restaurant

Around Town

Galaxy Hut to Stay Takeout Only Until Staff Vaccinated

By Vernon Miles
Exterior of Galaxy Hut (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

In better times, Galaxy Hut’s main room at 2711 Wilson Blvd would be filled with busy chatter, patrons playing arcade games, and the TV playing a worn out VHS copy of Excalibur (1981).

For the last year, that room has been an empty stretch for staff to cross as they carry food from the kitchen to the barricaded front door, where they drop off food for customers. Even as other Clarendon spots draw customers for indoor dining and drinking, Galaxy Hut’s owner said the restaurant will remain takeout only until their staff is vaccinated, no matter the cost.

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Events

Luck of the Vaccinated: St. Patrick’s Day is Back (Sort Of)

By Hannah Foley

(Updated 4:30 p.m. 3/11/21) Although it might not be a normal St. Patrick’s Day, local restaurants and bars are finding a way to celebrate.

The pandemic was not kind to Arlington restaurants. At least 26 places have closed since last March, including the Pentagon City Irish pub Siné (though a replacement is trying to open soon).

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Around Town

New CVS in Crystal City Now Open, Solidcore to Open This Summer

By Jo DeVoe

(Updated at 9:35 p.m.) A new CVS Pharmacy is open at the revamped Central District Retail shopping plaza, also known as “Crystal Square,” in Crystal City.

The store opened on Sunday, Feb. 28, a JBG Smith spokesperson confirmed. It is part of a major redevelopment that the property owner has planned for a block of Crystal Drive between 15th and 18th streets.

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News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
The sunset glows as traffic moves down I-66, as seen from N Ohio St. (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Metro 29 Diner Back Open — After temporarily closing in late December due to “COVID-19 concerns,” Metro 29 Diner on Lee Highway reopened earlier this week. [Facebook]

Arlington Rents Going Back Up — “In what might be another sign of a return to a semblance of normalcy, average rents for Arlington apartments increased in February for the first time since the start of the COVID pandemic. The 0.7-percent month-over-month increase also mirrored the national index, which reported its biggest monthly increase since June 2019.” [InsideNova]

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Around Town

Columbia Pike Ethiopian Restaurant ‘Overwhelmed’ with Community Support

By Vernon Miles

In the weeks after opening, new Columbia Pike Ethiopian restaurant Greens N Teff (3203 Columbia Pike) said the response from the community has been better than they could have hoped.

The restaurant, which features an entirely vegetarian/vegan menu, sold out twice in February, following ARLnow’s coverage of its opening.

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Around Town

NEW: Bracket Room in Clarendon Has Closed

By ARLnow.com
Bracket Room closed in Clarendon (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Bracket Room, the Clarendon sports bar co-founded by Chris Bukowski of ‘The Bachelor’ franchise fame, has closed — for real this time.

The bar served its last customers on Sunday, we’re told. On Monday, employees could be seen hauling items out of the venue at 1210 N. Garfield Street and loading them into a pickup truck.

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Around Town

Pop-Up Eatery ‘Tom Bones BBQ’ Launches in Crystal City

By Jo DeVoe
Chef Lindsey Ayala at her smoker at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Crystal City (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Every day, Executive Chef Lindsey Ayala fires up a smoker outside the Crowne Plaza hotel in Crystal City and feeds the fire with hickory wood.

She is smoking meats “low and slow,” slathering them with scratch-made sauces and serving sides such as mac and cheese, collard greens, and cheddar cornbread for a new pop-up restaurant concept within the hotel called Tom Bones BBQ.

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News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Rainy, Then Windy Today — Updated at 8 a.m. — From the National Weather Service: “Rain will end later this morning into this afternoon from northwest to southeast. However, gusty winds will develop and river flooding is expected along portions of the Potomac River and nearby tributaries.” [Twitter]

Freddie’s Expanding to Delaware Shore — “Freddie’s Beach Bar, the gay bar that has been operating in the Crystal City section of Arlington, Va., since 2001, is planning to open a new version of itself in Rehoboth Beach in time for Memorial Day weekend, according to owner Freddie Lutz. Lutz said that similar to the Freddie’s in Arlington, the Rehoboth version will operate as a restaurant and bar with entertainment that is expected to include karaoke, drag bingo, and possibly drag shows.” [Washington Blade]

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News

Morning Poll: Which Pandemic Restaurant Closure Hits the Hardest?

By Hannah Foley

At least 25 restaurants have closed in Arlington since the start of the pandemic, nearly one year ago.

The restaurants that have closed their doors run the gamut from local watering holes to workday lunch spots to a neighborhood froyo stop. Many were hit hard by the the loss of business caused by the pandemic and subsequent safety measures, though some might have closed regardless.

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Around Town

Queen Mother’s Fried Chicken is Thriving in Arlington

By Matt Blitz
Chef Rahman “Rock” Harper holding one of his fried chicken sandwiches (Photo courtesy of Queen Mother's)

Queen Mother’s Fried Chicken from Chef Rahman “Rock” Harper has gotten a considerable amount of press since landing in Arlington nearly three months ago.

But it hasn’t altered how the chef does business.

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News

Va. Rolls Back Some Restrictions on Dining, Outdoor Gatherings

By Jo DeVoe

Gov. Ralph Northam announced today that he is easing some public health restrictions, including the 10 p.m. curfew on alcohol sales.

Effective March 1, Virginians will be able to buy and drink alcohol at restaurants, food courts, breweries, distilleries and wineries until they are required to close at midnight.

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