Tuesday, August 31, 2010

new local news site TBD

New local news site TBD has news for your zip code and surrounding zip codes.  It includes both original reporting and a hand-picked selection of posts from local blogs. 

Monday, August 30, 2010

dogs pissing kills bushes

The Westmoreland Condos board meeting tonight focused on landscaping issues.  The Board approved a proposal to spend $5865 to plant perennials, including hydrangeas and a variety of other plants.  This spending will replace $4000 to $5000 of spending on annual flowers, mainly pansies and petunias.   Savings may be possible in future years.

Participants discussed the needs of the different buildings that make up the Westmoreland property.  Building 1301 receives extensive sunshine and has relatively good landscaping, while 1320 and 1322 suffer from shady conditions.  In view of these conditions, some planting funds will be shifted from 1301 to 1320 and 1322.  Resident landscape expert Michelle expressed concern that the planting proposals for 1320 and 1322 are too heavily weighted toward green bushes and lack sufficient range and contrast in color.  The planting proposal will be reviewed in light of this concern.  Michelle also expressed concern that poor quality, dry soil is not suitable for hydrangeas, which prefer moist soil.  Proper soil preparation and bedding should address this problem.

Dogs pissing has caused damage to flowers and bushes on the property.  Residents are urged to encourage their pets to piss on curbs, sturdy trees, or open ground.  Properly directing dog piss will help to preserve the value of Westmoreland investments in bushes and flowers.  Tasteful signs will be installed regarding dogs pissing.

Other matters discussed:
  • Board Member Valerie Corda has sold her unit and moved to a house.  Any owner interested in taking up Valerie's vacant Board position should contact Board President Jose Calvo.
  • Laundry room floor tiles will be replaced as part of general maintenance and repair.  Interior touch-up painting in entryways, including ceilings, are part of the ongoing maintenance program.
  • Some residents are having problems with read errors on laundry pay cards.  Residents having problems with the laundry machine pay system should contact the laundry company at the contact number listed over the machines.  The company has been responsive to residents' problems.
Attending the meeting were Board members Jose Calvo, Emil Tabakov, and Joseph Ruland; residents Alicia, Douglas, Joy, Michele, and Mike; and Property Manager Dennis Freeman.

Regularly scheduled Board meetings occur on the last Monday of the month, not the fourth Monday of the month.  The next regularly scheduled Board meeting is Oct. 31, 7pm, in the onsite management office.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Rosslyn attracts bagpipers

Near the Netherlands Carillon is becoming a hotspot for practicing bagpiping.  The inspiring views help to motivate bagpiping.  Moreover, with the Carillon regularly ringing out, who's gonna complain about some additional loud music?

The video below features Ronnie from New York.  Ronnie, a quite humble musician, questioned whether he's good enough to be on YouTube.  I assured him that he is good enough to be on YouTube.  After watching the video, I'm sure you will agree.


Additional Rosslyn bagpiping coverage:

Saturday, August 28, 2010

metro superman 57 year-old retired Marine

The man in the blue shirt was Dimas Pinzon.  To help a man who had fallen onto the metro tracks, Dimas Pinzon jumped into the tracks from the other side, lept across both electrified third rails, bear-hugged the 200 lb man, and prepared to throw the man and himself under the metro platform.

Dimas Pinzon is a 57 year-old man.  He's a middle-aged man!  If you're starting to notice gray hairs coming in, or hair falling out, and your back is starting to hurt every once in a while, and your muscles just don't seem as supple as they once were, don't worry.  You still might possess incredible physical capabilities.

Dimas Pizon is a retired Marine.  Eyewitness reports indicate that he was carrying a stack of papers. He probably has a desk job in large office building.  In short, he's probably now working as a bureaucrat.  But he still has the Marine Corps ethos.

Even persons who didn't serve as Marines can aspire to Marine Corps excellence.  Whatever your age and occupation, strive to be a Marine in your own mind!


Update: Dimas Pinzon lives in Rosslyn!  Rosslyn is just the sort of neighborhood where you would expect a superman to live.

[video included in post]

Thursday, August 26, 2010

metro train doesn't hit man

Great story at Arlnow, generating a lengthy eyewitness report and a responding comment from the blue-dress-shirt man.  The blue-dress-shirt man provides an amazing example of selflessness, courage, and humility.  That living story is modern local news reporting at its best.

crane puts ac unit on roof

A rented crane placed a new air-conditioning/heating unit on the roof of the Westmoreland Condo building at 1322 Ft. Myer yesterday morning.  This crane was considerably smaller than the crane that serviced the Belvedere earlier this year.   But big equipment is not always necessary to get a job done well.

Two years ago, a couple of tough guys from Polar Bear A/C, Plumbing, & Heating hand-hauled onto the roof a new heat pump for my one-bedroom apartment.  They did good work.  The unit has served me well, especially this summer.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

warriors in training


Soldiers from Ft. Myer frequently are out training on the trail from Rosslyn to Washington.  These three guys, fully dressed and carrying packs, hiked from Ft. Myer to the Capitol and back -- 9.2 miles.  They're looking forward to competing in the national Military Police Warfighters' Competition.  Last year, a contingent from the 289th MP Company, part of the 3'rd U.S. Army Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), took third place in the competition. 

The typically weekend warrior competing with lethal intent knows nothing about real war.  These guys know a lot about real war.  That probably makes mere competitions more fun.  To all warriors, real and imaginary, enjoy opportunities to have some fun!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Capital Bikeshare launching in about a month

According to Capital Bikeshare representatives at the Arlington County Fair, Capital Bikeshare will be launching in about a month.  The station map shows 14 bikeshare stations in Crystal City, and a whole lot of stations in DC.  Subsequent rollout may put more bikeshare stations in Arlington.

The bikes are designed for casual, comfortable riding.  They have built-in front and rear lights, a basket, full fenders for wet-weather riding, and a full chain protector so you won't get any grease on your legs or clothes.  The tires look thick enough to make getting a flat unimaginable even if you ride over broken glass.  The gearing is a three-speed internal cog.  No one will have difficulty pedaling these bikes.  On the other hand, they are probably twice as heavy as a high-performance road bike.

The Capital Bikeshare rate structure is oriented toward short trips.  The $50, one-year (limited time) membership offer allows you to take as many 30-minutes or less bikeshares as you want during the year.  The one-day ($5) and one-month ($25) memberships similarly offer unlimited 30-minute or less bikeshares.  Additional share time incurs sizable fees.  Take the bike for two hours and you'll have an additional $10.50 usage fee.  So Capital Bikeshare is not a good choice for casual bike-sightseeing.  Use Capital Bikeshare to make trips faster than walking, more stylish than taking the metro, and better exercise than sitting on a bus.

Monday, August 23, 2010

black heritage near Rosslyn

Just up the hill from the Rosslyn entrance to Arlington National Cemetery are about 3,800 civilian graves.  These graves hold black persons who lived in Freedman's Village, a village set up in 1863 for blacks who fled from slavery.  Freedman's Village grew into a bustling black community.  But in 1887, the U.S. government took over Freedman's Village.  It ordered all the residents to leave and paid them $75,000 in compensation for the buildings and property.  In 1900, all the buildings were demolished.  The exact site of the village is not presently known.  It is thought to have been on the southern part of Arlington Cemetery, near the Navy Annex.

Why then are the graves of Freedman's Village residents on the northern edge of Arlington Cemetery, near Rosslyn?  I suspect that the residents of Freedman's Village chose the finest location on the Arlington Estate, other than the site of the Custis-Lee Mansion, to build the most important church for the community.  Near that church they built a cemetery.   The finest available location on the Arlington Estate, not surprisingly, was near Rosslyn.

The Black Heritage Museum of Arlington is working to preserve and present the history of Freedman's Village and more generally the black heritage of Arlington.    Mount Zion Baptist Church, Lomax African Episcopal Zion Church, and Mount Olive Baptist Church are Arlington churches with direct roots in Freedman's Village.  Former residents of Freedman's Village and their descendants established the present-day Arlington neighborhoods of Arlington View, Butler-Holmes, Halls’s Hill and Nauck.  Rosslyn about 1900 was a rather disreputable site of gambling houses and salons, so it did not attract respectable black neighborhoods like these.  Circumstances in Rosslyn, of course, have changed greatly, and now the area attracts many groups, including highly cultured Mongolians.

At the Black Heritage Museum booth at the Arlington County Fair, Craig Syphax told me about plans for the museum.  Right now Arlington black history documents and artifacts fill a room at the Arlington Central Library.  Mr. Syphax said that the Central Library will not accept any more material, but people keep bringing historical material to Black Heritage leaders.  They need a place to put the collection.  A museum is planned for the Naval Annex site on Columbia Pike, but when it will be built and opened is not yet known.  The Black Heritage Museum is currently looking for members to work to advance the mission of the museum and financial contributions to help make it happen.  Mr. Syphax did not mention his family history, but I learned from a page on the Black Heritage Museum website that he is a member of an illustrious family that has resided near Rosslyn for more than two centuries

The black heritage of Arlington should not be unknown.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

barbershop chorus seeks additional singers

The Arlingtones Barbershop Chorus, founded in Arlington over a half-century ago, is seeking one tenor, three leads, two baritones, and four basses.  Their website observes:
Thousands of men have "found their voice" in the barbershop community. The Society provides expert instruction in Chapter meetings like ours, and in local, regional, and international schools. Don't let a lifetime of being told "You can't sing" keep you from the joy of making music with us! No one we know has ever said, "I wish I'd waited a few years longer before I started singing barbershop.
The Arlingtones meet every Tuesay 7-10pm at Gunston Middle School, Band Room 145.  If you're interested in joining this a cappella singing group, just show up some Tuesday night. The Arlingtones manning their booth at the Arlington County Fair made clear to me that this a friendly and welcoming group.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

don't let vampires suck your power


AIRE, the Arlington Initiative to Reduce Emissions, is reminding residents to disconnect electronic power converters, television sets, and other electronic devices when they're not being used.  Doing so helps to reduce undesirable and unnecessary emissions.

By persistent and shrewd questioning, the Ode Street Tribune uncovered other important information at the AIRE booth at the Arlington County Fair.  The creator of the magnificent, grand-prize winning, flip-flops decorated cake is Kelly Zonderwyk, on the right in the above photograph.  Congratulations to Kelley for her fantastic cake-decorating!

art is here with Artisphere


Excitement continues to grow about the 10/10/10 opening of Artisphere in Rosslyn.  Antoinette Essex was helpfully providing information about Artisphere at the Arlington County Fair on Friday.  Some details on what's inside Artisphere:
  • 1st floor: a fine crafts store called Artisans Center of Virginia
  • 2nd floor: wi-fi enabled third place/Town Square; two-story video wall; cafe and bar; ballroom; 125-seat Black Box Theatre; 220-seat Dome Theatre
  • 3rd floor: large art gallery
  • next door: 387-seat Spectrum Theatre
The Artisphere website explains:
A departure from the traditional "arts temple" one visits sporadically to see a big star, Artisphere is a true "third space" -- a place between office and home where the cultural experience is a multi-optioned conduit for patrons to connect with and create community. The Artisphere presents a broader diversity of offerings than most traditional cultural centers.

That's a great concept.  Artisphere will be a wonderful addition to Rosslyn.

Friday, August 20, 2010

anonymous vegetable competition returns to Arlington County Fair


Last year the Ode Street Tribune vigorously challenged the Arlington County Fair's decision not to provide the names of adult contestants in its nuts, fruits, vegetables, baked goods, and other products competitions.  The influential and sadly defunct Buckingham Herald Tribblog added its weight to the Ode Street Tribune's voice.  Despite this potent journalistic force, the Arlington County Fair once again has hosted anonymous produce competitions.

Not making publicly available the names of adult entrants in the Arlington Fair's produce competitions makes a farce out of the important issue of privacy.  Most competition entrants almost surely would be and should be proud to be recognized for their accomplishments.  Persons who do not want to be publicly associated with Fair produce competition entries can reasonably choose not to enter the produce competition.  Talking about neighbors' submissions to the fair is an important aspect of community associated with a fair.  Anonymous fair competitions show no community.

Given Mrs. Westmoreland's glorious victory in the string beans competition two years ago at the Arlington Fair, Westmoreland Terrace Condominium residents have a keen interest in the Arlington Fair's vegetable competition.  Fortunately, through persistent investigative reporting, the Ode Street Tribune has uncovered important news concerning the anonymous vegetable competition.  Because she is spending a large amount of time caring for a sick relative, Mrs. Westmoreland did not enter the vegetable competition this year.  We hope that Mrs. Westmoreland's neighbors will in turn offer her whatever support they can and she needs.  The Ode Street Tribune expresses its sympathy with Mrs. Westmoreland and stands willing to produce a special report on Mrs. Westmoreland's gardening efforts at any time she wishes.

The Ode Street Tribune spoke with Scott Perry, Chairman of the Arlington County Fair Board of Directors, this afternoon.  Mr. Perry, who was helping to collect garbage in the exhibition area, graciously listened to these concerns.  We hope for new developments in produce competition name policy at next year's Fair.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

large group of cyclists in Arlington on Tuesday nights


More than 100 cyclists gathered at the corner of N. Quincy St. & 5th Rd. N at 6:30pm tonight for the Conte's store ride.  Arlington Police briefly held traffic on intersections with N. Quincy as the riders headed out N. Quincy to Military Rd. 

This ride occurs every Tuesday from early spring to early September.  So if you've ever wondered what's going on with all those cyclist on the road in the middle of Arlington, now you know.  And if you're looking for a fun bike ride with options for riders of all levels, you've only get a few more weeks to check this ride out.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Rosslyn views


On the underground entrance walls to subterranean parking under Marriott's Residence Inn are murals showing views from Rosslyn.  The parking garage appears to be run independently from the Marriott.  Since it offers a day rate, it probably caters to persons who drive to work in Rosslyn.

Art like these underground murals helps to give Rosslyn its personality.   Don't believe anyone who says that Rosslyn has no personality.  Rosslyn has a lot of personality.

Commuters working in Rosslyn should get out of their office buildings for some long lunch breaks and look around.  Non-artistic views from Rosslyn are much better than these murals.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

inspiration for biking to work

Biking to work this morning after the first of the storms predicted for today, a biker went by me rapidly.  He was wearing a white, long-sleeve shirt, a tie, dress pants, and dress shoes.  No problem.  I leave my bike-racer ego at home.  Still sleepy after a long night of investigative journalism, I was just puttering pleasantly along. 

But then I remembered, as an Ode Street Tribune super-reporter, I am duty-bound to chase down neighborhood stories.  So I shook off my dreams, pedaled hard, and caught up with Fred.


Fred bikes to work from Clarendon to the elipse area of DC nearly every day during the summer.  He isn't afraid of rain.  He isn't afraid of wind. He isn't afraid of heat.

Fred's bike features a metal coffee cup accessible conveniently on its front handlebars.  His bike also has a motor-assisted rear drive.  But don't get the wrong idea. He was pedaling quite briskly when he went by me.

For a guy heading to work on a stormy day, Fred seemed quite happy and carefree.  You would be too if you would bike to work.

colossal storm doesn't cause problems

The colossal storm that passed across Rosslyn apparently didn't cause any Radnor/Ft. Myer Heights neighborhood power outages.  This evening, one momentary power off/on blip occurred at 6:24pm.  All the work on the area's power network seems to have secured our power supplies.

The storm didn't knock down any neighborhood trees.  Most of the trees likely to be toppled, have already been toppled

Don't worry about or fear future summer storms.  Everything will be ok.


 

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

celebrating the Americans with Disabilities Act and Justin Dart

Just a short swim across the Potomac from Rosslyn in the Southwest neighborhood of DC lived Justin Dart, a leading advocate for persons with disabilities.  The Southwest neighborhood has refurbished a historic police call box to celebrate the life and achievements of Justin Dart.  The neighborhood unveiled the call box on July 24, 2010, just two days before the twentieth anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  The call box is located at 901 6th St., SW.

Southwest DC is an illustrious neighbor to our neighborhood. Some persons who live in Rosslyn work in Southwest.  What better reasons could there be to be interested in Washington, DC?


I uploaded this video to YouTube on July 26, 2010, the actual day of the twentieth anniversary of the signing of the ADA.  But in honor of the ADA, I held off posting it here until I had high-quality captions for the video.

I pursued about five different ways to get it captioned, but none worked out.  Finally, this past Sunday night, I contacted Critical Mass Productions, a commercial video production and post-production company located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  Critical Mass Productions quickly delivered the captions as a community service.  Thank you, Critical Mass Productions, for your contribution to celebrating the ADA and Justin Dart in a neighborhood over 1300 miles away!

Other Southwest call box celebrations:

Monday, August 9, 2010

Galbi's cheese takes premium blue ribbon

An Ode Street Tribune foreign correspondent reports that Joan Galbi won a first premium blue ribbon in the Clark County Fair's cheese-making competition.  The Clark County Fair has been held for nearly a century and half in Washington, the state far west of Rosslyn.  It attracts the finest cheese-makers west of the Mississippi.  Galbi emerged victorious with a Camembert made with fresh goat's milk.  She has been widely regarded as a leading cheese-maker since her parsley-pesto goat cheese triumphed at last year's Clark County Fair. 

Arlington County will host its own fair August 18-22 at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center.  Arlington sadly lacks goats.  Moreover, the Arlington County Fair oddly doesn't include a cheese-making contest. So you'll have to find other venues to display your cheese.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

art exhibit at Piola in Rosslyn


"Juxtapositions," an exhibition of paintings by local artist Donna Lomangino, is on display at Piola in Rosslyn through Sept. 3.  The exhibition includes quirky representations of famous historical figures.  See Queen Elizabeth drinking a Corona!  How about Napoleon war-gaming with a PS3, or Columbus heading for Manhattan?  Marie Antoinette sporting a Chanel bag!  Anne Boleyn demanding a wedding ring is quite amusing.

We suggest enjoying this exhibition along with a Napoli pizza, which combines anchovies, fresh mozzarella, black pitted olives, sun dried tomatoes, basil, and tomato sauce. Discerning art critics are likely to choose the Mantova, a pizza with carpaccio (thinly sliced raw beef fillet), brie cheese, arugula, fresh tomatoes, tomato sauce, and mozzarella.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

bigger, stronger, uglier leash-law sign


We now have a bigger, stronger, uglier leash-law sign in Ft. Myer Heights Park.  The previous small plastic leash-law sign should have been good enough.

A few days after it went up, the small, plastic sign was torn down and thrown in the garbage.  A dog might have been able to bite off the plastic sign.  But no dog I've seen in the neighborhood could have put that plastic sign into the large, high metal garbage container.  A human, not a dog, must have done it.

Tearing down the leash-law sign and throwing it into a garbage container is not a civilized way to protest against leash laws.  I suggest instead the modern, civilized approach of venting and ranting on the Internet.  Everyone is welcomed to do so right here in the comment section of this blog.  Just don't propose the immediate, violent overthrow of the Arlington County government and its replacement by pack of running dogs.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Shakespeare in the original Klingon

On September 25 at the Rosslyn Spectrum Theater, the Washington Shakespeare Company (WSC) will present selections from Shakespeare performed in English and Klingon.  The President of WSC Board, Marc Okrand, is none other than the creator of the Klingon language.  He will introduce the performance and answer questions at the end.  In addition, legendary Star Trek actor George Takei ("Mr. Sulu") is scheduled to appear.  Takei remarked, “It will be a new and exciting experience for me, and I’m looking forward to boldly going where I’ve never gone before!”  Hmmm, I think I've heard that before.

Start saving for this event now.  Ticket cost starts at $150, but that includes four flexible-use passes for WSC 2010-2011 season shows.  It's far cheaper than space travel.

If you haven't already heard, the WSC is moving into the new Artisphere in Rosslyn.  Christopher Henley, the WSC's Artistic Director, remarked, "We will be part of a real neighborhood."  You will be indeed.  Welcome to Rosslyn.  I'm glad to have a theater company in the neighborhood that doesn't suffer from the acute self-consciousness of Hamlet.  Play on!