Events

Jam Out, Stock Up and Party On in Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com

Two weekly events start today in Rosslyn — part of a very musical summer in the otherwise business-oriented neighborhood.

From 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., local R&B and jazz act Spur of the Moment will kick off the CentralPlace Wednesday lunchtime concert series. The concerts are being held at “CentralSpace,” the temporary park at the corner of North Moore Street and Wilson Boulevard (CentralSpace will eventually be the site of a new office tower).

Tonight from 5:30 to 8:00, there will be live music, dancing and after-work drinks at Rosslyn Plaza, in front of the Rosslyn Spectrum Theater. The Party at the Plaza will take place every Wednesday in June and July. Tonight and for the rest of the month the event will feature salsa dancing. In July it switches to swing dancing. Free dance lessons will be held from 5:30 to 6:00, with the rest of the time reserved for people to dance as they see fit.

Tomorrow food gets thrown into the musical mix. BG & The Mojo Hands will play from 11:45 to 1:30 at the Rosslyn Farmer’s Market. The Thursday lunchtime concert series — which actually started last month and will stretch through October — is held next to the market, across from the Cupid’s Garden Sculpture at Wilson Boulevard and North Oak Street. The Rosslyn Farmer’s Market itself takes place from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and features fruits, veggies, herbs, pastries, breads, fruit preserves and more.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

DHS Investigating DCA Bomb Sticker — The Department of Homeland Security is investigating a suspicious sticker found on a trash can at Reagan National Airport, reports Government Security News. The sticker appears to be a stencil-type illustration of a man with a bomb strapped to his chest. DHS and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency have emailed a photo of the sticker to various security companies and law enforcement agencies, GSN reports.

New ART Route To Pentagon City — A new ART bus line will connect Pentagon City with the Douglas Park and Nauck neighborhoods. The ART 84 line will run every 30 minutes during rush hour, starting June 21. More from the Arlington Transit Blog.

Meet the Artists Reception at Yorktown High Tonight — Yorktown High School (5201 N. 28th St.) is holding its annual art exhibit from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day this week. Tonight there will be a “meet the artists” opening reception and mural dedication from 6:00 to 8:00. All events are open to the public.

Cornhole League Coming to Clarendon Grill

By ARLnow.com

If you’re a fan of the beanbag-tossing game of cornhole, Clarendon Grill (1101 North Highland Street) is the place to be tonight. The bar will be hosting pick-up cornhole games starting around 7:00 p.m. There will also be free passes to the new movie Despicable Me, courtesy of the Arlington Athletic and Social League.

For the serious cornhole competitor, AASL still has a few spots open for its summer cornhole league at Clarendon Grill. Now in its second year, the 10 team league plays six regular season games on Tuesday nights. The season starts next week on June 8.

Registration costs $20 and includes a free t-shirt. Plus there’s cheap beer for league members.

Photo courtesy AASL/CHASE Sports Group. Disclosure: ARLnow.com has worked together with AASL on a marketing initiative.

Gearing up for Memorial Day Weekend

By Ashley Houghton

Yes, May has been an insane month. From stolen wigs to stolen cell phones, and from DoD job losses to creating new jobs for exotic dancers (or, at the very least, local arguments for it), Arlingtonians are ready for a long weekend. Take a look at some local events happening around our area to take a load off to fully appreciate Memorial Day weekend.

For Memorial Day observers: Arlington National Cemetery will hold its annual Memorial Day of Observance to remember fallen service members on Monday at the Memorial Amphitheater. The Full Honor Wreath-Laying Ceremony is at 11:00 a.m., but officials recommend visitors arrive at 9:30 for seats and for a musical prelude by the U.S. Navy Band.

For the kids: Gulf Branch Nature Center on Military Road is holding their weekly campfire for families on Friday from 7:00 to 8:15 p.m. Expect s’mores, games, and campfire songs for the little ones ($5 per person, $20 for families).

For music lovers: The Fleshtones, the quintessential 70’s/80’s American garage band, are playing Iota in Clarendon on Saturday night at 9:00. Tickets are $15 and available at the door.

For multicultural Arlingtonians: The 23rd Annual Argentine Festival is being held Saturday from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Thomas Jefferson Theatre (125 S. Old Glebe Road). Watch tango dancing, listen to traditional music and eat traditional Argentinian treats.

For those who don’t mind wearing leather when it’s ridiculously hot outside: Rolling Thunder will be loudly and proudly riding all around Arlington and D.C. this weekend. From Friday to Sunday, groups of motorcyclists will be rolling in and out of the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, which is serving as the official hotel of the annual event. On Sunday morning a “Ride for Freedom” demonstration will be held at the North Pentagon parking lot. Washington Boulevard from I-395 to the Memorial Bridge will be closed Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Memorial Bridge will be closed from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If you have a Harley, feel free to join the crowd (or just watch from the sidelines).

For people who like eating meat and giving to charity at the same time: 3 Bar and Grill (2950 Clarendon Blvd) will be hosting a “Charitable Pig Roast” on Memorial Day eve. There will be Bacon Bloody Marys, pulled pork sandwiches and some killer drink specials. It’s happening from 4:00 to 9:00 Sunday evening. A suggested $5 donation will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Flags In at Arlington National Cemetery This Afternoon

By ARLnow.com

The annual Memorial Day weekend tradition of “Flags In” will take place from 4:00 to 7:00 tonight at Arlington National Cemetery. A group of service members from each branch of the armed forces will place small flags in front of each of the cemetery’s more than 250,000 graves.

More from the Arlington National Cemetery Facebook page:

The time-honored tradition of “Flags In” at Arlington National Cemetery is scheduled to begin after funerals are complete for the day on Thursday, May 27.

Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) will be joined by service members from the U.S. Marine Corps Ceremonial and Guard Company, U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard, U.S. Air Force Honor Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard in placing small American flags, known as grave decorating flags, on the gravesites of all who rest at Arlington National Cemetery for the Memorial Day weekend.

“Flags In” has been conducted annually since the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) was designated as the Army’s official ceremonial unit in 1948. Flags are placed one foot in front and centered before each headstone in the cemetery. Flags will also be placed at the Tomb of the Unknowns by the Tomb Sentinels and at each of the cemetery’s columbarium courts.

While no volunteers are needed to assist the Old Guard with this sacred duty, visitors are welcome to come and pay their respects during this event and are encouraged to arrive at the cemetery after 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 27. It will take approximately three hours to place the more than 250,000 flags. Parking is available in the Visitors Center parking lot.

All flags will be removed on Tuesday, June 1 before the cemetery opens to the public.

Flickr pool photo by marchebm2.

Homecoming of Sorts for Reigning Miss America

By ARLnow.com

Reigning Miss America Caressa Cameron will be returning to Arlington tonight for an appearance in Pentagon City. Cameron, who won the Miss Arlington pageant before being crowned Miss Virginia last year, is technically from Fredericksburg, but we’ll call this a “homecoming” regardless.

Cameron will be appearing at the DSW Shoe Warehouse (1301 South Joyce Street) at Pentagon Row from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Customers will be able to meet Cameron, take a photo with her and get her autograph.

The store will be offering 15 percent off regularly-priced merchandise during the event and $100 gift cards will be raffled every half hour.

DSW sponsors the Miss America pageant.

Photo from missamerica.org.

Michael Brown Makes His Debut

By ARLnow.com

After a week on the job, new Arlington county manager Michael Brown participated in his first county board meeting Saturday morning.

Board Chairman Jay Fisette kicked off the meeting by welcoming Brown to Arlington.

“Thank you Mr. Chairman, it’s great to be here,” Brown reciprocated later in the nearly five hour meeting.

Brown also took time to thank deputy county manager Barbara Donnellan, who served as interim county manager prior to his arrival. Brown said his transition was made much easier by Donnellan’s work on this year’s operating and capital budgets.

You can meet Brown in person tonight at public reception being held between 5:00 and 8:00 in the lobby of the county government building (2100 Clarendon Blvd).

Afternoon Notes: Chain Bridge Closure

By ARLnow.com

Last Chain Bridge Closure — Starting around 9:00 tonight Chain Bridge will once again close completely to traffic and pedestrians. Crews will be working to repave the bridge deck, the Washington Post reports. The bridge is expected to reopen on Monday morning. This should be the last full closure of the bridge, which has been undergoing a year-long rehabilitation process.

Berry Officially Joins Young Guns List — GOP congressional candidate Matthew Berry has been officially listed as “On the Radar” on the National Republican Congressional Campaign’s “Young Guns” website. The list recognizes congressional contenders who have achieved certain fundraising goals.

Murray Objects to Straw Poll — Patrick Murray, Berry’s competitor for the eighth district GOP nomination, sent a strongly-worded email to supporters calling a straw poll that will be conducted at Saturday’s district Republican convention “illegitimate.” Murray says charging $20 for votes and not limiting the number of votes conflicts “with many principles for which our Republican Party stands.” Murray’s campaign also objects to the possibility of illegal aliens voting in the straw poll, since identification won’t be required.

Slapsticon Returns to Rosslyn Spectrum — The Slapsticon vintage comedy film festival is returning to Rosslyn this summer. The Spectrum Theater will host the festival from July 15-18. Read more here.

Flickr Pool photo by tadnkat

To Do This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

Another weekend, another long list of things to do in Arlington.

Friday

“The Shat Ball” with The Raspberry Brothers — NYC comedy duo The Raspberry Brothers is back at Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike) to rip on another classic cheeseball movie. This time, they aim their barbs at William Shatner’s performance in Star Trek V. From 9:30 to midnight.

Edward Scissorhands Under the Stars — Speaking of cheeseball movies, the latest installment of Rosslyn’s I Love the ’90s outdoor film festival brings us Johnny Depp’s 1990 classic Edward Scissorhands. The flick starts around 7:30 at Gateway Park (1300 Lee Highway).

Saturday

Fifth Annual Arlington Youth Film Festival Premiere — Arlington Independent Media will screen the finalists for the 2010 Arlington Youth Film Festival. The festival was created to showcase the talents of our local middle and high school students. Doors open at 3:00 p.m. at The Comedy Spot in Ballston Common Mall (4238 Wilson Boulevard).

Classic Rock Concert At Potomac Overlook Regional Park — Local classic rock band Second Wind will headline the first outdoor concert of the season at Potomac Overlook Park amphitheater (2845 N. Marcey Road). The family and picnic-friendly concert will start around 7:00 p.m.

Sunday

Bike DC Community Bike Ride — See more info from our earlier post.

Virginia’s Fastest Bartender Contest Finals — Crystal City Sports Pub (529 23rd Street South) will host the final round of the Virginia’s Fastest Bartender Contest, starting at 8:30 p.m. The proceeds will go to the Tender Hearts Foundation, which helps children with congenital heart defects.

There’s a lot more on the agenda for Sunday — browse our events calendar for a full list.

Bicyclists Out in Force On Bike to Work Day

By ARLnow.com

“Arlington is one of the most bike-friendly communities in the United States,” Arlington County Board Chairman Jay Fisette said to kick off this morning’s Bike to Work Day event in Rosslyn. And the county’s efforts seem to be paying off: Fisette said that this was the best-attended Bike to Work Day he has ever been a part of.

Hundreds of bicyclists stopped at Bike to Work Day “pit stops” in Rosslyn, Ballston and Crystal City before pedaling to work this morning. There was no denying that there were more bikes on the road than usual, as normally car-bound or transit-hopping commuters took advantage of the nice weather and the communal experience of riding into the city en masse.

In Rosslyn, vendors provided snacks, drinks, free tune-ups and assorted schwag (free BikeArlington bell, anyone?) as obligatory pump-up music blared on the speakers (“Bicycle Race” by Queen was only a slightly more obvious choice than the “Rocky” theme).

After Fisette announced the new Arlington-DC bike sharing program, the winner of Arlington’s Car-Free Diet Skeptics challenge was revealed.

Two men, Todd and Ross, both gave up driving during the course of the one month competition. Ross went so far as selling his car, a move Todd says he plans to follow. In the end, however, Todd was named the winner.

“[Giving up my car] actually worked perfectly for me,” Todd said after delivering a short victory speech.

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