Posts Tagged ‘Northern Virginia’
Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Thursday, April 26th, 2012
We're laughing because it's funny ... and Thursday. / Photo credit: Shutterstock/ StockLite
Celebrate the Caps’ big overtime playoff win vs. the Bruins, successfully sitting through three back-to-back meetings or the rainy weather (hey, if you can’t beat it …) with a happy hour on the town. Our pick for tonight: Bell20 Tavern. The Crystal City American tavern offers specials a’plenty – both drinks and grub. And t-r-i-v-i-a.
From 3:20 to 7:20 p.m.*, a Bud Light Draft is $3.20, Port City Optimum Wit and Port City Monumental IPA are $4.20, while a glass of the wine of the day is $5.20. Foodwise, order some garlic fries, wings, chips and salsa or pretzel rolls for $3.20 each. Spicy meatballs, fried chicken tenders, a bowl of turkey chili or juicy cheeseburgers are $6.20 a piece.
Happy hour runs Monday thru Friday each week. Thursday is extra special because you and your HH pals can enjoy a great round of thinking while drinking. Spotted on Bell20′s Twitter account from this past week:
Trivia starts at 6:30 but it’s wise to get there early to grab good seats. And speaking of being early, let’s hope no one has this traffic situation today. Poor Anne. We’ve been there, too.
Bell20 Tavern, Crystal City Marriott, 1999 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington; 703-314-6520; www.bell20.com; happy hour: 3:20 – 7:20 p.m.; food & drink specials: from $3.20.
*Bar only
– Lorin Drinkard
Posted by Rebekah Lowe / Thursday, April 26th, 2012
Support for healthy living steps up in schools.
By Renee Sklarew
When Marcy Foster of Reston was in seventh grade, she realized she was overweight. With three siblings, no one noticed she was eating most of the junk food her parents kept in the home. “The problem continued in high school and college. I tried many crazy diets, but since I was a private eater, nothing worked,” Foster recalls.
After college, Foster joined Weight Watchers where she learned that losing weight required an entire lifestyle change. Since then, she’s lost 35 pounds and kept it off for four decades, and is now a mentor and coach for Weight Watchers. The philosophy of eating wholesome, nutritious food, staying active and allowing treats in small portions helped inspire her as she modeled healthy food choices and regular exercise for her three sons.
Weight Watchers accepts overweight children under the age of 17 with medical permission and ongoing support of a parent. Foster says, “Doctors are thrilled to support kids learning to eat real food.” Teens in Weight Watchers are taught to keep track of what they’re eating, choose reasonable portions and make healthy choices. Foster has seen teenagers who lose weight through Weight Watchers become less self-conscious, gain energy and sleep better. “It enhances their confidence, and they love fitting into their clothes.”
To teach kids about healthy lifestyles, the PTA at Ashlawn Elementary School in Arlington founded “Healthy Kids, Healthy Families,” a program that combats obesity with innovative activities. The program kicks off with an apple for every student, donated by Whole Foods, then the events begin—Fresh Fruit Fridays, Family Gym Night and Lettuce Days (community members grow lettuce in their yard, so twice a year Ashlawn’s cafeteria can serve a school-wide salad for lunch).
Ashlawn Elementary’s principal, Judy Apostolico-Buck, explains: “Our parents make it very real for the students. It’s a challenge to engage kids and build behaviors, but they’ve done that. At school we grow pots of radishes, romaine lettuce and spinach. We make our own salad dressing. The kids talk about how much they love Lettuce Days. You’ll see them eat three or four helpings of salad. They even make salads at home, which is not something most elementary school kids do.”
In response to a community survey, Ashlawn instituted a schedule allowing recess to precede lunch for most children. Where does Ashlawn get the funds for this program? “The PTA raises its own money. Most of it involves hours of time and effort by people, but not high cost.”
Healthy eating habits start in infancy according to Nanci Pedulla, program manager of Healthy Families Alexandria/Arlington, part of Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS). NVFS pushed for legislation to support breastfeeding in the area because, explains Pedulla, “Children who are breastfed are much less likely to become obese in comparison to children who are formula fed.” NVFS programs use in-home and classroom activities to teach the entire family ways to combat childhood obesity.
It’s never too early to teach kids about a healthy lifestyle. One statement you hear frequently from advocates: Families should eat together whenever possible. Weight Watcher’s Foster adds, “Sit down at a table. Don’t watch TV or read; focus on the food.”
(April 2012)
Posted by Rebekah Lowe / Thursday, April 26th, 2012
Going green has never looked so big.
By Lynn Norusis
Clifton residents Ronald and Cheryl Hubbardhave put their $12.5M home—full of green amenities—on the market. Ronald, president of C&H Associates, who has worked on the design and building of a handful of embassies and high-end homes, designed the home to run as efficiently as possible.
Courtesy of HomeVisit
With Argon low-e windows taking the space of 240 spots, radiant floors for heating and cooling running off three geo-thermal systems, and recycled tires acting as roofing cover, the 27,000-square-foot home runs a monthly heating bill comparable to a home one-tenth its size.
But eco-friendly amenities are not the only thing to love about this home—inspired by European architecture—nestled off Braddock Road. Family was at the forefront in Hubbard’s mind when he began the design in 1998. The home offers four identical levels including seven bedrooms, seven full and two half baths, two full kitchens, three wet bars, an elevator, a sauna, an indoor pool, five fireplaces (with a potential of 13) and an art gallery. Outside, the property has 3,000 feet of space consisting of patios and two ponds (where all the drainage from rains runs) linked by a bridge.
“I wanted to design something that would last forever in both design and look, but also the way it is built,” explains Hubbard. “With contemporary architecture, 10 years from now, people aren’t going to get it. One hundred years from now people will get the intent [of this house].” / www.cliftonchateau.com
Hollin Hills Open for Exploring
Posted by Rebekah Lowe / Thursday, April 26th, 2012
MID-CENTURY MODERN ON DISPLAY
By Lynn Norusis
Courtesy of Hollin Hills
Northern Virginia may not be known as one of the hot spots for contemporary, modern architecture when it comes to residential habitats, but a small neighborhood in southern Alexandria is bucking the stereotype of colonial homes.
Hollin Hills, a community consisting of 420 homes built in the 1950s and ‘60s, is showcasing 10-12 of their abodes—designed and built by Charles M. Goodman and Robert C. Davenport, respectively—during their House and Garden Tour April 28.
“[Hollin Hills] is the largest and one of the few modern communities in this area,” says Patricia McCallum, representative for the community. “The architecture and setting lends itself to a stroll of dramatic quality.”
The self-guided tour showcases the neighborhood’s mid-century modern homes decked out in all their floor-to-ceiling windowed glory with accompanying mid-century furnishings and the homes’ environmental accompaniment of the surrounding landscape.
As a supplement to the tour, the Corcoran College of Art + Design is hosting a discussion, “A Community of Vision: Hollin Hills, Modern
Courtesy of Hollin Hills
Then and Now,” April 27, with architect Michael Sorkin, landscape architect Dennis Carmichael and Heidi Nasstrom Evans, Ph.D., leading the discussion of this nationally renowned community. An informal lecture will also be held at Hollin Meadows Elementary School prior to the tour on April 28. / www.hollinhills.net
Tour: April 28 from noon-6 p.m.; $10-$20
Corcoran Panel: April 27 @ 6 p.m.; $10
Posted by Sally Traynham / Thursday, April 26th, 2012
Instead of fighting the bustle of a restaurant’s packed-dining room where screaming to hear each other over the next table’s conversation is necessary, celebrate with your mom in a relaxing, elegant and more intimate setting this year. Tea rooms are the perfect place.
While you taste delicate, flavorful teas, enjoy artfully-crafted tea sandwiches, scones with jams, fresh fruit and other pastries that are paired perfectly to your beverage selection.
Here are some NoVA tea rooms with great Mother’s Day deals, each with a flair of its own:
The Columbia Pike Resurgence Continues: Taqueria Poblano Planning On Next Week Opening
Posted by Stefanie Gans / Thursday, April 26th, 2012
It’ s all because of Metro. When WMATA decided to place stops in North Arlington it created a fertile area for residential and commercial real estate. And what happened to South Arlington? Almost nothing.
Until now.
With efforts to bring street cars to Columbia Pike, restaurants are now setting up in South Arlington. The progress so far includes William Jeffrey’s, a spot for both refined fare (shrimp tapa) and lusty indulgences (burger with fried egg and pimento cheese), which we reviewed for April’s magazine.
And now Del Ray favorite Taqueria Poblano is hoping to open next week, says ARLnow.com.
Photo: Kate Bohler
[tips for the food desk / follow @gansie]
Posted by Geoff Nelowet / Wednesday, April 25th, 2012
By Colleen Callery
Ever stop to wonder what’s in the water we drink? Where it comes from? If it’s safe? (We all know to steer clear of the Potomac River, but you do know you are drinking it, right?) Two-thirds of our body mass if water. So read on to see how 75 percent of you is faring when it comes to its safety.
NOVA WATER SOURCES
Fairfax County Water Authority (Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun Counties and City of Alexandria)—draws from Potomac River and Occoquan Reservoir; treated at James J. Corbalis Jr. and Frederick P. Gri ffith Jr. water treatment plants.
City of Falls Church Water Utility—draws from Potomac River upstream of D.C.; treated at Washington Aqueduct’s Dalecarlia and McMillan water treatment plants.
Arlington County Department of Environmental Services—draws from the Potomac River; treated at Dalecarlia Treatment Plant in D.C.
TREATMENT PROCESS
Coagulation: Chemicals called coagulants are added to the raw water, which causes small particles to adhere to one another.
Flocculation: As the particles coagulate, they create larger particles called fl oc. As the water is slowly mixed, the fl oc particles continue to group together, becoming heavier and heavier.
Sedimentation: Once the heavy floc settles to the bottom of the sedimentation basins, it is cleared away, leaving the cleaner water behind.
Ozonation: Destroys bacteria and other microorganisms to improve taste.
Filtration: Filtering the water using granular activated carbon (GAC) filters removes the remaining fine particles.
Disinfection and Distribution: Fluoride and a corrosion inhibitor are added to the water to strengthen teeth, prevent lead leaching.
Neighborhood Restaurant Group Exploring Rotating Pop-Up in Del Ray
Posted by Stefanie Gans / Wednesday, April 25th, 2012
In the fall of 2009, Mike Isabella was still wise-cracking his way through season 6 of “Top Chef.” He still cooked under the José Andrés empire. And he still hadn’t exploited the pop-up concept to promote his countless—one, two, three, four (?), five (?), twenty-five (?)—new restaurants in Washington, D.C. Pop-ups are the new cupcake: once a trend, now a staple.
But in this region, pop-ups were still underground three years ago. So underground, that when Michael Babin, owner of Neighborhood Restaurant Group (Vermilion, Evening Star Cafe, Rustico) used the patio adjacent to Planet Wine for Red Apron Butchery charcuterie, salami and paninis, he didn’t even know how to categorize the Canteen. “I’m not sure we knew that we were supposed to call it a pop-up back then,” says Babin of his short-lived patio party.
The weekend-only pop-up lasted for a month and a half, which was just as soon as the landlord caught on. When he started demanding rent for the unoccupied space, Babin closed it down, “If we’re paying the rent he wants, then we’d only be doing this to benefit him, so we stopped.”
But now that Babin bought the property six months ago, he’s thinking about resurrecting the concept with month-long pop-ups staring NRG chefs. Babin’s vision would include building a utility kitchen in a small building in the back of the patio, filling the 50-by 40-feet space to the right of Planet Wine with picnic tables and topping it with a retractable awning.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Lindsey Leake / Wednesday, April 25th, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Arlington Police, Virginia Tech make FAA list of agencies able to operate unmanned aerial drones
Woman, 85, dies during police transport in Fairfax County
Leesburg resident discovers black bear on back deck
Loudoun County School Board approves $809 million budget
Normal service resumes after Metro train derailment at Rosslyn
Fredericksburg detective pleads guilty to solicitation
11-year-old autistic boy drowns in Stafford retention pond
Planned palace in Great Falls neighborhood upsets residents
(Compiled by Lindsey Leake; photo courtesy of Shutterstock/dutourdumonde)
Posted by Matt Basheda / Wednesday, April 25th, 2012
The metro region erupts with art this weekend.
The Festival. Photo: Bill Kinney
Fairfax’s Fine Arts Festival returns once more, and infuses Fairfax Corner with wares of all mediums. Over 130 exhibitors–about 10,000 individual works of art–spill onto the streets.
The festival runs on Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday, April 29 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Buy that perfect piece to finish a room or just look around–no pressure, and no cost for admission.
Art types represented include photography, metalwork, jewelry, woodwork, graphic prints, painting and more.
But if centuries-old Japanese artwork also interests you, head to the National Gallery of Art as soon as possible.
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity awaits you in its hallowed halls, but April 29 is your last chance to see a legendary set of Japanese nature paintings from the 1700s.
The exhibit’s name is “The Colorful Realm of Living Beings,” by Ito Jakuchu. The art is a treasure of Japan’s imperial household, and has never been shown outside Japan until now.
Only days remain until their return. Japan loaned the art for D.C.’s centennial cherry blossom festival. The set of 30 paintings comprise a varied portrait of Japan’s colorful wildlife.
The National Gallery of Art has extended its hours for this exhibit’s final weekend. Its opening time remains the same–10 a.m. on Saturday, 11 a.m. on Sunday. However, the museum will close at 8 p.m. both days.
–Matt Basheda