Arlington Agenda is a listing of interesting events for the week ahead in Arlington County. If you’d like to see your event featured, fill out the event submission form.
This event will teach first time home buyers how to avoid mistakes while also educating them on tools and resources. Registration can be found online for this free event. Disney’s Frozen Jr. Auditions Thomas Jefferson Middle School (125 S. Old Glebe Road) Time: 5 p.m. and August 6 at 7 p.m.
Encore Stage & Studio invites kids ages nine to 18 to audition for the upcoming production. Backstage helpers are also needed, including kids ages 12 to 18. No experience is needed.
Head mixologist Robert Taylor will teach attendees how to create special cocktails. Guest will receive a Tito’s branded takeaway gift and food will be provided. Tickets are $35.
Young adult author Zoraida Córdova will discuss her upcoming Star Wars book “Galaxy’s Edge: A Crash of Fate.” The epic adventure takes place over the course of a single day on Batuu.
Sunday, Aug. 11
Aikido in the park Glencarlyn Park (301 S. Harrison Street)
Time: 10- 11:30 a.m.
This monthly aiki-weapons class will be followed by a cookout. Attendees can wear street clothes and extra gear will be provided.
South Block is hoping to open its new Rosslyn location by late August.
Owner Amir Mostafavi told ARLnow yesterday (Monday) that he’s “excited” about the summer opening, and is planning a block party to celebrate.
“We anticipate opening in late August followed by a community block party in September,” said Mostafavi. “The block party will consist of a live DJ, Bash will be there, we will be handing out swag bags to the 100 blockstars in line, free samples and more.”
The new eatery (1550 Wilson Blvd) will take up part of the space that previously housed Cafe Asia, next to Bash Boxing.
This will be the fourth South Block to open in Arlington and the tenth total since its founding in 2011. The latest South Block to open was the Ballston Quarter location in March.
The burgeoning local chain serves juice, smoothies, acai bowls and toasts. The new Rosslyn location will serve up a similar menu.
Mostafavi previously told ARLnow that he picked the location for its proximity to Bash.
“We’ve always had a really strong relationship with Arlington’s fitness community, so this is just a really good fit,” he said.
Arlington Agenda is a listing of interesting events for the week ahead in Arlington County. If you’d like to see your event featured, fill out the event submission form.
Bad Art Night III Columbia Pike Branch Library (816 S. Walter Reed Drive) Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
The library invites people 18 and over to gather for an evening of art creation. As part of the 2019 Summer Reading program, attendees of all talent levels can create their own masterpiece.
David Raglin from the Society for American Baseball Research will discuss some of the changes to baseball in recent years: like more strikeouts, more home runs, and longer games.
Each year on August 1 at exactly 9:32 a.m. the shadows cast by the poles and sculpture spheres align with patterns on the ground to mark the day in 1860 when William Henry Ross acquired Rosslyn
This three-hour guided tour will teach participants new strategies for finding inspiration. Spots are limited and those interested must register at [email protected].
This monthly event invites the public to check out a new art exhibit displaying various formats including paintings to sculptures. The exhibits are free and open to everyone.
This free concert series features Dutch artist, Gijsbert Kok playing the carillon, which was a gift from the Netherlands after WWII. It is made up of over 50 bells.
The Quarter Market food hall in the Ballston Quarter mall
Business review site Yelp is teaming up with Ballston Quarter mall (4238 Wilson Blvd) to host a social mixer called Yelp After Dark.
The free event is set to take place at the Quarter Market food hall next Friday, August 2 from 9-11 p.m.
Attendees must have a Yelp profile with a current photo and their real name. A press release for the event said attendees should RSVP through the Yelp app and will receive a confirmation email before the event. But, this does not guarantee entry, since space is limited.
Quarter Market vendors including District Doughnut, Ice Cream Jubilee, Rice Crook and The Local Oyster will provide food.
In 2015, Yelp co-founder and CEO Jeremy Stoppelman told ARLnow he might not have made it as a tech titan if it wasn’t for bike rides to Ballston Quarter — then Ballston Common Mall — as a kid. Stoppelman grew up in Arlington, near Military Road, and attended Taylor Elementary in the 1980s before his family moved to Great Falls.
Update at 12:20 p.m. — The gym is opening this Saturday, July 27, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., according to its owner.
Earlier: Potential patrons of an upcoming gym in Courthouse may have to wait a few more days before they can give the facility a test run.
Owner Mike Savitch, a bobsledder who represented the Virgin Islands in the 2002 Winter Olympics, told ARLnow that The Conditioning Room (2050 Wilson Blvd) should be open within two weeks, but hasn’t settled on an exact day.
Located near the Courthouse Metro station, in the former Cosi space, the new gym has missed Savitch’s desired opening date of June 1. But progress is being made: Savitch said he has moved in the exercise equipment in and hired artist Jack Labadie to put the finishing touches on the space with his graffiti-style artwork.
Unlimited memberships will be available for $205 per month. Once the gym opens, scheduled classes are set to run throughout the day Monday through Saturday.
The gym will also offer a free trial class on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.
Community member checks out the Arlington Public Library makerspace’s 3D printer
Arlington Public Library makerspace 3D printed Groot
Arlington Public Library makerspace sewing machine
Arlington Public Library makerspace
Arlington Public Library makerspace art projects
Arlington Public Library is extending the hours for its makerspace after staff say hundreds attended its grand opening.
The makerspace, located at Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street) first opened in April, but staff celebrated the opening this past Saturday (July 20), with tours and workshops of the space, dubbeds The Shop. Over 500 people came out for the event, according to Maker Librarian Katelyn Attanasio.
Now the APL is expanding The Shop’s opening hours from fours hour a day — Monday through Thursday and on Saturdays– to five hours each day.
Many of the workshops for the space are already “booked through October,” said Attanasio. She added that the DIY drywall repair workshop seemed to be especially well received.
Yesterday, the makerspace displayed little Groot figurines that had been made with the Shop’s 3D printer.
The Shop allows patrons to use a variety of equipment, from woodworking tools, circuit parts, Wacom tablets, 3D printers, and Cameo cutters, among others. Attanasio told ARLnow she hopes people realize there is even more to the space, like opportunities for patrons to come in and digitize home movies and tapes.
“This is your library,” said Attanasio. “We don’t just have fancy tech.”
She said the library is looking for feedback from patrons on the space, including its workshops and equipment.
Sense of Place is located in the Arlington Forest Center strip mall
Sense of Place cafe interior
A Sense of Place Cafe is considering catering to the happy hour crowd by serving wine and beer in the evenings.
Earlier this month, the independent coffee shop at 4807 1st Street N. in the Arlington Forest Shopping Center submitted an application to Virginia ABC to serve wine and beer on premises.
Owner Kim Seo said the cafe was still awaiting an inspection and that she doesn’t expect to receive a permit decision until early August, but that hasn’t stopped her and her sister from planning ahead.
Seo is hoping to cater to an after-work crowd, potentially staying open in the evenings (the cafe currently closes at 3 p.m.) for a happy hour and light appetizers.
“Once we get the license we will work on our actual menu,” said Seo.
Seo said she and her sister, Kay, decided to rethink the hours of operation after taking note of how many people visit the shopping center in the evening, after Sense of Place closes for the day.
For now, A Sense of Place will continue with its usual hours of operation: from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, Saturday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Arlington Agenda is a listing of interesting events for the week ahead in Arlington County. If you’d like to see your event featured, fill out the event submission form.
Arlington Cares will celebrate current members at this free event. Local nonprofit and county partners will share their work and promote community service opportunities.
EcoAction Arlington will hold an interest meeting for a new committee on environmental advocacy, focused on civic engagement. EcoAction Arlington asks that attendees RSVP.
This evening fundraiser will benefit the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing. There will be $4,000 worth prizes and giveaways throughout the evening, as well as food and drink.
Local author, Dave Price, will share his advice on editing and revising. This event is free but the library asks attendees to RSVP online. This event is part of a series offering various writing tips.
The weekly pop-up beer garden invites the community to enjoy a variety of beverages while listening to live music. Food from a local vendor will also be available for purchase.
Saturday, July 27
Ballston Field Day*
Washington Liberty High School (1301 N. Stafford Street)
Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
The Ballston BID invites the community to participate in a variety of athletic challenges. A mandatory $5 fee raises money for Doorways — a nonprofit fighting domestic violence, sexual assault and homelessness.
Cherrydale Fire House (photo courtesy of Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department)
Cherrydale Fire House 1946 (photo courtesy of Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department)
(Updated at 2:55 p.m.) Cherrydale’s volunteer fire house is set to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its construction in 1919 this weekend.
The Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department will host festivities and a fundraiser for the anniversary this Saturday (July 20) from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. The Central Firehouse, owned the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department, is the oldest in Arlington and recognized by the National Register of Historic Places as a local historic landmark.
A parade will kick off the Saturday celebration at 10 a.m. starting from Saint Agnes Catholic Church (1910 N. Randolph Street). The remainder of the festivities will be held at the firehouse (3900 Lee Highway). All activities are open to the public.
For kids, volunteers will set up a bouncy house and firetruck demonstrations after the parade.
Tours of the fire house and swing dance lessons will be available throughout the day, according to spokeswoman Elise Nelson. Radio station 94.7 FM The Drive will broadcast live from the event.
(Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department members are trained as firefighters and medics. They sometimes ride along with professional crews from the Arlington County Fire Department and provide some support services to ACFD during incidents, but do not currently fight fires, according to the local firefighters union. The Cherrydale VFD disputed the assertion that its members do not fight fires, but did not directly answer a request from ARLnow to provide a recent example of a VFD member engaged in fire suppression operations alongside ACFD.)
A chili cook off, a raffle, bingo and various games will wrap-up the evening. Guests can use a donation to vote for their favorite chili, made by members of the volunteer fire department. Prizes for raffles and bingo include gift basket from 35 partnering businesses.
The celebration will take on a more serious note mid-afternoon as firefighters who served during 9/11 will share their experiences with the audience, and the organization will remember Marvin Binns, a former member of the Cherrydale VFD. A plaque will be presented and hung on the wall along with his uniform. Binns died of cancer in 2015, according to his obituary.
“His inspiring 62-year legacy included many years of leadership as President, and 36 years bringing Santa to the station — making him a cherished figure for countless generations,” Nelson said.
The Cherrydale Fire Department began with a group of 12 men after they came together to battle a small fire, according to public library records. Over time, Cherrydale VFD grew as an organization and today has 50-60 members in its ranks. Though Arlington County took over responsibility for everyday emergencies, most of the members have emergency medical technician training and can assist police or other firefighters whenever a need may arise. They also help local authorities with lighting at emergency scenes and events.
The Saturday event will double as a fundraiser and proceeds will go towards the refurbishment of the fire house. Nelson said that the building needs foundational repairs as well as cosmetic retouches.
As a historical landmark, Nelson said that the building requires special attention from an expert familiar with refurbishing old buildings, which often comes at a higher cost.
“We can’t do anything that would go against that historical precedent,” she said.
For example, to repair crumbling brickwork on the outside of the building, they were quoted a cost of $50,000.
According to the book “The Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department: A History” by author Kathryn Holt Springston, former President Woodrow Wilson and his wife each purchased a brick for the fire house during a fundraising event when it first opened. But, Wilson’s brick was later stolen.
Today, the building serves as a center for the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department and as a gathering space for community members. There is a gathering hall which is available to rent for weddings, banquets, parties or other events.
Nelson said that the group hopes to raise $100,000 in 2019 to keep the Cherrydale fire house running for at least another century.
Photos courtesy of Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department
EvolveAll studio front desk (courtesy of EvolveAll)
Staff at EvolveAll pose in front of the gym’s new location off Columbia Pike (via @EvolveAll)
The expanded EvolveAll fitness studio near Columbia Pike is now open, after missing the mark on its original goal to open in May.
Owner Emerson Doyle said that the company had problems “trying to line up getting out of our old lease, coordinating the move, finishing the build out, and getting our [certificate of occupancy] with Arlington County.”
The Columbia Pike studio, which is located at 1058 S. Walter Reed Drive, has 10,000 square feet of space, separated into four rooms that allow trainers to run simultaneous classes.
EvolveAll has nine instructors who teach a wide gamut of classes including children’s martial arts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, kickboxing, yoga and fitness boot camps. Personal training and massage therapy are also offered.
“We have the same schedule as before but are adding early morning yoga and bootcamp classes, starting with Tuesday and Thursday at 6:15 a.m.,” Doyle said of the new class schedule.
The company’s website notes that the fitness studio aims to serve as a “meeting space for local communities of growth minded people.”
Tulips in bloom at the Netherland Carillon (Flickr pool photo by Joseph Gruber)
Map of Netherlands Carillon (Image via Google Maps)
The Netherlands Carillon
(Updated at 10:10 a.m.) Dutch artist Gijsbert Kok plays an instrument similar to an organ — except it controls bells instead of pipes.
The instrument is called a carillon and Kok will be playing it during his performance at the Netherlands Carillon, near Rosslyn and the Iwo Jima memorial, this Saturday (July 20).
Kok’s performance in Arlington is part of the free weekly concerts hosted by the National Park Service (NPS) through the end of the summer. The concerts run from 6-8 p.m., except for the September 2 event, which will take place from 2-4 p.m.
Guests can bring lawn chairs, blankets or simply sit on the grass. NPS suggests that guests park or arrive via the Rosslyn Metro, which is about a 15-minute walk. Parking is available at the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial.
This year’s concert lineup for the remainder of the summer is as follows:
July 20 — Gijsbert Kok, Bodegraven, The Netherlands
July 27 — Doug Gefvert, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
August 3 — Edward M.Nassor, Fairfax, Virginia
August 10 — Lynnli Wang, Washington, D.C.
August 17 — Edward M. Nassor, Fairfax, Virginia
August 24 — Elisa Tersigni, Washington, D.C.
August 31 — Jesse Ratcliffe, Warrenton, Virginia
September 2 — Edward M. Nassor, Fairfax, Virginia
In addition to his bell ringing, Kok is also an organist who performs at churches and for concerts across the United States and Europe.
The National Park Service received the carillon as a gift from the Netherlands in commemoration of the United States’ assistance during World War ll. It is comprised of 50 bells, weighing over 30 tons. The bells are set to be removed this fall and sent via ship back to the Netherlands for cleaning as part of a major rehabilitation project.
Photo (1) via Joseph Gruber/Flickr, map via Google Maps
1st Time Home Buyer Seminar *
Disney’s Frozen Jr. Auditions
Yarn Swap
Cocktails By Robert Taylor Featuring Tito’s Vodka
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge — A Crash Of Fate by Zoraida Córdova
Aikido in the park
