Wednesday, February 29, 2012

dangerous pothole fixed

Until recently, a dangerous pothole marred Rosslyn's San-Fran-signature urban hill.  Since Rosslyn is a major cyclist and pedestrian gateway between Virginia and Washington, many cyclists and runners had to navigate around this pothole.  The Ode Street Tribune is pleased to report that this pothole has been fixed.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

like Manhattan or like San Francisco?

Peter Katz, Arlington's new planning director and an leading authority on new urbanism, recently spoke at a civic association meeting in Rosslyn.  He mentioned that he was driving around the neighborhood and said to himself:
This place is looking pretty good.  It was reminding me of San Francisco. 
Rosslyn, with its majestic skyline along the Potomac, tends to be associated with Manhattan.  But Rosslyn's Wilson Boulevard is also the premiere urban hill in Arlington.  Rosslyn thus reminds some of San Francisco.

Does Rosslyn seem to you more like Manhattan, or more like San Francisco?  Register your impression of Rosslyn in the poll below, and see how your view compares to the total who have taken the poll.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Westmoreland moves to large recycling bins

At tonight's Westmoreland Terrace Condominiums Board meeting, the Board approved a plan to replace the individual recycling bins with two large recycling bins.  Arlington's recycling center accepts a co-mingled recycling stream.  Hence having separate bins for separate types of recycling isn't necessary. Moving to two large recycling bins will make recycling simpler and will reduce Westmoreland's recycling collection costs from $200 a month to $140 a month.  That's a 30% savings.

Properly identifying trash for recycling remains important.  Here's a list of recyclable material.  Pizza boxes containing half-eaten pizza are NOT recyclable.  Non-recyclable material in the recycle bins can cause a lot of waste.  When in doubt, keep it out.

Other items from the Board meeting:
Condo Board members Jose Calvo, Jennifer Feinleib, and Joe Ruland; residents Douglas, Gretchen, Michelle and her spouse; and Zalco Property Manager Dennis Freeman attended the meeting.  The next regularly scheduled condo board meeting is Monday, Mar. 26 at 7pm in the condo office.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

good reason for driving


With a walkable neighborhood and bikeshare stations everywhere, good reasons for driving a car are difficult to imagine.  However, the recent Mardi Gras parade that started just a 15-minute walk from downtown Rosslyn included this sweet Lotus 7 with a cute girl in the passenger seat.   A Lotus 7 and a cute girl are a good reason to drive a car.


Thursday, February 23, 2012

Frida Kahlo draws crowds to Artisphere

The first and only U.S. showing of Frida Kahlo's personal photographs attracted huge crowds to its Artipshere opening.  Kahlo is a world-famous Mexican artist whose life flowed in world-shaping artistic and political currents.  Mexican photographer and curator Pablo Ortiz Monasterio curated the Artisphere exhibit, which was produced in collaboration with the Frida Kahlo Museum (located in Arlington's sister city of Coyoacán, Mexico), Museo Diego Rivera Anahuacalli, the Embassy of Mexico, the Mexican Cultural Institute and Arlington County, with support from the Rosslyn Business Improvement District.  Like the Hamtdaa: Together exhibit at Artisphere last spring, the Frida Kahlo exhibit is a world-class artistic event capitalizing upon Arlington's special cultural connections.
The opening ran from 7-10pm, and visitors thronged Artisphere all evening long.  If news of it had gotten out, the free appetizer of a crab dip with black beans and chips would have been enough to attract the hungry.  But this crowd seemed keenly interest in Frida Kahlo.  About 8:30pm, they were waiting patiently in line for 20 minutes to get into the exhibit.
Visitors found the photographs deeply moving.  Michele, who uses a wheelchair because balance problems make it impossible for her to walk, supported herself carefully and rose from her wheelchair to peer closely at one photograph.  While outside the exhibit was the din of excited chatter, inside was much quieter as visitors were absorbed into the photographs.

The Frida Kahlo exhibit required an enormous amount of work to produce.  The meager Artisphere staff, as if miraculously multiplying, did the work of a much larger organization.  The Rosslyn BID footed the bill to light Artisphere in the colors of the Mexican flag.  All that effort clearly has paid off.  The Frida Kahlo exhibit highlights a great future for Artisphere and Rosslyn.
The Ode Street Tribune's beat reporter, rushing back to headquarters to file his story, was accosted on the street by a couple who wanted to know "what that was" (the dome lit in the colors of the Mexican flag).  He snarled, "If you read the Tribune, you'd know!"  Taken aback, they said apologetically, "The Tribune?"  The reporter's hard-boiled shell cracked a bit, and he said kindly, "That's Artisphere.  It's hosting the first and only U.S. showing of Frida Kahlo's photographs.  Check it out yourself!  That's what the Tribune is about."

Frida Kahlo: Her Photos is at Artisphere through March 25, 2012.   The exhibit is free and open to the public.  Artisphere has added special Tuesday opening hours to accommodate the public demand to see the exhibition.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

art deco apartments in Rosslyn

While Rosslyn's leadership in contemporary abstract constructivist art has been prominently recognized, Rosslyn's history of artistic leadership is less well-known.  Next time you take a walk in Rosslyn, stroll up to the Key Blvd Apartments to see a fine example of late art deco architecture.   Don't delay, because the Key Blvd Apartments will be going soon.

wheelbarrow woman leads Mardi Gras parade

The leading spirit in the characteristically spirited 2012 Clarendon Mardi Gras parade was the woman pushing the horse-manure wheelbarrow behind the police horses. She raced up the road with her wheelbarrow, scoping manure and throwing beads to delighted children.  For her outstanding effort and example, she has won an Ode Street Tribune Outstanding Public Spirit Award. This prestigious award is given to the resident of the Greater Rosslyn Region who best exemplifies the ideal of public service that the Ode Street Tribune strives to achieve.  We hope that all residents of the region will join with the Tribune in honoring her outstanding example of public service.

Here's some video coverage of this excellent event.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Rosslyn on the Potomac


On Key Blvd. and just around the corner on Oak St. is public art that evokes Rosslyn's idyllic position on the Potomac River.  Throw down an anchor in Rosslyn and stay awhile!

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Frida Kahlo banner times at Artisphere

The exclusive, U.S. premiere, Frida Kahlo: Her Photos, opening at Artisphere this coming Thursday, Feb. 23, is waving in a whole series of events related to Frida Kahlo, Mexican art, and women artists.  This coming Friday at 8pm Artisphere is showing a biography of Frida in the Dome Theatre.  This is a great opportunity to learn more about this celebrated artist.  On Saturday, Feb. 25, Rana Santacruz will bring his unique Mexican musical syncretism to Artisphere:
His music, often called "Mexican Bluegrass" or "Irish Mariachi" starts in Ireland, runs through Appalachia, swings through New Orleans, and careens across most of Mexico. Santacruz’s songs seem to belong on a magical-realistic novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez or Mexican author Juan Rulfo and tell tales of funerals, loyal dogs and towns flooded with tears.
Schedule Friday night, March 9, for flamenco fusion artist La Shica.  She won the 2011 Spanish Music Award for Best New Act.  Reserve Saturday night, March 17, for the Mexican Institute of Sound and its eclectic electronic music.  The following Saturday at Artisphere will feature a Women in Salsa show and dance party, as well as surrealism workshops for adults and for families with children ages 5 and older.
Rosslyn BID’s Block by Block Operations Manager Victor Carcamo and BID's Ambassador Team have helped to get the banners waving for these special events at Artisphere.  You too can be a Rosslyn ambassador.  Tell your friends about the great events going on at Artisphere!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

see and be seen at Crystal City's Diamond Derby

Crystal City has moved beyond the Gold Cup by establishing a Diamond Derby.  Instead of horses and grass, the Diamond Derby will feature cyclists racing around an underground urban cycling arena.   Socializing, spectating, and drinking will be less pastoral-artistocratic and more urban-edgy.  This will be a metropolitan event for seeing and being seen.

The Dandies & Quaintrelles, who sponsor the legendary Seersucker Social and the Tweed Ride, are leading a fashion-oriented bicycle ride that will conclude at the Diamond Derby.  The look for this nine-mile ride is "urban-functional, contemporary and edgy."  The smart-money bets for a winner in this ride are on a rider like Squadra Coppi's former bike racer and current fashionista Dana Matassa.

Expect to see some intense bike racing action in the underground Crystal City urban arena.  Events include an open cyclocross-hashing event, a cycle relay team tournament, and straight-up racing on what is sure to be a highly technical Gran Premio course.  Given their outstanding performances in this past fall's cyclocross season, riders such as Squadra Coppi's Kimani Nielsen, Brad Evans, and the one-two intergenerational punch of Jake and Scott Thompson will surely be major threats if they enter.  Squadra Coppi's Jason Hall had an excellent road season and is a fearsome sprinter, but may be too big for the course.  Squadra Coppi's Joaquin Salas-Orono and Mark Skubis could score well on style points.  Coppi's Jordan Cross is probably too genteel for the race, while James Hibbs seems to be focused on winning long races out in the countryside.  Make your own bets, and be ready for some surprises!

The Crystal City Diamond Derby will occur on Saturday, March 10, from 2pm to midnight at 1851 South Bell St., Crystal City, VA.  The event is free and open to the public for spectating, fashion riding with the Dandies & Quaintrelles, casual riding in the arena, and socializing in the late evening Diamond Derby Ball.  The competitive cycling events require registration and an entry fee. Here's the complete event schedule.  Don't miss the Diamond Derby!

*  *  *  *  *
Photo: Squadra Coppi's Brad Evans racing in a Reykjavik parking lot. Courtesy of Brad Evans.

Katz suggests vision and consistent regulation

Steve Sockwell, Chair, Arlington County Planning Commission, and Peter Katz, Arlington County Planning Director, addressed Wednesday night's Radnor/Ft. Myer Heights Civic Association (RAFOM) meeting.

Sockwell outlined the organization and functions of the Arlington County Planning Commission.  The Planning Commission was established in 1956 to meet the requirements of Virginia state law.  The Planning Commission reports directly to the Arlington County Board.  It consists of unpaid citizen volunteers who meet 1-2 times per month.  It has three major standing committees:
  1. Long Range Planning Committee
  2. Site Plan Review Committee
  3. Zoning Ordinance Committee
The Long Range Planning Committee is currently working on the update for the Rosslyn Sector Plan.  The Site Plan Review Committee is currently doing a site plan review for the Rosslyn Gateway project (Lee Hwy., N. Moore St., 19th St. N. and Fort Myer Dr.; JBG Companies).  A site plan is currently being prepared for the Rosslyn Plaza project (between Kent St. and 19th St; Vornado/Charles E. Smith). The Zoning Ordinance Committee is currently considering sign ordinances.

Peter Katz, who became Arlington County's Planning Director in October, 2011, is a national authority on new urbanism and smart growth.  He offered some ancient wisdom as a good guide for contemporary urban development:
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he.
He described this wisdom as highlighting the importance of both vision and clear, consistent regulation in urban development. For Arlington historically, a key planning vision was to have the metro run from Rosslyn to Ballston and to organize urban density around the metro stations. With respect to clear, consistent regulation, Katz wants to limit unwarranted discretion in decisions for individual projects.  Extensive project-by-project negotiations don't serve to promote most effectively a general development vision.  See the video below for Katz's full prepared presentation.


The question and answer period addressed key issues in Rosslyn's development.  Katz noted that Rosslyn's small block sizes don't promote building service access through small interior alleys and hence limit people-centered street activity. Sockwell pointed to the difficulty of making improvements around federal and state highways and parks.  He noted the importance of Rosslyn for bicycle and pedestrians arteries.  Further development of bike and pedestrian traffic could enhance the vibrancy of downtown Rosslyn.  Better access to the Potomac River would also highlight Rosslyn's distinctive geographic position.  Federal lands make improvements in river access difficult.  However, a potential pedestrian skywalk connecting downtown Rosslyn to the Roosevelt Island walkway and a boathouse in Rosslyn could do much to accent Rosslyn's riverside location.  Considerable planning effort is going into the Key Bridge gateway to Rosslyn.

Other topics of discussion included the lack of transparency in community benefits bargaining.  The total value of community benefit deals are not available during the Planning Commission's site plan review.  Katz noted that some Canadian cities, e.g. Vancouver, use community benefit bargaining with much success.  He looks forward to understanding the process further.  Katz also mentioned that he will push for onstreet parking and that a wise urban planner once told him that great street trees are 90% of great urban design. He noted that liberal regulation for late-night entertainment within a highly confined area can contribute greatly to neighborhood vibrancy.

Katz urged residents to watch the video, Arlington's Path to Smart Growth. He also recommended reading Jane Jacobs book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities.

Other issues discussed at the RAFOM meeting:
  • The RAFOM Board selected Jim Villars as a new RAFOM Board member.
  • The RAFOM holiday party for low-income neighbors this past December was highly successful.
  • RAFOM Board members are opposing the new Capital Bikeshare station that is being installed in the N. Meade St. Park.  That park was renovated through extensive neighborhood effort, but the neighborhood leaders of that renovation, and the neighborhood in general, was not consulted about the installation of the Bikeshare station.  RAFOM Board members, however, have not openly consulted the neighborhood about the Bikeshare station.  The RAFOM Board should not speak for the neighborhood about the Bikeshare station without some open neighborhood discussion of it.  The Ode Street Tribune has received no comments indicating neighborhood concern about the station since the Tribune posted about it over a week ago.  At this point, concerned residents favoring or opposing the Bikeshare station probably should contact Arlington County officials directly to register their views.
  • A meeting with Arlington County planning officials about the Meade St. Bridge renovation will occur on Thursday, Mar. 1, at 5:30pm in the Prospect House meeting room.
  • Early Saturday morning construction noise at the Sedona & Slate construction site has been a problem. Construction at that site may kill trees in Belvedere Park.  If those trees die, they will be replaced.  In addition, 18 new trees will be planted in the park.
The next RAFOM meeting will be at 7pm on March 13.  It will feature the candidates in the upcoming special election for the open Arlington County Board seat.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

celebrating vegetables: avocado

Avocados are a wonderful, manly vegetable (large seeds).  Keep them in a brown paper bag outside of the refrigerator until they are soft to the touch.  With a dull dinner knife, cut the avocado in half.  Then run the knife between the flesh and the rind to extract the flesh and the seed.  Cut up the avocado into a lunch-sized canning jar, and pile on top Italian pearled farro (cooked by boiling).  With a couple of mini-cucumbers and a fresh pepper in a paper lunch bag (reusable), you've got a fine lunch.
This post is part of the Ode Street Tribune's celebrating vegetables series.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Rosslyn center of global Social Media Week

This week is Social Media Week in Rosslyn and in other leading locations around the globe - Hamburg, Hong Kong, London, Miami, New York, Paris, San.Francisco, SĂŁo Paulo, Singapore, Tokyo, Toronto, and Washington DC.   Here's a full schedule of exciting events in the Rosslyn-Washington metropolitan area.

As part of  Social Media Week, e-Geaux (beta) will perform at Artisphere this Thursday at 8pm in the Dome Theatre.  The performance will be cutting-edge interactive:
Created collaboratively by art collective and parody tech start-up Pepys Inc., e-Geaux (beta) is an original piece that mashes up theater, improv, and data visualization into an interactive performance experience that is guaranteed to change the way you use Facebook.
Tickets for this one-night-only show are $15.  Following the show will be a Tweet Slam with poet Holly Bass.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

take a walk in Rosslyn

In whatever weather, Rosslyn's a great place to take a walk.  You can walk around the celebrated Iwo Jima Memorial, enjoy the spectacular view of Washington about the Netherlands Carillon, and stroll for miles on the sacred ground of Rosslyn's Arlington National Cemetery

Less well-known are the charms of downtown Rosslyn.  Have you ever walked down the lovely, twisty walkway between 18th St. and Key Blvd (near the corner of 18th and Oak St.)?  Don't delay; do it today.  As an added bonus, you'll find some public art and historic architecture on the Key Blvd side.  Stay tuned for a follow-up story on the Ode Street Tribune.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

new signs for Artisphere's Frida Kahlo exhibit

Artisphere's upcoming exclusive, blockbuster Frida Kahlo exhibit is being promoted with some stylish signs.  Artisphere desperately needs more signs and a more prominent visual profile.  The Frida Kahlo street banners are a good start.

Sign regulations are a major issue in Arlington.  These are important regulations. They can shape the visual appeal of streets and urban landscapes, and make or break enterprises.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Rosslyn upset

With the fabulous Crystal Couture now underway, Crystal's older sister city Rosslyn is steaming jealous. Mitchell Schear, the President of Vornado/Charles E. Smith, declared that his vision for Crystal City is for it to have the fresh energy, style, design, and great imagination of Crystal Couture.

It's not fair. Crystal's getting nicer clothes than Rosslyn!  How come Rosslyn keeps getting treated like a Monday to Friday office drone?  Crystal has more friends, especially boys, visiting her at night. Rosslyn's getting bored and ignored!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

new bike share station near Meade St. bridge

An alert resident noticed a new slab of concrete in the under-appreciated North Meade St. Park.  Alert and engaged residents are all that stops the whole earth from being concreted over.  This resident's alert triggered an Ode Street Tribune special investigation.  The special investigation has revealed that the concrete slab is the base for a new Capital Bikeshare station that will be installed at this location within a month or two.

Crystal Couture for stunning clothes


Get some tongues wagging in the cubicles of the office drones. Give your hubby something better to watch than football.  Fulfill your own fashion fantasy.  You can do all this and more with the Crystal Couture Show and Sale this week in Crystal City.  At Crystal Couture, more than 40 boutiques and designers offer you distinctive custom fashions at discount prices.  Ponder your new fashion choice amidst runway shows, an open bar, and free makeovers from makeup stylists and hair stylists.  

Fashion designer and stylist Nam Nguyen showed tonight a lovely satin and chiffon patterned outfit.  The matching bow (unfortunately not visible above) gives a girlish flair to the sexy, high-slit dress.

Military clothes and vintage clothes are in fashion.  TopRank brings these two trends together with vintage military fashion.  These clothes will make you better positioned than a Rear Admiral at a welcome home celebration.

Afua Sam of Studio D Maxsi showed an ornate, orange silk dress that she called VaVaVoom fashion.  This is exactly the right sort of dress for an ambitious woman lawyer to wear to the office to render opposing counsel speechless.   

Samuel Ugglee at 4Ever Ugglee wants you to dare to be different.  He complements a tight, strongly patterned sweater with a scarf that looks to me like an audacious cross between an ascot and a sauna towel.  Its color bravely pushes toward a light pinkish cream.

Gennet Purcell of Maven Designs showed a black dress that looked like it had been custom designed for the model's long black hair.  When the model tossed her hair, the strands of the dress played in concert.

Model Kyler Manjone walked down the runway in this elegant peach dress from Deidre Jefferies of Espion.  Her shoes were the highest platform heels that the Ode Street Tribune has ever seen. She said that they were comfortable and easy to walk in.  The dress was light and springy.

Find your own fashion at Crystal Couture, Feb. 7-11, 6pm to 10pm every day in the former food court at 1750 Crystal Drive.  Admission is free and open to the public.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

technical problem in responding to Tribune email delivery

Email subscribers to the Ode Street Tribune get every morning fresh delivery of new Ode Street Tribune posts.  At the bottom of these emails has been a link "email the author." Unfortunately, email to the Ode Street Tribune through that link are sent to a "noreply" address and hence are not received. The Tribune is studying how to correct this technical snafu.  In the meanwhile, email subscribers can respond to emailed posts by using the regular email reply mechanism.

Update:  The "email the author" option has been removed from subscriber emails.  For other blog administrators facing a similar problem, the "email the author" option can be removed from the emails through Feedburn, Optimize tab, Feedflare service option. 

Sunday's video

Special note:  The Ode Street Tribune is pleased to bring you today the YouTube smash hit, "Truck Stuck."  This video has received over 50,000 views on YouTube and is by far the most popular Ode Street Tribune video.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

symphonic photographs at Artisphere

Everitt Clark's Night and Day, an exhibit of photographs now at Artisphere, consists of small, black-and-white photographs of scenes of decay, waste, and abandonment.  But within them is an incredibly beautiful symphony of forms playing above and below each other, dramatically crossing, twisting and funneling through the plane, and having subtle patterns and tonal shades.  Discussing one such photograph, Clark says that he would like the viewer to come away with "a sense that the sublime can be found in the humblest surroundings."  Take the time to gaze calmly at these photos, and you will find that sublime.

Clark grew up in Arlington and attended Arlington's H.B. Woodlawn School.   While enjoying video game music, he heard a Chopin waltz and became deeply interested in classical music.  After studying music intensively in college, a friend introduced him to large-format film photography.  He began to study and practice photography intensively.   Night and Day displays what Clark has achieved at this current stage of his personal and artistic development.


These large-format film photographs involve much different artistic work than does digital photography.  Highly artistic local news sources typically quickly take a large number of digital photographs on the scene.  Picture selection, and usually some cropping, completely makes the photo that the public sees.  Clark, in contrast, goes into the field with a large camera and tripod and just twelve exposures of film.  He spends much longer in the field composing the photograph, metering the light, and exposing the film.  Back in his darkroom, he spends 6-8 hours making a single exposure into a print.  Moreover, the print is a contact print, meaning the print is exactly the same size as the exposed film.  Most of Clark's photographs are not cropped at all, and those that are cropped are cropped only slightly.  Compared to the typical practice of digital photography, Clark's photographs are much closer to the images he composed in the field.  Clark's photographs are high fidelity in their printed quality and also in their relationship to the observed reality.

Night and Day, an exhibit of Everitt Clark's photographs, is free and open to the public at Artisphere through Mar. 31, 2012.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

celebrating vegetables: kale greens


Kale greens are an outstanding vegetable.  For a mere $3.29, you can buy a huge bag of Nature's Greens kale greens at Rosslyn's mysterious and alluring underground Safeway.  That bag has roughly 10 healthy servings of kale greens, giving a cost of less than 33 cents per serving. You can eat kale greens for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Eat them raw as a snack. For a warm dinner, stir-fry kale greens in a little olive oil in a cast-iron pot.

Kale greens are the best value in vegetables.   Get some kale greens today!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

celebrating vegetables

Vegetables are not inert, incapacitated foods.  They are each exquisite organic products fully capable of providing satisfaction.  The Ode Street Tribune's new celebrating vegetables series will enlarge your vegetable horizons.

This will not be your average food or cooking feature.  The usual media fare caters to good cooks, complex recipes, and refined tastes.  This series will be about eating vegetables.  In each post of the series, one new vegetable will be prepared in one of two simple ways: raw or cooked.  There will be no recipe.  All you will need is the vegetable.

The vegetables will be fresh, not canned or frozen.  The vegetables may include some that you have never seen, some that you have never eaten, and some ways of eating vegetables that you've never imagined.

Stay tuned for the first post in the celebrating vegetable series!