“Complicated Order”

Last night, with spotlights swooping across the sky, David von Storch—owner of businesses Vida Fitness, Bang Salon, Capitol City Brewing Company and the building at 1612 U Street—debuted the pilot of his reality show at Town Danceboutique near 8th and U Streets NW.

He financed the filming himself and is now marketing it to various TV networks.

“I was looking at my iPhone all night, praying that my agent from L.A. would call with good news, but I can tell you that it is very encouraging that we will be picked up,” von Storch told the packed crowd right before the screening.

You can watch a teaser of the pilot for the show, called “Complicated Order,” here. It centers on von Storch and several key employees of his various businesses and his live-in ex-boyfriend, kinda-sorta-boyfriend? I was a bit unclear on that, since it was hard to hear at times.

Reached yesterday during the day, von Storch said he’d been thinking about doing a reality show focused on the stylists in some of his Bang Salons for roughly three years.

“If you could be a fly in the wall in the break room, it’s just really fun to listen to. Stylists are just a crazy breed,” he said.

But then, von Storch was approached by a northern Virginia-based production company, who pitched a show focusing on him and his businesses. Von Storch ultimately didn’t like the vision, but he started working on his own concept—one that would be more open about his personal life, which includes being HIV positive.

“Look if I’m going in, I’m going all in,” he says. “All in is the warts, and this unpleasant stuff and the failures and the difficult times as well as things that are fun.”

Von Storch and his team filmed the pilot in the third week of November. They filmed for just seven days and it took more than a month to cut the tape together. Footage on the official “Complicated Order” website went live on Monday night, and von Storch’s team contacted six networks on Tuesday.

“It’ll take probably a month,” said von Storch on the phone yesterday. “We might know by the end of January. But we should know within a month…whether or not the discussions we’re having with any one of those networks goes forward.”

State of the Union watch party at Arlington's Busboys & Poets Jan. 27

For something a little different, the Shirlington outpost of Busboys & Poets is hosting a State of the Union "watch party" on Wednesday, January 27, at 9 p.m. As of this posting, this party is just what it sounds like - you can watch the State of the Union on a big screen with your fellow politicos, while enjoying all that Busboys has to offer.

Lunch in Shirlington Bike Ride

The “Lunch in Shirlington” ride meets year-round on Sundays at 10 AM on the brick plaza in front of the Shirlington Library / Signature Theater at 4200 Campbell Ave, Arlington 22206, for a 16 mile loop on the bike trails of Arlington (the Arlington Loop: traveling first on a portion of the W&OD Trail, then the Custis Trail, the Mount Vernon Trail, and the Four Mile Run Trail). The 3-4 miles on the Custis Trail are hilly; the rest of the ride is pretty flat (average speed on ride is about 10-12 miles per hour; cue sheet available).
This is a friendly, social ride; new people are welcome and will soon be part of the regular group. Lunch after the ride is at one of the many restaurants in Shirlington (free parking in garages and lots). It would be wise to bring a helmet, water, bike lock, and money for lunch. Check the “Ride News” forum on the Potomac Pedalers website for cancellations due to rain, ice, etc. For detailed directions to the ride start email the ride leader.

Carlyle Grand Cafe

A photograph of "The Carlyle Grand Cafe" before it just became the "Carlyle"...

Arlington's New Cultural Center Video | Videos | Arlington Arts

ODE TO ARLINGTON'S CULTURAL CENTER BY REMY MUNASIFI
Arlington's New Cultural Center Video | Videos | Arlington Arts

Arlington County 2010-2011 Vehicle Decal Design Competition

This past summer the Arlington County Treasurer’s Office extended an invitation to all high school students residing in Arlington to submit artwork to the annual Vehicle Decal Design Competition. The winning design will appear in over 155,000 windshields when the 2010-2011 decals are issued next summer. All submissions received were narrowed down to four semi-finalists by a Citizens’ Panel. The four semi-finalist designs appear below along with a description of each design written by the student entrant.

Voting for the winning design is now open to the public. Vote for your choice by clicking one button from the list below. To see a larger image, click on the decal. Voting will close February 21 at noon.

Intelligent Community Forum Announces 2010 Top Seven Intelligent Communities of the Year

Top Seven are Finalists in the Prestigious Intelligent Community of the Year Award Process...

Arlington’s Tallula Restaurant offers $35 three-course meal for early birds...

Tallula is currently offering a great deal for early bird diners.

NEWEST HILTON GARDEN INN® OPENS DOORS IN ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA

142 room hotel offers everything guests need while traveling for business or leisure...

Periwinkle Shop

There's a whole lot more to love about Periwinkle these days. We are very excited to announce that we'll be expanding and opening a brand new store at The Village at Shirlington in February 2010.

The Curious Grape - Getting Schooled on Wine

More than just another wine shop, the Curious Grape offers free wine seminars and detailed tastings.

Arlington: The Rap