Wednesday, October 28, 2009

notes from Oct. Westmoreland Condo Board meeting

Some notes from this past Monday's Condo Board meeting:
  • We are still waiting for Verizon to start installing Fios.  No one knows when installation will begin.
  • The roof repair on 1311 is nearly complete.  Most of the repair was done in 2-3 days.
  • Pruning of tree branches, particularly dead branches over the parking lot of 1301, is underway.
  • The Board approved re-engagement of auditor.  Cost is $2,500 for auditing of annual accounts, $350 for tax return, and $75 administrative fee
  • A sewer backup in building 1309, along with one earlier this summer in 1307, makes clear the importance of seriously addressing this problem.  The Board has decided to hydrojet all the sewer lines.  Moreover, this will be done annually.  The cost is a few thousand dollars per year.  Arlington County has recently highlighted that pouring fats, oils, and grease (FOG) down drains clogs county sewer lines. Pour grease into a can, let it solidify, and then throw out the can.  This will decrease the probability of sewer disasters in Westmoreland and across Arlington County.
  • Westmoreland is still waiting for repair of the parking lot resurfacing.  No money has yet been paid for the resurfacing, and no money will be paid until the problems with the resurfacing are fixed.
  • A resident sought approval to install an exhaust vent.  Approval is regularly granting once necessary arrangements have been made with the contractor to make the modification in accordance with condo standards.
Condo Board members Jose Calvo, Emil Tabakov, Valerie Corda, Jennifer Hastings, and Joe Ruland, residents Gretchen S. and Douglas G., and Property Manager Dennis Freeman attended the meeting.  That's right, the number of Board members attending was more than twice as great the number of non-Board residents attending.  Residents should be grateful for the service of our busy, unpaid Condo Board members.  One way to show some appreciation would be to show up for some meetings.

The next regularly scheduled Condo Board meeting is Monday, Nov. 23, at 7pm.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Marine Corps Marathon 2009





 



Living in Rosslyn, we're got prime seats for the Marine Corps Marathon.  So after a large, leisurely breakfast, walk outside and enjoy the spectacle of more than 20,000 persons running a marathon.  The Marine Corps Marathon is the people's marathon.  People are incredible.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

tasty kabobs at Courthouse




The Afghan Kabob House is between a post office and a printing shop, across from Wendy's, about 100 yards from the Courthouse Metro.  Not exactly a location that screams ethnic authenticity.  Moreover, the Kabob House is clean, has a spacious dining space with a cafeteria feel, and is professionally and efficiently run.  It offers free wi-fi service. An ethnic dive this isn't.

But the kabobs are magnificent.  I had some tender, beautifully spiced, lamb kabobs and a couple of pieces of very tasty chicken breast kabob.  Moreover, I got talking to a guy named Dale.  He had lived in Afghanistan.  He said that this place serves the real thing.  It's a lot more convenient to go to Courthouse than to Afghanistan.  But I'd say either is worth a trip for kabobs this good.


The kabobs come with Tandoori Nan, an Afghan bread that has a bit more body than its Indian relative.  You choose from four kinds of rice (brown rice, curry rice, rice mixed with some spinach, and rice mixed with raisins and shredded carrots).   In addition, you get a choice of hummus or salad and a portion of vegetables. I had eggplant and an extra side of cauliflower.  Both vegetable dishes had delicious, exotic flavors.

Prices are reasonable.  My lamb kabob meal was $10.95, before tax.  You can get the boneless chicken breast kabob meal for $9.95.  Extra side portions are $2.25 each.  You pay for your food and pick it up at the counter, hence there isn't a waiter that you have to tip.

Owner Akbar Madany opened the Kabob House in the spring of 2009.   He has thirty-years experience in management for large restaurant chains.  He got fed up with being treated like a cog in a corporate machine and decided to strike out on his own. He says he feels quite alone running his own restaurant without corporate support (corporate support is the appealing aspect of the corporate mold).  But he's not an owner isolated in a back office. Yesterday night he was behind the counter, taking orders, serving food, supervising his crew, and chatting with customers. He has established the Afghan Kabob House as a highly professional business, serving authentic ethnic food with the personal care of a small business. You don't often find this kind of restaurant.

For a tasty, quick, reasonably priced, healthful meal, go to Afghan Kabob House.  Hours: Mon-Thurs, 11am to 10pm, Fri-Sat, 11am-3am, Sun 12pm-9pm.  That's right, it's open until 3am on Friday and Saturday, so this is where to go for a late-night kabob run.  Call 703 294-9999 for take-out.  Delivery and catering also available. Free wi-fi.  Address: 2045 Wilson Blvd, Arlington VA 222901.


Sunday, October 18, 2009

2009 RAFOM/NRCA Candidates' Forum

The Radnor/Ft. Myer Heights Civic Association (RAFOM) meeting on Oct. 15, 2009 began with approval of the minutes for last month's meeting. With respect to neighborhood signs, the minutes for last month's meeting record:
RAFOM Vice President Patricia Darneille noted that persons are now voting on the two options. There was a discussion whether people should be required to be RAFOM members in order to vote. It was agreed that voting wouldn't be linked to membership, if technologically practicable.
Careful readers of the Ode Street Tribune will recognize that this record of the September meeting is not quite accurate (compare it to this first-hand, contemporary news report). But that's no big deal. The good news is that voting on the neighborhood signs is now open to all neighborhood residents, without additional conditions. Moreover, the period for voting has been extended to Oct. 24. Neighborhood residents can conveniently vote online here.

The meeting discussed airplane noise.  Residents are complaining of noise from airplanes taking off and landing at Reagan National Airport.  RAFOM President Stan Karsen reported that new routing of airplanes over the river is being phased in, and airplane noise is expected to lessen by the beginning of next year.  

RAFOM and the North Rosslyn Civic Association (NRCA) jointly sponsored a candidates' forum for the upcoming general election.  Candidates for seats on the Arlington School Board, the Arlington County Board, and the Virginia House of Delegates gave presentations and answered questions from the audience.  Below are links to video of the candidates' presentations and rebuttal statements, where applicable.

Candidate for Arlington County School Board (unopposed):
Candidates for a seat on the Arlington County Board:
Candidates for Delegate to the Virginia House of Delegates, 48'th District (includes Rosslyn):

The election is on November 3. Vote!

Saturday, October 17, 2009

need for speed at Bike DC



Bike DC 2009.  Rainy, windy, 46 degrees F'ing.  These are the days when I prefer to ride fast.  Only the anticipation of a good rip like at the Crystal Ride got me out of bed at 6:30 am Saturday morning.  While Bike DC is not a race, what's wrong with a little speed?  Riding at 25 mph is more fun than riding at 15 mph.

Bike DC put local bike racing legend David "Super Dave" Osborne and his Artemis teammates at the front.  They apparently had instructions to keep the pace under 15 mph.  Osborne could have ridden the course at 30 mph...on his full-suspension mountain bike.  Everyone was also required to stop, in the cold, in the rain, at the rest stop 7 miles into the 25 mile ride.  That's no fun. Why not allow riders to motor where conditions are safe for it?  Even better, why not have Super Dave lead the ride at, say, 70% of his race effort?  Many local cyclists would be thrilled just to try to hang with him at a reasonably challenging pace.

Overall Bike DC was very well organized.  Spectators actually were out on road about 8:30 am and cheered the cyclists along.  Bike DC went by the Capitol and by the White House.  It had a nice climb to the National Cathedral.   At that point, I decided that I did not want to stop at a rest stop and I did not want to continue riding so slowly.  So I went home and back to bed.  I slept from a little after 9am to 11am.  Very enjoyable.  Sleeping can be more fun than cycling!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Creative Briefs celebrate forthcoming cultural center in Rosslyn

On 10/10/09, short creative performances and a lively party celebrated the new cultural center scheduled to open on 10/10/10 in Rosslyn.  The cultural center will remake the space of the old Newseum at 1101 Wilson Boulevard.



It was an eclectic, loosely organized evening.  Jocelyn Gordon and friends kept the energy up with some great hoop dancing.  This past summer, Gordon also led free hoop dancing sessions in Rosslyn's Gateway Park.  Kathryn Cornelius and Robin Bell added some edge to the evening with their performance piece, Monuments of Future NostalgiaHenrik Sundqvist had a nice mural featuring Arlington as a bike-friendly community.  I hope that mural will remain in the minds of drivers when they see cyclists.

Jalaika Hasan provided me with some insightful analysis of Dana Lehrer Danze's pottery.  Jalaika designs jewelry, homeschools her five children, and is an accomplished chef who is developing her own multicultural cookbook.  If Arlington events are attracting persons like Jalaika, no one can doubt that Arlington is an interesting place.

Remy Munasifi was at the event.  He was the prime attraction for at least Bob Cannon's kids.  Check out Remy's ode to the forthcoming cultural center.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Cross Culture contemporary fashion at the Art Institute in Rosslyn

Cross Culture, an exhibition at The Art Institute of Washington, right across Fort Myer Drive from the Rosslyn metro, offers some extraordinary fashion.  The exhibition features women's dresses, necklaces, and photography that bring together from around the world people, fabrics, colors, and styles.  Curator Tanisa Sharif has beautifully arranged the exhibition, with Yulia Gorbachenko's stunning fashion photography exquisitely complementing the dresses.

The designers featured in Cross Culture have impressive records of accomplishment well-reflected in their contributions.  Stella Bonds, whose latest line is swimwear "inspired by nature, fantasy, and wildlife," has contributed a day dress with a leapord-patterned bra bodice and a light skirt "reminiscent of the traditional La Pollera Columbiana" used in folk dancing.  Designer Ean Williams, who won the "INDIE Best Menswear Designer" award in New York in 2003, shows a turquoise, Indian-inspired satin dress. Designer David Joseph has contributed a Spanish rose dress in charmeuse silk and lace.  Joseph started his own design company when he was 19, and he has gone on to sell designs to clients in 28 countries. Isolda Marie Meade presents a Gothic Lolita dress that draws upon contemporary Japanese fashion and popular culture.  Meade is a New-York based designer who graduated with a degree in Fashion Design from Marymount University in Arlington.  Rosah Chaava is showing a luscious Zambian Batik dress.  Chaava is currently a student at the Art Institute, but she has already designed a full collection of clothes.  Riffat Zaman, who has worked on issues of culture, economics, and international trade for the World Bank, New York City, the Netherlands Foreign Ministry, and the U.S. Department of State, shows a sari made from a Chinese woven silk georgette fabric.  Metaphorically summarizing the show, jewelry designer Pamela Nieto has collected unique works of nature from around the world and put them together in beautiful necklaces. 

With Cross Culture following right after Crystal Couture, Arlington is becoming a fashion hotspot.  You can at least use that as an excuse to express yourself in your own style.



Cross Culture is showing through October 31 in a ground-floor space just to the right after entering the Art Institute's lobby at 1820 North Fort Myer Dr.  This not-to-be-missed, free exhibition is open Monday to Thursday, 9am to 8pm; and Friday and Saturday, 8am to 5pm.

Morris Minor at Arlington Motorcar




This sweet little car, a Morris Minor 1000 from the 1960s, is visiting Arlington Motorcar Service.  Looks a tad more practical than a Lotus Europa Twin Cam.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

local independent documentaries this Friday evening

This Friday evening Arlington Independent Media will premiere documentaries about homelessness and small businesses in Arlington.  Molly Adair, Patrick Dwyer, Ryan Scott, Tonie Spence and Caitlin Wiederkehr, who are local high-school students and were summer interns at Arlington Independent Media, made these documentaries.  The documentaries will be shown from 7pm - 9pm at Arlington Independent Media.

Arlington Independent Media is located on Wilson Blvd., between the Court House and Clarendon metro stops.  That's only a few blocks from the residence of Neil Cohen, Chief Executive Officer and owner of International VAT Consulting.  International VAT Consulting is a local small business that has supported local independent cinema.  Mr. Cohen has not yet indicated whether he will attend the showing.  Participation by members of the homeless and small business communities would contribute significantly to this event.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Fall Solos 2009 at Arlington Arts Center

The works of six innovative artists are being exhibited in the Fall Solos 2009 show at the Arlington Arts Center through November 7, 2009.   The show features works that are strikingly diverse in media and subject matter.



Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum's works are appropriately at the center of the show. In the main-level corridor are her ornate, black-and-white figure drawings. Walk through that corridor to the Tiffany Gallery and you'll see luscious color drawings that she specifically designed for this space and its stained-glass window.   Phatsimo Sunstrum has also installed there a sound composition and a video.  The latter is both poignantly human ("show me forgiveness") and eerily otherworldly.   

The other artists' works provide a similar range.  David Page shows exquisitely designed wood-leather-metal objects that resonate with nature, industrial manufacturing, and sexual fetishes.   Cynthia Hron has designed with charcoal on paper and metal and plastic a beautiful, hairy place.  Roxana Perez-Mendez offers Pepper's Ghost holograms that show her struggling to move across a geographic space.  Christian Benefiel shows sculpture that many guys might like to put together out of junk in their garage, if they had sufficient inspiration and skill.  Jenn Figg has constructed a fantasy world of print cut-outs arranged into a diorama-like installation. For further insight into the art, check out a highly informative review of the exhibition at Daily Campello Art News

The Arlington Arts Center is open 11 am to 5 pm, Tuesday through Saturday.  So Saturday is really your only chance if you work a standard-time work week.  Admission to the exhibition is free.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

repair on Meade St. bridge

Some minor surface repair is being done on the Meade St. bridge over Rt. 50. The white spray-painted rectangles indicate areas to be covered with cement repair. About 20% of the areas remained to be repaired.



Both sides of the bridge are dangerous traffic areas. Be extra cautious in this area.