Author: Jackie Friedman

Crystal City Outdoor Film Festival to Feature ‘Willy Wonka,’ ‘Sideways’

By Jackie Friedman

Outdoor movie in Crystal City

(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:

  • “Willy Wonka” (1971) on Sept. 6.
  • “Bottle Shock” (2008) on Sept. 13.
  • “Chocolat” (2000) on Sept. 20.
  • “Sideways” (2004) on Sept. 27.

Movies are scheduled to start about 30 minutes after sunset outside 1901 S. Bell Street.

‘Late Night Recess’ for Adults to Hit Central Library

By Jackie Friedman

Arlington Central LibraryYoung 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.

Arlington Agenda: June 21-26

By Jackie Friedman

(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.

Tuesday

Thrive-Bingo-HH-Ad-2016-06-21Young 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.

walterreedcommunitycenter

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.

Wednesday

PrintCoffee & 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.

Saturday

AnimalAdoption

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.

Sunday

wine-1Wine 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.

Tokaji-vineyard-10001524

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.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) content

Orangetheory Fitness Opening Location in Clarendon

By Jackie Friedman
1/2

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.

ARLnow Weekend Discussion

By Jackie Friedman

Rosslyn Sandbox

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.

‘Moon Walk’ Planned at Roosevelt Island

By Jackie Friedman

Theodore Roosevelt Island

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.

Applebee’s Now Open in Ballston

By Jackie Friedman
1/2

A new Applebee’s restaurant has opened in Ballston.

The chain eatery opened its doors on Wednesday (June 15). It’s located at 900 N. Glebe Road, in the former Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille space. The Greene Turtle closed in April.

While some locals were skeptical of Applebee’s ability to find success in an urban neighborhood like Ballston, it was packed with customers around dinnertime Thursday, when ARLnow.com visited.

Applebee’s has an outdoor patio, over 200 seats indoors and a bar. Business hours are from 11 a.m.-11 p.m every day except on Saturdays, when it’s open 11 a.m.-10 p.m., according to the Applebee’s website.

Father’s Day Car Show Returns Sunday in Crystal City

By Jackie Friedman

Crystal Car logoThe annual Crystal Car show is returning this weekend to Crystal City.

The fourth annual Father’s Day Car Festival is being hosted by the Crystal City BID in the surface lot located adjacent to 220 20th Street S., on Sunday, June 19 from 2-6 p.m.

“This family-friendly festival will have a large variety of automobile categories including sports cars, electric vehicles, classic muscle cars, antiques and more,” the Crystal City BID said in a press release. “Along with the cars, enjoy live music, food trucks, and a beer and wine garden hosted by the Washington Wine Academy.”

Admission is free for guests and vehicles but cash is required to when purchasing beer and wine.

Those with cars they want to showcase can register online.

File photo. Disclosure: Crystal City BID is an ARLnow.com advertiser.

Local Senior Couple Gets Needed Home Repairs Thanks to Volunteer Effort

By Jackie Friedman
1/4

A senior couple who lives in Arlington’s Glencarlyn neighborhood received free home repairs today thanks to a group of volunteers.

More than 30 volunteers from the local Rebuilding Together organization and Lowe’s worked throughout the day today to fix up the couple’s home inside and out. The couple was for the volunteer work based on need.

“We bring volunteers to people’s homes to make repairs,” said Patti Klein, executive director of Rebuilding Together Arlington/Fairfax/Falls Church. “They tend to be lower income homeowners that are seniors, people with disabilities, veterans and families with children.”

The couple was having a very hard time getting up and down their front stairs, according to Klein. The husband also had heart surgery a few months ago.

The repairs included the installation of railings for both sides of the front steps, the installation of 16 storm windows, replacement of an A/C unit, and the installation of a carbon monoxide detector, among many others.

Rebuilding Together Arlington/Fairfax/Falls Church is one of 150 affiliates across the nation. Nationally, the organization does 10,000 projects a year. The local affiliate does 70 projects a year. Lowe’s has been a national partner since 2007 and donated $15,000 for today’s repairs.

“We got a great group of people here and we are going to do a lot of great stuff,” said Tony Reyna, manager of a Lowe‘s store in Fairfax.

Pancho Villa Mexican Cuisine Now Open in Rosslyn

By Jackie Friedman
1/3

Pancho Villa Mexican Cuisine has opened in Rosslyn.

The restaurant is located at 1850 N. Fort Myer Drive, former home to the short-lived Secret Chopsticks restaurant. The space is largely unchanged, save the new purple paint job.

Pancho Villa had its soft opening this past Thursday. According to district manager Marta Hernandez, there was a big turnout.

“So many customers came into the restaurant and we received so many compliments about the food and service, it was a big success,” said Hernandez.

The Mexican cuisine served at Pancho Villa is made from scratch, said Hernandez, and the chips and salsa are made fresh everyday. “The food here is made with lots of love,” she said.

Pancho Villa has other locations around Virginia and one in North Carolina. While the restaurant expects to have its official grand opening celebration in 3-4 weeks.

Arlington Agenda: June 13-19

By Jackie Friedman
Columbia Pike Blues Festival 2014 (file photo)

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.

Monday

Copy-of-Outside-Going-In-flyerOutside Going In Concert*
Westover Baptist Church (1125 Patrick Henry Drive)
Time: 7:30-8:30 p.m.

The Arlington Chorale (formerly the Metropolitan Chorus) presents selections from its 50th season. Highlights from a wide selection of music are guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages. Concert is free.

Arlington Central Library

Paws to Read at Central Library
Central Library (1015 N Quincy Street)
Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Stress-free reading practice for elementary school kids. The patient, nonjudgmental attention these dogs offer helps reluctant readers gain confidence and improve their reading skills. Registration required.

Wednesday

krabLegsAll You Can Eat Snow Crab Leg Wednesdays*
Mad Rose Tavern (3100 Clarendon Blvd)
Time: 5-9 p.m.

Only $26.99! All you can eat snow crab legs are back at Mad Rose Tavern. The best deal in town gets better together with the best happy hour in Clarendon. Crabs start being served at 5 p.m. sharp. The event ends at 9 p.m.

OpenHouse-851x315

Saffron Dance Summer Open House*
Saffron Dance (3260 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

FREE world dance and fitness classes in the heart of Clarendon. Burn calories, build confidence, make new friends, and have fun! Classes include Belly Dance Technique, Samba Heat Cardio and Shimmy Shakedown Cardio.

 Thursday

Clarendon_Launch_Facebook_2MakeOffices Clarendon Launch Party*
MakeOffices Clarendon (3100 Clarendon Blvd, Suite 200)
Time: 6-10 p.m.

Come celebrate the official opening of MakeOffices Clarendon, Arlington’s new premier coworking community, with a “can’t miss” launch party. Enjoy tasty cocktails and drinks, indulge in food from local hotspots, and rock out to a live band.

Saturday

Paddle-Potomac-Paddle-ShenandoahPaddle for Clean Water
Key Bridge Boathouse (3500 Water Street NW)
Time: 8 a.m.

Supporters of Potomac Riverkeeper Network will paddle over (and around) Roosevelt Island to show support for a clean, healthy Potomac. This is part of a week and a half of paddle events up and down the Potomac.

1904145_483632201770805_3618278161214588844_nEagles Academy High School Program*
Bluemont Park (400 N Manchester Street)
Time: 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Introduction to Australian football for high school aged players. Free program provides an opportunity for high school players to train and play with the Baltimore Washington Eagles Australian Rules Football Club.

Columbia Pike Blues Festival 2012Columbia Pike Blues Festival 
2903 Columbia Pike
Time: 1-8:30 p.m.

The 21st annual festival on the Pike will have music, local food, and arts and crafts vendors. Community groups and local businesses will be in attendance. There will also be activities for kids. Admission is free.

Sunday

CW_FATHERSDAY_2016-6

Father’s Day at Copperwood Tavern*
Copperwood Tavern (4021 Campbell Ave)
Time: 9:00 a.m.-9 p.m.

Join us on Father’s Day for a meal your dad will be talking about for years to come. On Father’s Day, all fathers will recieve complimentary venison jerky, a gift card, and our famous Copperwood spice rub!

ZERO4

ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk – Capitol Area*
Pentagon Row Courtyard (1101 S. Joyce Street)
Time: 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

The ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk features a 5K run/walk, 1 mile walk, 200 yard Kids Superhero Dash for Dad, and virtual Snooze for Dudes program. The funds raised from the event are invested around the country to provide research for new treatments, free prostate cancer testing, and educate men and families about prostate cancer.

Print

TechShop Waterjet Destroyer Challenge Night*
TechShop Arlington (2100 Crystal Drive)

In honor of the many veterans who helped launch TechShop Arlington by becoming our first members, TechShop will host its first Waterjet Destroyer competition. Set on our high-powered waterjet cutter, TechShop DCA will battle another shop in the ultimate game of Battleship. This event is open to members and nonmembers. General registration is free.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) content

View More Stories