Tuesday, April 30, 2013

queer trees condemned as "hazardous"

According to the Arlington County Parks Department, the four non-straight trees in Ft. Myer Heights Park are going to be cut down because they are "hazardous."  The Arlington County Forester approves of this action.  That's ridiculous.  These trees, which are white mulberries, are gentle and kind.  They have never said a bad word to anyone.  And that's not all.  They are strong, strong enough to have remained standing against some mighty winds over the past few years.  The same can't be said for many straight trees.

One new tree has been planted in Ft. Myer Heights Park.  It's a plain, staid, straight tree. Of course it is warmly welcomed.  Wave to it when you walk by, because trees like gentle breezes.  And sing when you sit under it, because trees like singing.   But Rosslyn has a growing reputation as a funky, quirky, artistic place.  This plain, staid straight tree, welcome though it is, is just not like Rosslyn.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Emil Tabakov stands for duty and service

The historically important Westmoreland Terrace Condominiums was teetering on the brink of disaster at today's annual condo association meeting as not a single person expressed interest in filling an open position on the condo board.  Residents nervously glanced at each other, glum and afraid.  But then Army Reservist Emil Tabakov, standing up Army strong, declared that he would serve on the condo board for another three years.  Tabakov has already served two tours of duty for a total of six years on the condo board.  

In an exclusive interview with the Ode Street Tribune after the meeting, Tabakov pointed out that Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall is a close neighbor of the Westmoreland Terrace Condominiums.  Chaos in neighboring territory could increase risk to that important command center.  While shouldering heavy loads at work and at home, Tabakov took on the additional duty in service to his homeland and to help keep Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall secure.

Other items from the annual meeting:
  • a copy of the condo association budget has not been provided to owners because the budget was finalized only a few days ago.
  • this year the condo association had a net loss of $30,000 on an operating budget of about $150,000
  • the Condo Board has approved a 3.77% increase in condo fees beginning in the new fiscal year (June 1)
  • Westmoreland's Federal Housing Authority loan certification has inadvertently lapsed.  The Board is re-applying for certification and hopes to receive it shortly.
  • According to condo records, Westmoreland is 79% owner-occupied.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

excellent secret hiding place

If you have gold, diamonds, or other precious objects that you want to hide, the tree at the corner of 14th St. N. and N. Nash St. in Rosslyn has a hole that would be an excellent secret hiding place.  Go out and take a look at it for yourself!

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Rosslyn Magazine profiles Rosslyn crane operator

Rosslyn, not surprisingly, has attracted the biggest crane erection ever in the metropolitan area.  This spring's issue of Rosslyn Magazine brings a fascinating profile of that crane's operator.  In reporting the merits of older men, the Ode Street Tribune's journalist frequently mentions that George Foreman won the world heavyweight boxing championship at age 45.  He was thus thrilled to learn that Mike Teague, the operator of the enormous Rosslyn crane, is 66 years old.  Read the full story in Rosslyn magazine.  This story will lift you up, and you will sleep with a smile on your face.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

great trucks in children's playground

Some impressive trucks are now at the site of the future Ft. Myer Heights children's playgrounds.  Sorry, kids, but only adults get to play with them. But kids of all ages can take a walk over to Ft. Myer Heights Park and take a look at these impressive trucks.  Enjoy the local excitement!

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Rosslyn now even more colorful

New wonders large and small are continually appearing in Rosslyn.  Since yesterday, colored fabrics have appeared on four of Rosslyn's skywalks.  These new bursts of color spread the Cupid Garden whimsy out onto a wider canvas of public spaces.
Sponsored of the Rosslyn BID, nationally acclaimed artist Rachel Hayes designed the fabric arrangements to complement the patterns and lines of Rosslyn's skyscape.  Rosslyn has a unique built environment.  But above all what makes Rosslyn colorful are her people.
Take a walk around Rosslyn and enjoy what you can see.  You'll be contributing your special color.

Monday, April 22, 2013

photograph of Rosslyn in the early 1860s


The above photograph of Rosslyn was taken in the early 1860s from east of Rosslyn, about where the Smithsonian Castle is located.  The lighthouse near the middle of the photo is about where the Washington Monument now stands.  Rosslyn then was the most notable spot is what is today Arlington County.  While the landscape has changed greatly, the importance of Rosslyn remains.

Photo note:  Photo by Titian Ramsay Peale, held at University of Rochester.  Peale took eight panoramic photos, equally spaced around a 360 degree view from the Smithsonian Castle.  Reproductions of these photos are now on display in the Smithsonian Castle.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Paul's Case by UrbanArias now at Artisphere

C. Stanley Photography.  Used with permission of UrbanArias.
Willa Cather's short story "Paul's Case" begins:
It was Paul's afternoon to appear before the faculty of the Pittsburg High School to account for his various misdemeanors. He had been suspended a week ago, and his father had called at the principal's office and confessed his perplexity about his son. Paul entered the faculty room, suave and smiling. His clothes were a trifle outgrown, and the tan velvet on the collar of his open overcoat was frayed and worn; but, for all that, there was something of the dandy about him, and he wore an opal pin in his neatly knotted black four-in-hand, and a red carnation in his buttonhole.
Find out what happens to Paul by attending UrbanArias's songful production of "Paul's Case," happening this weekend and next weekend at Artisphere

To help your imagination, here's some more information: Paul runs away from Pittsburgh to New York City.  As you can imagine, if Paul ran away today, he would have ran to Rosslyn.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

attack planned against four queer trees

Four trees living in Rosslyn's Ft. Myer Heights Park are not straight.  Arlington County plans to hack them down.

As well-informed persons know, Rosslyn is an inclusive, welcoming community.  The Ode Street Tribune vigorous denounced the execution of three senior-citizen trees with some disabilities.  The Ode Street Tribune has spoken up for dead trees.  Are queer-presenting trees less worthy of such powerful public support?

Queer-presenting trees are a natural and valuable part Rosslyn's diverse landscape.  In Asian art, unusually shaped trees are considered the most beautiful.  Think of bonsai and landscapes painted on silk wall hangings. Straight trees are normal and boring.  While straight trees are also a welcomed part of Rosslyn forestry, Rosslyn needs some queer trees.

The motive for cutting down the queer trees is suspicious.  According to a well-informed source, the trees are likely to fall over or be a safety risk in the near future.  Cutting the trees down now, in conjunction with the construction of the children's playground, is cheaper than bringing equipment in and working around the playground after it's been constructed.  That's a suspiciously reasonable strategy for saving tax dollars.

The Tribune believes that no action should be taken until there's an evaluation of whether inappropriate bias has motivated plans to cut down the queer trees.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

innovative approches needed to support Rosslyn retail

Tonight's Radnor / Ft. Myer Heights Civic Association meeting grappled with the challenges of supporting small, retail businesses in Rosslyn.  A poster-image of the problem is the above, empty, ground-floor retail space in Rosslyn's Turnberry Tower.  That space has been vacant since Turnberry Tower opened in December, 2009.  It was included in the site plan as a community benefit.

Another underutilized Rosslyn space is the Bennett Park Apartments' art atrium.  Little has happened in that space since it opened in 2008.  Several residents suggested that this space would be a good location for a restaurant.  The thriving restaurants Cafe Asia, Piola Pizza, Red Hot and Blue, and Rays the Third are nearby on Wilson Blvd.  RAFOM discussed the possibilities for local planning innovation to transform Bennett Park's community benefit into financial support for Artisphere in return for being allowed to transform the underutilized art atrium into a restaurant.

Retail establishments need active streets and a conglomeration of retail businesses.  Residents spoke of tight car parking in Rosslyn as an obstacle to retail.  A good residential/business mix with shared use of parking spaces can help to make best use of parking possibilities. Metro improvements, walkable streets, and plenty of bike parking also help to support retail.  About 47,000 square feet of retail space will be added with the completion of the Central Park development.  Rosslyn has great potential for being an exciting place to work, play, snooze, and stroll.

Jill Griffin, Arlington County commercial development specialist, maintains a database of Rosslyn businesses.  She counts 98 restaurants currently in Rosslyn.  Residents challenged that figure.  According to residents, most of those restaurants do not offer evening service.  Ms. Griffin pointed out the importance not just of restaurants, but also supportive services such as day care services and educational services.  She noted the need for more workers skilled in science, technology, engineering, and math.  She also spoke about BizLaunch, an Arlington County program to support small businesses.

Rich Doud, President of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, explained that country permitting processes cause delays in opening businesses.  He also stated that a policy requiring retail in every commercial building makes no sense.  Retail needs to concentrated, Mr. Doud affirmed.

Other items from the RAFOM meeting:
  • the Rosslyn Plaza development remains in site plan review committee
  • the Rosslyn Sector Plan Update is continuing and should be finished this summer
  • the community policing team provided a crime report.  Despite some sensational crime stories in popular news sources, overall crime levels are about normal
  • RAFOM will once again sponsor applications for the Arlington County tree canopy fund.  Successful applications get free trees, professionally planted.   Information and application forms are available online.  You can contact Steve Campbell (stevecampbell "at" verizon dot net) with any questions.
  • Participate in shaping the future by filling out the Rosslyn community survey.  As a bonus, you could win some fine prizes.
The next RAFOM meeting will be its annual meeting.  It will be on June 11 at Prospect House's Top of the Town. 

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

tulips blooming in Rosslyn

Tulips blooming in Rosslyn Vista Park make the scenery even more spectacular than usual.  Take a walk around Rosslyn!

Monday, April 15, 2013

MOM's Organic Market coming to Rosslyn area

After the Ode Street Tribune urged MOM's Organic Market to come to Rosslyn, MOM's responded that it is planning a store at the site of the former Bergman Laundry at Lee Highway and N Vetch Street.  Here's the developer's project description:
This mixed-use development--designed by Antunovich Associates--is slated to feature nearly 14,000 square feet of retail space, 175 apartment units, 27 townhomes and three floors of garage parking. MOM's Organic Market will anchor the retail space, the first location for the specialty grocer west of Interstate-66. The project was approved by the Arlington County Board in December 2012 with a unanimous 5-0 vote. The project is expected to be completed in phases over 22 months.
The description "west of Interstate-66" is a mistake. In accordance with the growing trend in directions, the text should be "in the northwest area of the Rosslyn region, only about a mile from the center of Rosslyn."  MOM's also has stores in Alexandria, Herndon, and Fairfax.  

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Cupid's Garden filled with yarn fantasy

Rosslyn's monumental sculpture Cupid's Garden, dedicated on Valentine's Day in 1994, suggests in cold steel the complicated directions of love.  This afternoon, Rosslyn's notorious guerrilla stitch brigade attacked this sculpture and transformed it into a lovely yarn fantasy.

From Rosslyn Vista Park to Gateway Park, Rosslyn has been a well-known nighttime destination for local lovers.  The yarn fantasy now warming Cupid's Garden is another good reason to be walking the streets of Rosslyn.
Meeting weekly at Artisphere for months, about 130 local volunteer guerrilla stitch brigade members knitted the fantastic array of objects now decorating Cupid's Garden. After some guerrilla stitch brigade members had worked an additional three hours attacking Cupid's Garden, an authority arrived on the scene and ordered them to line up. It seemed that they were going to get arrested, or worse, shot.  They were released on the scene under the condition that they promise to do it again.

Friday, April 12, 2013

make organic sourdough spelt-flax crackers

A good product begins with good ingredients.  Here at the Ode Street Tribune, we use only the finest ingredients for making the crackers that power our lively journalism.  Our crackers are organic sourdough spelt-flax crackers.  The basic recipe, which our journalist found while investigating damp spots, comes from the website of a leading mushroom scholar

The ingredients are what you would expect.  The leavening is that old-school journalistic favorite, sourdough.  The Tribune carefully maintains its culture of sourdough.  The sourdough feeds on organic whole spelt flour, which is also used as the flour for the crackers. Until affordable farmland can be found in Rosslyn, we procure organic whole spelt flour from the outstanding small business Small Valley Milling:
Small Valley Milling is a family owned and operated organic flour mill located in Small Valley (7 miles from Halifax or 25 miles north of Harrisburg). The flour produced originates mainly from grain raised on the family operated organic farm surrounding the mill and neighboring farms.
For seeds the Tribune uses Bob's Red Mill organic natural raw whole flaxseeds, ground coarsely just before using.  For oil we use extra virgin olive oil.  A sparse sprinkling of sea salt on top of the rolled dough adds some extra flavor.  With these fine ingredients, follow the recipe and you have wholesome crackers.  Expect nothing less than wholesome from the Ode Street Tribune.


To help step up the level of what's cooking in Rosslyn, help agitate for a good grocery store!

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

bring MOM's Organic Market to Rosslyn

While the mysterious and intriguing underground Safeway is a venerable Rosslyn institution much maligned on Yelp, Rosslyn truly needs a better source of vegetables and other rustic and pastoral organic foods.  Rosslyn needs a MOM's Organic Market.  MOM's sells healthful foods while working to protect and restore the environment.  A good environment includes healthy, attractive human bodies.

An excellent spot for MOM's would be 1776 Wilson Blvd.  Skanska, the property owner, has a lot of retail space available in the building.  Skanska is represented by Roger Carlson of Colliers International.  Carlson's telephone number is 202 742-1100.  The Ode Street Tribune calls on all vegetable-loving residents and everyone else to start agitating to get MOM's to Rosslyn.

What you can do:
  1. Take the Rosslyn BID survey and indicate the importance of getting a good grocery store like MOM's
  2. Contact MOM's and urge the store to come to wonderful and dynamic Rosslyn
  3. Contact Roger Carlson and urge him to set up a reasonable leasing arrangement with MOM's or a similar store
  4. Attend the Apr. 17 RAFOM meeting on retail businesses in Rosslyn and advocate for MOM's.  At the meeting will be Jill Griffin, Arlington County's commercial development specialist, and Rich Doud, president of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. The meeting will begin at 7pm at Prospect House Condominium Meeting Room.  Enter from N. Oak St.
It's time to stop complaining and start doing.  The Ode Street Tribune's journalist has already done the first three points, and will do the fourth.  What have you done?

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Rosslyn vistas clothed in cherry blossoms

Millions of persons from around the world are streaming to the tidal basin park to see magnificent vistas of Rosslyn clothed in cherry blossoms.  Particularly impressive this year is the crane gracefully soaring above the Rosslyn skyscape.  Cranes have been central figures in East Asian art for millennia.  The motion of cranes in relation to Rosslyn's development was explored in Si Jae Byan's monumental Crane Clock.  Rosslyn's crane makes this year's National Cherry Blossom Festival extra special.

Monday, April 8, 2013

yarn bombs explode in Rosslyn

Approximately 3:30pm yesterday, yarn bombs exploded in Rosslyn, covering six trees with colors and shapes.  No fatalities were reported.  Whether any fatalities actually occurred isn't known. 


The yarn bombs are the work a guerrilla stitch brigade that has been meeting in Artisphere weekly since October.  The brigade has brought together 130 volunteers who have contributed hundreds of hours of work to make the yarn bombs.

The yarn-bombed trees mark a path from the Rosslyn metro to Artisphere.  They underscore the unexpected collisions and explosions of creativity happening at Artisphere.  If you want to snooze with some placid Old Masters, go to the National Gallery.  If you seek risk and new possibilities, follow the yarn-bombed trees to Artisphere.

According to a covert operator placed close to the guerrilla leaders, the guerrilla stitch brigade will strike Rosslyn again next Saturday.  The planned target is Cupid's Garden at the intersection of Wilson Blvd. and N. Oak St.  Be watchful in this area Saturday afternoon, or you might get wrapped up in an explosion of yarn.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

honoring Rosslyn's Potomac shoreside history

A utility pole on N. Ft. Myer Dr. near the Nalbert Apartments is strung up with rope like a sailing ship's mast.  A pulley is attached to a cross-board at the top of the pole.  You don't see rigging like this on many other utility poles.  The rope-rigged pole is a fitting tribute to Rosslyn's Potomac shoreside history.  Can there be any doubt that the new boathouse belongs in Rosslyn?

Friday, April 5, 2013

animate Voltron's Corpse at Artisphere

A fantastic collection of robotic figures are now inhabiting Artisphere's Works-In-Progress Gallery.  Each figure consists of three canvases: legs, mid-section, and head.  Each week the individual canvases are re-arranged across the collection to form new figures.  The exhibit, called Voltron's Corpse, shows creative possibilities for re-organization built upon underlying standardization.  The interchangeable parts of mass-manufacturing here beat with the dynamic social organizations of the Internet.  Consider the future of society with this exhibit at Artisphere.

Whatever the future will be, it's a good excuse for a party.  Votron's Corpse highlights the "Year of the Robot" theme for the mega-party Countdown to Yuri's Night.  It was previewed with a spectacular robot float at this year's Mardi Gras parade.  This other-worldly party will be humming at Artisphere on Saturday, April 13.  Get your tickets here.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Rosslyn-born filmaker's secret project REVEALED!


Building upon breaking the top entertainment story of Mario Lopez in Rosslyn, the Ode Street Tribune's indefatigable Investigative Division has learned a closely guarded secret of OJBG's Secret Project.  OJBG is widely thought to be merely the highly acclaimed teen web series Orange Juice in Bishop's Garden.  But hidden underneath that entertaining series is a circle of connections leading to Rosslyn.

The creator of OJBG is filmmaker Otessa Ghadar.  From a source deep within Ghadar's 20/20 Production Company, the Tribune has learned that Ghadar was born in Rosslyn and lived in Rosslyn's Prospect House for the first two years of her life.  You might think that's merely a propitious place to be born.  But there's more to the story.

OJBG recently held an evening-long special event at Artisphere.  The event included a showing of OJBG's greatest hits and a chance to meet and mingle with the cast and crew.  Ghadar spoke at the event about the international popularity of Orange Juice in Bishop's Garden.  The event showed never-before-seen episodes 6.8 through 6.14 of the web series.  What else was going on behind-the-scenes at this event?

Look at the pieces, and put them together.  The Ode Street Tribune believes that OJBG is covertly sponsored by leading Rosslyn developer JBG.  JBG wants to promote commercial property values in Rosslyn. That means getting the attention of major media companies and associating Rosslyn with cutting-edge media trends.  Otessa Ghadar's OJBG, we believe, is one of JBG's covert organizations.

This Saturday, Ghadar's front company is hosting a Web Series Festival at the Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse, located only about two miles southwest of downtown Rosslyn.  This pioneering Web Series Festival points to the oncoming revolution in local media and international web distribution:
Come experience new local talent and celebrate an emerging artform in the wild west of film: the Web Series. A newly emerging medium, web series consist of a series of videos that are released on the Internet as web television. The MISSION of this festival is to Entertain, Educate and Promote this new artform. Co-hosted by accomplished comedian, Dan Levy, and acclaimed D.C. filmmaker, Otessa Ghadar, the night will be full of laughter and industry insight. 
The event runs from 4pm to 6:30pm.  Tickets are only $15.  Don't expect Rosslyn to be mentioned.  But know that you are seeing the future of Rosslyn's media-business development.

Monday, April 1, 2013

help shape Rosslyn's future

The Rosslyn Business Improvement District is conducting a survey among persons who live or work in Rosslyn.   Contribute your opinion on how to make Rosslyn even better.  By participating in the survey, you can win great prizes, including weekend hotel stays in a prime tourist destination and an iPad Mini.  Most of all, this is your chance to advocate for getting a better grocery store in Rosslyn.  Register your views now.