Monthly Archives: October 2026

Paying It Forward—Lyon Park Style

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By Shelya White

Lyon Park recently was gifted a stunning red & white striped tent that has been a central player at many Lyon Park events. Longtime neighbor Shelya White and her family donated the tent to honor her late husband, Robert White. Shelya and Robert and their 4-year-old son Steven moved to Lyon Park into their original house across from the park in 1973. Theirs is a lovely Lyon Park story:

Our two boys (now 56 and 43—yep 13 years apart, I was career-focused and suddenly realized I was 33 years old so…), and our five grandchildren (now 21, 17, 14, 9, and 7) all have played in Lyon Park. Several years after moving into our early 1900’s house, we did a major renovation and removed a clawfoot tub that was beyond refurbishing. We put it in the backyard as a lark and put goldfish in it, won from the Lyon Park Spring Fair; they survived the winter. So we dug a hole, put the tub in it and the fish lived many happy years in that environment. We later dug up the tub and made a medium-sized pond lined with polyethylene for them; they survived for many more years. When our current house was built in 2008 we had a proper pond built as a permanent home for the beloved fish. Throughout the years, the original Lyon Park goldfish were paramount, supplemented with a few fantails and a few other varieties. One year we actually saw some of the goldfish trying to swim up the waterfall as though they were salmon—it was awesome! One morning our three beautiful 7-inch fantails were laid out side by side, dead. Robert was upset…saying he wouldn’t be so angry if the racoon had eaten the entire fish because it was starving, but he was mad because it had only eaten the brains!

Such a small thing…a neighborhood fair, a kid throwing rings around rubber duckies and winning a few fish, resulting in close to 40 years of happiness from those fish for our family. Robbie, my youngest son, won the fish that started us on our pond journey, and says he vividly remembers the day he won the fish at the Fair. Lyon Park and all the events we sponsor there are so very important. We may never know what memory-makers we have sparked, but I wanted to take this opportunity to remind you all that what we do has impacted little lives into adulthood (and families).

When Paul announced at a LPWC meeting that he was looking into the cost of tents to buy for the Fair, I knew buying a tent in Robert’s honor would be a perfect tribute to him. Sadly, just a few weeks after he passed away in March 2025, all the fish died, I hadn’t been paying attention to them the past couple of months and string algae had invaded. I started over with a new batch of fish this Spring and they’re already producing babies!

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English Ivy: A Noxious Invasive We Must Eliminate

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By Elaine Simmons

English ivy is a tough, drought-tolerant ground cover found all over our East Coast and Europe. But make no mistake: it is the arch enemy of trees and native plants everywhere. This plant initially spreads on the ground, smothering wildflowers and tree seedlings, but it can climb up to 90 feet on trees, which puts each tree in grave danger. English ivy adds weight and volume to trees, which makes them susceptible to blowing over; it blocks trees’ foliage from sunlight; it steals moisture and nutrients from tree roots; and it encourages trunk rot. Some poor trees look literally strangled by this invasive.

Unfortunately, Virginia has not banned the sale of this harmful plant, though starting in January, retailers must post official warning signs identifying English ivy as an invasive and encouraging alternatives. OK, that helps, but a huge problem is with existing plants that residents have allowed to get out of control. English ivy in yards has spread to forests and roadside trees and once you notice this ugly infestation it is hard to “unsee” it. My husband and I were recently in Ireland, which has quite low forest cover (11% vs 36% in the US). We loved the gorgeous countryside but were heartbroken to see so many of the few trees they have engulfed in English ivy.

What can you do to help? Start by eliminating it from your own yard. Pull out all vines running along the ground and cut the vines running up trees at the base of the tree—without cutting the tree bark! If you google “How to safely cut English ivy off trees” there is plenty of information. The ivy will keep coming back but if you keep fighting it, it will eventually die—and you will feel triumphant!

I am one of several volunteers who have saved trees from this scourge on private, county and federal property so you can also reach out to me on email at elainersimmons@earthlink.net. I am happy to come over and discuss and implement a “war plan.” I also plan to start dropping notes off at homes with nice trees endangered by ivy and offer to get rid of it. As we lose canopy to development, drought, and disease, we desperately need more healthy trees, so please contribute to a better future for Arlington.

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Restaurant Vibes: The Angie

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By Andrew Clary

The Angie, a new French-inspired restaurant in Ballston, offers a polished take on the neighborhood bistro experience, with an attractive dining room, classic dishes, and attentive service. My wife and I recently stopped in for dinner and left with a positive overall impression, though the high prices are worth keeping in mind.

The restaurant itself makes a strong first impression as you walk in. The space has a modern French bistro feel without leaning too heavily into traditional décor. It is bright, stylish, and very clean, with enough personality to make dinner feel like an occasion while still being comfortable for a casual night out. The atmosphere struck a nice balance between upscale and approachable.

We started with the tuna carpaccio, which ended up being one of the highlights of the meal. The thinly sliced tuna was fresh and tender, and the dish packed plenty of flavor. It was a light way to begin dinner but still felt satisfying.

For our entrées, my wife ordered the Duck au Poivre. The duck was cooked very well, with a nicely prepared exterior while remaining tender inside. She thoroughly enjoyed it, and the fries that came alongside it were a nice touch. I went with the Dover sole, another one of the more classic French offerings on the menu. The fish was delicate and flaky, with a rich, buttery sauce that complemented it nicely. Dover sole can be a relatively simple dish, so execution matters, and The Angie did a very good job.

We added the mashed potatoes and green beans to share. Unfortunately, these were probably the weakest part of dinner. Both were perfectly fine from a preparation standpoint, but we found them surprisingly bland compared with the rest of the meal. Given the quality and flavor of the main dishes, we were hoping for sides with a little more seasoning and personality, but were underwhelmed.

Dessert helped finish things on a stronger note. We ordered the crème brûlée, which had the classic combination you want: a crisp caramelized top over a smooth, creamy custard. It was simple but well executed.

Service throughout the evening was also very good. Everything moved at an appropriate pace, and the staff was attentive. The timing between the appetizers, entrées, and dessert was spaced appropriately. We had no complaints.

Overall, The Angie delivered a good dining experience, particularly with the tuna carpaccio, duck, and Dover sole. The atmosphere and service make it an appealing addition to Ballston’s restaurant scene. The biggest caveat is price: dinner here can become expensive fairly quickly, especially once sides and drinks are added. Still, if you’re looking for a polished French-inspired dinner in Arlington and don’t mind spending a little more, The Angie is worth considering.).

The Angie (3901 Fairfax Dr.): Hours of operation: Sun-Thur 7:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.; Fri-Sat 7:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m. Phone number: 703-263-8501. Visit https://www.theangieva.com/ for additional information.

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