Kudos to Alexandria City Council

I'm sure some of you have noticed that the grass on the Alexandria side of Shirlington Circle has grown so tall that it is a traffic hazard, making an already precarious merge/yield even more dangerous. After weeks of waiting for the grass to be fully cut (since the City apparently thought cutting part of it was good enough), I decided to contact the Mayor's Office and City Council. I opted to use the email form on the Alexandria City Government website. I submitted the email on June 16 at about 9:45 pm and by 9 am the next morning I received the first of three emails from members of City Council. Below are the responses from Justin Wilson (City Council), Rob Krupicka (City Council), and Elaine Scott (Citizen Assistance), respectively. Elaine Scott actually CC'd all the members of City Council as well as the Mayor on her reply.

It's nice to feel that your local government hears and is receptive to the concerns of its residents. Now we'll see if the grass gets cut.

From Justin Wilson:

Thanks for the e-mail. I'm sorry to hear of the poor condition of the grass in the Circle.

During the most recently approved budget, due to severe budgetary constraints, the City Council made the decision to reduce mowing and grounds maintenance across the City. That being said, I will ask our Staff to ensure that this particular area is being maintained according to the new, reduced schedule.

I will let you know. Have a good week.

From Rob Krupicka:

We'll have staff look at this. Thank you for contacting us.

From Elaine Scott:

Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns with the City Council. Your concerns will be forwarded to the appropriate City department for response. Responses are generally provided within five working days. If more time is needed, we will notify you.

Italian Restaurants in Arlington/Alexandria

I have lived in the DC region going on 7 years and have had a difficult time finding decent Italian restaurants that don't cost an arm and a leg. There are quite a few in Baltimore, but you're likely to find better Peruvian or Ethiopian here than Italian cuisine. I am pretty happy with three as regular eating "haunts:"

1. Cafe Italia - This Crystal City restaurant on 23rd Street in Arlington serves basic Italian food, no frills, but their menu is traditional and their marinara sauce (or gravy) is possibly the best in the Beltway. Sometimes the service is frenetic and the atmosphere isn't Le Cirque, but I go to eat not oggle the space.

2. Atlantis - King Street's Bradlee Shopping Center in Alexandria, near Farlington Towne, is this host to this neighborhood landmark. They have good Italian offerings and pizza, but their Greek is better. The decor is out of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but I don't care.

3. Mom's Pizza Restaurant - At the intersection of Glebe Rd and Columbia Pike, this small place with pre-modern decor (I think there's a theme here) is better than just an adequate pizza palace. It serves up some great Italian. Their basic garlic bread is also the best in the area, bar none. Their Lasagna is also very good.

These places probably aren't of the local grown/organic/hormone free school, but their food is consistently tasty, and, to me, that's what counts. I know there are more renown places in the area, but these three places are great values and should not be confused with the Cafe Milanos and Toscas of the region.

Best and Worst of Alexandria/Arlington Neighborhoods

After some very rigorous, totally scientific, analysis the bloggers around Shrlington Circle have decided to award the following neighborhoods as the Best and Worst in Alexandria/Arlington.

Top 3 Neighborhoods:

1. Parkfairfax - Where can you get parks, public transit, and easy (affordable) living, all rolled into one? 1/12th houses, 11/12ths greenspace...you don't get that anywhere in the DC region.

2. Shirlington - While the restaurants tend to be overrated, it's got great movies/arts, transit, and a state of the art workout facility, without the fratboy scene of the orange line. It also has the Cadillac of supermarkets, Harris Teeter.

3. Delray/Rosemont - Yes, there is a bit of upper middle class yuppieness about Rosemont/Delray, this neighborhood is quite, well maintained, and all about family.

Bottom 3 Neighborhoods:

1. Landmark - Traffic is a mess (try not hitting the pedestrians). Shopping is spread out and rundown. If you like communist bloc architecture, this is your place.

2. Crystal City - The metro, the great companies (like PBS and Lockheed) and underground make this neighborhood tolerable, but there's a total lack of personality here. Concrete Chic.

3. Ballston - Frat party atmosphere with housing prices only 4 roommates could love. I mean, really, let's get some professionalism. The night out attire requires a half-buttoned down collared shirt for men and too much make-up and leggings for women (of all ages). But on the upside, the National Science Foundation is there.