about 5 min wait to vote in Rosslyn

At 8am on this sunny fall day, I waited in line about 5 minutes to vote in the Wilson Precinct. The situation in the Rosslyn Precinct next door in the firehouse looked similar. A campaign worker told me that turn out had been very light, but was picking up.

you can feel it

Signs of time passing. Winter's coming.

notes from Oct. Westmoreland Condo Board meeting

Some notes from this past Monday's Condo Board meeting:

• We are still waiting for Verizon to start installing Fios.  No one knows when installation will begin.
  
• The roof repair on 1311 is nearly complete.  Most of the repair was done in 2-3 days.
• Pruning of tree branches, particularly dead branches over the parking lot of 1301, is underway.
• The Board approved re-engagement of auditor.  Cost is $2,500 for auditing of annual accounts, $350 for tax return, and $75 administrative fee
• A sewer backup in building 1309, along with one earlier this summer in 1307, makes clear the importance of seriously addressing this problem.  The Board has decided to hydrojet all the sewer lines.  Moreover, this will be done annually.  The cost is a few thousand dollars per year.  Arlington County has recently highlighted that pouring fats, oils, and grease (FOG) down drains clogs county sewer lines. Pour grease into a can, let it solidify, and then throw out the can.  This will decrease the probability of sewer disasters in Westmoreland and across Arlington County.
  
• Westmoreland is still waiting for repair of the parking lot resurfacing.  No money has yet been paid for the resurfacing, and no money will be paid until the problems with the resurfacing are fixed.
• A resident sought approval to install an exhaust vent.  Approval is regularly granting once necessary arrangements have been made with the contractor to make the modification in accordance with condo standards.

Condo Board members Jose Calvo, Emil Tabakov, Valerie Corda, Jennifer Hastings, and Joe Ruland, residents Gretchen S. and Douglas G., and Property Manager Dennis Freeman attended the meeting.  That's right, the number of Board members attending was more than twice as great the number of non-Board residents attending.  Residents should be grateful for the service of our busy, unpaid Condo Board members.  One way to show some appreciation would be to show up for some meetings.

The next regularly scheduled Condo Board meeting is Monday, Nov. 23, at 7pm.

Marine Corps Marathon 2009

 

Living in Rosslyn, we're got prime seats for the Marine Corps Marathon.  So after a large, leisurely breakfast, walk outside and enjoy the spectacle of more than 20,000 persons running a marathon.  The Marine Corps Marathon is the people's marathon.  People are incredible.

tasty kabobs at Courthouse

The Afghan Kabob House is between a post office and a printing shop, across from Wendy's, about 100 yards from the Courthouse Metro.  Not exactly a location that screams ethnic authenticity.  Moreover, the Kabob House is clean, has a spacious dining space with a cafeteria feel, and is professionally and efficiently run.  It offers free wi-fi service. An ethnic dive this isn't.

But the kabobs are magnificent.  I had some tender, beautifully spiced, lamb kabobs and a couple of pieces of very tasty chicken breast kabob.  Moreover, I got talking to a guy named Dale.  He had lived in Afghanistan.  He said that this place serves the real thing.  It's a lot more convenient to go to Courthouse than to Afghanistan.  But I'd say either is worth a trip for kabobs this good.

The kabobs come with Tandoori Nan, an Afghan bread that has a bit more body than its Indian relative.  You choose from four kinds of rice (brown rice, curry rice, rice mixed with some spinach, and rice mixed with raisins and shredded carrots).   In addition, you get a choice of hummus or salad and a portion of vegetables. I had eggplant and an extra side of cauliflower.  Both vegetable dishes had delicious, exotic flavors.

Prices are reasonable.  My lamb kabob meal was $10.95, before tax.  You can get the boneless chicken breast kabob meal for $9.95.  Extra side portions are $2.25 each.  You pay for your food and pick it up at the counter, hence there isn't a waiter that you have to tip.

Owner Akbar Madany opened the Kabob House in the spring of 2009.   He has thirty-years experience in management for large restaurant chains.  He got fed up with being treated like a cog in a corporate machine and decided to strike out on his own. He says he feels quite alone running his own restaurant without corporate support (corporate support is the appealing aspect of the corporate mold).  But he's not an owner isolated in a back office. Yesterday night he was behind the counter, taking orders, serving food, supervising his crew, and chatting with customers. He has established the Afghan Kabob House as a highly professional business, serving authentic ethnic food with the personal care of a small business. You don't often find this kind of restaurant.

For a tasty, quick, reasonably priced, healthful meal, go to Afghan Kabob House.  Hours: Mon-Thurs, 11am to 10pm, Fri-Sat, 11am-3am, Sun 12pm-9pm.  That's right, it's open until 3am on Friday and Saturday, so this is where to go for a late-night kabob run.  Call 703 294-9999 for take-out.  Delivery and catering also available. Free wi-fi.  Address: 2045 Wilson Blvd, Arlington VA 222901.