In preparation for the Fourth of July holiday, flags have been placed on homes, vehicles and local businesses throughout Arlington.
And the abundance of flags isn’t the only sign of the Independence Day holiday. There are also the fireworks stands now open along Lee Highway and Columbia Pike.
Photos by Jackie Friedman
Arlington County honored a group of local centenarians during a special ceremony earlier today.
County staff members presented nearly a dozen long-living locals (including Eugene Kahn, who was the subject of an ARLnow profile last month) with a proclamation from County Board member Libby Garvey and a letter from Del. Patrick Hope at the Arlington Employment Center.
All of those honored have lived in the Arlington area for decades. Many took the opportunity today to talk about the past.
Dowdell Tillman, who has resided in Arlington since 1947, talked about his days working at the Reagan National Airport — then just National Airport — as part of the utility crew. Tillman built his current home in 1954 and still lives there to this day.
Others talked about how they’ve played an important role in the community. Martha Ann Miller was a math teacher at Stratford Junior High School when it became the first public secondary school in Virginia to desegregate its classes by accepting four African-American students in 1959. Ms. Miller said she volunteered to have the students in her math class.
While their spirits haven’t changed, much has changed throughout the United States since the centenarians were born.
In 1916, a stamp was $.02, a loaf of bread was $.07, the average price of a U.S. house was $5,000 and the average price of a car was $400, according to a presentation given during the event.
Of course, some of those in attendance shared their “secrets” for living so long. Here is some of what they said:
Talented local entertainers will participate in the fourth annual Arlington’s Got Talent competition tonight.
The event, organized by Leadership Arlington, is being held at the Salsa Room (2619 Columbia Pike) starting at 6:30 p.m. After a social hour, the performers will take the stage starting at 7:30.
“Arlington’s Got Talent offers exciting and fresh performances from some of the most vibrant and dynamic performers from the D.C. metropolitan area,” said Leadership Arlington.
Tickets to the event are $30 in advance, $40 at the door, and benefit the Leadership Center for Excellence’s Young Professionals Program scholarship fund.
Tonight’s seven scheduled performers are:
The performers will be judged by Susan Anderson of the Arlington County Treasurer’s Office; MTFA Architecture owner Michael Foster, Nate Robertson of Datapipe and Marymount University President Matt Shank. Audience members will act as the fifth judge by voting for their favorite act.
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.
Also, be sure to check out our event calendar.
Free Home Buyer Seminar*
Optime Realty (1600 Wilson Blvd, Suite 101)
Time: 6-8 p.m.
The free event will have specialists, including lenders and buyer agents, to give an overview of the buying process. Learn valuable home buying strategies that will save 3% or more when purchasing a home along with ways to get the best mortgage.
Half Price Wine Night Featuring Virginia Wines at Copperwood Tavern
Copperwood Tavern (4021 Campbell Ave)
Time: 4-9 p.m.
Half price wine night will feature locally sourced Virginia wines such as Equation from Breaux Vineyards in Purcellville, VA and chardonnay from Paradise Springs Winery in Clifton, VA. All bottles of wine are half off. Full menu items will also be served alongside wine.
Arlington County Women of Vision Awards*
Arlington Economic Development Office (1100 N. Glebe Road, Suite 1500)
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Arlington will honor three women, Library Director Diane Kresh, entrepreneur Rebecca Carpenter and education activist Susan Senn. The commission honors women who have shown leadership and commitment to the community. Tickets are not required.
For Caregivers & Family Members: Understanding Behaviors Related to Dementia Type Symptoms
Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
Vicky Surash, Arlington County Gerontologist and Recreation/Dementia Care Specialist, will talk to caregivers and family members about the behaviors that may be experienced by people who have dementia and how family members and caregivers can address those behaviors.
Arlington’s Got Talent*
The Salsa Room (2619 Columbia Pike)
Time: 6:30-9 p.m.
Leadership Center for Excellence is hosting the fourth annual Arlington’s Got Talent. There will be seven acts, from comedians and acapella groups, to a poet and singers. Categories will be scored by four judges and audience members.
Live Comedy: Chris Gethard
Arlington Cinema Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike)
Time: 7 and 10 p.m.
Actor, comedian and writer Chris Gethard brings his standup comedy act to the Pike. Gethard has three scheduled performances on Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets are available online for $20.
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School is out and it’s officially time to kick off summer break.
It looks like a great weekend weather wise for graduation parties, trips to the pool and other end-of-school celebrations. Saturday and Sunday will be sunny with pleasant highs of 83 and 84, perfect weather for going to the Animal Adoption Fair or other weekend events.
One place that was particularly toasty this week was the Market Common Clarendon shopping center, which suffered a devastating electrical fire Tuesday. While the Whole Foods across the street reopened the next day after regaining power, many of Market Common’s stores remain closed, including the adjacent, stand-alone Starbucks (pictured above.)
Feel free to discuss the big fire or any other topic of local interest in the comments.
(Updated at 4 p.m.) Candy and booze are set to star in Crystal City’s al fresco film series later this year.
The Crystal City Business Improvement District’s “Sweets and Sips” flicks for Crystal Screen in September are slated to include four movies that feature chocolate and wine. Initially, the organization planned to screen Star Wars movies this summer, but were unable to show them.
“Despite earlier confirmations with the movie licensing company, rights to publicly show the Star Wars movies for the Crystal Screen outdoor movie festival were lost due to an unexpected move from the DARK SIDE!” a Crystal City BID email says. “So, we’re celebrating by drowning our sorrows in the comfort of sweets and sips.”
The email adds: “Bring a picnic or take-out from area restaurants and enjoy sips from the pop-up wine bar (cash) with hand-selected offerings from the Crystal City Wine Shop and tasty sweet samples from Crystal City‘s Schakolad.”
The movies are:
Movies are scheduled to start about 30 minutes after sunset outside 1901 S. Bell Street.
Young adults can relive their childhood tomorrow night as Arlington Public Library is set to host its annual “Late Night Recess.”
The event from 9:15-11:30 p.m. Thursday is intended to help 20- to 39-year-old locals meet new people and explore the Arlington Central Library at 1015 N. Quincy Street.
Activities include Twister, Nerf tag, fort building and something to do with bubble wrap.
“Bring your friends and your inner child for an evening of fun and games,” the event’s page says. “Play clothes, including sneakers or athletic shoes, are highly recommended.”
Alcoholic beverages aren’t allowed, however. The recess is free, but online registration is required.
(Updated at 2:45 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.
Also, be sure to check out our event calendar.
Young Professional Bingo Happy Hour*
Arlington Rooftop Bar & Grill (2424 Wilson Boulevard)
Time: 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Arlington Thrive’s Young Professional Steering Committee will host a Bingo Happy Hour for young professionals. Play bingo, win prizes, network with other young professionals and learn about a local non-profit at this free event.
Acoustic Cafe
Walter Reed Community Center (2909 16th Street S.)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
Listen to music from the 1950s to today during an evening of acoustic music for all by local musicians. Coffee and light refreshments will be available. People of all ages may attend and play at the community concert series.
Coffee & Concepts: Daron Westly & Dr. Yajaira Sierra-Sastre*
TechShop (2100 Crystal Drive)
Time: 6-8:30 p.m.
Westly and Sierra-Sastre will be discussing mentoring students from Puerto Rico on a project collecting fungal spores from the stratosphere using a high altitude glider. They will also discuss their work at large in their professions.
Animal Adoption Fair
Aurora Hills Branch Library (735 S 18th Street)
Time: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Help give an animal a forever home. Come to the Aurora Hills Branch Library’s animal adoption fair. Animals from the Washington Humane Society and representatives from the Animal Welfare League of Arlington will attend.
Wine Pairing Dinner*
Osteria da Nino Cucina Italiana and Bar (2900 S. Quincy Street)
Time: 6-11 p.m.
Try four courses and five wines from the “Region of Sicily.” Select wines are from Paolo Cali ,Vittoria and Sicily. Tickets cost $65 per person, not inclusive of tax and tip. A full menu has yet to be announced.
Eastern Bloc Wine Dinner at Twisted Vines*
Twisted Vines Bistro & Bottleshop (2803 Columbia Pike)
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Taste some wines of Eastern Europe. Each course will be led by a wine professional of the specific region. Dishes and pairings include Herring Summer Salad paired with three Moldovan wines, Classic Borscht paired with three Bulgarian wines, and Chicken Paprikash paired with three Hungarian wines.
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The fourth Arlington location of Orangetheory Fitness is coming to Clarendon in early October.
Store manger Alex Shabo said that opening in October “is our game plan right now, it all depends on how construction goes.”
The gym will be located at 3001 Washington Blvd, in the ground floor of the building.
Orangetheory specializes in one hour group interval workouts that are half cardio endurance and half strength and power. The workouts use a combination of rowing machines, treadmills, free weights and a suspension system. Each participant wears a heart rate monitor during the workout to maximize calorie burn.
The company has existing locations include Ballston and Rosslyn. A Pentagon City location will be opening in August.
Pre-sale membership sign-ups are expected to begin at the Clarendon location in late July.
Father’s Day weekend is here and so is the great weather.
Saturday and Sunday will be sunny and less humid with highs of 81 and 84.
The perfect weather will bring plenty of opportunities this weekend to celebrate dad in Arlington such as the Columbia Pike Blues Festival on Saturday, and the Crystal Car show and ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk on Sunday.
Feel free give dad a shoutout or to discuss any topic of local interest in the comments.
A group of outdoor enthusiasts will be taking a “moon walk” on Theodore Roosevelt Island tomorrow night.
The nonprofit group Friends of Theodore Roosevelt Island is leading the “Full Moon Walk,” which will give participants the rare opportunity to explore the park at night, during a full moon.
The 1.5 mile hike around the island will be led by a National Park Service volunteer. The Friday, June 17 event has already filled to capacity, with 25 visitors registered.
The cost for members of the Friends of Theodore Roosevelt Island was $15 while non-members paid $20.
