The Annual Tap Water Flush in Arlington and Washington, D.C.: April 6th - May 4th

Did you wake up this morning to make your coffee and detect the faint smell of chlorine? I did, before I remembered today is the first day of the annual flush of the aqueduct system around the Washington Metro area. Local authories will be using chlorine to treat the water drawn from the Potomac River that serves Arlington County, Falls Church, and the parts of Fairfax County whose water is through the Falls Church system.

The flush begins today, April 6th, and will continue until May 4th.

For more details, please refer to the Washington Post article from March 31st.

Green Living Expo in Arlington, Virginia

Arlington County has put together an program called "Green It!" A series of FREE workshops to help educate the community on environmentally friendly ways to live, work, and commute. The except below is taken from the Arlington County website on upcoming events:

Appliance Energy Use Demonstration
Saturday, April 11th, 3 - 4 PM. Compare the energy use of various everyday household appliances, and see how much "vampire" energy is being used by some of those appliances. This demonstration will be taking place as part of Arlington's Home Show and Expo! At the Home Show and Expo, come and get your questions answered about home improvement projects, building permits, zoning, home ownership, and related topics from County agencies and more than 50 businesses. The Arlington Home Show and Expo takes place from 10 AM - 4 PM. For more information, please call 703-228-3827. Walter Reed Community Center, 2909 S. 16th St. Arlington, VA.

Greening Your Apartment or Condo!
Wednesday, April 22nd, 7 - 8:30 pm. Come to this Earth Day workshop to hear from residents who have been catalysts to help their apartment or condo buildings go green, by expanding recycling, installing raingardens, rainbarrels, or reducing energy consumption! Get ideas and resources to use at your own complex! For more information or to register, call 703-228-3610 or email Aileen. Shirlington library, Campbell meeting room. 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, VA.

Rain Barrel Workshop
Saturday, April 25. 11 am - 12:30 pm. Walter Reed Community Center, 2909 16th St. South, Arlington, VA. Cost: $50 per barrel (two barrels per household limit). For more information, to register for a workshop, or see the FULL list of rain barrel workshops, check the Rain Barrel Workshop web site.

Speed Greening
Thursday, April 30th, 7-9 pm. Forget speed dating - come to this "speed greening" session to learn about several green topics at one event! Topics include Top 10 Ways to Go Green at Home; Review of Tax Incentives for Energy Efficiency, and Going Green to Sell your Home. Attend one session or all three! For more information, or to register, please email Helen or call 703-228-4792. Walter Reed Community Center, 2909 S. 16th St., Arlington, VA.

Virginia Invasive Plant Removal Day
Saturday, May 2nd. Natural areas continue to be threatened by non-native species that affect plant and wildlife communities. Join in this state-wide invasive plant removal day - find events in your area!

Bike Maintenance 101
Saturday, May 2nd 10:30-11:30am. Does your bike shake, rattle, and roll? Dust off your bike just in time for Bike to Work day on May 15th. This FREE bike maintenance class at Conte's Cycles in Ballston will help get your bike rolling! You'll learn hands-on basic bicycle maintenance for road bikes and mountain bikes, and how to patch and change your own tires, service your drive-chain, and perform preventative maintenance that will prolong the life-span of your bike. For more information or to register, email Adam or call 703-228-3066. 3924 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA.

Air Flow and Energy Leaks in your Home
Saturday, May 9thth 2:00-4:00pm. Did you ever wonder how air flows through your house and where the leaks are? Come to this workshop to learn how energy flows through a house, where air leaks typically occur, and to see a variety of products or methods that can fix these problems. For more information, or to register, please email Helen or call 703-228-4792. Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford St. Arlington, VA.

Bike to Work Day.
Friday, May 15th. Join thousands of area commuters for a celebration of bicycling as a clean, fun and healthy way to get to work! Meet up with your neighbors at one of 27 pit stops all over the region. Find out more or register for the event!

Composting Essentials
Saturday, May 30th. 11 am - 1 pm. Come to this workshop to learn how to transform leaves, grass, and weeds into compost -- the prized Gardener's Gold. This session includes a hands-on compost demonstration featuring several types of compost bins. Free. Reserve your seat now by calling 703-228-4797 or email Sarah. Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 N. Marcey Rd, Arlington, VA.

Green Home and Garden Tour
Sunday June 7th, 1 - 5 pm. Take part in this tour to see homes with solar elements, green roofs, recycled materials, and energy efficient technologies. Some homes will feature gardens full of native plants, raingardens, rain barrels and cisterns, permeable pavement, wildlife habitat, and other environmentally friendly features. Check back here for the tour brochure after May 1st.

Greening Your Small Business
Wednesday, June 24, 8:00 - 10:00 am. Operating a green business is not only good for the environment but good for your business's bottom line. Come to this seminar to learn how Fresh AIRE (Arlington Initiative to Reduce Emissions) can help you add value to your business through a variety of green measures. This seminar will also feature Arlington-based small businesses that have reduced their environmental footprint and achieved savings. FREE. Registration is required. For more information, contact Darnell Roseboro at 703-228-0833.

Arlington Virginia's 2009 Mardi Gras Celebration!

Fat Tuesday is right around the corner, February 24th...time to celebrate!!!!!

Tuesday at 8pm will launch the Arlington Mardi Gras Parade in Clarendon. Come down for the costumes, masks, food, and of course - the beads!! The parade features floats, community groups, and other local Arlington-ians celebrating the holiday.

Come support local Clarendon Businesses (restaurants, bars, clothes, etc) and groups..come meet your neighbors!

Get your beads on! Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!

Visit http://www.clarendon.org/ for more information on the upcoming event

2009 Arlington Tax Assessments - Now Available!

Thinking the Arlington real estate market is down in the dumps? Not according to the Arlington tax assessor. With the exception of a few neighborhoods in Arlington, your taxes are going up.

Arlington assessments are calculated in the following way:

The general tax rate is $0.848/$100 of assessed value.

Looking for the taxes on a future property you've been eyeing? Check it online here.

Then call me to find out how we can find you a new home in Arlington, Virginia.

The Nightmare on Pennsylvania Avenue....and the Surrounding States!

I was driving through our nations Capital this morning when it occurred to me that it took me an HOUR to get from the bridge from Virginia to Constitution Ave to Columbia Heights. An hour! That is twice as long as it should!! I realized the inauguration craze has already begun. With the expected influx of visitors into the District of Columbia, things are about to get a little crazy!

If you're planning on joining the festivities and events for the inauguration of our next U.S. president, please take head from the following announcements, and get your walking shoes ready!

The secret service has released transportation plans for the events:
ALL bridges into and out-of DC from Virginia will be CLOSED, except for Bus traffic beginning January 20th, until morning rush hour the next day.

The black line below, is about a 3.5 mile radius of DC that shoes vehicle road closures.

You'll want to make sure that if you plan on driving, you think otherwise! The metro, the bus, your walking shoes..all great alternative options for getting into D.C. for inauguration day.

For a full list of road closures for Maryland, D.C., and Virginia, visit this website.

My First Foreclosure Auction in Arlington!

On Friday, I had the exciting opportunity to go to a foreclosure auction on a property in Arlington, VA that my client was bidding on! We had written an offer on the property when it was on the market, but the bank foreclosed when he didn't accept it. I had no idea what to expect, so let me retell my experience for those of you who are curious!

1. Let's clarify what a "foreclosure" means: the terminology gets thrown around a lot, but a "foreclosure" is actually when the property is up for auction! If no individual buys it at the auction, technically the bank buys it! When the property comes back on the market through a Realtor (R) after the auction process, it's actually a bank-owned property, or Real Estate Owned (REO) - not a foreclosure as we commonly call it.

2. What the expect when you have nothing to expect! Be prepared for a very fast talking man in a suit representing the Trustee (in most cases an attorney's office). He'll read through the public statement, then tell you the opening bid on the property. He'll ask for bids...if you bid, be prepared to show him your deposit. Most ads will say "minimum X% or $X, whichever is the lowest of the 2." It'll be a cashier's check made payable to the trustee. He'll say "going once....going twice....sold for $xxx." Then you usually sign a one-page contract (which is advertised as your right to preview before the auction, but if you can ever get a live human being on the phone from one of these attorney's office...please share your secret!!)

3. I won?! Now What? Now, they give you a 15-day close period....and you're buying it subject to any other liens on the property. DO A TITLE SEARCH!! You want to know what you're getting yourself into! You need to know if the 1st, 2nd, etc. lien holder is foreclosing. This is CRUCIAL! It'll impact your top bid price tremendously, if you're buying the property subject to an additional $100,000 lien!

Also, another note...don't be intimated!! This particular auction had about 20 bystanders, and only 2 real bidders. The 3rd bidder bowed out after his opening bid! Go with confidence!

And..dress warmly!! They're held on the courthouse steps (usually) in RAIN OR SHINE!!!

BikeArlington - "Arlington's Car-Free Diet"

With new years resolution quickly being formed, i'm sure some of them may involve more physical activity! Well, why not join in on "BikeArlington - Arlington's Car-Free Diet." A program developed for:

"BikeArlington is an initiative of Arlington County, Virginia - where people have many options for moving about their community. Ultimately, BikeArlington is an effort to build on an existing partnership between Arlington citizens, businesses and County staff to encourage more people to bike more often."

They offer group rides, if you're interested in socializing while you workout. Otherwise, check out the bike paths, trails, and on-street rides that are along the 86-mile paths around Arlington.

For more information, visit their website.

"Arlington Takes a Bite Out of Hunger Week" - Ends Tomorrow!

This past week has been "Arlington Takes a Bite Out of Hunger Week" here in Arlington County to help the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC). Local facilities are accepting donations of:

Soups
Cereals
Canned Goods
Pastas
Peanut Butter

These donations will be presented on Tuesday, December 16th to the AFAC. You still have the rest of the weekend to donate! Visit the complete list of donation sites, here.

Arlington Virginia's Best Business Awards 2008 - The Winners!

Every year Arlington residents vote for the Best Business Awards (ABBIES). This year, over 4,000 people voted on their favorites in the following categories. Here are the winners:

Arlington's Best "Bargain" Restaurant
Delhi Dhaba

Arlington's Best Coffee Shop
Murky Coffee

Arlington's Best Customer Service
PetMAC Marketplace and Adoption Center

Arlington's Best Date Restaurant
Carlyle

Arlington's Best Family Friendly Restaurant
Whitlow's on Wilson Bar & Grill

Arlington's Best "Great Neighbor" Business
The Java Shack

Arlington's Best "Green Business"
Whole Foods Market

Arlington's Best Happy Hour
Whitlow's on Wilson Bar & Grill

Arlington's Best Live Music Venue
IOTA Club & Cafe

Arlington's Best Neighborhood Bar
Whitlow's on Wilson Bar & Grill

Arlington's Best New Business
Saffron Dance

Arlington's Best Performing Arts Venue
Signature Theatre

Arlington's Best Place to Dance the Night Away
Clarendon Ballroom

Arlington's Best Place to Find an Unusual Gift
Le Village Marché

Arlington's Best Place to Work Out
Saffron Dance

Arlington's Best Post Theater Spot
Busboys and Poets

Arlington's Best Power Lunch
Harry's Tap Room

Arlington's Best Vintage/Thrift Shop
Goodwill of Greater Washington (S. Glebe)

Arlington's Best Visual Arts Venue
Arlington Arts Center

Arlington's Best Window Display
Crate&Barrel

Congratulations to all of the winners!!

Clarendon Earns Nationwide Praise

The front page article of this month's "The Citizen," Arlington's local newspaper reveals what the locals know: Clarendon is One of the "Great Places in America!" This time, the praise comes from the American Planning Association (APA).

Honors were also given to Wilson and Clarendon Blvd - Wilson is a one-way street East towards Washington, Clarendon is the counterpart one-way street heading West - for "Great Streets" in America.

I did a blog in September about CNN's rankings for Arlington County - and this article gives even more praise. Clarendon earned this years ranking for the following reasons:

1. 50% of residents walk, bike or use the metro to get to work

2. 20% of residents don't own a car

3. The above-average use of metro systems

4. All of the revitalization of the area..

..There are so many reasons Clarendon and Arlington in general are great places to live...call me for more information!

Rec Leagues for Softball, Soccer, Basketball etc in Arlington VA

On Friday I was recruited to play softball for a co-ed rec league that's based out in Alexandria. My old college teammate asked me to join them for a makeup game - and then told everyone that I played 1st base in college. Seeing as how that was years ago - she only set me up for failure! (That's me on the right at bat...key the song "Glory Days")

In case you're interested, I did have an error (the first ball that was actually thrown to me after 3 long innings), but I redeemed myself with a triple! I'm still unsure if i'll be invited back.. :(

For those of you that are interested in meeting some new people in Arlington, below is some information on local recreational sports teams in Arlington County. It's a great way to make new friends, network, and get some exercise!

Arlington offers the following sports:
Ball Hockey (looks a lot like street hockey)
Basketball
Dodgeball
Flag Football
Ice Hockey
Kickball
RugbySoccer (both indoor and outdoor)
Softball (my personal favorite)
Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball

Information for registration and deadlines can be found here.

September 20th and 21st in Arlington, VA!

Here are some fun events for the upcoming weekend:

Saturday, September 20th

Taste of the Pike: Outside Arlington Mill Community Center, from Noon to 7pm

Culinary Specialities from all over Columbia Pike: a variety of the Pike's popular restaurants and food vendors, including Rincome (Thai), San Vincente (Salvadoran), Dama (Ethiopian), Hector Palomo Catering (Peruvian), Pan American Bakery (Latin American), Rina's Fresh Fruit & Smoothies, and Big Daddy's BBQ (Southern American).

The festival will also feature a colorful global market with arts and crafts booths, and live entertainment including performances by a diverse set of musical and heritage dance groups including Sutera Malaysia, Estrellita de Amazonias (Peruvian singer), Saffron Dance, YesOn2Salsa Dance Studio, Mongolian School of the National Capital Area, Grupolfawa (Panamanian), Decada Prodigiosa (Peruvian musical ensemble), and more.

Arlington Mill Community Center: 4975 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204


Admission is free.
For more information, visit http://www.columbiapikepartnership.com/.

Sunday, September 21st:

Vintage Crystal: An event from 2-6pm that will showcase wines from around the world and culinary samples from restaurants in Crystal City and the metropolitan area. Also, jazz harmonicist Frederic Yonnet, along with other talented musicians from DC's own Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, will add jazz flavors amid an open air market featuring local artisans' work.

Vintage Crystal takes over the courtyard at 2200 Crystal Drive on Sunday, September 21 from 2 - 6 PM.
Tickets: $20, sold on-site the day of, and will include sips, tastes, sounds, a commemorative wine glass, and access to Crystal Market, where patrons can purchase paintings, ceramics, glasswork, jewelry and other hand-made items. **Designated driver tickets are $10 and admission for kids is free.

For more information, visit http://www.crystalcity.org/.

The Washington Post Describes the "Freshman 15" - 15 Things You Need to Know About Washington, D.C.

This blog comes straight from the Sunday Article titled "The Freshman 15 - What Every First-Year College Student Needs to Know About Washington." I found myself laughing at some of these as a nearby resident in Arlington, so I thought I would share with you what the experts advise as "must know" information about the Washington, D.C. Metro area:

1. Stand to the Right....Instructions on riding the metro.
2. Recognize that the Nats are a major league team. Even though they may not win enough games, or have the popularity of the Yankees or Red Sox, they actually ARE a Major League National Team. Go Figure.
3. Don't dance at indie-rock shows. Recognize the seriousness of local DC residents. Stoic faces and stiff bodies, only.
4. Maintain residency in your home state (if your new home is in the District). Ever wonder why the DC license plate says "Taxation without Representation," read this one to find out why.
5. Forget the fake ID. Underage? Don't even bother.
6. Remember that the Metro shuts down at 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Never get stranded in Adams Morgan or Dupont after a night out of maxing out your credit card and no cash.
7. That police car is probably not pulling you over. Those flashing lights and sirens are scary no matter how old, or how long you've been driving. Find out why they drive with their lights on.
8. Yield to cars in traffic circles. Logan Circle, Dupont Circle, Thomas Circle...so many! Why? And how to navigate them.
9. Better yet: Ride the bus. You have less of a chance of losing cell service if you ride the bus. (*Although, some of you may not know that Verizon has an exclusive deal with the DC Metro system for cell "towers" down under.)
10. Even better: Walk. Be a tourist!
11. There is no J Street. This is tricky when people tell you that streets go in alphabetical order, you'll be walking around in circles if you don't know this one!
12. NoMa is a neighborhood. Columbia Heights, Adams Morgan, Dupont....now add NoMa to your list of vocab.
13. Take your palate global. You can find cuisines from every country in the District - go ahead, be adventurous.
14. Sample go-go. Information on local music unique to the DC scene.
15. Get the tourist stuff out of the way now. I can tell you that even after living here, I still only go to the monuments and museums when I have out of town guests. Go look now, so you know where to take people when they visit - and keep the painful tourist traps to a minimum!

Labor Day Weekend 2008 in Washington DC and Northern Virginia

I can't believe how fast the summer flew by!! As Labor Day weekend is now upon us, I wanted to wish you all a happy, and safe Holiday weekend! Here's what's on the Calendar of Events for the Nations Capitol for the 2008 Holiday:

Labor Day Concert
Who: The National Symphony Orchestra
What: Free Concert!
Where: U.S. Capitol - West Lawn
When: Sunday, August 31, 2008 - 8pm (Gates Open at 5)
How: Admission is free! No tickets necessary

Hope you all enjoy your long weekend, with many BBQs, sunshine, and swimming!!

Ice Skating in August? Try Arlington's Kettler Capitals IcePlex!

This summer when it hasn't been raining, it's been HOT and HUMID! So why not try something new to cool off? How about indoor ice skating in the summer! Located in Arlington, VA across from the Ballston Mall, Kettler's Capitals IcePlex offers free public skating every day of the week. Here's the schedule for open skating:

Monday - Friday: 2 - 3:30 pm
Tuesday & Thursday: 7:30 - 9pm
Saturday: 12 -1:30pm, 4:15 - 5:45pm, 7:30 - 9pm
Sunday: 12:30 - 2pm, 3:30 - 5pm

There's also an Adult Only Public Skate on Wednesday from 7:30 - 9pm

Admission rates are $7, and an additional for $3 for skate rental.

Summer Concert Series in Arlington: Rock at the Row - Pentagon Row

Well, better late than never! Each Thursday of the summer beginning in June, Pentagon Row (normally an area for shopping), lights up with a concert from different musical types each week.

This Thursday, August 7th, is the final concert of the 2008 Summer Series. The show starts at 7pm and will feature a swing band named: Jokers Wild.

The website describes the series as follows:

"Rock out the Summer at the 6th Annual Rock at the Row Summer Concert Series. Join us on Thursday nights from 7pm - 9pmbeginning June 5th thru August 7th. Enjoy live music from your favorite local bands, food sampling, giveaways, merchant specials, and even the chance to win a one-year Saab Sampler lease from International Motors. That's one convertible, one sedan and one wagon for four months each! Gather friends and family and grab front row seats to a FREE outdoor concert! In the event of rain, concerts will not be rescheduled. For more information, please call 703-413-6691."

Looking For New Places to Find a Good Drink in Arlington, Georgetown, Adams Morgan or Alexandria?

With so much to do in the area around Washington, D.C. and Arlington, it's easy to find someplace new to explore everyday! With 48% of the area being SINGLE, it's even more of a reason to get there and meet new people everyday!

A friend recently found a spreadsheet that details Happy Hours (both food and drinks)in Arlington, Alexandria, Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, Adams Morgan, Dupont, and many other locations around the area! It separates by location and day of the week - a great resource for trying something new! Since I can't post the spreadsheet, shoot me an email and I would be happy to send it to you!!!

Happy networking!! "It's 5 o'clock somewhere..."

Laura Rubinchuk, Laura.Rubinchuk@kw.com, 703.283.6120

2008 Arlington County Fair - August 6th - 10th

It's almost time for the 2008 Arlington County Fair!!! Here are the details of the upcoming event:

When: August 6 - 10, 2008
Where: Thomas Jefferson Community Center
3501 2nd Street South
Arlington, VA
Features:
Opening ceremonies
Midway Rides and Games provided by Cole Shows Amusement
Competitive Exhibits and Awards Program
Entertainment
Famous Racing Pigs
(200+) Vendor displays and exhibits
Sponsor Promotions
Arlington County Police K-9 demonstrations
Petting Zoo
Pony Rides
Family, Kids and Seniors Events and Activities
Rock Climbing Wall
Traditional and Diverse foods (cotton candy! funnel cakes! corn dogs!)

Indoor Hours of Operation:
Thursday, August 7 - 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Friday, August 8 - 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Saturday, August 9 - 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Sunday, August 10 - 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Outdoor Hours of Operation:
Wednesday, August 6th: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Thursday, August 7th: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Friday, August 8th: 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
Saturday, August 9th: 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
Sunday, August 10th: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm