ballston on a rainy day (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Some 7000 Series Trains Return — “Metro today completed final review of its plan to return eight 7000-series trains to passenger service. Customers can expect service to start [on Thursday]… The popular 7000-series trains will first appear on the Green and Yellow Lines.” [WMATA, DCist]

Shuttle Buses to Run During Major Metro Work — “Starting Saturday, Sept. 10, Metro will begin work to connect the future Potomac Yard Station with the mainline rail system and to rehabilitate the Yellow Line tunnel and bridge between Pentagon and L’Enfant Plaza stations. The projects will impact Blue and Yellow line service in two phases over eight months, and free shuttle bus service will be available for customers throughout the duration.” [WMATA]

News

JUST IN: Smoke coming from roof of Matchbox in Pentagon City

By ARLnow.com

Published May 31, 2022 at 4:50PM | Updated May 31, 2022 at 11:41PM

Smoke coming from the roof of Matchbox in Pentagon City (photo courtesy Steve Brusk)

A restaurant at the Pentagon City mall has been evacuated due to smoke coming from the roof.

Firefighters from Arlington, Alexandria and elsewhere are on scene at wood-fired pizza eatery Matchbox, at 1100 S. Hayes Street, trying to find the source of the smoke. It’s currently believed that debris within the kitchen’s ventilation system may have caught fire.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published May 23, 2022 at 7:30AM

Rosslyn at lunchtime (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

County Board’s APS Covid Concern — “Is the Arlington school system inadvertently encouraging parents to not report COVID-like symptoms among students? That’s the concern of a number of County Board members, who say the current testing requirements make it more likely parents will stay mum rather than go to the hassle of getting their children checked out.” [Sun Gazette]

Big Vehicle Fire Shuts Down Route 50 — From Dave Statter on Saturday night: “Some fuzzy traffic-cam video showing a vehicle fire that has all lanes of Route 50 eastbound shut prior to Pershing. @ArlingtonVaFD & @ArlingtonVaPD handling.” [Twitter]

Events

‘Dining in the Dark’ events coming to Clarendon restaurant

By Brandi Bottalico

Published May 10, 2022 at 3:55PM | Updated May 11, 2022 at 10:41AM

Exterior of Ambar restaurant in Clarendon (file photo)

(updated May 11 at 10:40 a.m.) An “immersive dining experience” that blindfolds its diners during a three-course mystery dinner kicked off earlier this month in Clarendon.

The “Dining in the Dark” events — which are being held on most Tuesdays through July 12 at Ambar (2901 Wilson Blvd) — were started based on a theory that the sense of taste and smell are heightened when you can’t see, according to an event page.

Around Town

Day of discounts planned this weekend as part of National Landing small biz grant program

By Matt Blitz

Published April 28, 2022 at 11:45AM

Restaurant row in Crystal City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A grant program is providing cash to local businesses to help with expenses — and offering one day of discounts to those businesses this weekend.

The “Love Local” relief program is giving $100,000 to more than 30 Crystal City and Pentagon City retail shops, salons, and restaurants. The grants are to provide “financial and promotional support covering wages and operator-related expenses.”

Around Town

Atilla’s is closing next month after almost five decades on Columbia Pike

By Matt Blitz

Published April 25, 2022 at 2:30PM

Atilla’s Restaurant and its grocery store are closing (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Atilla’s Restaurant and its grocery store are both closing next month after nearly 50 years on Columbia Pike.

The well-known Turkish businesses are shutting the doors at 2705 Columbia Pike on May 29, long-time restaurant manager Sarah Engi confirmed to ARLnow.

News

Farmbird in Ballston is closed and it’s unclear whether it will reopen

By ARLnow.com

Published April 20, 2022 at 12:45PM

Farmbird closed in Ballston (staff photo)

Has Farmbird flown the coop in Ballston, or will it rise from the ashes?

The chicken-centric restaurant, which first opened on the ground floor of the Ballston Exchange complex last summer, has been closed for the past few days. It was still closed this morning, when several men could be seen inside sitting and talking around a table.