Saturday, August 31, 2013

children's playground nearing completion

The children's playground under construction in Rosslyn's Ft. Myer Heights Park is nearing completion.  The Ode Street Tribune's Construction Forecasting Bureau projects that the playground will be finished by the end of September.  It will be a fine new space for fun for children of all ages.

Friday, August 30, 2013

to Rosslyn from Oregon by bike

Yesterday Stefan and Nina arrived in Rosslyn.  They rode their bikes here from Portland, Oregon.  You can see a lot of pictures from their cross country trip on their online trip log.  They biked on average 60 miles a day on this epic, three-month cross-country trip.  Stefan and Nina, who are from Sweden, highly recommended this adventurous journey to Rosslyn.

Riding bikes is a lot of fun.  But if you're already in Rosslyn, the easiest thing to do is to stay here.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

water spill not dangerous

About 9:30 pm on Wednesday night, three fire hydrants on N. Pierce St. in Rosslyn were pouring water out onto the street.  The deluge evoked for informed residents fearful memories of the terrible 2011 Deep Soil Rosslyn Water Spill.  But this water spill was a controlled blowout.  County water officials had received reports of some discolored water, so they did a controlled flush of water pipes in the area.  The fire hydrants were recapped after about twenty minutes of water flow.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

James Brown in Rosslyn: "This is my home town"

At the majestic Rosslyn Vista Park this morning, a CBS news crew videoed CBS This Morning anchor James Brown live-to-air discussing tomorrow's 50th Anniversary March on Washington.  Brown was born in the greater Rosslyn metropolitan area and resides here today.  Standing in Rosslyn, he declared on CBS nationwide, "This is my home town." 
The news shoot showed the excitement and effort that goes into making the news.  Shooting news segments live demands the ultimate in professionalism.  If you screw up, everyone sees it. Moreover, most viewers don't appreciate the difficulty of lighting outdoors on a sunny day. Especially when shooting high-definition video, the difference between good lighting and bad lighting is like the difference between a young student eager to go to college and a guy who just woke up from a bad hangover. The news crew set up three lights and a reflector.  With two minutes to action, the cameraman asked for another light.  The crew hustled to get the additional light into position, but then they had to power it.  One guy sprinted to the truck, turned on the engine to power the generator, and rolled a cord from the truck to the light.  But time was gone.  The cameraman had to role with what he had.

James Brown and the CBS news crew were back in Rosslyn for the CBS Evening News.  On this segment of CBS from Rosslyn, Brown told the story of a young guy to whom Martin Luther King gave the actual written text of the speech that he read on that historic day.  Despite this long day of news work, Brown stayed on the scene for a few minutes to greet and chat with local news fans.

Rosslyn is a poignant emblem of the ideals of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech.  While many prefer to remain silent about this sad history, there was a time when many looked down on Rosslyn as a third-class place.  The right sort of people wouldn't want to be seen in Rosslyn or with Rosslyn residents.  Now Rosslyn is moving forward to a much brighter future.  Help to realize this dream by attending the Realize Rosslyn Process Panel Meeting on Sept. 10, at 7pm in the County Board Room at 2100 Clarendon Blvd.  According to the official announcement:
The tentative agenda primarily includes follow up presentation and discussion on building height and form and urban design strategies introduced at the July 24 panel meeting. All are welcome to attend and observe.
Realizing any dream starts with facing reality.  Realize Rosslyn!

new trees in Ft. Myer Heights park

Two new trees have replaced plastic play equipment in the upper Ft. Myer Heights Park.  The upper park is being transformed into a green space. New, higher-quality play equipment will be installed in the children's playground now under construction in the lower area of the park.
The two new trees are straight and normal.  That's ok.  The new trees appear to be oaks, but they may actually be maples.  Take a look and report for yourself.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Rosslyn beyond conventional frames

Rosslyn is increasingly known for out-of-the-box thinking and ideas beyond conventional frames.  Residents of Rosslyn experience an enlarged canvas of life.  These characteristics of Rosslyn are poignantly captured in Becca Kallem's exhibit, Sweet and Tough, showing at Artisphere in Rosslyn through Oct. 19.  Kallam's works insistently move beyond the medium of a single, rigidly framed canvas.  They exuberantly overflow their supporting structures.  Canvases are layered on top of each other, with part of each layer showing.  That's like a historic place, continually building higher but respecting and acknowledging the lower layers of its past

On old-fashioned paper treasure maps, X marks the spot. Go see Becca Kallem's exhibit in Rosslyn, and you'll know where the treasure is.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

don't attempt to poison squirrels

Three dead squirrels have recently been found around Rosslyn's historically important Westmoreland Terrace Condominiums.  Poisoning is a possible cause of these unusual deaths. 

Poisoning squirrels and other animals is mean.  It's also against the law.  Article IV, Sec. 2-21 of Arlington County Code states:
Trapping and/or Poisoning of Animals Prohibited
It shall be unlawful for any person to set or bait any trap or other contrivance for the catching of game or tame animals, or to knowingly permit any such trap to be set or baited on his premises or property or to set out any poisoned bait with the intent of poisoning any game or tame animal except by the consent of the animal warden. Only box traps may be used for the purposes of trapping a game or domestic animal. 
Squirrels face deadly attacks from hawks.  Hawks face deadly attacks from their shadows in windowpanes.  Don't add to the violence that already exists in the world.

Moreover, setting out poison for a squirrel could cause poisoning of a dog, or even a young child.  Don't do it.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Rosslyn's beloved queer trees remain alive & twisted

About five months ago, four queer trees in Ft. Myers Heights Park were officially condemned to deathEver vigilant local media alerted Rosslyn residents of this outrage.  Democratic mobilization seems to have succeeded in staving off the tree executions.  Stay alert, stay vigilant, and stay informed to prevent screaming chainsaws of injustice.

About twenty yards away is a sobering sight along the Arlington Boulevard sidewalk.  A tree stump and missing limbs testify to a recent attack on trees.  The rationale for the attack seems to have been that the trees were close to a telephone line.  The Ode Street Tribune believes that any problem could have been resolved non-violently, or at least with lesser loss of limbs.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

clouds steer clear of Rosslyn

While some clouds were in the area today, many steered clear of Rosslyn.  The clouds may have been showing respect for the Rosslyn skyline.  Now featured prominently in that skyline is the new 1812 N. Moore St. tower.  It's thicker and more manly than the Washington Monument.  It exemplifies the thrusting vitality that Rosslyn attracts.

Monday, August 19, 2013

DC Conspiracy uncovered at Artisphere

The ominously named DC Conspiracy will be plotting in Artisphere's Work-In-Progress Gallery starting this Wednesday.  The group claims to be a comics-creating collaborative that produces the Magic Bullet.  The Ode Street Tribune suspects that they are somehow connected to the Guerrilla Stitch Brigade that recently attacked Rosslyn.

Members of the DC Conspiracy will be lurking in the Works-In-Progress Gallery Thursday nights from 6:30 to 9:30pm.  Concerned residents should go to Artisphere and observe the plots that they are sketching. 

Saturday, August 17, 2013

new surveillance camera in Rosslyn

A new surveillance camera has been installed in Rosslyn at the corner of N. Meade St. and Arlington Blvd.  The camera is similar to the one recently installed along Rt. 50 near the Westmoreland Pedestrian Overpass. The new camera is connected to a Cisco box with three long cyclinders protruding from the bottom.  The Ode Street Tribune's investigative journalist speculates that those cylinders are antennae, and that the surveillance camera relays real-time video to a secret location. 

The new surveillance camera is located next to the lush Meade St. Park and undoubtedly has a majestic vista of the Potomac River.  New technology like this spy camera can help people all around the world experience the beauty and dynamism of Rosslyn,  The Tribune calls upon the secret agencies running this surveillance camera to make the video feed freely viewable by the many persons around the world eager to get a view of Rosslyn.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

signs are important

The unusual construction activity that the Ode Street Tribune broke in a story in June turns out to have been a sign.  Rosslyn's VirginianSuites has made a major renovation of its entrance sign.  This new stone structure associates the VirginianSuites with Rosslyn's storied stones and its elegant style.

Some carping media critics claim that investigative journalists at leading local news sources shouldn't be concerned about signs.  That's ridiculous.  Knowing what's going on in the neighborhood depends on a keen eye for signs.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Ode Street Tribune for breakfast

In response to a corporate titan's incursion into the area newspaper business and the threat of new media, the Ode Street Tribune's publisher has announced the "Ode Street Tribune for breakfast" strategic initiative.  The publisher has ordered, effective immediately, that the Tribune be delivered to customers by 7am each morning.  Customers should thus be able to have breakfast with the Ode Street Tribune.  Sign up for home delivery of the Tribune by entering your email address in the box on the right column of this page.

The Tribune's managing editor relayed the publisher's order to the newspaper distribution division, which passed it to the regional newspaper delivery managers.  The delivery managers said that the new, earlier delivery deadline will put an immense strain on the newspaper carriers.  However, they will do their best to meet the new delivery deadline.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Rosslyn more colorful

The new colors bridging N. Moore St. just outside the Rosslyn metro build upon artist Rachel Hayes' earlier Rosslyn work.  Take a walk around Rosslyn and enjoy the colors!

Monday, August 12, 2013

digital sign insults Rosslyn

In erecting its new digital sign over Rt. 50, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) obscured one of Rosslyn's beautiful views.  To make matters worse, useless and insulting news is being displayed on the sign.  For example, this past Sunday afternoon the sign was proclaiming "6-8 minutes to county line."  That message clearly insinuates that drivers want to get through Rosslyn as quickly as possible.

If drivers want to get through Rosslyn quickly, they are badly mis-informed.  If VDOT believes that most drivers are badly mis-informed, VDOT should have the digital sign declare: "Read the Ode Street Tribune today ... odestreet.com"

Saturday, August 10, 2013

don't fear escaped mental patient

Written in chalk on N. Ft. Myer Dr., near the historically important Westmoreland Terrace condominiums, is "escaped mental patient."  This writing is no good reason for fear in the neighborhood.  The person who wrote that is probably crazy and delusional and not actually an escaped mental patient.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Arlington County Fair this weekend

The Arlington County Fair is this weekend!  The Fair is at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center just off Rt. 50, about two miles west from the center of downtown Rosslyn.  It includes activities for all ages.  The highlight of the fair is the produce competition.  This is your chance to see some outstanding vegetables.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

ideas for farming in Rosslyn

Given Rosslyn's acute shortage of affordable farmland, a truck farm is worth considering.  Learn more about truck farming at a screening of the movie Truck Farm next Wednesday, Aug. 17, 7pm at Arlington Central Library.  The screening is free.

If you're fortunate enough to be among the landed class, you're got to get moving on planting summer squash and beans.  According to the Arlington County Library garden talk, planting of these vegetables for the fall crop shouldn't go past August 15.  While the first killing frost in Leesburg is likely to come in late October, in warm and friendly Rosslyn that might not happen until late November.  Take advantage of Rosslyn's beneficial climate and plant yourself some chard today.

Das puts clouds in motion before Andy Warhol exhibit

Opening at Artisphere on September 12 will be a blockbuster exhibit of celebrity artist Andy Warhol's pioneering, luminous Silver Clouds.  The best way to begin your skyward meditation on Warhol's Silver Clouds is with Arijit Das' Cloud Mapping, now on display in Artisphere's Works-In-Progress Gallery.
What can be seen within a cloudy sky is limited only by one's powers of perception.  Das' large drawing evokes the swirls and eddies on the surface of the Potomac River around Rosslyn's Roosevelt Island.  Its macrostructure shows a bird rising with energy beamed from a creative, focal source.  It is the deep genesis of Rosslyn emerging in continuous movement.

Monday, August 5, 2013

Ode Street Tribune not for sale

Rumors have been swirling among media insiders that a leading corporate titan is seeking to acquire the Ode Street Tribune in a multi-million-dollar deal.  The Tribune's strategic business planning retreat about a month ago seems to have spurred the rumors.

The Ode Street Tribune is not for sale.  The Tribune will continue with the old-fashioned newspaper values that have made it so successful since its founding in 2007.  The Tribune will continue to give its readers the venerable mark of ink-stained fingers as they rifle through its pages.  The Tribune will continue to be Ode Street's finest news source.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

excellent swiss chard & eggplant

When you're out hunting for vegetables, don't forget the Farmer's Market.  From April to December Saturday mornings from 8am to noon, there's a Farmer's Market at the intersection of N. Courthouse Rd. and N. 14th St., less than a mile west from the center of Rosslyn. 

The Ode Street Tribune found today at the Farmer's Market lovely Swiss chard.  The Tribune's kitchen prepared it both raw and cooked. It tasted great using both recipes.

Also acquired: a long, slender eggplant with nice curves.  Sauteed in a cast iron pot.  Excellent eating.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

regal Rosslyn

While Washington D.C. is the U.S. capital, if the U.S. had a royal city, it would be Rosslyn.  But don't be intimidated.  Rosslyn is friendly and approachable.  Everyone can get to know Rosslyn better.  Get out and find the above Rosslyn view.