Events

To Do This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

Rosslyn’s “I Love the 90s” outdoor film festival has been been plagued by rainy weather this summer. But not tonight. Expect perfect clear skies and comfortable temperatures for tonight’s screening of 1994’s “Dumb and Dumber” in Rosslyn Gateway Park (1300 Lee Highway). The movie starts around 8:00.

On Saturday, more perfect weather is expected for the Friends of the David M. Brown Planetarium fundraiser. From 4:00 to 9:30 p.m., the Friends and the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club will be holding a marathon session of planetarium shows, to be followed by a chance to look at real stars through NOVAC’s telescopes. The event is being held at the planetarium, near Washington-Lee High School (1426 North Quincy Street).

If viewing far out objects is your thing, you may also be interested in trying to spot some of the attendees at the Hidden Councils Annual Costume Ball. Held at 7:00 Saturday night at the Hilton Garden Inn in Courthouse, the ball is “the social event of the year” for The Firefly House, a “nature-based church formed in Virginia in 2009.” We’re told to expect “political intrigue, barbed innuendos, backstabbing and betrayal,” as well as “murder, weapons, [and] spells.” Oh my, indeed.

Continuing the “far out” theme, Saturday night will also feature a musical tribute to Jerry Garcia. With the 15th anniversary of Jerry’s death coming up (yes, you’re that old), The U-Liners will performing covers of Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia Band songs at Iota Club & Cafe. The concert starts at 9:00. Tickets are $15.

Dates, Details Set for Fall Beer and Wine Festivals

By Scott Brodbeck

Together with the start of football season, Crystal City’s Vintage Crystal wine festival and Shirlington’s Oktoberfest are two of the only reasons I can think about the end of summer without getting inconsolably depressed. Luckily, both will be back this year.

Vintage Crystal is back with the same Latin flavor as last year. The fourth annual festival will feature wine and tequila tastings, all-you-can-eat tapas from more than 20 local restaurants, Latin American music and salsa dancing.

Tickets are $20 and come with a complimentary wine glass.

The festival will take place from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 19.

The Shirlington Oktoberfest — also known as “the greatest thing to ever happen in Shirlington” — will return on Saturday, October 2, 2010. From 12:00 to 6:00 p.m., more than 30 different breweries will be pouring their best suds (in 4 oz. increments) for a fun-loving crowd that usually numbers in the thousands. There will also be food from local vendors and an authentic German band.

The event, sponsored by Capital City Brewing Co., is now in its tenth year. Tickets cost $25.

To Do Tonight: Reception for Dogs

By ARLnow.com

Remember our Arlington’s Cutest Dog Contest? How can you forget the spirited, adorable competition, right?

To honor all the great contestants, we’ve invited them to join us at Wylie Wagg Clarendon (2509 N. Franklin Rd.) at 6:00 tonight for a fun, informal reception. Dog food and people refreshments will be served courtesy of Wagg.

All dog lovers are welcome to come. Feel free to bring your four-legged aspiring contestants (we’re planning on running the contest again next summer).

See you there.

To Do This Weekend: Cause for Paws

By ARLnow.com

We already told you about two great weekend events: the Crystal City Twilighter 5K and the Friends of the Library Summer Book Sale (which has been moved inside due to the heat).

Add Cause for Paws to the list. Taking place at The Bungalow in Shrlington (2766 South Arlington Mill Drive) from noon to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, the event is being described as a “pet adoption charity auction.”

All proceeds will benefit the Arlington Animal Welfare League (see this post from Thursday for more about the kind of work being done by the League).

In addition to the auction, there will also be great specials, raffles and prizes.

H/T: Shirlington Village Blogspot.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Crystal City Fit Fair Kicks Off — Crystal City is holding a “fit fair” today from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The event is part health fair, part blood drive. Inova’s bloodmobile will be on hand to let donors give blood in air conditioned comfort. For the general public, Inova will be providing blood pressure screening, Dermaview facial skin screening, Body Mass Index Assessment, tobacco cessation consultation and other services. There will also be gait analysis for runners, sports movement analysis, chair massages, and a fitness class demonstration. The event is taking place on Crystal Drive between 18th Street and 20th Street.

Arlington Lawyer Faces More Fraud Charges — An Arlington lawyer accused of practicing law without a license will face three additional charges of fraud. Howard Deiner, who specialized in bringing cases against school districts on behalf of families with special needs children, was already facing two charges when the grand jury tacked on three more on Monday. A trial date is expected to be set today. More from the Washington Post.

Prosecutors Still Reviewing DNA Evidence Against Arlington Suspect — Prosecutors in Illinois are still reviewing DNA evidence that allegedly links Arlington rape suspect Jorge Torrez to an infamous double homicide outside Chicago. For the time being, Jerry Hobbs, the man who was originally accused of the crime, will remain in prison facing trial. Since the DNA match, investigators have been interviewing new witnesses in the case. More from the Chicago Tribune.

Flickr pool photo by Chris Rief.

To Do This Weekend: Caps Fan Fest & Colombia National Day

By ARLnow.com

On a humid, 90 degree day, a trip to Ballston to celebrate a sport that’s played on ice could make for a nice diversion. If you agree with that statement, then Saturday’s Caps Fan Fest at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex (627 North Glebe Road) may be for you.

The event will kick off at 8:00 a.m. with a free open skate, followed by a development camp scrimmage at 10:00. There will also be airbrush artists, face painters, moon bounce, obstacle course, street hockey and an equipment sale. Brooks Laich and “select draft picks” will be signing autographs after the scrimmage.

If hockey isn’t your thing, but eating and dancing is, you may want to check out the 22nd Colombia National Day Celebration.The event will feature Colombian folkloric dance and musical groups as well as a variety of Colombian food. Some of the performers will be flown in from Bogota and Miami for the occasion.

The celebration is taking place from noon to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday at the Gunston Arts Center Theater One (2700 S. Lang Street). Tickets cost $15 for anyone over the age of 12.

For more great events this weekend, check out our events calendar.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

The Heat Returns — After a stormy but cooler start to the week, the sun and the heat are back. And for good measure, the rains of the past two days have left us with plenty of humidity. See the forecast from weather.com, which — in a non-Arlington-related aside — is in the midst of yet another baffling redesign.

Slapsticon Returns — Slapsticon, the vintage comedy film festival, is returning to Arlington with a full slate of films from the silent and early sound eras. The four-day festival, held at the Rosslyn Spectrum Theater, kicks off at 1:00 this afternoon. The highlight of the festival will come on Saturday, when The Thief Catcher, a lost Charlie Chaplin film that was recently found at an antiques sale in Michigan, re-premieres on the big screen.

Obesity Discussion Tonight — Voice Box, the topical chat show on Arlington Independent Media, will be hosting a discussion on obesity and obesity prevention tonight. The scheduled guests are Amy Maclosky, Director of Food Services for Arlington Public Schools, and Dr. Scott Kahan, Co-Director of George Washington University’s Weight Management Program. The program films before a live studio audience. For those wishing to attend, doors open at 7:00 p.m. at AIM’s Clarendon studios (2701-C Wilson Blvd).

Flickr pool photo by mennyj.

To Do Tonight: Baseball Book Signing at Central Library

By ARLnow.com

Now that the National League has broken their 13-year All-Star Game slump, and not a single game is to be played today, what’s a baseball fan to do?

Head to the library.

The authors of Baseball Americana, a comprehensive history of the game chock full of illustrations and memorabilia from the archives of the Library of Congress, will be discussing the book and signing autographs tonight at 7:00 at the Central Library auditorium (1015 North Quincy Street).

There will also be baseball-themed prizes given away during the event, which is free and open to the public.

Planetarium Fundraising Event Planned

By ARLnow.com

The Friends of the David M. Brown Planetarium organization is planning a “Night at the Planetarium” fundraising event with young astronomy buffs in mind.

From 4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 31, the Friends and the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club will be holding a marathon session of planetarium shows, to be followed by a chance to look at real stars through NOVAC’s telescopes.

The stargazing will take place outside the planetarium (1426 North Quincy Street). The County will shut off the lights at the nearby Washington-Lee High School track so the dark sky will be visible.

In addition to the shows and the stargazing, there will also be outdoor lessons and science activities throughout the event. The event is especially geared toward children, but all community members are welcome, the group says.

The Friends hope to collect donations of $5 from individuals and $10 from families. The money will go to the group’s effort to renovate the planetarium in order to save it from proposed school budget cuts.

So far the Friends have raised a total of $3,350 from 53 donors, well below the more than $400,000 they’ll need for the renovation. By a timetable set by Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Patrick Murphy, the group needs to raise $161,120 by September 31.

To Do Tonight: Wine Tasting at a Bike Store

By ARLnow.com

You heard right. In honor of the Tour de France, Revolution Cycles is holding a French wine tasting at its Crystal City store (220 20th St. S.).

The wines will be grouped by their location along the Tour de France course.

There will also be a contest to see who can predict the winner of tomorrow’s leg of the race. The winner will get a free bike tune-up kit.

Tonight’s event will take place from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. It is free and open to the public (ages 21 and up).

Free Family Movie Mornings in Ballston

By ARLnow.com

With the kids out of school, parents have to occasionally do something to keep them entertained and out of trouble. Going to the movies is a good, albeit pricey option. Now, the Regal Cinema at Ballston Common Mall is removing the pricey part with the introduction of a “Free Family Film Festival,” which will run through the end of August.

Starting this week, the theater will offer free admission to a G or PG movie every Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Doors open at 9:15 a.m. and the movie starts at 10:00 a.m. Seating is first come, first serve.

The Regal Cinema chain has hosted free family movie screenings every summer since 1991.

This year’s movie schedule includes Monsters vs. Aliens, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and Charlotte’s Web. The full schedule, after the jump.

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