Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Stooges Brass Band at Artisphere next Friday


The Stoooges Brass Band will be rattling Artisphere next Friday, August 9, starting at 8:30pm.  They play from traditional brass band to hip hop.  They sing true stories. The Stooges Brass Band is a dear favorite and inspiration for the Ode Street Tribune's Publisher, Managing Editor, and Deputy Managing Editor.  Don't miss this world-class Stooges performance.  General admission tickets are a mere $20, available online.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

mysterious "dois" sign appears

A "dois" sign has appeared at the corner of Fort Myer Dr. and Ode Street in Rosslyn.  Three years ago, the Ode Street Tribune reported a sign that Ode Street was going downhill at this location.  However, that sign turned out to be faulty.

This new sign is difficult to read.  The Tribune does not believe it to be ominous, but has committed the full staff of its investigative reporting division to get to the bottom of this story.

Additional bonus news:  Be careful taking a left turn from Nash St. onto the small Arlington Blvd.  View distance to the left is short because of the slight bend in the road. Moreover, the small Arlington Blvd to the left is a pillar of county speeding ticket revenue.  So expect some cars with uninformed drivers to be going quite fast.

Monday, July 29, 2013

new bridge over Rt. 50

To the many, patiently waiting persons around the world, rejoice!  Improved access to Rosslyn is coming soon.
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Rt. 50 west closed at Rosslyn

As of Saturday at 1pm, Rt. 50 is closed heading west from Rosslyn.  A large traffic backup has formed for the detour.  Rt. 50 is closed for the Rt. 50/10th St./Courthouse interchange construction.  The construction does not appear to be as sensational as the earlier bridge demolition.

As always, the smart choice is not to leave Rosslyn.  If you're coming into Rosslyn from the east on Rt. 50, there's no need to go further.  Stop and enjoy Rosslyn!

Update: Rt. 50 westbound will remain closed at Rosslyn on Sunday.  Rhodes St. bridge is backing up from traffic detouring via the Arlington Blvd. access road.  Walk or ride a bike if feasible.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Save Wilson School campaign activated

In response to the Arlington Public Schools' letter of intent to sell Rosslyn's Wilson School, Preservation Arlington has activated a campaign to save Wilson School.   A "Save the Wilson School" facebook page declares:
Our goals are to:
1. Retain and restore this century old property.
2. Retain recreational parkland, open space and permeability of site access.
3. Preserve and renovate existing affordable housing at Queens Court.
4. Retain the civic purpose of the school and educational history of use.
5. Fulfill affordable housing goals of the site with rezoning.
The campaign has also established an online petition to save Wilson School.  The petition is directed to the Arlington County Schools and the Arlington County Board.

In an email to major local media, Preservation Arlington noted:
As of July 24, the Western Rosslyn Study Group has not yet been formally announced.  We understand that there is a great deal of work to be done.  We want to be out there in front to remind people and raise awareness of this important community landmark. 
Well-informed persons are aware of the importance of public art at the site and keeping the Mongolian School in Rosslyn.

another sign that repaving is imminent


The extension of a water main to Ft. Myer Heights Park has left a bumpy gash at the bottom of N. Ft. Myer Street.  The poor quality of the street repair makes sense if general repaving of the street is imminent.  Other markings on the street also suggest that repaving is imminent.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

historic stones in Rosslyn

From 1935 to 1942, the estate of famous general George S. Patton was in Rosslyn at the current location of Prospect House (between 12th and 14th Streets).  Stones from the estate remain standing like a stone wall right up to the present.

The Congressional School occupied the site from 1942 to 1960.  The presence of that school also is memorialized in the stone wall.


This information and much more is from the excellent Radnor / Ft. Myer Heights Neighborhood Conservation Plan 2007.  Take a walk around Rosslyn's historic Radnor / Ft. Myer Heights neighborhood and enjoy all the interesting sights.

Monday, July 22, 2013

spy camera installed next to Rt. 50 & pedestrian overpass

A new spy camera has been installed on the north side of Rt. 50 next to the Westmoreland Pedestrian Overpass (across the street from Rosslyn's Iwo Jima Best Western).  The surveillance apparatus is much more modern than one that a local investigative journalist found in downtown Rosslyn

Show some neighborly Rosslyn spirit and wave to the camera as you pass by.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

N. Ft. Myer Dr. closed south of Rt. 50


As of 1:25 on Saturday, July 20, N. Ft. Myer Dr. is closed to motorized vehicles at its intersection with the Arlington Blvd access road.  Workers are installing a water connection for a water fountain in the forthcoming children's playground the in the N. Ft. Myer Heights Park.  The current estimate is that intersection will be repaved and open to motorized traffic by 5pm.

The job is difficult because the water main is exceptionally deep.  Moreover, workers have discovered a leak in the water main.  Well-informed persons have been aware of this leak for approximately six months.


Thursday, July 18, 2013

bad signs proliferating


First there was the wrong "everything is wrong" sign.  Now a "wank" sign in similar lettering has appeared on a print distribution box near the corner of Ft. Myer Dr. and the small Arlington Blvd.  Why would anyone who has the pleasure of being in Rosslyn want to wank?

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

important vegetable news


This coming Wednesday, July 24, the gardening talk at Arlington Central Library will be "how vegetables are used around the world."  The talk will emphasize using leafy vegetables for tasty wraps (such as stuffed grapeleaves, yum yum!). 

Two weeks later, on August, 7, the gardening talk will be about "vegetables for the fall." The talk will discuss growing vegetables in the late summer and early fall.

Both talks will begin at 7pm in near Arlington Library's Plot Against Hunger next to the back entrance of library.

Readers have been complaining that the Ode Street Tribune hasn't produced a "celebrating vegetables" story in a long time.  Here's some news: about a month ago, the Tribune's investigative journalist found some dandilion greens for sale in Rosslyn's mysterious and intriguing underground Safeway.  The journalist bought them.  He had some raw, and some cooked, and pondered the best recipe.  Unfortunately he pondered too long.  The dandilions wilted in the Tribune's refrigerator.  The editor then canned the story.

The Tribune doesn't serve canned news.  You shouldn't eat canned vegetables.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

outreach for world understanding

In the spirit of seeking world understanding, the Ode Street Tribune's investigative journalist tonight walked about two miles west from the center of Rosslyn.  He attended at St. Charles Borromeo Church a talk about the Rwandan genocide and youth ministry in its aftermath.  A priest from Rwanda, Fr. Salvain, is in resident at St. Charles.  Fr. Salvain talked about the terrible events and his work in running a school in Rwanda for about 500 genocide orphans.

Fr. Salvain explained that he formed families by dividing the orphans into groups of ten.  Within each group, the orphans adopted other orphans as their new fathers and mothers.   That's nearly incomprehensible, especially after what these children had been through.  But it apparently worked.  Perhaps the parents and the children understanding each other well helped.

Fr. Salvain's dedication as a priest came through clearly.  Rwanda has a strong Christian tradition, with nearly 94% of the population being Christian.  That was also true before the genocide.  In the Catholic liturgy for Good Friday, the congregation takes the part of the people gathered at Jesus's trial, and they shout in unison, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"  Fr. Salvain took the orphans for an Easter Mass to a Church were thousands of persons, seeking shelter there, had been killed. Fr. Salvain and others in Rwanda are working to bring alive hope in Rwanda for the future.  One priest serves many people.  Fr. Salvain spoke of hearing confessions for 12 hours in one day.  

The Ode Street Tribune pledges to respect the memory of the Rwandan genocide.  According to Wikipedia:
the news media played a crucial role in the genocide; local print and radio media fueled the killings while the international media either ignored or seriously misconstrued events on the ground. The print media in Rwanda is believed to have started hate speech against Tutsis, which was later continued by radio stations. According to commentators, anti-Tutsi hate speech "...became so systemic as to seem the norm." The state-owned newspaper Kangura had a central role, starting an anti-Tutsi and anti-RPF campaign in October 1990. In the ongoing International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the individuals behind Kangura have been accused of producing leaflets in 1992 picturing a machete and asking "What shall we do to complete the social revolution of 1959?" – a reference to the Hutu revolt that overthrew the Tutsi monarchy and the subsequent politically orchestrated communal violence that resulted in thousands of mostly Tutsi casualties and forced roughly 300,000 Tutsis to flee to neighboring Burundi and Uganda. 
The Ode Street Tribune pledges never to support fear, hostility, and anger among neighbors.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Realize Rosslyn skyview tour sold out

The Realize Rosslyn skyview tour happening this Thursday evening has sold out.  That's hardly surprising.  Here's the description of the event:
Join the Rosslyn Process Panel and the Realize Rosslyn project team on-site for this walk around the center of Rosslyn. We will be visiting the tops of several buildings in Rosslyn to better understand some of the issues and conditions to be addressed in developing potential strategies for future building heights and forms in Rosslyn. As we travel between buildings, there will be opportunities to point out and talk briefly about some of the draft plan framework elements and alternative approaches to them. 
What could be better than enjoying spectacular views from the tops of Rosslyn buildings and talking about Rosslyn's future? 

The Ode Street Tribune's journalist could not register for this event because of another commitment on Thursday evening.   The Tribune hereby deputizes every resident of Rosslyn to act as a freelance reporter for the Tribune.  Please send the Tribune photos of views from the tops of Rosslyn buildings.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Squadra Coppi tackles Giro without Rosslyn cyclist

At today's Giro di Coppi, local bike racing team Squadra Coppi was looking grave and sober.  Squadra Coppi had to race without the team's Rosslyn cyclist.  Because he has a highly stressful job, the team's Rosslyn cyclist decided to take a year off from bike racing to try to give his head a chance to recover from the banging.  The team thus far has not been successful in acquiring another Rosslyn bike racer.

All kinds of organizations need the talent that resides in Rosslyn. But securing it often isn't easy.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

public art at Wilson School site

Wilson School is currently the site of a magnificent mural.  To see the mural, walk around to the back of the school.  Covering from the depths of the sea to outer space, the mural depicts the inquisitive spirit of persons in Rosslyn.  It shows the creativity and dynamism that starts in Rosslyn and spreads to known and unknown worlds.

Planning to redevelop the Wilson School site is currently underway.  Plans should include public art as good or better than this mural.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Rosslyn bunnies now prefer Meade St. Park

After the tragic destruction of bunny habitat along Rosslyn's 14th St. N., Rosslyn bunnies now prefer to nibble grass in Rosslyn's North Meade St. Park.  In an exclusive interview with the Ode Street Tribune, a Rosslyn bunny stated that traffic along Meade St. is scary at times.  She wants to see implemented promptly the preferred concept plan that resulted from the Meade Street Bridge Alternatives Study.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Rosslyn meeting Wednesday, streetwalking next week

A Realize Rosslyn process panel meeting will occur this Wednesday, July 10, at 7pm in the County Board room at 2100 Clarendon Blvd.  All are welcomed to attend and observe the process of planning to realize Rosslyn.  The tentative meeting agenda is to "follow up on the detailed transportation and parks and open space aspects of the draft vision framework."

Another more sensational opportunity for participation is a Realize Rosslyn Walk Around that will occur on Thursday, July 18.  Rosslyn has an illustrious history of streetwalking.  Connect Rosslyn's past and future by getting out and joining neighbors to walk Rosslyn's streets next Thursday evening.

Monday, July 8, 2013

spectacular July 4th view of Rosslyn

The large flotilla that gathered in the Potomac River on July 4th enjoyed a spectacular view of Rosslyn.  Rosslyn sparkled and shined in the evening sky while jets passing overhead added dramatic noise.  For fortunate boaters, the July 4'th celebration extended all night long.  Morning brought another beautiful view of Rosslyn.

Monday, July 1, 2013

publication suspended for week for strategic business planning retreat

Traditional newspapers are suffering from falling circulation and declining revenues.  A fundamental newspaper business problem is that, unlike the older generation, young persons no longer reach for a newspaper when heading for their regular morning bowel movement.  Instead, young persons are active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine, and other social-media sites in the bathroom and everywhere else.   The results have been disastrous for newspapers.

Concerned about the future of the newspaper business, the Ode Street Tribune's management is suspending publication of the Tribune for this week.  The Tribune's publisher, editors, and sub-editors will be meeting at a resort in South Carolina to discuss big ideas for re-invigorating the newspaper industry.  Heading the agenda is a proposal for a national-wide, print ad campaign with the theme "Newspapers Keep You Moving." The Tribune's journalist will remain in Rosslyn, working on a story about how the Rosslyn bunnies are responding to the destruction of their habitat.

Publication of the Ode Street Tribune will resume on July 8.