People singing and playing music from their balconies has been something of a trend during the quarantine, and the Crystal City Business Improvement District (BID) wants to get it started in Arlington.
The Crystal City BID is starting Front Porch Fridays tomorrow (Friday) afternoon.
“We may not all have a front porch — we may not all even have a balcony — but what we do have is our community,” the Crystal City BID said on the event page. “Music has always brought people together and now is no different. We can still gather together to listen (virtually)!”
The BID is encouraging residents to open their windows or bring a radio to their porch or balcony, tune to the same station and crank up the volume.
This week, the station is Hot 99.5 at 4:20 p.m. Next week it’s DC 101.1 at noon.
“The station will change each week, but the party atmosphere stays the same,” the BID said. “And best of all — we want you to select the playlist! Visit our Facebook page each week Monday-Wednesday to vote on the songs you want to hear. Then listen in on Friday to see if your pick made the cut!”
The music will be commercial-free, courtesy of the BID.
Videos of people singing in the streets went viral early on in the pandemic, though results to replicate that have sometimes been mixed.
Separately, the BID announced Thursday that it would be donating $100,000 to Arlington’s small business grant fund.
“Small businesses throughout National Landing have adjusted their operations to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Just as they have supported us, we are focusing our efforts on ways to assist and enhance the long-term viability of these businesses,” Crystal City BID President Tracy Sayegh Gabriel said in a statement. “We are pleased to contribute to Arlington County’s GRANT Program, which will enable countless small businesses to stay afloat, retain their staff and continue to serve the community.”
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