Recession Hits Sugar Daddies, Gold-Diggers Hardest

I still can't figure out if this article is satirical or genuine -- and by "genuine" I mean genuinely and completely out-of-touch.

This line sums it up: "In the end, he said, a loving relationship should be able to thrive without the rib-eye steak and Moet."

Wow. I guess love really can conquer all.

Arlington's Best Bars

According to Washingtonian Magazine ...

In no particular order.

Drumroll please ...

Eatbar

Liberty Tavern

Guarapo

Carpool

Galaxy Hut

Thoughts?

Follow County Board Meetings on Twitter

Arlington Young Democrats have started Twittering this year's County Board meetings. You can track the Tweets here. You can also watch meetings online at the County Board website.

Arlington Republicans have also joined Twitter, you can follow their feed here.

Rhodeside Grill and il Radicchios to close?

Guest Post by Arlington Local:

Rumors continue to swirl regarding il Radicchios and Rhodeside Grill being demolished to make way for the expansion of The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) headquarters.

This isn’t in the least surprising for Arlingtonians, as another local restaurant and a bar stand in the way of a developers’ plan.

I gave il Radicchio a call to find out when they would close up shop. The waiter gave a quick and scripted response—stating that there are no plans to demolish the restaurant, known for its authentic Italian cuisine and endless pasta bowls. He then scaled back his response and said that they should be “safe through December 2009”. It seems like the details of the demolition are still being finalized.

While they aren’t the most aesthetically pleasing buildings-- the character, friendly service, and great food are worth taking advantage of while we still can.

How Much Would You Pay for Parking in Clarendon?

The Arlington Sun Gazette's Scott McCaffrey recently took aim at a proposal to charge for parking after 6pm and on weekends in the Arlington County garage in Clarendon at 3033 Wilson Blvd (entrance on Highland Street):

THUMBS DOWN: To one of the dumber proposals being considered by county officials to help solve their budget shortfall.

Board members this weekend will be asked to advertise for public hearing a proposal to start charging residents $3 to park on nights and weekends at the Department of Human Services garage on Wilson Boulevard. Parking is now free, and keeping it that way will encourage patronage of Clarendon venues as well as keep vehicles off neighborhood streets.

This proposal is a nickel-and-dime approach to governance that is beneath Arlington’s leaders to propose, let alone enact. County Board members can make quick work of this wrongheaded proposal by simply refusing to advertise it for a hearing.

There are certainly drawbacks to the proposal. But considering these fees would be on the low end of current parking fees in Clarendon, Scott's rhetoric is a little over the top. Would any husband really turn to his wife and say, "Honey, I was going to take you to Restaurant 3 for our anniversary tonight, but it's $3 for parking now, so we're having Hungry Man TV dinners instead. Hope you like salisbury steak."

The current subsidized free parking also incentivizes driving over Metro, biking or walking. Why make the effort and pay at least $1.35 to Metro to Clarendon when parking's plentiful and free?

What do you think? Would a $3 fee be a reasonable considering the county's $35 million budget gap? Or is it a "nickel-and-dime approach," as Scott suggests, and the deficit could be better made up through general tax increases?

Bye to the Blues, Ray's Relocates

I'm sorry to confirm the news first reported on Twitter by @jamiebowers that King Street Blues in Courthouse has suddenly closed. A sign on the door doesn't give an explanation for the closing but says something called the Velocity Sports Grill will be opening in that location.

If history is any indication, that may not last long either. Just since 2002, that spot has switched from RT's Seafood to M&S Seafood to KSB and now to Velocity.

But the void in Courthouse dining options is already being filled by the new location of an Arlington favorite. As We Love DC reports, Ray's the Steaks has re-opened just across Clarendon Blvd from the former KSB.

Feb. 24th: Mardi Gras in Clarendon

Just a quick heads up that the Mardi Gras parade in Clarendon is coming up on Tuesday, February 24th. Check out pictures from last year's event here and read Eric's review from 2006 here.

Blood = Free CAPS tickets

This is a deal you absolutely can not beat. Give blood, get free CAPs tickets.

Here's the deal ...

Who: The American Red Cross and Washington Capitals

What: Caps Blood Drive

When: Saturday, February 28, 2009

8 am- 4 pm

Where: Kettler Capitals Iceplex-

627 N. Glebe Rd. 8th floor, Arlington, VA 22203

Giveaways: First 500 participants receive a pair of Caps tickets, All participants receive a Peter Bondra bobble head;Peter Bondra will appear at Kettler Iceplex

More Info

Pay What You Can For Dante - 2/5

Sorry, no time to write something clever, but this seems too good to let pass, so I'm just going to copy and paste below ...

Pay-What-You-Can Preview of "Dante" on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 8 PM

Thursday, February 5 at 8:00 p.m.

Cash/check only at the door. No advance reservations/ no assigned seats.

Suggested minimum: $5 per person.

Location: The Rosslyn Spectrum, 1611 N. Kent Street, Arlington, VA 22209. FREE Parking. Rosslyn Metro.

Seating is first come, first served and limited to theatre capacity. Seating will start at 7:40-7:45 p.m.

In an unprecedented, ambitious production, Synetic Theater takes on Dante Alighieri's epic masterpiece, the tale of a lost traveler's visionary journey through the torments of Hell before the final attainment of redemption and Paradise. Delving into the core of Dante's original work, this modern retelling will bring the Italian classic to life in a way never seen before.

Tickets $15-40. For more information or to order tickets, call 1.800.494.8497 or visit www.synetictheater.org

Read the "Dante" blog here

March Mania Basketball!

Looking to add a fun weekend of basketball to your schedule?

Neighborhood & community hoopsters are invited to field teams at this year’s March Mania Basketball Tournament at Thomas Jefferson Community Center.

It’s a great way to build community spirit AND help the Red Cross!

This 24 team tournament has both recreational and competitive divisions. The team registration fee is only $600, which includes a minimum of 2 games, plus you're helping out a great cause.

The deadline is February 16, so act fast.

More Details!

What do you want in your Park?

Do you ever wonder who decides what features go in a park?

You decide, that's who. And now, Ballston, it's your chance to help decide what goes in the new Mosaic Park.

Yes, I know you don't like meetings, but this is a cool opportunity.

This future park in the R-B Corridor will include athletic courts, an interactive water feature, paths, and plazas among other things. What do you want to see in it?

Just come to one of the following meetings and let your voice be heard:

Wednesday, February 4, 2009 - 7:00 PM
Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 7:00 PM

You can attend any of the meetings above (same content)

For more information on this project, check out the project webpage.

NRECA Building, Conferene Room CC2
4301 Wilson Boulevard(Corner of N. Taylor St. & Wilson Blvd.)

Community PresentationThursday, February 19, 2009 - 7:00 PM
3033 Wilson Blvd, Rooms 7E & 7F

Are Video Rental Stores Going Extinct?

A few months back, I noticed that the Hollywood Video at Glebe & Columbia Pike had closed. Then a couple of weeks ago, I drove by the Video Warehouse on S. Glebe and that was shuttered, as well. Those closures are in addition to the Hollywood Video on Lee Highway that's been closed for some time now.

Are Arlington's video rental stores going extinct? I think you could count the remaining stores on one hand -- a Hollywood Video on Wilson Blvd. in Courthouse, generic rental outlets in Bluemont and Ballston, and maybe one or two others. But while there's plenty of deserved nostalgia for vanishing book stores and record shops, I don't think anyone could say the same about video stores.

Maybe it's time video stores went the way of the dinosaur. Between economic pressures, competition from Netflix, and new technologies like TiVo and video-on-demand, I wouldn't be surprised. I've recently stopped driving to Hollywood Video and instead use the RedBox at my local Harris Teeter. Why pay $4 per video plus gas when you can get a DVD for $1 a day at RedBox?