This column is sponsored by Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

Arlington has one of our region’s most vibrant theater scenes. The next several weeks offer a number of opportunities to step-out and enjoy a wide range of theater offerings right here in Arlington!

Chalice Theatre: The Pirates of Penzance

Now through March 18 | Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington | Barcroft

No matter if you are the Very Model of a Modern Major General or simply a Poor Wand’ring One in search of some quality entertainment, this production offers fun and foolishness for audiences of all ages, along with gorgeous music and memorable banter.

Avant Bard: Julius Caesar
Now through April 1 | Gunston Theatre II | Long Branch Creek

Join Avant Bard as they explore Kathleen Akerley’s modernization of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar with an ensemble of seven actors. Witness a dismantling of the classic story that asks what determines historical outcomes: the ambition and speeches of a few or the shifting personalities and demands of the citizenry? Video and contemporary text will place this question squarely in post-2016 America.

Synetic Theater: Beauty and the Beast
Now through April 2 | Synetic Theater | National Landing

Synetic Theater’s Beauty and the Beast draws on the darkness and sensuality of the original French novel, La Belle et la Bête, and the 1946 Cocteau film of the same name. Told through the vengeful narration of a handsome Prince’s first love, Synetic’s dark and mystical take on the fairy tale explores and challenges the dynamics of love and power as it asks the question, “who is worthy of true love?”

Signature Theatre:

Pacific Overtures
Now through April 9 | Signature Theatre |Shirlington

A stunning exploration of tradition and transformation based on historical events.

In 1853, after 200 years of stability, Japan faces an American expedition determined to open the “floating kingdom” to trade. The isolationist island’s reckoning with the unwelcome western influence is brilliantly illuminated through a kaleidoscope of stories about sailors, samurai, “someone in a tree” and two friends who choose radically different paths. This innovative epic of East meets West is one of Sondheim’s most ambitious and rarely produced musicals.

Selling Kabul

Now through April 9 | Signature Theatre |Shirlington

A suspenseful drama about family and sacrifice from an exciting new voice.

In 2013, a sister secretly shelters her translator brother from an increasingly powerful Taliban while he awaits the ever-delayed arrival of a promised American visa. On the eve of his son’s birth, the walls begin to close in, threatening him, her and everyone they love in a heart-racing exposé with devastating echoes to the present day. Breathtaking and unpredictable through the final curtain, this unflinching exploration exposes the human toll of American withdrawal.

For more information about these and other theater presentations, as well as dance, music and the visual arts, visit ArlingtonArts.org.

Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose price have been cut over the previous week. The market summary is crafted by Arlington Realty, Inc. Maximize your real estate investment with the team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6000 today!

Please note: While Arlington Realty, Inc. provides this information for the community, it may not be the listing company of these homes. 

As of March 13, there are 125 detached homes, 26 townhouses and 142 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 14 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:

• 2900 2nd Street S., 22204 — NOW: $1,330,000 (Reduced $30,000 on 3/10)

• 901 N. Monroe Street #804, 22201 — NOW: $899,000 (Reduced $26,000 on 3/10)

• 2001 N. George Mason Drive, 22207 — NOW: $700,000 (Reduced $25,000 on 3/9)

• 4029 8th Street S., 22204 — NOW: $699,900 (Reduced $15,000 on 3/8)

• 3600 S. Glebe Road #510W, 22202 — NOW: $575,000 (Reduced $25,000 on 3/6)

• 903 S. Orme Street, 22204 — NOW: $484,100 (Reduced $33,000 on 3/10)

• 1001 N. Randolph Street #809, 22201 — NOW: $397,500 (Reduced $2,000 on 3/8)

Please note that this is solely a selection of Just Reduced properties available in Arlington County. For a complete list of properties within your target budget and specifications, contact Arlington Realty, Inc.

Address: 1600 N Oak Street #1818
Neighborhood: Rosslyn
Type: 2 BR, 2 BA condo — 1,430 sq. ft.
Listed: $925,000

Noteworthy: Penthouse with Potomac River views

This rarely-available penthouse condo at The Belvedere features over $100k worth of upgrades and improvements throughout its 1,430 square feet of luxurious living space.

The condo boasts a welcoming foyer with Italian tile flooring, a spacious living room with abundant natural light, a sunroom with views of the Potomac River, and a chef’s kitchen with stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, mosaic glass backsplash, and porcelain tile flooring.

The bedrooms have new windows and blinds, carpeting, and tons of closet space. The primary bathroom has a double sink vanity, glass mosaic backsplash, 70-in LED backlit mirror, porcelain tile walls, and a Kohler cast iron bathtub, while the second bathroom features a new vanity, sliding glass shower door, and porcelain tile walls.

The condo also has new switches and outlets throughout, with several USB outlets for added convenience, new lighting in the hallways and dining room, and recessed LED lighting in the living room.

The Belvedere community offers a large pool, fitness center, 24/7 front desk, tennis courts (lined for pickleball), party room, convenience store, car wash area, and outdoor lounge area. The building is undergoing a common-space renovation project and is well-funded, so no special assessment is needed to pay for these community upgrades.

The location is a short walk to the Rosslyn Metro, Target, Starbucks, and Safeway, with easy access to D.C. and major highways.

Listed by:
Matt Leighton — The Battle Group with Real Broker
[email protected]
(703) 472-0574

Join DC Fray and Founders Row for our community event series!

The event series features live music, guided fitness, social mixers, game nights, community giving and holiday events.

Happening now through December in Falls Church.

Discover Founders Row events.

#FrayLife

This regularly scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel. Enjoy!

Question: Do you have any information on when the Toll Brothers community in Dominion Hills will be for sale?

TL;DR (0:43)

Answer: Construction is underway on Toll Brothers upcoming 9.5 acre community, The Grove at Dominion Hills, a massive (by Arlington/inside-the-beltway standards) development of 40 brand new detached homes that will start around $2M, formerly the site of the historically significant Febrey-Lothrop property.

As of Monday, March 13 they were fully framed and under-roof on their model and one of their “quick-move-in” homes, with a third in foundation, and a fourth getting ready for foundation; all along the existing N. Madison Street.

What I Know/Expect

Toll Brothers is as tight-lipped as it comes about new developments until their official public releases, but here’s what I know/expect:

• The community will include 40 new single-family homes
• Lot sizes will clock in around 60ft wide and about 8,000 SqFt (just over 1/6th of an acre), which is about 5% smaller than the average Arlington lot and about 10% bigger than the median Arlington lot (as we know from this column on Arlington lot sizes)
• I expect home sizes to range from about 3,500-5,500 total finished square feet depending on lot dimensions and options
• I expect most or all homes to include a two-car garage with either basement and main level entry depending on lot topography
• Toll Brothers will offer a combination of “quick move-in” homes with pre-selected options/finishes and semi-custom homes that allow buyers to choose from a pre-determined selection of elevations (exterior design), floor plans, options, and finishes

Details and Sales Opening Expected 2023

Toll Brothers is careful to not release pricing, floor plans, or most details about a project until their chosen public release date which is currently projected to occur in late summer 2023. Details will get released for the first time on their website with a community webpage. Sales are currently projected to start at the end of 2023, but that timing could easily move up or back depending on market conditions and work progress.

Toll Brothers determines their sales process based on market conditions and you can expect a multi-phased release, with prices increasing with each release (standard practice for new communities). Toll Brothers often uses a combination of option incentives and preferred lender incentives to drive demand, that smaller builders do not offer.

In my experience, they usually implement an appointment system on a first-come, first serve/meet basis. Those who register online for an appointment first, can schedule the first appointments with a sales rep and have the chance to lock in lots early so interested buyers should go into those meetings prepared to put down a deposit

Recently, and controversially, Toll Brothers implemented a blind auction system for lots at Arden, their luxury community in Great Falls. They set a starting price for a lot and had buyers submit forms stating how much they were willing to pay for the lot and what they wanted to build on it then chose the winner (presumably based on the highest lot bid).

If you’re an interested buyer, take advantage of the time between the public information release and the sales opening to learn as much about the community as possible, figure out what lots you prefer (note that the best lots usually come with a steep lot premium), compare your options with Toll Brothers to other new build opportunities, and be ready to make a decision with a lot-hold deposit at your first appointment.

Read More

An ‘oasis of its own’ offers high-end, upscale living in South Arlington.

Drop a pin in a map to locate the upscale Centro Arlington Apartments building and you find it surrounded by prime landmarks — the Pentagon, Ballston, National Landing, Bailey’s Crossroads, and Shirlington, to name a few. Centro, meaning “center,” couldn’t be a more appropriate name for this elegant building straddling George Mason Drive and Columbia Pike. 

Inside, the building boasts 366 spacious one- and two-bedroom apartments in a mind-boggling variety of floorplans, kitted out with high-end flourishes and finishes, including elevated ceilings, stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, subway tile backsplashes, hardwood flooring, and patios and balconies (in some models). 

On top of the seven-story building, in addition to offering tremendous views, is the epitome of “pet friendly” — a rooftop dog park. The building is constructed around a public plaza, opening to a luxurious common area, and the building includes a clubroom, a fitness center, a pet washing area, and a rooftop lounge. There is garage parking. 

The ground floor boasts its own Harris Teeter with a Starbucks. Other neighborhood attractions that are easy walking distances include the Barcroft Shopping Center and a plethora of eateries ranging from Bolivian to Japanese to Irish. Commuters will find easy access to major arteries, including I-395 and the George Washington Memorial Parkway.

“Undoubtedly the best property in the area,” said verified resident Patrick V. “Superb resident service with the entire staff! Exceptional amenities! The units are gorgeous with high end finishes. I LOVE the gym and yoga studio. Conveniently, we have a Harris Teeter and Starbucks directly connected to the building! Olympic size swimming pool indoor/outdoor resident areas multiple gas grills, the works! Its own oasis.”

Centro Arlington is located at 950 S. George Mason Drive at Columbia Pike. Arrange a virtual or in-person tour via the website or call 855-459-2038. More contact information is here.

Address: 880 N. Pollard Street #503
Neighborhood: Ballston
Type: 2 BR, 1 BA condo — 880 sq. ft.
Listed: $489,900

Noteworthy: I’m Shipping Up To Ballston!

Unit 503 at Ballston 880 is a rare 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom corner unit featuring a balcony with wide open Arlington views and north eastern exposure.

The kitchen has gorgeous granite counters, stainless steel appliances, natural wood cabinets and opens to the dining and living area. With hardwood floors throughout the unit, and wall to wall glass balcony doors, your living areas are modern and filled with an abundance of natural light. The Owner’s Suite is spacious, with large windows and a walk-in closet with a built-in closet system.

The second bedroom/home office has custom paint and is located just outside of the owner’s suite. The updated bathroom has a granite counter vanity painted green to match the ceiling! One garage parking space #314 conveys.

Ballston 880 has amazing amenities including an outdoor pool, a community room with a bar, a fitness center, a theater, a business center and a conference room. Being in the heart of Ballston, you have a premier location for convenience and accessibility, just steps away from shopping, entertainment, dining and everything Arlington has to offer.

Listed by:
Shawn Battle — The Battle Group
[email protected]
(703) 999-8108

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By John V. Berry, Esq.

Employee use of computers and workplace internet has become relatively common.

As a result, there are many times when employees get disciplined or terminated for such usage. We generally advise employees to avoid using workplace computers and/or internet connections, even where permitted, wherever possible.

Common Issues for Employees

The most frequent problems that arise for employees in this area involve:

(1) Watching entertainment programs (Neltfix, Hulu, Disney+ etc.)
(2) Excessive social media usage (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok)
(3) Online gaming at work
(4) Watching, sending or receiving sexually explicit or otherwise inappropriate materials
(5) Sending harassing, violent, discriminating or hateful messages on company computers
(6) Using workplace computers or the internet at work to commit any kind of illegal activity, including the piracy of movies, music, games, etc.
(7) Distributing company information outside the company.

There are countless other examples which can violate company usage policies. Each company has their own computer and internet usage policy and it is important for employees to read them.

In our experience, many company computer and internet usage policies are fairly restrictive in writing, but not really enforced unless other employment issues arise. When such issues arise, an employer may have the ability to review an employee’s computer or internet usage on their work devices and attempt to discipline or dismiss an employee if they choose.

Defenses

There can be legal defenses available when an employee is wrongfully terminated from an employer where computer or internet usage is the underlying issue. These defenses would depend on the facts of the underlying incident and the individual company policy. Possible legal defense and/or representation should be discussed with a lawyer.

Contact Us

When an employee faces a disciplinary investigation or action based on alleged computer or internet misuse, it is very important to retain legal counsel familiar with these issues. Our law firm represents employees and can be contacted at www.berrylegal.com or by telephone at (703) 668-0070.

Address: 2532 S. Walter Reed Drive #E
Neighborhood: Windgate
Type: 3 BR, 3 (+1 half) BA townhouse
Listed: $689,000

Noteworthy: Stroll to Shirlington Village from this renovated townhouse in pristine condition

Appealing brick end townhouse filled with light and many valuable improvements including: renovated kitchen with crisp white cabinets, quartz tops, glass tile backsplash, stainless appliances (2016), washer (2017), HVAC (2020), renovated primary bathroom with marble topped double vanity, subway tile bath surround, and fine appointments (2021), sliding glass door to deck (2021) plus fresh paint, light fixtures, and stylish details.

Enter into a large living room that flows into the dining room, large kitchen and gathering area with a wood burning fireplace. Wood floors continue throughout the main level. The kitchen opens to a grilling and dining deck with treed views. An updated powder room completes this level. Upstairs, there are two large bedrooms, each with a private bathroom. The primary bedroom has a walk-in closet and comfy carpeting.

In the big second bedroom there is space for double beds or a desk area. The bathroom has a large vanity for additional storage. A big rec room in the lower level provides space for media, play, working out or working from home. With a full, updated bath, the den doubles as private guest space or a home office. The laundry and utility room has good storage, including under the stairs.

Enjoy Windgate’s swimming pool and tennis courts, and location next to a bike and walking trail. Stroll along Four Mile Run to Shirlington Village for restaurants, library, grocery, theaters, and nightlife.

An appealing home awaits the savvy buyers who values space, location, and condition.

Listed by:
Betsy Twigg
[email protected]
(703) 967-4391

Don’t miss your chance to stay active and get social with DC Fray this spring!

We have leagues all over Virginia in Arlington, Alexandria, Springfield and Tysons. Sign up as an individual, group or team.

Leagues include sports like basketball, flag football, kickball, pickleball, softball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee and more! Be sure to register by March 21.

Find your league today!

#FrayLife

This article was written by Sindy Yeh, Senior Business Ambassador for Arlington Economic Development.

For many international companies, expanding to the United States is high on their growth strategy given the size of the U.S. market.

As the epicenter of government contracting activities, the Washington, D.C. metro region is especially attractive for international companies in the defense, aerospace and security industries. Companies establish operations here to gain access to federal agencies such as the DOD and DHS and to partner with other companies to jointly bid for contract awards.

Doing business with the U.S. government is complex, and the process can be even more challenging for international companies. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources and expertise in the Washington region that focus on supporting international companies doing business in the United States.

One of those is Rosslyn’s House of NADIC, an incubator geared towards Norwegian Small Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) and startups that are looking to increase their presence in the United States and to develop new business opportunities. Companies located at the House of NADIC will have access to service providers, connections to prime contractors, and education and networking opportunities.

House of NADIC was founded by the Norwegian-American Defense & Homeland Security Industry Council (NADIC), a nonprofit trade association whose objective is to develop and strengthen cooperation between Norwegian and American industries. It facilitates stronger bilateral ties while encouraging a fair competitive environment in U.S. markets. It regularly hosts and participates in events with the Defense Attaché Office of the Norwegian Embassy, Innovation Norway, FSi, and the Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce, and other key international partners.

On March 30, 2023, NADIC will host the 9th Annual Norwegian-American Defense Conference in Rosslyn. The conference has become one of the most important defense symposia between Norway and the United States with high level speakers and participants representing the government, military and industry.

With unmatched resources and targeted opportunities provided by area organizations like the House of NADIC, it is no wonder international companies choose Arlington and the Washington, D.C. region to launch their presence in the U.S. This region has the access, resources and talent that foreign companies need to succeed.