Welcome to the my Web site, v. XII. The blog is typically published Monday - Saturday. My primary topics tend to be the Nats, Penn State (esp. football), BeltwayLand, transportation, media, photos and more. The rest of the site gets updated as warranted and is noted on the blog.
Every year I do a tally of places I have been. The two ways for a location to qualify -- I had a meal there (non-fast food) or spent the night there. Sometimes, I make exceptions that rule though, like for apple-picking.
Alexandria, Va. Arlington, Va. Falls Church, Va. Great Falls, Va. McLean, Va. Purcellville, Va. Reston, Va. Vienna, Va. Washington, D.C. Newark, Del. Ellicot City, Md. Avalon, N.J. Stone Harbor, N.J. Wildwood, N.J. New York, N.Y. Boiling Springs, Pa. Burnham, Pa. Harrisburg, Pa. Lewistown, Pa. Reedsville, Pa. Yeagertown, Pa. Springfield, Pa. State College, Pa. Tannersville, Pa. University Park, Pa.
The list has been getting shorter for the last couple of years. Here is to a more adventurous 2010!
VDOT can't spell 40th president's name - William World News
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
VDOT can't spell 40th president's name
Next Exit: Reagen Nat'l Airport - NBC Washington The Virginia Department of Transportation is replacing big green guide signs along Interstate 395 and made a big mistake, two actually. Now, far be it for me to knock somebody misspelling something, but VDOT put up "Reagen National Airport" instead of "Reagan National Airport." The airport was renamed by Congress in honor of President Rongald Reagan in the late 1990s, a decision fraught with irony.
Most Washingtonians, regardless of their feelings about the 40th president, still call it National. If anything, it is good way to determine how long someone has been in the area by what they call the airport.
As for the other mistake, the clearview typeface on the signs. I've mentioned before I don't like it and prefer the old highway gothic fonts.
Drafthouse bankrupt, remains open - William World News
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Drafthouse bankrupt, remains open
Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse files for Ch. 11 - Washington Business Journal Fritz texted me on Friday evening (while I was in Pennsylvania) the news that the Arlington Cinema n' Drafthouse is in chapter 11 bankruptcy. Their second location, the now shuttered Montgomery County Cinema n' Drafthouse is the cause. I have to wonder if adding a restaurant and bringing in live acts like comedians contributed. When it was just movies, I recall it selling a lot of tickets. How is the turnout for non-movie events?
Hopefully, the Drafthouse will still be around when the process is completed and does not get sold for condos or something similar. I know Arlington is keen on having the Drafthouse around as it redevelops Columbia Pike. I would enjoy taking a street car there someday. Actually, I'd just enjoy seeing a movie there again someday period, I'm a little busy these days.
New Shirlington Connector signage - William World News
Monday, July 06, 2009
New Shirlington Connector signage
ARLINGTON, Va. -- Signs were recently added to the new Shrlington Connector portion of the Four Mile Run Trail, but they could be better. For one thing nothing is signed as the Four Mile Run Trail which is silly because the Shirlington Connector makes the trail continuous. Eastbound cyclists leaving Shirlington for Glebe Road get pretty good signing, but those headed westbound still have some guess work. One highlight is the map at the end of the W&OD Trail, located about half a block across Shirlington Road from the Connector.
A similar map should be installed on the opposite side.
I would have expected Clarendon to have been "The Clarendizzle," rather than "Clizzle-Dizzle."
# posted by dl004d :
Friday, June 12, 2009 3:34:00 PM
Even I know that was pretty weak.
# posted by WFY :
Saturday, June 13, 2009 8:45:00 AM
Post a CommentSome I-66 widening in Arlington now funded - William World News
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Some I-66 widening in Arlington now funded
Funding Passed for Widening Of I-66 - The Post One part of the I-66 widening inside the Capital Beltway (I-495) has been approved -- extending the on-ramp from Fairfax Drive along the westbound lanes all the way to EXIT 69 Sycamore Street.
The move reversed a decision by the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board last month to strip the $75 million project from the region's transportation plan. Yesterday, the swing votes were cast by two Fairfax County supervisors, Catherine M. Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill) and Linda Q. Smyth (D-Providence), who last month had voted against the project.
In exchange, the Virginia Department of Transportation assured the board that no further funding for the I-66 project beyond the first phase would be committed until several studies are completed. But, as some board members pointed out, that is not much of a concession, because the state does not have money to fund the other two phases of the project anyway.
They might as well not do anything until they extend that lane all the way to EXIT 67 Dulles Access/Toll Road. As for the transit alternatives that some Arlingtonians want there is one coming -- the Silver Line. When I lived in Pentagon City, I have happily have taken Metro to Tysons everyday instead of driving.
Arlington funding initial planning of Columbia Pike streetcars - William World News
Arlington funding initial planning of Columbia Pike streetcars
Streetcars and desire in Arlington - WTOP Arlington County will spend $3 million over "two years to to look at ways to fund, construct, operate and maintain a streetcar system" along Columbia Pike (VA 244). Initially, I was skeptical of streetcars on Columbia Pike, but after going to a workshop about two years ago, I have come around on them. They certainly have more cachet than buses too.
Currently, Columbia Pike is the busiest bike corridor in the Commonwealth. Hopefully, this does get built and if/when it does, headline writers will have outgrown their need to invoke a certain Tennessee William's play/film every time the topic comes up.
The I-66 project would connect a series of acceleration and deceleration lanes, effectively widening the westbound road from two to three lanes between Fairfax Drive and Sycamore Street and expanding it between Washington Boulevard and the Dulles Airport Access Road from three lanes to four.
That is exactly what I suggested they do four years ago, but it was voted down by Metropolitan Washington Council of Government's Transportation Planning Board. Not surprisingly, Arlington members voted against it, but "the swing votes during Wednesday's meeting turned out to be Fairfax County's. Both of Fairfax's representatives on the panel, county supervisors Catherine M. Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill) and Linda Q. Smyth (D-Providence)." I do not understand why they cast the votes they did.
Arlington is rightfully proud of developing a well-zoned, pedestrian and transit oriented community that sets a standard for new urbanism. I loved living in Arlington for this reason. I do not believe I am alone in that situation. The "Arlington vs. the other suburbs" attitude has got to go -- a lot of us would live in Arlington if it were more affordable.
I would have benefited from this widening as a pro-transit Arlington resident who "reverse commuted" by car from Pentagon City to Tysons everyday for five years. What makes this widening so desirable was that it would not need to remove any houses and would not detract from the transit. I could see the need to possibly detour a few sections of the Custis Trail, but it would not be significant. This would be a sensible project and I hope it is resurrected.
I used the same criteria as previous years -- I have to had a meal or spent the night there. Fast food does not count either.
Alexandria, Va. Arlington, Va. Bluemont, Va. McLean, Va. Vienna, Va. Virginia Beach, Va. Washington, D.C. Columbia, Md. Avalon, N.J. Sea Isle City, N.J Stone Harbor, N.J. Bronx, N.Y. New York, N.Y. Allentown, Pa. Belleville, Pa. Harrisburg, Pa. Hershey, Pa. Lewisberry, Pa. Lewistown, Pa. Manada Hill, Pa. Mechanicsburg, Pa. Reedsville, Pa. State College, Pa. Tannersville, Pa. Kenley, N.C. Wilson, N.C. Conway, S.C. Myrtle Beach, S.C. Pawley's Island, S.C.
There are a couple of exceptions to the rule -- we did not eat in Bluemont, but cut down a Christmas tree, so that counts. Also, we drove through Delaware but did not stop. This year also marked the least amount of visits to New Jersey ever. Next year, we will have to do better.
The 1987 film, No Way Out, is a good Washington/Cold War thriller that holds up pretty well, despite some glaring location errors (mostly about Metro), cheesy synthesizer music that belongs in bad sci-fi and Sean Young. Additionally, No Way Out opens with a tracking shot directly over my old apartments in The Potomac at Riverhouse* in Pentagon City. That shot ends on a house on Arlington Ridge Road where the protagonist, played by Kevin Costner, is being interrogated. A while back Fritz and I went looking for the house, but it is long gone. Fritz, who still lives in Pentagon City (his building was barely visible in the movie) found the location of the former house and wrote about it, so go there and read about it. Good detective work Fritz.
Oh and here is the opening of the movie with the tracking shot over the old, barely developed Pentagon City:
*Technically, my father's appartment too, as he lived there when it was called Riverhouse II.
Amen to your feelings on Sean Young! She was horrific in that film.
I forgot to mention this in my post, but at the end of the movie while the end-credits roll, the opening tracking shot gets reversed--i.e., it starts at the house on Arlington Ridge Road, pans right back over Riverhouse, then holds steady over the Pentagon and DC.
# posted by Fritz :
Tuesday, December 23, 2008 12:30:00 PM
Testing
# posted by WFY :
Wednesday, December 24, 2008 9:51:00 AM
Post a CommentFour Mile Run Trail extension update - William World News
Friday, August 15, 2008
Four Mile Run Trail extension update
ARLINGTON, Va. -- The other day I snapped a few shots of the new bikeway that will eliminate the gap in the Four Mile Run Trail. Most of the new trail will be on a viaduct that is built into the existing wall. There is not yet any indication on how it will be connected to the existing Four Mile Run Trail or W&OD Trail, but I'm sure they will work something out, even if it is just signs directing cyclists from the two trails. This will sure beat going over I-395 on the existing pedestrian bridge and having to ride along several Alexandria streets to get to the eastern section of the trail.
It looks to be in pretty good shape now with a completion expected in March 2009.
Carrie Fischer at Arena stage - William World News
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Carrie Fischer at Arena stage
Carrie Fisher has a one woman show coming up at Arena Stage (which is temporarily in Crystal City) at the end of the month. Called "Wishful Drinking", the show comes off as her sitting in a room with a drink in one hand and cigarette in the other telling her Hollywood war stories. So, it sounds like every DVD commentary or interview she's ever done, but in her "natural" element an without any censorship. I would be inclined to go, but with a pair of tickets costing around $125, I think I am going to have to pass.
UPDATE: Last Call for Phone Booth - The Post The last phone booth in BeltwayLand has been removed. Only about five people a day were using it, even after it was "revealed" last fall as the only one left.
Pop Candy alerts us that Alexandria, my current home, is the most romantic city in the United States of America according to amazon.com. My previous location, Arlington is #9 while Washington D.C. is #11. The Ombudsman works in the #2 city, Cambridge, Mass.
While Old Town Alexandria and the roof of Riverhouse in Arlington have their advantages, I never thought of either place as particularly romantic. I would have expected San Francisco (#15) to be higher and that New York would be on the list.
It has been suggested that perhaps the criteria amazon.com uses, "sales data of romance novels, relationship and sex books" indicates a lack of romance. Seeing that we're lumped in with Cambridge and Ann Arbor supports that statement -- what do Cantabs and Wolverines know about amore anyway?!
Tightening the Beltway, the Elite Shop Costco - The Times Costco, specifically the Pentagon City (the old neighborhood!) location, is becoming a preferred purveyor of D.C. dinner party food these days. Several insiders are quoted on how Costco has replaced through an outfit Ridgewells Catering for their party needs.
Against the backdrop of an unpopular war, rising oil prices and a subprime mortgage crisis, a certain thriftiness seems to have crept into the city’s dining rooms.
"I don't think anyone would dare serve caviar as a first course today, and instead of filet mignon, there are a lot of other beef dishes," said Letitia Baldrige, the etiquette writer who was Jacqueline Kennedy's social secretary. "Embassies don't have the pocketbooks they used to. And to have these opulent menus for these parties here, it looks bad."
In that sense, catering by Costco is a style statement, like drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.
"Reverse chic* is a very powerful phenomenon in status-oriented circles," said David Kamp, the author of "The United States of Arugula" (Broadway, 2006), a book about the American fine-food revolution. "I think Costco is the same thing. It gets discovered."
Blah, blah, blah.
I don't think the war has anything to do with it either, but then again I'm not hanging out with the Bradlees much these days. I doubt Manhattan dinner parties are what they used to be either. Costco has quality food too, so no need to make it out like its the Soviet Safeway. Call it a hunch, but most of those catering companies probably have regular visits from the Sysco truck.
Greater D.C.'s last phone booth - William World News
Friday, November 23, 2007
Greater D.C.'s last phone booth
Step Inside, and Back in Time, and Dial Away - The Post According to this article, the only operational phone booth left in the D.C. area is located in Arlington's Clarendon neighborhood.
387 ft. Rossyln high-rise approved - William World News
Saturday, November 03, 2007
387 ft. Rossyln high-rise approved
Rosslyn High-Rise Gets FAA Go-Ahead - The Post No Aviation Hazard Found, Agency Says The FAA cleared a 387 ft. tall high-rise building in Rosslyn up the hill from the tallest buildings, 1000 and 1100 Wilson Blvd. (nee USA Today and Gannett buildings). It could very well be the last building of that height though.
I've said before that the two things D.C. lacked were skyscrapers and baseball. There isn't much hope for the former, though Rosslyn is helping a little and I can't recall what happened about the latter.
Here is the best image I could find of the approved building: I don't know if this is up to date though.
Hopefully, the 400 ft. barrier will be broken when Tysons is redeveloped around Metro. As it is now, Tysons has a skyline if you look from the right angles.
Four Mile Run Trail groundbreaking - William World News
Monday, October 22, 2007
Four Mile Run Trail groundbreaking
ARLINGTON, Va. -- On Saturday morning, I rode my bicycle over to the Four Mile Run Trail groundbreaking ceremony for the missing link in the trail. Some details from the Arlington County press release:
The planned route will eliminate nearly a mile of on-street riding and difficult road crossings, offering a safer, more direct path along Four Mile Run for walkers, runners and cyclists.
"The new Four Mile Run trail connection will offer bike commuters a quicker, safer route. It provides those riding for recreation with more trail options. Bicycle commuting takes cars off the road, which reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions," said Arlington County Board Chairman Paul Ferguson. "It is also a great way to get exercise."
Several public officials spoke, including Alexandria mayor William D. Euille and Jim Moran, U.S. Representative for the eighth district. BikeArlington, Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority and the League of American Bicyclists also had representatives in attendance. The League of American Bicyclists presented Arlington County with a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Community award. Handouts with press releases, maps as well as Hershey kisses and bike bells were provided.
I am really looking forward to Four Mile Run Trail being made contiguous (Moran's second favorite word; he said earmark more, though this was funded by the county, not the feds) to the Washington & Old Dominion Trail. Unfortunately, the trail isn't scheduled to open until 2009. [flickr set: Four Mile Run Trail extension groundbreaking]
Tolls on the 14th Street Bridge? - William World News
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Tolls on the 14th Street Bridge?
Federal officials considering tolls at 14th Street Bridge - The Wash. Examiner Here is a suprising development, the Federal Government is considering adding tolls to the 14th Street Bridge "among other efforts to reduce congestion in the busy corridor between Crystal City and the District." Generally speaking, the feds have been reluctant to do anything that costs federal workers money.
How in the world would a tollbooth reduce congestion? It seems self-evident that a tollbooth would increase congestion on the 14th Street Bridge as well as all the other bridges that would remain free. While this is just one of 43 proposals, I could see this one getting traction because the D.C. council has been trying to get some sort of tax on commuters any way they could and will probably jump on this idea.
I wish the feds were not eager to abdicate themselves of their responsibilities to maintain infrastructure.
<i>WWN</i> Pentagon City bureau - William World News
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
WWN Pentagon City bureau
This past spring, William World News moved its headquarters from Pentagon City, Arlington to the west end of Alexandria. The move was made to realize lower costs of owning a headquarters instead of leasing it. Despite the move, WWN continue to maintain a Pentagon City presence with the establishment of a bureau there. Fritz Hamme will serve as bureau chief.
It's broomball night in Arlington - William World News
Friday, June 15, 2007
It's broomball night in Arlington
Tonight from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. there is broomball at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Ballston, Arlington. I think it is going on tomorrow night too. Last week it cost me $7 to play. It is worth noting that a broomball shootout would be an excellent way to settle La Coupe Hauxer.
Also, did you see the new washingtoncaps.com? The NHL has just adopted a league wide template for team sites and I have to say it is an improvement. The old site took too long to load.
I am skeptical of HOT lanes and downright against leasing public roads to private companies, something Sun columnist Jay Hancockdescribed as "transforming public utilities into private monopolies." Looks like we'll get to see whether my aversion to those two things is warranted.
widening westbound I-66 inside the Beltway
As for the I-66 widening I think it is the right thing to do, provided that the Custis Trail is open throughout the process. Here is the plan:
The I-66 project would connect a series of acceleration and deceleration lanes, widening the westbound roadway from two to three lanes between Fairfax Drive and Sycamore Street and expanding it between Washington Boulevard and the Dulles Airport Access Road from three lanes to four. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2010.
How about adding a lane between exits 67 and 71 in each direction, rather than all the way to/from Rosslyn? Experience from my daily commute on the road suggests that the backups occur in large part due to the lane drops after the Dulles Access Road and Fairfax Drive on-ramps. If VDOT just extended those merge lanes into travel lanes, there would be much less merging from those roads, which to my eyes is the root of most of the backups.
Adding a lane from Rosslyn west does not eliminate the merge at Fairfax Drive and may even make it worse. Lastly, I think this has a better chance politically, since VDOT can probably show a lot of traffic that gets on at Fairfax Drive and gets off at Dulles Access Road and vice-versa.
There is probably a reason VDOT wants to have the extra lane end at Sycamore St. My idea sounds better to me, but I'll trust their professional judgment, but reserve the right to question the results.
I imagine they will not be expanding past the retaining walls based on your comment about preserving the Custis trail. I'm all in favor of adding lanes to I-66 if it can be done without using anymore land. However, any push outside the retaining walls would be a total breach of faith in favor of the on-going blight of sprawl.
The clamoring of the masses of people, who left the inner suburbs and bought cheaper property in the sprawling newish hinterland suburbs surrounding old towns like Centreville or Winchester, for the Commonwealth to plow under the homes of Arlingtonians infuriates me. I-66 largely happened because the people of East Falls Church choose not to join the City of Falls Church, and, in so doing, lacked the political representation (that the people of NE WDC evidently had) needed to protect their interests.
It really sickens me when the anti-social, McMansion outer suburb crowd argues for plowing under sections of Arlington that are true communities in my estimation.
Apologies for taking up too much space.
# posted by Former Suburbanite :
Friday, May 18, 2007 1:33:00 PM
Thanks for your comment. I understand where you are coming from, but I'll argue that this plan benefits Arlingtonians as well. Until last month I was an Arlington resident who traveled I-66 to Tysons every day for six years. I believe that extending the lanes to give people more time to merge (if they even need to) would improve the quality of life for many inside and outside the county. I think the walls (and thus the Custis Trail) might only need to be relocated in a couple of spots westbound. I don't see it resulting in induced demand either because the demand to live in Arlington is already quite high.
I'm not going to get on people's cases for living in Fairfax County. I would have loved to stay in Arlington, but even with a two-income household it was unaffordable to buy along one of the Metro corridors.
After over six years of calling the Pentagon City neighborhood of Arlington County home, I officially (as in the lease expires) end my tenure there today. I am living in our new condo in Alexandria. Although Pentagon City would never be mistaken for a classic neighborhood it has been a wonderful place to live and leaving is bittersweet.
When I started looking for a place to live in late 2000, I decided it was very important to live near a Metro station. I also wanted to be able to walk to some amenities like a grocery store and some restaurants. Since I had no interest in living in the District (voting rights, poor parking/services. etc.) I focused my search on Arlington and Alexandria. Almost as a joke, I looked at Riverhouse, a three building apartment community on several acres. My father had lived there in the late 1960s so I figured I'd check it out. When I got there and saw what the rental rates were, I was pleasantly surprised to see they were below what the Orange Line corridor. Seeing that Pentagon Row was being built, I knew I'd get the amenities I was hoping for in a location. I signed a lease and moved there in early January 2001. In April 2004, Erica and I moved in together in a larger apartment. I'll have a more to say in a separate post about my apartment complex, Riverhouse.
Here are some of the things I loved about Pentagon City (in no particular order):
Location, location, location: 10-15 minutes from downtown D.C. by Metro. A ten minute walk to 23rd Street in Crystal City. Abutting I-395 and only five minutes from I-66. Within two or three miles of several major bike trails. National Airport is two Metro stops away.
The views The Washington Monument, The Capitol, The National Cathedral and now the Air Force memorial; it will be unusual not seeing those daily.
Pentagon Row -- The mixed-use development meant that I had an Eckerd, Harris Teeter, Subway and several restaurants, Hudson Trail Outfitters and Bed, Bath & Beyond within a five minute walk. The plaza is fairly well designed as a public, filling it with people whenever the weather cooperates.
Eye candy -- there are so many good looking women in Pentagon City, you can hardly get on an elevator without being in the presence of a hottie. Some of them are as almost pretty as Erica :). By the way, she says the guys are okay too.
Sine -- On the whole, the food is pretty uninspiring across the board with one great exception -- the baked potato soup. That stuff is so good. The beer selection is also strong. The wings are also pretty good.
Parks
The grassy area in front of building was made into a Grace Murray Hopper Park , providing an excellent buffer between my building and the rest of Pentagon City. On the other side of Joyce Street are softball fields and and soccer pitch.
Sabrett Hot Dog stand I was delighted to find that Pentagon City had a hot dog stand (one of my criteria for a downtown area, the other is taxi availability -- more later) at the Metro station and even more so that it was Sabrett. Sadly, it appears the stand stopped selling hot dogs last last month, coinciding with my relocation. Coincidence?
Pentagon Row Ice Rink Sure, it is tiny, but for being a block away from my apartment, I wasn't complaining. Erica and I had a lot of fun skating there over the years. Putting it there was a brilliant decision by Pentagon Row.
The Fashion Centre and Pentagon Centre -- Malls and big box stores don't do much for me, but a lot of that is because you have to drive to a nasty parking lot. These two facilities meant I could shop without driving.
Living there was great and I could go on and on about how much I loved it. I recommend Pentagon City to anyone looking to rent in the D.C. area. Choosing to live there was one of the three smartest things I have ever done. I'll still show up every now and then too -- Fritz still lives there.
I found a press release under the door of my Riverhouse apartment (my lease ends tomorrow) announcing the sale of the complex to Vornado/Charles E. Smith. Riverhouse has been owned by Cafritz for a long time, perhaps since the complex opened in the 1960s.
I heard this rumor last week and immediately wondered if it would be going condo. For quite a while I speculated that as soon as I bought property, Riverhouse would go condo though that does not appear to be happening at this time. Cafritz will continue to manage the complex for a year if rumors are to be believed.
I have a feeling Cafritz was not actively looking to sell the property and got a deal they couldn't refuse from Charles E. Smith which already owns a lot of buildings in the Pentagon City/Crystal City area.
High-Rises Approved That Would Dwarf D.C. - The Post I think it has been over two years since I mentioned the Rosslyn skyline, but since it is in the news again. A developer is trying to build a 388 foot tall building that will include an observation deck. The hope is to turn Rosslyn into something better than the "roll up the sidewalks at 5:30 p.m." neighborhood it is now. There is some whining from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and the National Park Service about building up the skyline of course. I don't buy the argument that a more distinctive and attractive Rosslyn skyline detracts from Capital scene and that is redundant since there is the matter of a border along the Potomac.
Tomorrow morning, Erica and I, along with some helpful family and friends will be making the big move out of Pentagon City to Alexandria. It looks like we'll have good weather for the occasion.
In light of the move, blogging may be a little light until Monday.
Also, has anybody had experience with Comcast telephone service? The very personable rep, Rhonda, advised me of it and it sounded like a good deal.
In front of my apartment building is Grace Murray Hopper Park, a pleasant county park that is great for a little recreation and a buffer between the rest of Pentagon City.
Back in late February, after six years of living behind the park, I noticed above rock was not actually a rock. We were building a snowman and threw a snowball at the rock. I was surprised to hear a hollow thud. I investigated and sure enough, the "rock" was actually some sort of composite material designed to look like a rock. It was hollow too.
Hopper, who was an important figure in the development COBOL, the first English programming language, lived in my building for many years. After getting a B.A. at Vassar and M.A. and PhD at Yale, she eventually found her way into the Navy. At the time of her retirement her rank was Rear Admiral. I found this great write-up about her on the yale.edu server.
I think someone as accomplished as Admiral Hopper deserves a real rock.
<i>The Onion</i> 2 <i>CityPaper</i> 0 - William World News
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
The Onion 2 CityPaper 0
Last week, two newspaper boxes for The Onion appeared on my block in Pentagon City. Back in January, I blogged about The Onion's arrivial on Metroblogging DC.
The Onion is not available until April 5, but it already has two more boxes on the block than the CityPaper. Even though they are different types of publications, they are competitors. Why? Advertising. Both are publications target the 18-34 audience and at least in Pentagon City, The Onion clearly has the edge in reaching that audience.
Get on your bikes and ride! Vol. 2 - I-66 Custis Trail - William World News
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Get on your bikes and ride! Vol. 2 - I-66 Custis Trail
Following Interstate 66 in Arlington, the I-66 Custis Trail is a challenging course between East Falls Church and Rosslyn. Since I-66 is mostly built below street level, the trail has varying gradients to accommodate the bridges over the highway, with the trail tending to rise into the overpass. This easily creates the best short workout available along area trails, which can be good or bad, depending on why you ride. The westbound approach to Glebe Road is a nasty climb.
While the trail is well landscaped, you may not care for the scenery if you not fond of highways (and for that matter commuter rail) and the noise that they bring. Still, it serves many Arlington neighborhoods and contributes to the mutlimodal nature of the corridor. Since trucks are prohibited on I-66, the aural sensation is mostly white noise (granted, loud white noise), unless a Metro train is passing through. Near the eastern terminus in Rosslyn, it connects to the Mount Vernon trail via the Rosslyn connector, while the western terminus is on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, linking it to the rest of the Northern Virginia trail network.
That route is sadly my commute. It is KILLER westbound. Not only is there the monster incline right before Glebe, but you've barely recovered by the time you get to it from the mile-long slow incline through Rosslyn from the Mt. Vernon trail!
Sucks bad when you're not quite in shape yet :-)
# posted by MissChatter :
Wednesday, March 14, 2007 1:34:00 PM
I was hoping to ride it yesterday, but 21 mph winds from the west convinced me otherwise.
# posted by WFY :
Thursday, March 15, 2007 6:16:00 AM
Post a CommentGet on your bikes and ride! Vol. 1 - W&OD Trail - William World News
Monday, March 12, 2007
Get on your bikes and ride! Vol. 1 - W&OD Trail
As we enter our first spring like week of the year I am starting a series of profiles of area bike trails. I begin with my personal favorite, the Washington & Old Dominion Regional Park trail. In 2005, Christopher and I rode the length of the trail from west to east in one afternoon.
An early example of the "rail-to-trail" phenomenon, W&OD was simply known as the "bike trail" to me and my friends when I was growing up. Now forty-five miles long, the flat, straight trail starts in Arlington, near Shirlington, and extends all the way past Leesburg to Purcellville. In actuality, the trail is part of W&OD Regional Park, which is the old railroad and current Virginia Power right-of-way (hence the high tension power lines), giving it dimensions of about 45 miles by 100 feet. Those 100 feet provide a buffer of nature through the most populated region of the commonwealth. Much of the Arlington portion traverses Four Mile Run Park while it parallels the windier Four Mile Run trail. Think of W&OD as I-95 to Four Mile's US 1 and you get the idea of how the two trails exist together.
As it approaches Falls Church, W&OD joins the Custis Trail as part of the I-66 multimodal corridor (I-66, Metro Orange line, bike path) for a few miles before breaking off onto side streets briefly. A beautiful bridge spanning Broad Street (VA 7) keeps the trail moving. At the foot of the bridge there are displays chronicling railroad and Falls Church history. Some of these displays are repeated along the trail, providing an interesting historical context.
After Falls Church, the trail parallels local streets and climbs up to the Virginia Lane overpass of I-66, before paralleling I-66 up to the Capital Beltway (I-495) interchange and into Dunn Loring. Once past the Beltway, the trail returns to separate right of way into Vienna where users are greeted by a small Civil War marker near the community center as well as the last opportunities for food and refreshments until Reston. Highlighting the Vienna portion is Vienna Centennial Park, home of a vintage red caboose, as well as an old train station, home to a large model railroad that is open to the public on some Saturday mornings. A local business park has also painted a large railroad mural facing the trail, giving the town a nice ambiance.
Beyond Vienna, the next four to five miles feature a few ridges as well as soccer fields and wetlands. One of the most substantial hills along the trail is just beyond Hunter Mill Road as you near Reston. Once down the hill, a more business oriented suburbia emerges with more boulevards to cross (mostly on recently built overpasses) as you pass through one of the "edge cities" of D.C. Fast food and convenience stores are also available, allowing you to fill up. One interesting note is the trail passes Michael Faraday Square, which includes the "monkey house" from the book, The Hot Zone, though it is not distinguishable from any of the other business park buildings.
Past Reston and closer to Herndon, W&OD once again takes on a character that is more residential than commercial. Downtown Herndon reveals itself to be quaint as you pass through with more refreshment options and another caboose. It the last concentrated downtown that you pass through along the trail, since west of Herndon was until recently fairly rural.
The end of Herndon means the beginning of Loudon County, starting with Sterling. Again, the trail travels through residential and light industrial (or at least the Northern Virginia equivalent) areas. As Sterling comes to an end, the W&OD crosses Sully Road (VA 28 and now Darrell Green Highway) on an overpass and enters a rapidly growing residential area. A decade ago, the housing boom reached these parts (especially north of the trail) and the once rural landscape was transformed into new subdivisions. All has not changed though, with the Ashburn General Store providing a tangible link to days long since past as well as plenty of snacks. This portion of the trail itself can be deceptively steep at times though.
Through Leesburg, the trail bypasses the historic downtown, but not by much. Having not traveled this portion in many years, I cannot recall the specific amenities available, but there are some.
Past Leesburg the W&OD takes on a rural flavor for the rest of the duration; A few trips across VA 7 on overpasses notwithstanding. The highest point of the trail is at Clarks Gap, where VA 9 splits from VA 7. The trail only has a few more miles before it terminates in Purcellville, a pleasant town that seems to be blending its history and emergence as a far suburb well.
I was just outside with the official WWN ruler measuring the snowfall in Pentagon City. Total as of 7:15 p.m. EST: just under 2 inches. Not a lot, but better than nothing.
Wasn't it great watching the Bears vs. Saints game today? Snow, grass, mud, and frozen breath -- real footbal. It makes watching the second game tough since they are playing in that stupid dome. At least a lineman scored the first touchdown for New England. Hopefully, they'll continue to poor it on Indy.
By the way, Indy will be replacing their current dome with a retractable roof stadium. They had a chance to fix the sitaution and only did it half way. What are the odds they will ever have open when the weather is poor? Doubtful.
Any way, internet connectivity at WWN World Headquarters is limited only to my RSS reader -- no http, pop or smtp, so I probably won't have an update tomorrow morning. I'll try to get something up at lunch. Right now, I'm at the South Pentagon City bureau using Deputy Editor MC Hamme's workstation. Comcast is scheduled to fix the situation tomorrow.
No less than three lineman scored touchdowns in the AFC Championship. And of course Jim Nantz had to tell the home audience that this was the single most amazing thing ever to happen in a conference championship.
I'm waiting for the day an announcer has the guts to scoff at the game he's covering and say, "You know this is really nothing. After you watch the Oilers blow 35 points to Frank Reich, re-take the lead, and then collapse again, you develop higher standards."
# posted by Babe Laufenberg :
Monday, January 22, 2007 4:16:00 PM
Another example of myopic America's sporting public with its total lack of perspective or history.
That's right ladies and gentlemen: that game you watched yesterday was the GREATEST PLAYOFF GAME OF ALL TIME. Please.
# posted by Clay Matthews :
Monday, January 22, 2007 4:43:00 PM
I have only seen three of the games listed and all of them were better than last night's. It was a good one, but not the best of all time. Steelers vs. Titans a few years ago was great was Giants vs. 49ers on the same weekend.
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