Arlington, Alexandria briefs

The plan, which would come before the board in 2012, would be the first comprehensive look at the Rosslyn area since 1992. The board said the plan could help Rosslyn transform into a better neighborhood based on community input.

Low-income apartments planned

The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing was awarded a $2.13 million low-income-housing tax credit for the 122-unit Arlington Mill residences that will be built in 2012. The award was given by the Virginia Housing Development Authority earlier this month.

The four-story building will be 99 percent affordable housing, including space for families, and use energy-efficient design. There also will be a wing of supportive housing for people with disabilities and formerly homeless people.

The housing complex will be next to the Arlington Mill Community Center on Columbia Pike at South Dinwiddie Street that will begin construction in July.

Motorcycles rev for Wounded Warriors

Hundreds of motorcyclists from several clubs in the region will ride around the Beltway Saturday in support of the Wounded Warrior Project. The event will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 12:30 p.m. The rain-or-shine event requires a $25 donation.

For information, call 301-248-1200.

Fifth-graders win science prize

Arlington Traditional School’s fifth grade won the grand prize in Discovery Education’s MythBusters “Bust-a-Myth” Video Challenge.

Teams were asked to choose and test a myth using tools provided by Discovery while creating a video during the process. Lisa Warden’s fifth-grade class busted the myth that soda can dissolve a steak, but they proved that soda can clean a penny and discolor a tooth.

The video was selected as a finalist and later chosen as the public’s choice. Each student will receive a backpack and DVD. Warden and a colleague get to attend a live taping of Discovery’s “MythBusters.”

For information on the challenge and to view the winning videos, visit www.facebook.com/discoveryed .

Christmas in July returns to Alexandria

The Christmas in July Celebration will come to Old Town Alexandria on July 15-17 on Union Street.

About 15 retailers and community organizations will host activities either inside stores or on Union Street, including pictures with “Summer” Santa and Mrs. Claus, historical tours, holiday trunk shows, food and wine tastings, story time for tots, arts and crafts and musical entertainment.

A Christmas Story (DVD) Review | Movies Cave

Adapted from humorist Jean Shepherd’s hilarious memoir In God We Trust: All Other people Pay Money, A Christmas Story has climbed the ranks of the annual holiday classic films list to claim its spot among the hallowed elite of the genre. If you’ve ever tried to lick a frozen telephone pole, or found yourself in a ridiculous bunny outfit on Christmas morning, then A Christmas Story is one comedy you won’t want to miss –

A Christmas Story focuses on one central character, fifth grader Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) and his all-encompassing quest to receive a Daisy Brand Red-Ryder BB rifle for Christmas, though I don’t believe he realizes he could put an eye out with 1 of those things – Thwarting Ralphie at just about every turn are his mother (Melinda Dillon) and father (Darren McGavin) who appear totally oblivious to their young son’s dream.

Unable to come ideal out and say what he wants, Ralphie drops subtle hints about the house such as placing clipped-out magazine ads for the gun in his parents’ nightstand reading material. When prodded for his true Christmas wish, Ralphie blurts out that he wants a Daisy Brand Red-Ryder BB gun, but his ( movies online ) mother’s only reply is, “You don’t want 1 of those. You’ll shoot your

eye out!”

A Christmas Story is filled with memorable scenes and highlights that have helped built a cult following about the life of a young boy obsessed with Christmas who is surrounded by a varied cast eccentric friends and family members. When Ralphie’s father beams with pride at his ability to win a newspaper contest, his proudly displays his prize in the front window of the family household, a 3-foot lamp with a woman’s long, stocking-covered leg as its base. Embarrassed, Ralphie’s mother “accidentally” breaks it, sparking a war of words with her husband. Meanwhile, Ralphie dreams of saving the whole family with his Red-Ryder BB gun, thus earning the family’s undying gratitude.

1 of the ideal sequences in the film involves a family trip to the local department store, where Ralphie and his little brother Randy meet with the store Santa Clause near closing time. Following a lengthy, extended wait to reach the front of the line to see Santa, Ralphie is so brimming with anticipation to tell Santa what he wants that he can’t speak. So, Santa convinces Ralphie that he ( movies seattle ) wants a football.

Doug Pratt's DVD, Movies, Television, Music, Art, Adult, and More!

TLA video & DVD guide, the discerning film lover's guide, 2005

Billboard

The Literary Filmography: Preface, A-L

Excelsior, you fathead!, the art and enigma of Jean Shepherd