green trellises in Rosslyn's Gateway Park

The next time you're enjoying a walk about Rosslyn, meander up Rosslyn's green sky-road Freedom Park and take a look at the green trellises at the top. These trellises cover up a nasty array of satellite dishes used for non-local (yuck!) news coverage. These trellises seemed to have been inspired by Artisphere's green wall and Rosslyn's beautiful curves.

free family fun day at Artisphere this Sunday afternoon

To make up for your kids stuffing themselves with sugary Halloween treats, take them to a free dance party at Artisphere this Sunday from noon to 3pm. Kids and adults can dance to the hot retro sounds of Baby Loves Disco. This outstanding event will also feature free screenings of spooky Looney Tunes classics, including A Haunting We Will Go and Bewitched Bunny (what looked like a bewitched bunny was reported in the neighborhood).The event will also feature opportunities for kids to make stuff and play with food. Playing with food a a great activity for some place other than your house. Don't miss this event.

For more nerdy kids (nerdy is good), Artisphere this Wednesday, November 5, will feature a free Aha! Fun with Science kids Euro festival at 11am in the Black Box Theatre. This event will include "explosive toothpaste, giant bath bubbles, and a drive through thick fog." Relax, lean back, and let someone else provide your kids with these experiences. They also have the job of cleaning up the mess afterwords.

Whatever your kid likes, Artisphere has something for her or him.

sensational Rosslyn scene strains s's

We regret that the newspaper wasn't printed yesterday. According to a memo from the Ode Street Tribune's Printing Bureau to the Publisher, the s typefaces cracked from excessive wear and weren't useable. That's not surprising. Rosslyn news reporting puts heavy demands on the letter s.

While disappointed with this temporary setback, the Publisher emphasized that he remains committed to traditional typesetting and printing. In press release issued this afternoon, the Ode Street Tribune's Publisher declared:

The hard-working employees in the Print Bureau have my complete support. Nothing can match the sensuousness and liveliness of hand-set type.

Many news sources today have a rigid, inhumane, robotic look to to them. Their ligatures lack subtle shading, their serifs are harshly formed, and as for dingbats, these modern dingbats just don't cut it. We will not move to inferior technology.

The Print Bureau has stated that they have secured an additional supply of s's. Hence publication of the Tribune has now resumed.

Sunday's video

Wiseguy NY Pizza won't provide full NY service in Rosslyn

Given Rosslyn's similarity to Manhattan as a towering urban port, Wiseguy NY Pizza has wisely chosen to locate in Rosslyn. Wiseguy NY Pizza will be opening at 1735 N Lynn St. (former site of Quizno's Subs) in a few months.

Unfortunately some aspects of Wiseguy NY Pizza's offering are troubling. A notice on the door describes what will be offered. Among the features of the pizza:

• NewYorkinized water (special filtering system for pure clean water)
• kneading, proofing & fermentation technique
• no pizza screens or pans
• dough must cook directly on old-school deck over
• use extra-virgin olive oil from Tuscany, Italy
• use parmesano regino from Italy
• use most expensive Wisconsin cheese
• homemade fresh mozzarella, homemade meatball
• homemade sauces & dressing

The use of "extra-virgin olive oil" doesn't seem to appreciate Rosslyn's colorful history. But more troubling are two exclusive features:

• provide the best food but the worst customer service (only in NY)
• treat tourists like cattle (only in NY)

Rosslyn deserves to get everything that NY gets. The Ode Street Tribune calls on Wiseguy NY Pizza to offer Rosslyn fully authentic NY service.

Rosslyn artistically encourages fire safety

Testing your smoke alarm can save your life in the case of a fire. Rosslyn's legendary "beasts of the boulevards" at Rosslyn's Fire Station 10 have commissioned an abstract painting in the school of Jackson Pollock to encourage everyone to test their smoke alarms. Go test your fire alarm now.

Now that you've finished testing your fire alarm, enjoy a look at that magnificent work of abstract impressionism. The upper blue shape evokes a dove soaring skyward, while the dripping red paint provides a terrific undercurrent of the horror of a deathly fire. The green base figure epitomizes the importance of green space to Rosslyn, especially around the Wilson School site

According to a covert source, a hot fight is underway between Fire Station 10 and Artisphere for rights to display this work on a permanent basis. Fire Station 10 is quite crowded and cannot easily accommodate visitors wanting to see the art. Artisphere could easily accommodate a large number of art aficionados. On the other hand, fire art would seem to truly belong in a fire station. Count on the Ode Street Tribune for providing any further news in this developing story.

Arlington Independent Media to expand radio programming for Rosslyn

Arlington Independent Media has announced that it is building a new radio station that will serve Rosslyn.  The new radio station will be a low-power station broadcasting at 96.7 FM. As a leader in Rosslyn traditional news media, the Ode Street Tribune applauds Arlington Independent Media's bold step forward with traditional media.

Rosslyn was the site of the historic Three Sisters radio towers early in the twentieth century. Rosslyn volunteer expertise could help to get Arlington Independent Media's new radio station on air and serving Rosslyn. Contact Arlington Independent Media to participate in this exciting new endeavor.

Rosslyn candidate forum may be election turning point

Political pundits at major Rosslyn media viewed viewed the upcoming Nov. 4 election as sure-thing landslide victories for Arlington County Board candidate Alan Howze and Congressional candidate Donald Beyer. But after tonight's dramatic Rosslyn candidate forum, the election looks to be up for grabs.

Leading candidate Alan Howze (Democrat) opened the County Board candidate panel with a knowledgeable discussion of County issues and his long-range vision for investing in Arlington's future. It was solid presentation, but with a glaring weakness. Opposing candidate John Vihstadt (Independent) evidently sensed the subtle tone of uneasiness in the packed room. He quickly mentioned some Arlington County priorities and then shrewdly started talking about Rosslyn. Immediately the room lit up with joy and attentiveness. Vihstadt devoted about 40% of his opening statement to Rosslyn-specific issues. While candidates can't be expected to write new speeches for every stop on the grueling circuit of Arlington candidate forums, Arlington County voters know that Rossyn is special. Vihstadt's appreciation for Rosslyn has probably launched him into a contending position for the Arlington County Board seat.

Among Congressional candidates, leading candidate Don Beyer (Democrat) stumbled badly. Retiring Congressman Jim Moran has served our 8th District for 12 terms. As political insiders know, Moran built his political success with regular, consistent, every-time appearances (2008, 2010, 2012) at the Rosslyn candidate forum. Beyer failed to appear tonight. Not recognizing Rosslyn's cultural, technological, and political leadership is a mistake of a rookie politician.  Whether Beyer can recover from this political disaster remains to be seen.

The four Congressional candidates who appeared at the Rosslyn forum offer voters a wide range of choices. Gwendolyn Beck (Independent), who has impressive business experience, declared her willingness to build coalitions. She also seemed to be willing to have American soldiers fight in foreign lands for abstract ideals and emotive stories. Gerard Blais (Independent Green) and Jeffrey Carson (Libertarian) pledged to end the war on drugs and decriminalize drugs. Blais favored universal health care and free college education. Carson, who has had many family members serve in the military, strongly opposed the military war on terror, which he described as a complete failure. Micah Edmond (Republican), highly articulate and politically savy, has extensive experience with the military-industrial complex. He emphasized a get-the-job-done approach. He pointed to the basic job of writing and passing a national budget.

School Board candidates Audrey Clement and Barbara Kanninen are vigorously contesting one school board seat. Nancy Van Doren is running unopposed for the other seat. Carla de la Pave is running unopposed for County Treasurer. Recognizing its importance, all three of these candidates attended the Rosslyn forum.

Sunday's video

candidate forum this Monday

Candidates for Congress, County Board, Treasurer, and the School Board will speak and answer questions in a candidates' forum this Monday at 7pm in The Belvedere Condominium Party Room, 1600 N. Oak Street., Rosslyn. This candidate forum is jointly sponsored by the Radnor Fort Myer Heights Civic Association and the North Rosslyn Civic Association.

As a regional leader in culture and technology, Rosslyn plays a pivotal role in elections. The outcome of this candidates' forum may decide the outcome in the upcoming election on November 4.

need better view of Rosslyn's Central Place

Rosslyn's Central Place is now a magnificent hole. Unfortunately, getting a good view of it is rather difficult. An Ode Street Tribune investigative team probed the area and found the best spot to be the parking lot on the 4th floor of 1901 N. Moore St.

When completed, Central Place will include an observation deck accessible to local resident. The Ode Street Tribune urges the new 1812 N. Moore St. tower to provide an observation room at least until the competition for space at the top of that tower is resolved.

Rosslyn!

Rosslyn style and fashion

While Rosslyn's fashion truck Fridays are now only a warm summer memory, Rosslyn style and fashion are available year-round in the Malena Ladies Boutique right above the Rosslyn metro. A reviewer on Yelp declared:

WOW!  Was I surprised when I found this stylish boutique hidden on the second floor of the Rosslyn Metro Mall above the metro!   Stylish clothes, great jewelry, AMAZING costumer service. I went in on my lunch break and came out with several new outfits.  Unique finds and mix and match pieces you won't find in a department store.

Rosslyn was the first place in American to connect to Paris. When you're looking for fashion to walk the streets, look for Rosslyn fashion.

rains produce massive Rosslyn mushrooms

A rainy long weekend has given rise to massive mushrooms in the Rosslyn wildlands between N. Ft. Myer Dr. and N. Oak St. Killer mushrooms have threatened trees in Rosslyn. These mushrooms, however, are not close to any trees.

Mushrooms play an important role in reducing greenhouse gases and reducing global warming. That's a reason to be grateful for the rain this weekend.

Sunday's video

proposed new Rosslyn national memorial

The bridge over the Rosslyn canal on the parade route to Rosslyn's Arlington National Cemetery features ornamental structures with empty cartouches. The Ode Street Tribune proposes that one of the cartouches be engraved in honor of Rosslyn journalists wounded in service to Rosslyn and America.

While such an engraving unquestionably would be profoundly appropriate, the Tribune encourages all Rosslyn residents to make proposals for engravings to honor the service and sacrifices of Rosslyn residents to the greater good.

Rosslyn led development of wireless technology

When most persons think of Rosslyn's historic leadership in technology, they recall Rosslyn's first in passenger air flight and that the Internet was invented in Rosslyn. But Rosslyn's contribution to high technology goes beyond these two historic developments. In 1913, the U.S. Navy erected three huge radio towers ("the three sisters") at Fort Myer in Rosslyn. The tallest stood 600 feet tall. It was the second largest man-made structure in the world behind only the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The first transatlantic radio communication was made between these Rosslyn towers and Paris.

 When you think of Rosslyn, think of high technology and Rosslyn's connection to Paris.

Think With Your Hands displays Rosslyn's cultural-technological leadershp

With the airplane flying overhead, with newsprint and technology incorporated into a woman's silhouette, and with forms so intriguing that you want to touch, the relevance to Rosslyn of Think With Your Hands is obvious. This new exhibit, at Artisphere through November 30, brings the work of leading Spanish designers Pep Carrió and Isidro Ferrer to Rosslyn.

Ella entra en la noche como en un
cine, y cada noche un sueño nuevo
la espera.

She comes in the night as into
a movie theater, and every night a
new dream waits for her.

With an app for your smartphone or a loaner iPad available at the exhibition desk, images come alive with a layer of augmented reality. A stack of cards will pop up, or a photo gallery, or a video. If you point your device at one piece, the dancer depicted comes alive on the screen and dances across her own image. This exhibit captures the romance and intrigue of Rosslyn. Don't miss it!

dancing pedestrian signal possible for Rosslyn

Given that Rosslyn is a leader in creative technology, plans may be in the works to install a dancing pedestrian signal in Rosslyn. A dancing pedestrian signal (see video above) replaces a static, authoritarian, rigidly forbidding stop signal with creative dance movement that's worth stopping and watching. This cutting-edge social technology would be particularly appropriate for the busy Lynn St. / Wilson Blvd. intersection in the heart of Rosslyn.

Arlington and Rosslyn officials have avoided making any statement about plans to install a dancing pedestrian signal in Rosslyn. A Rosslyn resident declared, "I have no doubt that a dancing pedestrian signal may be installed in Rosslyn." Another affirmed, "It's possible." Keep an eye on this developing story.

Sunday's video

Rosslyn best party spot for everyone

Lots of partying is happening in Rosslyn.  On Saturday, Oct. 18, Rosslyn will be hosting a A-Z beer and wine tasting by the Washington Wine Academy.  Then on Friday, Oct. 24, there will be a pop up beer garden in Rosslyn from 4pm to 8pm at 1901 Ft. Myer Dr. And of course, Rosslyn's Ft. Myer Heights playground is the go-to party spot for children's parties.  Rosslyn is the best party spot for everyone.

summer's over, still no Secret Chopsticks

With its boxed facade, the ground flour of Turnberry Tower would make a great location for a Chinese or Japanese restaurant.  Back in May, Secret Chopsticks announced that it would be opening at this location in "summer of 2014."  The summer's over, and the future of this fine site remains a secret.