Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Rosslyn cosmic event tomorrow

Shadows will align in Rosslyn's Dark Star Park tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at 9:32am.   In conjunction with this cosmic event, Rosslyn BID is running a photo contest.  Post your best shot of the alignment on the Rosslyn BID Facebook page and you could win a $25 gift card from a favorite Rosslyn lunch spot.

Why does the alignment occur on August 1?  The official story is that William Ross acquired the land that became Rosslyn on this day in 1860.  Tomorrow is also Jerry Garcia's birthday.  Draw your own conclusions.

Monday, July 30, 2012

beware of bats in neighborhood

At tonight's Westmoreland Condo Board meeting, a participant mentioned that a condo building in the neighborhood is having trouble with bats.  Bats are fine fellow mammals that eat a lot mosquitoes.  Unfortunately, bat droppings probably are not healthy at high concentrations in apartment buildings.  Some dangerous wild animals have been seen around Westmoreland, but thus far, no reports of bats.

Other items from the Condo Board meeting:
  • The Condo Board has received cost estimates of $900-$1300 (excluding painting the fence) for a treated lumber wooden fence that could replace the bright yellow rope fence protecting the English ivy bed on the side of building 1301.  Given concern to keep condo fees low, the Board is reluctant to incur this expense.  The Board welcomes further input from residents about whether this expense should be undertaken.
  • The Board investigated regulations on community cooking grills.  Grills can't be installed within 15 feet of a building.  That would seem to make impossible installing a grill outside of building 1301.
  • At least 5 units in building 1336 have reported heat pump damage subsequent to Pioneer Roofing replacing the roof on that building.  Pioneer Roofing's responsibility for this damage is a matter of dispute.  Pioneer Roofing did not document the conditions of the heat pumps before and after its roof repair.  The meeting discussed whether Westmoreland should chose a different roofing contractor for subsequent roof repair.
  • The Board received a cost estimate for $20,000 for trimming trees around the property.  While Westmoreland trees suffered no catastrophic damage from recent storms, some broken branches remain up in trees.  These branches will be taken down for safety.
  • Two pine trees were recently cut down on the property.  The Board was concerned that it was not adequately involved in the decision to remove these trees.
  • Virginia recently passed new law concerning the operation of Common Interest Community Boards such as the Westmoreland Terrace Condominium Association.   The relevant law is Code of Virginia Title 54.1.  The Virginia Office of the Common Interest Community Ombudsman has relevant information about the law for condo associations and condo association members.
Attending this month's condo board meeting were three residents, condo board members José Calvo, Jennifer Feinleib, Joe Ruland, Gretchen Sprehe, and Emil Tabakov, and new Zalco property manager Lenard Goldbaum.  The next regularly scheduled condo board meeting will be on Monday, August 27, at 7pm in the onsite condo office.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

unusual activity likely at lower entrance to Hillside Park

White markings have appeared on the ground just outside the lower entrance to Rosslyn's Hillside Park.  These markings may indicate extraterrestrial activity.  The Ode Street Tribune's Extraterrestrial Bureau believes that these markings may not indicate extraterrestrial activity.  Previous white X's in the neighborhood foretold of violence.

Construction further up the streets looks like the installation of an underground power line.  The area outside the lower entrance to Hillside Park may get dug up.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Rosslyn boathouse plans from 2002 now online

The 2002 Arlington Boathouse Feasibility Study is now available online.  Pages ES-2 and ES-3 of the Executive Summary section describe the proposals for the boathouse site in Rosslyn.  Those proposals are now subject to change, but they will give you an idea of how the boathouse and docks could be sited, along with supporting changes in roads and trails.  The Upper Key Bridge site proposal and the combination Upper/Lower site proposal appear to best integrate with Rosslyn's Gateway Park.  Keep in mind that Gateway Park is under plans for renovation.  Gateway Park will be a spectacular entrance to Rosslyn in roughly five years.  An inviting connection to a boathouse would make it even better.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Smart Housework for scheduling household chores

An Ode Street Tribune staffer, pondering his dirty bike, creatively established a new lifestyle approach called Smart Housework.  His pioneering insight was this: if your bike is dirty, don't clean it it today, because it might just get dirty again tomorrow.  Always clean your bike the day after tomorrow.  The same reasoning applies to a wide variety of household chores. 

Smart Housework is rapidly gaining adherents around the world.  Many Smart Housework adherents have found this lifestyle approach liberating.  Scientific research is recognizing the merits of Smart Housework's support for probiotics, natural bio-ecological diversity, and immune-system exercise.  You should try Smart Housework today!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Rosslyn leading location for airplane-watching

Well-informed airplane-watchers recognize Rosslyn's Freedom Park as a premiere location for watching airplanes.  Gravelly Point Park offers airplane-watchers a close-up view of aircraft landing at Reagan National Airport. An occasional close-up is exciting. Rosslyn's Freedom Park, however, offers a more beautiful vista, lush gardens, and all the amenities of downtown Rosslyn.  From Freedom Park airplane-watchers can watch airplanes crossing a vista encompassing the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Jefferson Memorial.  Looking north gives a view of airplanes passing behind the interesting shapes of Rosslyn's skyscape.  In addition, since many of Rosslyn's buildings have reflective surfaces, viewers can watch images of airplanes racing across surfaces of Rosslyn's buildings.  Since airplanes pass over Rosslyn very frequently in the morning and evening, airplane-watchers have plenty of airplanes to see.  Rosslyn is a great place to watch airplanes!

Monday, July 23, 2012

watch for voles in Meade St. park

If you look carefully along the path through North Meade Street Park, you might catch a glimpse of small animals scurrying about.  These are no ordinary mice.  Their short, stubby tails indicate that they are voles. Voles are a highly distinguished animal known for unusual genetic diversity and rapid species evolution.  They are thus a particularly appropriate animal to be living in diverse and dynamic Rosslyn.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Rosslyn known around the world

An Ode Street Tribune reporter, en route to the excellent Lost River Classic bike race, stopped today at the lovely Antiques Etc. in Wardensville for an urgent call of nature.  The shop's proprietor graciously saved the reporter from wetting his pants.  She then asked him were he was from.  He of course said, "Rosslyn, Virginia." She said, "Oh, I know Rosslyn.  I was just there recently."

Wardensville is located in West Virginia's Shenandoah mountains about 120 miles west of Rosslyn.  Wardensville is an unincorporated town that had a total population of 246 persons in 2000 (population probably considerably less currently).  Can anyone doubt Rosslyn's world-wide renown?

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Rosslyn provided our nation's beverage

In Rosslyn from 1920 to about 1935, John E. Fowler bottled Cherry Smash, "our nation's beverage."  Cherry Smash was second only to Coca Cola among popular sodas across the U.S.  Fowler bottled Cherry Smash in the former Arlington Brewing Company. That company was located in Rosslyn where the Key Bridge Marriott now stands.    

The memory of Rosslyn's Cherry Smash is cherished in lovers' hearts.  Chosi has collected Cherry Smash bottles, as well as Arlington Brewing Company bottles from Rosslyn.  Cherry Smash soda fountains are offered on eBay for $170.  But surely the best memory is the long-ago taste of Cherry Smash.  Do you remember that cherry?

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Coppi stars at 2012 Giro di Coppi

Local bike racing team Squadra Coppi braved threatening rains to host and ride in the 20112 Giro di Coppi this past Saturday at Barnesville, Maryland.  Despite torrential rains along Rt. 270, the weather in Barnesville turned out to be fine for bike racing.  Once again, participants and spectators at the Giro had a fun and exciting day of racing.

Squadra Coppi team members recorded some outstanding performances.  Coppi superstar Jason Hall finished 15th in the fastest men's race.  The field in that race averaged about 25mph over 62 miles of hilly roads.  In an only slightly less elite field, Coppis Christopher Grengs and Michael Russo finished 5th and 6th with excellent sprinting.  Crashes in the last two kilometers took Coppis Robert Eom, James DiFilippi, and Douglas Galbi out of contention, but they avoided serious harm.  Veteran rider Rob Saunders carefully avoided trouble, while rising Coppi rider Eric Blomquist sadly had to drop off the pace due to leg cramps.

As expected, the legendary Fausto Coppi once again gave this race a great name.  Winners of each race received a unique Fausto Coppi cycling porcelain.   In addition, race participants could choose to purchase a magnificent Fausto Coppi Giro di Coppi t-shirt.   The t-shirt left no questions about Squadra Coppi's leadership in fashion racing.


Note: The first photo above is by cycling photographer Jay Wescott.  Do not use that photo without permission from Jay.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

flip-top plastic containers ok for single-stream recycling

Flip-top plastic containers can be put into single-stream recycling bins.  Recycling guide charts either don't mention them or indicate that clamshell containers can't go into single-steam bins.  That refers to Styrofoam clamshells.  Styrofoam sadly is not recyclable and isn't biodegradable.  That's why Styrofoam Mom hates Styrofoam.

Paper towels, even ones that you just used to dry your hands, should not be put into single-steam recycling.  Most paper towels are biodegradable, so paper towels going into landfill is much less of a problem.

Monday, July 16, 2012

free calendar with great cycling photos

You can get a calendar with great cycling photos for free at your local Revolution Cycles bike shops in Georgetown and Clarendon, which are less than a ten-minute bike ride from the center of Rosslyn.  The photos were selected from submissions to Revolution Cycles photo contest.  Check out Alex Amato's stunning time-lapse photo of a mountain bike jump!

Saturday, July 14, 2012

electric Volkswagen being tested in Rosslyn

An electric Volkswagen "e-Golf" is sitting today in the parking lot of the historically important Westmoreland Terrace Condominiums.  The e-Golf is anticipated to go on sale in the U.S. in 2013 or 2014.  A recent story in the Houston Chronicle states that the car is being tested in "Detroit, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. markets."  In fact, the car is being tested in Detroit, San Francisco, Washington, D.C. and Rosslyn.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Rosslyn Thursday-night scene


Activity in downtown Rosslyn is picking up.  D. Wright Sigmund, the chairman of the Rosslyn BID's Retail Task Force, recently observed that Rosslyn is ripe for retail expansion:
The new Washington area consumer is relatively young, highly educated, drinks Starbucks, eats out four nights a week and spends more than his predecessors. Rosslyn is one location where this ideal consumer lives and works. Here in Rosslyn, 74 percent of residents are college-educated; their average age is 38; their average household income is $100,168. Plus, Rosslyn hosts a 40,000-strong community of professionals who commute here five days a week. These consumers are the target of all retailers who have focused on the area for growth.
With pedestrian skywalk connecting downtown Rosslyn to Roosevelt Island and a new non-motorized boathouse along Rosslyn's Potomac shore, Rosslyn will become an even more active scene for leisure and relaxation. 

But let's hope that Dominion Power repair trucks are less commonly seen.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

park playground construction in early fall

Construction of the children's playground in Ft. Myer Heights Park is now scheduled for early fall.  The construction documents and permit process have been completed.  The project is likely to go out to bid in 4-6 weeks.  Then the project would go to the County Board for approval.  Shortly after approval, construction will commence.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

fireworks prompt pothole filling


The potholes at the bottom of N. Ft. Myer Dr. have been filled.  Potholes at this location opened before August 31, 2011.  By November 16, 2011, they had multiplied.  The potholes apparently were finally repaired during the weekend before July 4, 2012.  Yup, fireworks are necessary to get some problems addressed.  The many visitors coming to the neighborhood to view the fireworks from Arlington Ridge Park surely appreciated these repairs.

Monday, July 9, 2012

public comment sought on Rosslyn boathouse

The National Park Service's George Washington Memorial Parkway is currently seeking public comment on non-motorized boathouse alternatives.  Two excellent alternatives place the non-motorized boathouse along the Rosslyn shore of the Potomac River. 

In addition to generally relevant comments, commenters are also asked to respond to the following two questions:
  1. If you intend to use such a facility, what would your requirements be?
  2. Do you have any concerns regarding the preliminary alternatives and proposed site locations presented?
You can also provide comments orally and ask questions at an open public meeting at Washington-Lee High School on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

*  *  *  *  *

Here are the Ode Street Tribune's official comments to the National Park Service:

Question 1: If you intend to use such a facility, what would your requirements be?

Rosslyn residents and Rosslyn's many and welcomed visitors will use the facility extensively.  Teamwork is important to the Rosslyn community.  So sport shells should favor pairs, quads, and eights over sculls.  For recreational use, kayaks and rowboats with comfortable seats for non-rowing passengers such as reporters would be good.  Given Rosslyn's strong cycling tradition, the facility should also offer pedal-powered paddlers.

Question 2: Do you have any concerns regarding the preliminary alternatives and proposed site locations presented?

Alternative 2, which places the facility closest to the center of Rosslyn and its many urban amenities, is the best. With the construction of a pedestrian skywalk connecting downtown Rosslyn to the shore near Roosevelt Island, the boathouse, Roosevelt Island, and the Rosslyn area will become a premiere site for exercise, recreation, and relaxation.

Additional comments

Alternatives 3 and 4 are too far from Rosslyn and would be far inferior locations. Alternative 1, which places the docks farther north on the Rosslyn shore of the Potomac, while much better than alternatives 3 and 4, doesn't best incorporate all the resources that Rosslyn can offer to facility visitors.  Combining alternatives 1 and 2 might help to encourage visitor circulation through a refurbished Gateway Park, up the monumental Lynn St., and back to the river on the pedestrian skywalk. With careful urban planning, that alternative might be better than alternative 2 alone.

Saturday, July 7, 2012

local athlete aiming for Kona Ironman

James DeFilippi, who rides for the styling local bike racing team Squadra Coppi, is aiming to participate in the Ironman World Championship Triathlon in Kona, Hawaii.  He's trying to win a spot through the Kona Inspired contest.  Here's his contestant statement:
James DeFilippi - Kona. I Can. I Will.

Born a Hemophiliac, I have learned to manage my condition and have pursued triathlons to the best of my ability, pushing my limits further every year. I hope to be an inspiration to young Hemophiliacs and other kids with any sort of disadvantage, showing that with determination, dedication, and listening to your body, truly anything is possible.
Check out his video.  Your vote can help to send him to Kona!

Thursday, July 5, 2012

leak information about malfeasance, not hazardous chemicals

A spill of hazardous chemicals occurred about noon today from the parking garage in Rosslyn at the corner of Nash St. and Wilson Boulevard.  That is the famous parking garage that sheltered meetings between Deep Throat and a hero journalist.  Rosslyn's Fire Station 10 quickly dispatched one of the "Beasts of the Boulevards" to spray a huge amount of water to wash away the spill.  No information is available on what hazardous material was spilled.  Whatever the material was, it has probably already headed down the Potomac River. That's probably safe, but not environmentally optimal. 

The above information and photo are from a resident local reporter.  Everyone contributing as local reporters will provide far better news coverage than the work of one or two hero journalists.  Keep the news flowing!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

4th of July celebration at Long Bridge Park



Long Bridge Park, which is only about 1.2 miles southeast of downtown Rosslyn, hosted some family-friendly fun to celebrate the 4th of JulyPhoenix Bikes led a family bike parade at noon, and the day also featured games, social sports, food vendors, and live music.   At sundown, those not lucky enough to get a spot at Rosslyn's Iwo Jima Memorial or Rosslyn's Netherlands Carillon could view the DC fireworks right from Long Bridge Park.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Teddy or Hippo: vote now!

Recently the Ode Street Tribune noted that Hippo might be a shoo-in for Man of the Year.  Teddy objected haughtily.  Seeking to avoid barking among its readers, the Tribune's Board of Editors has decided to relinquish this matter to democracy.  Vote for your choice for Ode Street Tribune Man of the Year!

Santa Fe Café raises over $1,000 for needy

Santa Fe Café's fundraiser last Wednesday for the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) raised over $1,000 to help feed the hungry and needy.  That's better than fireworks for celebrating America!