Our biggest stories of 2019
1. Rosslyn Putt-Putt + Candy BAR brought summertime fun to the neighborhood.
From June through August, Rosslyn Putt-Putt gave kids and adults alike the opportunity to play nine rounds of mini golf on a course featuring neighborhood landmarks. The adjoining Candy BAR offered refreshing drinks, penny candy and classic arcade and carnival games. The Washington Post liked Rosslyn Putt-Putt so much they called it the perfect Friday-night date!
2. H-B Woodlawn and The Shriver Program started the school year in their beautiful new building, The Heights, in Upper Rosslyn.
For the first time, the H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Program started off the school year in their beautiful new building, The Heights, in Upper Rosslyn. Designed by executive architect LEO A DALY and Bjarke Ingels Group, the building has received critical acclaim for its innovative, modern design. It has been wonderful to have these students and teachers as part of our Rosslyn community. We got to interview H-B Woodlawn's Principal Casey Robinson at the start of school. Here's what she had to say.
3. Our retail and services scene took it up a notch: Safeway got a major facelift and new fitness studios, Good Sweat and Anytime Fitness, gave us more exciting options for working out.
This summer, the Rosslyn Safeway was completely redone and expanded, which has been a huge boost for Rosslyn. Meanwhile, two new fitness studios opened: Good Sweat gives us a place for indoor cycling, donating a portion of all proceeds to charity, while Anytime Fitness offers a clean, fully loaded studio driven by results and a really awesome and welcoming team of trainers.
4. Artist Linny Giffin left her mark on Central Place Plaza with thousands of colorful hand-painted leaves that made the space a more beautiful, inviting place.
Named a "Woman to Watch" by Washingtonian, artist and Lemon Collective Co-founder Linny Giffin graced Rosslyn with numerous creations this year, including 800 hand-painted silk leaves at Central Place Plaza. Giffin's work helped make the space more welcoming and was part of a broader placemaking strategy.
5. Thanks to Arlington County's leadership, Rosslyn continued to become more accessible for folks walking, biking and rolling.
Two active-transportation milestones this year: the Core of Rosslyn Transportation Study was completed, paving the way for a more walkable, bikeable, transit-friendly neighborhood; and the Bicycle Element Update of Arlington County's Master Transportation Plan was also approved. Its goal is to make bicycling in Arlington more comfortable and accessible to a broader community of riders.
6. On the eve of the Marine Corps Marathon, LOVE came to Rosslyn.
The Marine Corps Marathon Finish Festival, which takes place in Rosslyn, attracts huge crowds to the neighborhood and is our largest event of the year. This year, the MCM team brought the state of Virginia's traveling LOVE sculpture to Central Place Plaza a few days before the marathon. Everyone enjoyed having it among us. The Rosslyn BID also sponsored several MCM runners this year, including Marine Bart Skiba who ran in memory of one of his friends who was killed in Ramadi. He was interviewed by NBC4's Drew Wilder.
7. The Rosslyn restaurant scene continued to grow with the addition of several new sit-down restaurants, a food hall and more.
Rosslyn's restaurant scene continues to grow, and we were proud to add several great establishments in 2019, including Happy Endings Eatery, Open Kitchen, Open Road, Saigon Noodles & Grill, Salt, Sfoglina, South Block Juice and Taco Rock (pictured above).
8. Rosslyn workers and residents donated 205 bags of clothing to our annual Holiday Clothing Drive.
The donations of the Rosslyn community will help clients of A-SPAN (Arlington Street People's Assistance Network) stay warm this winter. Shout out to Turnberry Tower for being our most generous building with 24 bags!
9. Rosslyn was selected as the final site for an Arlington County boathouse.
After studying several possible sites for an Arlington County boathouse, the National Park Service concluded that a spot near Rosslyn was their best bet. The study findings pave the way for non-motorized watercraft to one day launch in the neighborhood.
10. It was an award-winning year for Rosslyn businesses.
Several Rosslyn businesses took home honors this year: Hungry Marketplace and Higher Logic were named two of Arlington's "Fast Four" at Arlington Economic Development's annual Arlington Premiere reception (pictured here is Higher Logic's Chief Marketing Officer Kevin Alansky with the Rosslyn BID's Engagement Manager Annie Baldauf). Meanwhile, Hungry's Shy and Eman Pahlevani and entrepreneur and Lovelytics founder Scott Love were named to DCA Live's "40 under 40." And Whitney Jones of LifeCents was named one of the New Power Women in Tech by DCA Live.