Events

This week’s Arlington events: holiday how-to classes, a 5K for charity & more

By Jo DeVoe

As the cold sets in, holiday season events are picking up in Arlington County.

Ahead of Thanksgiving, folks can learn about D.C.’s Indigenous past and present while kids can cook and bake goodies for their families. Those looking for Christmas gifts can make ornaments and, to help those in need this season, can support low-income and vulnerable mothers through a charitable 5K.

Some of the local event highlights for Nov. 15-21 are below. Submit your event to our event calendar by filling out this event submission form at least two weeks in advance.

Monday, November 15

Arlington Community Federal Credit Union’s Homebuying 101*
Online
Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.

With mortgage rates at historic lows, ACFCU’s Mortgage Loan Officer Chantal George will be helping prospective buyers feel prepared to close on their first home.

Wednesday, November 17

Minimize Taxes on Your 401(k), 403(b), TSP in Retirement: What Everyone Ought to Know and How to Fix It*
Online
Time: 8-9 a.m.

Learn how to plan a retirement that benefits YOU — not the IRS. Eliminate the three biggest compromises you’ll make in retirement. Why taxes may be the biggest retirement risk you haven’t planned for.

Guide to Indigenous D.C. 
Online
Time: 6-7 p.m.

American University professor and Chickasaw Nation citizen Elizabeth Rule will virtually present on her “Guide to Indigenous D.C.,” a walking-tour smartphone map app featuring sites of importance to Native peoples across the nation’s capital. The guide emphasizes Indigenous peoples’ contributions to D.C., highlights the historical and contemporary federal tribal policy developed in the city and acknowledges the peoples whose homelands upon which the District was built.

Thursday, November 18

Return on Creativity: Lunch Hour*
Online
Time: 12-12:45 p.m.

Remote and hybrid work have created a new set of security challenges. Arlington Economic Development is hosting a panel with Reagan Roney, Chief Experience Officer and Principal at Solvere One IT, who will discuss how the current workforce environment has affected cybersecurity, and what non-IT professionals and leaders can do to help keep their company’s information secure.

Until Help Arrives Free Training
Arlington County Fire Training Academy (2800 S. Taylor Street)
Time: 6:30-8 p.m.

When life-threatening emergencies happen, emergency responders aren’t always on-hand — but passersby can step in to save someone’s life. During this event, Arlington’s emergency technicians will be equipping civilians with the skills they need in such situations, including how to stop bleeding, move injured persons and provide support. Those 14 and older are encouraged to attend. Officials recommend watching training recordings before coming to hands-on practice.

Friday, November 19

Kids Cooking Class: Thanksgiving Yummies
Online
6-8 p.m.

Chef Anna from ChiquiChef will teach kids Thanksgiving-themed cooking and baking skills over Zoom. Students will be making turkey meatballs, sweet potato bites and chocolate cupcakes that look like turkeys, and have plenty of treats to share after.

Saturday, November 20

5K and Family Fun Day
Knights of Columbus (5115 Little Falls Road)
Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Register to enjoy a fun-filled day for families with a 5K and fun run, moon bounces, laser tag, rock wall, balloon animals, face painting and community performances. This charitable event supports work to equip low-income and vulnerable mothers with the necessities to care for their babies.

Workshop: Make Ceramic Ornaments (Adult)
Art House 7 (5537 Lee Highway)
Time: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Come to Art House 7 to make and glaze keepsake clay ornaments for the holidays during this 1.5-hour, $55 workshop. Pieces will be available for pick-up in the studio roughly 10 days after the class. Participating adults must be vaccinated.

* denotes sponsored listing

Things to do this week: author talk, comedy and more

By Jo DeVoe
1/2

This week, locals can dive into the era between the American Revolution and the Civil War through the life of a man with Arlington ties and unwind with drinks and comedy.

Some of the local event highlights for Nov. 8-14 are below. If you’d like your event considered, fill out the event submission form to submit it to our event calendar.

Wednesday, November 10

Arlington Community Federal Credit Union Retirement Roundtable*
Online
Time: 12-1 p.m.

Financial advisor Momodou Bojang will discuss critical areas of retirement planning, such as protecting loved ones, risk management, tax solutions and estate planning.

ACFCU’s Business Lending Webinar: SBA Loans & You*
Online
Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.

ACFCU Director of Business Lending, Marty Weitzel will cover both the products and processes around securing financing from the Small Business Administration in a post-COVID world. One lucky business owner will get a $50 gift card to New District Brewery.

Thursday, November 11

George Washington Parke Custis: A Rarefied Life in America’s First Family
Marymount University, Reinsch Library Auditorium (2807 N. Glebe Road)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.  

Columnist, author and local historian Charlie Clark will discuss his recently released biography of George Washington Parke Custis, whose life bridged the American Revolution and the Civil War. Raised at Mount Vernon by George and Martha Washington, he inherited much of the vast Custis fortune and enslaved more than 200 people. Their emancipation became a central struggle of his life, particularly after his daughter married Robert E. Lee.

Friday, November 12

Ryan Sickler
Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike)
Time: 7 p.m.

Standup comedian and podcaster Ryan Sickler, host of The HoneyDew Podcast, will be cracking jokes at the Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse Friday and Saturday nights at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Guests must be 21 or older to enter the venue, unless they arrive before 9 p.m. and are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

* Denotes sponsored listing

This week’s events: mariachi, live theater, chamber music and more

By Jo DeVoe
1/1

Arlingtonians can get their arts and culture fix all week long. Kick the week off today (Monday) with mariachi and Mexican folklórico dance and end it with live theater and chamber music.

Some of the local event highlights for Nov. 1-7 are below. If you’d like your event considered, fill out the event submission form to submit it to our event calendar.

Monday, November 1

Arlington Community Federal Credit Union’s “Buying a Home in a Tight Market”*
Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Virtual

Buying a home in this region has always been competitive, and is becoming even more so. ACFCU’s Mortgage Loan Officer, Sandra Ortecho, will teach attendees how to get started buying a home and how to make their offers attractive to sellers.

Día de los Muertos at Arlington Arts Center*
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Arlington Arts Center (3350 Wilson Blvd)

Bring a blanket, grab dinner from local food trucks La Tingeria and 7Moltin and enjoy mariachi by Grupo Fénix and dancing by the Ballet Folklorico Mi Herencia Mexicana at this evening picnic supported by Arlington Arts, AVLD Events and the Ballston Business Improvement District.

Wednesday, November 3

ACFCU’s “Maximizing Your Social Security Benefits”*
Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Virtual

In this installment of ACFCU’s webinar series, “Maximizing Your Social Security Benefits,” attendees can learn what they need to know to get the most from their benefits.

Thursday, November 4

EcoAction Arlington’s “Reimagining Our Homes”
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
Virtual

Join EcoAction Arlington for the second webinar in our Getting to Carbon Neutrality series. You’ll learn the how-to’s from industry experts on transforming our homes to meet the goal of carbon neutrality. Visit the EcoAction website to learn more and register.

Brian Posehn LIVE From Netflix, HBO And Comedy Central
Time: 7 p.m.
Arlington Cinema And Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike)

Get ready to laugh at standup delivered by comedian, actor, musician, and writer Brian Posehn at Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse. He will perform shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, with showings on Friday and Saturday at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Admission before 9 p.m. is 21+ unless a parent or guardian is present. After 9 p.m., it’s 21+.

Friday, November 5

Yorktown High School Fall Theatre Arts Showcase
Time: 7:30-9 p.m.
Yorktown HS Auditorium (5200 Yorktown Blvd) 

All of Yorktown’s performance classes will be performing live theater for free on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with lighting, sound, costumes and props done by students. The nights will feature improv, original folk tale adaptations and a sneak peek of a one-act play students will be taking to a state competition about women ordinance workers during the second World War.

Saturday, November 6

National Chamber Ensemble’s “Enchanting Elgar, The English Romantic”*
Time: 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Gunston Arts Center, Theater One (2700 S. Lang Street) 

This will be the National Chamber Ensemble’s first live performance since the start of the pandemic and the opening performance of the season. Listeners will hear music from Sir Edward William Elgar as well as Gilbert and Sullivan’s Overture to “The Mikado.” People can attend in-person or watch an exclusive concert video one week later from home. Tickets are $36 for adults and $18 for students, with season subscriptions priced at $129 for all five performances.

* Denotes a sponsored listing

This week’s Arlington events: comedy, James Bond, bike rides & more

By Jo DeVoe
1/1

Although this week gets off to a slower start, event-wise, starting Thursday locals can kick off Halloween weekend with in-person shows and enjoy the fall weather with outdoor events.

Some of the local event highlights for Oct. 25-31 are below. Submit your event to our event calendar by filling out this event submission form at least two weeks in advance.

Thursday, October 28

REACH for Uganda Annual Gala*
The Columbus Club (5115 Little Falls Road)
Time: 6-10 p.m. 

Arlington-based nonprofit REACH for Uganda will be hosting its annual gala to support critical needs in the rural eastern portion of the country, including girls’ education and student access to technology. This year’s event will feature an evening with live music, stand-up comedy, a keynote speaker, an open bar with plated dinner and silent and live auctions.

Carlos Mencia LIVE From The Journey Podcast And Mind Of Mencia
Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike)
Time: 7 p.m. 

Honduran-American comedian Carlos Mencia will be cracking jokes at the Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. After the 7 p.m. show on Thursday, he will perform shows at 7 and 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Guests must be 21 or older to enter the venue, unless they arrive before 9 p.m. and are accompanied by parent or guardian.

Halloween Bike Ride with BikeArlington
Trek Bicycle Clarendon (2731 Wilson Blvd) 
Time: 6-8 p.m. 

People can tour Arlington’s fun, wild and scary Halloween setups by night and in costume with BikeArlington. The 5-mile ride will end at Trek Bikes with refreshments, and the organization recommends registering quickly.

Shaolin Jazz and WHINO Present Can I Kick It? Featuring James Bond, “Goldfinger”
WHINO (4238 Wilson Blvd, 2nd floor)
Time: 8:30-11:30 p.m. 

WHINO and DJ Shaolin Jazz will be hosting a special 6-month series on Thursday nights highlighting the most iconic spy movie series ever made. The first event will be the 1964 James Bond film “Goldfinger.” A DJ will score the film live using various techniques and sound bites to highlight different scenes. A full dinner menu will be available until 11 p.m. and a late night menu available will be available until 2 a.m.

Saturday, October 30

Free Book Talk with Author, Blogger Annette Mertens*
Online
Time: 11 a.m.

After two bouts of cancer, author and blogger Annette Mertens, who hails from Aachen, Germany — one of Arlington’s sister cities — decided to become a novelist. Hear her talk about her cancer journeys and how she was inspired her to follow her dreams. Her book, “Annas Blut” (Anna’s Blood: Anyone Can Sail Before the Wind), is published in German, but her presentation is in English. County Board Member Libby Garvey will provide opening remarks.

E-bike Demo & Group Ride with BikeArlington
Quincy Parking Deck (4001-4035 15th Street N.)
Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 

This free event from BikeArlington and Rad Power Bikes will teach people about e-bikes and give them a chance to test them out on trails, streets and hills. Rad will have 10 e-bikes available to take on the ride and slots are first come, first served. Helmets are required and those who do not have one will be lent one.

Dogma Dog Bakery 12th Annual Dog Trick or Treat
Dogma Bakery Shirlington (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive) 
Time: 2-4 p.m. 

Take your dogs trick-or-treating at the Village at Shirlington. Participating businesses, restaurants and stores hand out pup-friendly treats while owners can sip adult “to-go” drinks. Costumes are not required for dogs or humans, and the event costs $15 per dog, payable online or in-person. The benefit will benefit Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.

*Denotes featured event

Thrive Hair Salon in Ballston hosting Covid vax clinic on Saturday

By Matt Blitz
Ajia Minnis, Owner and Founder of Thrive Hair Bar at 1010 N. Glebe Road (Photo courtesy of Thrive Hair Bar)

Thrive Hair Bar in Ballston is hosting a free COVID-19 vaccine clinic this Saturday (Oct 23).

The clinic is in partnership with the Arlington County Public Health Division and part of the “Shots at the Shop” initiative, a White-House-backed effort to recruit Black-owned barbershops and salons to help increase COVID-19 vaccination rates in the community.

The program trains barbers and stylists to dispel myths and misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines, as well as provides a $1,000 grant courtesy of beauty care brand SheaMoisture.

“We saw the lagging COVID-19 vaccination rates in Black, Latinx, and other minority communities,” Thrive Hair Bar owner and founder Ajia Minnis told ARLnow via email about why they’re hosting the clinic. “Given the majority of our clients come from these communities we thought we might be well positioned to help dispel myths, help people feel more comfortable, and get more folks vaccinated.”

The clinic is from 10 a.m. to noon and is open to everyone 12 years old and older, in accordance with current guidelines. Only the Pfizer vaccine will be given. No appointments are needed and walk-ins are welcome.

Minnis says that they actually reached out to the county about holding the clinic after attending a course at the University of Maryland Center for Health Equity. It was there that she learned about the role salons have historically played in their communities in increasing awareness of health issues.

“As a community we need to serve each other and this is our small way of giving back to those who give so much to us,” says Minnis. “We want to not just be good neighbors but we want to also be valuable assets to the communities we love and serve.”

Fifty-nine percent of Black residents in Arlington that are eligible are fully vaccinated, according to Virginia Department of Health data. That’s comparable to the white population in Arlington, but both are lower than the Latino and Asian/Pacific Islander populations in the county.

Covid cases in Arlington have fluctuated over the past month but are currently down to just above 25 cases per day, on average, according to Virginia Dept. of Health data.

There remains a worry among some medical professionals that a fifth Covid wave could happen among the unvaccinated in the winter. This concerns Minnis as well and is another reason why she decided to hold the clinic now, as temperatures start to dip, she says.

Thrive Hair Bar opened in Ballston in August 2020 inside of Sola Salon Studios at 1010 N. Glebe Road. A former professional dancer and choreographer who traveled the world, Minnis opened the shop because of her experiences struggling to find a local salon that was well-versed in her hair texture.

“Our goal isn’t just for us to give [clients] a hairstyle and they walk away, it’s really to help educate women on how to maintain their hair and care for their natural hair,” Minnis told ARLnow at the time.

She says business ownership has been great so far, adding that she really enjoys being in Ballston.

“It has a modern, professional vibe with fantastic people but didn’t have enough salons that provide twists, braids and blowouts for all hair textures,” Minni said.

This week’s Arlington events: fall festival, tarot readings, author talk & more

By Jo DeVoe

This week is chock full of interesting events in and around Arlington County.

Some of the local event highlights for Oct. 18-24 are below. Submit your event to our event calendar by filling out this event submission form at least two weeks in advance.

Tuesday, Oct. 19

Story Time Club
Animal Welfare League of Arlington (2650 S. Arlington Mill Drive)
Time: 5-6 p.m.

This event for kids will feature story time from a special guest and a visit from a shelter pet. Kids can bring books from home to read to shelter cats and small animals. Tickets are $8 per child and are non-refundable.

Wednesday, Oct. 20

ACFCU’s Business Lending Series: SBA Loans & You*
Virtual
Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m. 

Arlington Community Federal Credit Union Director of Business Lending Marty Weitzel will give business owners tips for getting financing from the Small Business Administration. One business owner will get a $50 gift card to New District Brewery.

ACFCU’s Retirement Planning Series: Minimizing Taxes in Retirement*
Virtual 
Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m. 

Attendees will learn three compromises not to make in retirement so they can plan a retirement that benefits them, and not the Internal Revenue Service.

EcoAction County Board candidate forum
Virtual
Time: 7-8:30 p.m. 

EcoAction Arlington will host a forum with Arlington County Board candidates Mike Cantwell, Audrey Clement, Takis Karantonis and Adam Theo to discuss how they will approach the various environmental issues the county faces. Attendees must register by 9 a.m. the day of the event (Wednesday).

Thursday, Oct. 21

Arlington Reads: Bina Venkataraman in Conversation with Diane Kresh
Virtual
Time: 7-8 p.m.

Join Arlington Public Library online for a conversation between science policy expert and journalist Bina Venkataraman and Library Director Diane Kresh about Venkataraman’s book “The Optimist’s Telescope: Thinking Ahead in a Reckless Age.”

All Hallows Group Art at WHINO
4238 Wilson Blvd, Second Floor
Time: 7-11 p.m. 

WHINO’s All Hallows art show will track how the ancient Celtic harvest-time festival of Samhain has evolved over the millennia to be a way of remembering the dead.

Friday, Oct. 22

Kids Cooking Class: Steamed Thai Chicken Dumplings and Mini Hand Pies
Virtual
Time: 6-8 p.m. 

Personal caterer Chiqui Chef will be teaching kids how to make steamed Thai chicken dumplings and mini fruit hand pies.

Saturday, Oct. 23

Lady Liberty’s Birthday Party Fundraiser*
Virtual
Time: 6-8:30 p.m.

This virtual fundraiser hosted by local non-profit Just Neighbors, which provides immigration legal services to low-income immigrants and refugees in the D.C. area. Tickets for the event, which includes a silent auction and giveaway gifts, start at $25.

Live-In Arlington Info-Fair
Lubber Run Community Center (300 N. Park Drive)
Time: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

This free event will provide useful information about housing opportunities in Arlington. It will feature meet-and-greets with a myriad housing professionals, from mortgage lenders to health and housing service providers, as well as seminars.

Fall Family Celebration
Columbia Gardens Cemetery grounds (3411 Arlington Blvd)
Time: 12-3 p.m. 

This free, family-friendly fall event has events for all ages. Kids can visit beehives and paint pumpkins while adults can meet a rose expert, attend a tree planting demonstration and learn about bluebird boxes.

Tarot Teachings
Ms. Peacock’s Champagne Lounge (929 N. Garfield Street) 
Time: 1-5 p.m.

The tarot-curious can get in touch with the mystic side of life with a four-hour tarot card reading workshop that supports animals in need. Students should bring materials for taking notes, and if they have them, their own tarot deck.

Sunday, Oct. 24

Democrats AAPI Caucus Diwali Festival*
Bluemont Park (329 N. Manchester Street)
Time: 3-6 p.m.

Arlington Democrats Asian-American and Pacific Islander Caucus will host a Diwali festival at Bluemont Park. Attendees can expect to see local and state leaders, hear live music and eat Indian food.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event.

Shucktoberfest Brings Beer and Oyster Sampling to Shirlington

By Dana Munro
Shucktoberfest in Shirlington (courtesy of Shucktoberfest)

Oyster and beer festival Shucktoberfest is returning to Shirlington later this month.

More than 40 food vendors will be selling craft beer, oysters and food at the Village at Shirlington (2700 S. Quincy Street). The event will be held Saturday, Oct. 23 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The fourth-annual event is put on by Copperwood Tavern (4021 Campbell Ave).

For younger attendees, there will be a kids’ zone with face painters, balloon artists and family-friendly games. Dogs are welcome, too.

Tickets are $40 and include a wristband for adults age 21 and older, a 5-ounce beer-tasting mug and 10 event tickets. Each event ticket is redeemable for one 5-ounce beer sample or two oysters.

Tickets can be purchased at the event, but organizers recommended pre-purchasing them online.

Arlington Agenda: Oct. 11-17

By Jo DeVoe
1/1

Arlington Agenda is a listing of interesting events for the week ahead in and around Arlington County.

If you’d like your event considered, fill out the event submission form to submit it to our event calendar.

Monday, Oct. 11

Beginning Fencing Classes*
Nova Fencing and Archery Club (3501 Carlin Springs Road, Falls Church)
Time: 6-7 p.m.

These classes, which begin today (Monday), will teach fencing basics such as footwork and handwork to students ages 7 and up.

Wednesday, Oct. 13

Arlington Community Federal Credit Union Retirement Roundtable*
Virtual
Time: 8-9 a.m. 

ACFCU financial advisor Momodou Bojang will host a free webinar addressing critical topics within retirement planning.

ACFCU Homebuying 101*
Virtual
Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Mortgage Loan Officer Sandra Ortecho goes back to the basics of buying a house for this webinar targeting first-time homebuyers.

Cocktails For Change: Support the Human Trafficking Fight
Clarendon Pop-Up Bar (3185 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 6-9 p.m.

This happy hour event hosted by Clarendon Pop-Up Bar (in the former Clarendon Ballroom space) will benefit Love 146, a global organization working to end human trafficking.

Thursday, Oct. 14

Community Care Fair
Serrano Apartments (5535 Columbia Pike)
Time: 4-6 p.m.

The whole family, including pets, is invited to the fair, which will provide pet supplies and preventative care, COVID-19 vaccines, food stamps resources and children’s activities.

Doorways Open Hearts, Open Doors Virtual Fundraiser
Virtual 
Time: 8-9 p.m.

Arlington homeless shelter Doorways is hosting a virtual fundraising event and auction, followed by a Q&A, aimed at preventing violence and ending homelessness in the county.

Sunday, Oct. 17

Harvest Festival Japanese Tea Ceremony
First Presbyterian Church Arlington (601 N. Vermont Street)
Time: 2-4 p.m

This ceremony and educational event by Study Japanese in Arlington and Omotesenke Domonkai Eastern Region USA is open to all ages.

Arlington Agenda: Oct. 4-10

By Dana Munro
1/2

Arlington Agenda is a listing of interesting events for the week ahead in Arlington County.

If you’d like your event considered, fill out the event submission form to submit it to our event calendar.

Monday, Oct. 4

Into the Night with Owls and Bats
Virtual 
Time: 5-6 p.m.

This Halloween-inspired event will feature lessons about owls and bats for kids.

Empty The Shelters
Animal Welfare League of Arlington (2650 S. Arlington Mill Drive)
Time: 12 p.m. to Oct. 10 at 4 p.m.

Animal Welfare League of Arlington is offering a limited-time adoption discount in an effort to help find more of their animals good homes. Adoptions will only cost $25 Oct. 4 through Oct. 10.

Wednesday, Oct. 6

ACFCU’s Maximizing Your Social Security Benefits*
Virtual
Time: 12-1 p.m.

Axiom Value financial advisor Momodou Bojang will host a free webinar teaching locals how best to manage their social security benefits.

ACFCU’s Buying a Home in a Tight Market*
Virtual
Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Arlington Community Federal Credit Union’s VP of Lending Katherine Magruder shares tips and tricks to buying a home in a competitive market like Northern Virginia.

Thursday, Oct. 7

League of Women Voters of Arlington Candidate Forum
Virtual
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.

The League of Women Voters of Arlington County and their partner organizations will host a Candidate Forum for the candidates running for local office in the Nov. 2 election.

Friday, Oct. 8

The Young, Black and Funny Comedy Jam
Arlington Cinema And Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike)
Time: 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m.

Leonard Ouzts and other comedians will stop in Arlington on their 10-city, 33-date tour.

Saturday, Oct. 9

E-CARE Recycling Drop-Off
1425 N. Quincy Street
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Arlington residents can bring hazardous materials, bikes and bulky items to this event to be safely disposed of.

2021 Home Run for the Homeless
Bluemont Park (329 N. Manchester Street)
Time: 9-11 a.m.

The Fourth Annual 5K Home Run for the Homeless will raise support for Northern Virginia homeless families. Registration includes a t-shirt, light snacks, beverages and giveaways. Because the course is tight, please leave your dog at home. Strollers are okay.

Spooky Songs & Scary Stories
Ball-Sellers House (5620 3rd Street S.)
Time: 6-8 p.m.

Actors and singers from Guillotine Theatre will tell colonial folktales and sing songs featuring ghostly encounters and mysteries.

Sunday, Oct. 10

Rose Auction & Rooting Workshop, Sponsor: Arlington Rose Foundation
Columbia Gardens Cemetery — Rose Garden (3411 Arlington Blvd)
Time: 2-4:30 p.m.

This rose auction will feature Shrubs, Hybrid Teas, Floribundas and Climbers for sale.

E-CARE Event This Weekend Offers Chance to Dispose of Hazardous Materials

By Dana Munro
A past E-CARE event (via Arlington County)

Arlington County will host the latest iteration of its biannual E-CARE event this weekend, offering locals a chance to dispose of hazardous materials and other stuff from around the house.

Locals can bring approved items to the drop-off site at 1425 N. Quincy Street, across from Washington-Liberty High School, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9.

“No E-CARE was held in 2020 for COVID-19 safety,” the county noted in a press release. “This spring, a scaled-down version still collected almost 95 thousand pounds of household hazardous materials (HHM) and 26 thousand pounds of used electronics, dropped off by 1,870 Arlington residents, a new record.”

“Returning for the first time since 2019, the group Bikes for the World will take bicycle donations for use as basic transportation overseas,” the press release added. “Also, back for Oct. 9: a special collection area dedicated to metal item recycling.”

In addition to bikes, electronics and small metal items, the following items will be accepted at drop-off:

  • Automotive fluids
  • Batteries
  • Car care products
  • Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)
  • Corrosives (acids/caustics)
  • Fire extinguishers
  • Flammable solvents
  • Fluorescent tubes
  • Fuels/petroleum products
  • Household cleaners
  • Lawn and garden chemicals
  • Mercury
  • Paint products (25-can limit)
  • Photographic chemicals
  • Poisons (pesticides)
  • Printer ink/toner cartridges
  • Propane gas cylinders (small hand-held or larger)
  • Swimming pool chemicals

Also being collected: “household devices containing mercury (thermostats, thermometers, sphygmomanometers, manometers, barometers, hygrometers and liquid mercury)” as well as compact fluorescent lights.

The following will not be accepted.

  • Asbestos
  • Explosives and ammunition
  • Freon
  • Medical wastes
  • Prescription medications
  • Radioactive materials
  • Smoke detectors

Residents are asked to place hazardous materials and electronics in separate cardboard boxes for easy handling and to prevent spills. The cardboard boxes will then be recycled.

Participants will also be required to wear masks and stay in their cars as crews unload the items.

This event is only for Arlington residents. Commercial waste is not accepted. Participants will be asked to verify their residency at the event.

County Responds to Rise in Drug Overdoses with Drug-Take Back Event

By Dana Munro
Prescription drugs (Photo by Freestocks/Unsplash)

The county will be offering safe disposal of unused prescription drugs later this month as opioid overdoses rise in Arlington.

On Saturday, Oct. 23, the Arlington County Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration will offer contactless, drive-thru drug disposal from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at police department headquarters (1425 N. Courthouse Road) and Fire Station No. 5 (1750 S. Hayes Street). It’s part of a nationwide effort by the DEA.

This disposal service is free and anonymous. Officers will remove items from cars as participants drive by, and there will be a separate drop-off area for cyclists and pedestrians.

Police say this is an “opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.”

The event comes amid a historic spike in fatal overdoses. ACPD reports that there have been more overdoses in 2021 than in any year since the county started tracking cases in 2014.

“That’s why it’s more important than ever that members of the public take advantage of this potentially lifesaving program as well as other treatment resources available in Arlington County and through the Department of Human Services,” the release said.

Participants can drop off tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Vape pens and other kinds of e-cigarettes, with the batteries removed, will also be accepted. The locations will not accept liquids, including intravenous solutions, syringes, other sharps and illegal drugs.

For those unable to attend the event, Arlington County has four permanent drug disposal boxes available at the following locations:

  • Fire Station 2 (4805 Wilson Blvd)
  • Fire Station 5 (1750 S. Hayes Street)
  • Fire Station 9 (1900 S. Walter Reed Drive)
  • Arlington County Police Department (1425 N. Courthouse Road)

More than 7,000 pounds of prescription drugs have been safely disposed of since these sites were set up in 2018, according to police.

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