Summer yoga session held outside the Ballston Exchange (photo via Facebook)
CorePower Yoga in the Ballston Exchange
CorePower Yoga in the Ballston Exchange
4040 Wilson Blvd, future home of VIDA Fitness, under construction
CorePower Yoga and VIDA Fitness aren’t open yet, but they’re offering free classes for anyone looking to get a little more limber in Ballston.
Today (Thursday), VIDA Fitness is offering a “Glow Up! Power Yoga Class” from 6-7 p.m. at the Ballston Freshfarm Market (901 N. Taylor Street). The VIDA Ballston website describes the class as an outdoor yoga class aimed at improving flexibility and reducing stress.
VIDA has been holding free fitness classes the first Thursday of every month since May, with rotating themes and topics. The next fitness event — Pinot and Pilates — is planned for Sept. 5. The free classes are scheduled to run through November.
VIDA is planning to open its new Ballston location in the still-under-construction 4040 Wilson Blvd tower The opening date has not been announced, but staff said VIDA is eyeing an early 2020 opening.
CorePower Yoga, meanwhile, is scheduled to open at Ballston Exchange on Thursday, August 22, and has also been holding a series of free yoga events ahead of its launch.
Next Friday, August 9, the yoga studio will host a sunset yoga event from 5:30-6:30 p.m at 4201 Wilson Blvd. The event is free and open to the public, though attendees are encouraged to bring their own mat and water. Another free yoga class is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 30.
Jay and Silent Bob — aka Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith — are coming to Arlington this fall to screen their new film, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.
The long-time comedic duo are set to screen the film (NSFW trailer here) at the Arlington Cinema Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike) on Sunday, Nov. 10, as part of a cross-country roadshow from Oct. 21-Dec. 12. Tickets ranged from $50 for general admission to $750 for a VIP meet-and-greet, but all are now sold out.
Per a description of the event:
Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith come to YOUR town to show their latest and greatest motion picture, the star studded Jay and Silent Bob Reboot. The New Jersey stoner icons who first hit the screen 25 years ago in CLERKS are back! When Jay and Silent Bob discover that Hollywood is rebooting an old movie based on them, the clueless duo embark on another cross-country mission to stop it all over again!
Jay and Silent Bob are among the bold-faced comedy names coming to the Drafthouse this fall. Silicon Valley’s Jimmy O. Yang, 2 Dope Queens’ Phoebe Robinson and Flight of the Conchords’ Rhys Darby are also set to perform.
The current comedy lineup at the Drafthouse through the end of the year is below.
Arlington County Fair (Photo courtesy Dennis Dimick)
Arlington County Fair (Photo courtesy Dennis Dimick)
This year the Arlington County Fair is debuting two brand new features — a beer garden and yoga with baby goats.
The annual event will begin in two weeks and is set to welcome Arlington-based New District Brewing Company as well as a special “kid-friendly” goat yoga session to the fairgrounds at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center (3501 2nd Street S.)
“For the first time in our 43-year history, the Arlington County Fair will host a beer garden,” organizers wrote on the fair’s website. “New District Brewing Company will feature hand-crafted, delectable beers to cool you off on a warm summer day.”
Fair-goers will be able to enter the beer garden for free during the three days it will serve up drinks during the festival. The garden will be open on:
Friday, August 16, from 3-6:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 17, from 12-6:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 18, from 12-6:30 p.m.
New District has not yet posted a draft menu for the fair as of today (Monday). The company is known for its golden ales and seasonal honeysuckle brew.
Fair organizers are also selling tickets for $40 for an hour-long goat yoga session on Saturday, August 17, from either 9-10 a.m. or 10:30-11:30 a.m. The baby goats are from Salem, Va.-based Walnut Creek Farm, and participants will be asked to bring their own mats.
“The goats are curious and interested in climbing and interacting with people,” organizers noted on the ticket sale page. “Children should be no younger than 10, comfortable with animals, and accompanied by an adult to attend.”
The fair will run from Aug. 14-18 and will feature rides, food, games, performer, exhibits and live music. The fair’s schedule has not yet been published on its website.
“Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to the fair,” the website said as of Monday afternoon.
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.
Bad Art Night III Columbia Pike Branch Library (816 S. Walter Reed Drive) Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
The library invites people 18 and over to gather for an evening of art creation. As part of the 2019 Summer Reading program, attendees of all talent levels can create their own masterpiece.
David Raglin from the Society for American Baseball Research will discuss some of the changes to baseball in recent years: like more strikeouts, more home runs, and longer games.
Each year on August 1 at exactly 9:32 a.m. the shadows cast by the poles and sculpture spheres align with patterns on the ground to mark the day in 1860 when William Henry Ross acquired Rosslyn
This three-hour guided tour will teach participants new strategies for finding inspiration. Spots are limited and those interested must register at [email protected].
This monthly event invites the public to check out a new art exhibit displaying various formats including paintings to sculptures. The exhibits are free and open to everyone.
This free concert series features Dutch artist, Gijsbert Kok playing the carillon, which was a gift from the Netherlands after WWII. It is made up of over 50 bells.
The Quarter Market food hall in the Ballston Quarter mall
Business review site Yelp is teaming up with Ballston Quarter mall (4238 Wilson Blvd) to host a social mixer called Yelp After Dark.
The free event is set to take place at the Quarter Market food hall next Friday, August 2 from 9-11 p.m.
Attendees must have a Yelp profile with a current photo and their real name. A press release for the event said attendees should RSVP through the Yelp app and will receive a confirmation email before the event. But, this does not guarantee entry, since space is limited.
Quarter Market vendors including District Doughnut, Ice Cream Jubilee, Rice Crook and The Local Oyster will provide food.
In 2015, Yelp co-founder and CEO Jeremy Stoppelman told ARLnow he might not have made it as a tech titan if it wasn’t for bike rides to Ballston Quarter — then Ballston Common Mall — as a kid. Stoppelman grew up in Arlington, near Military Road, and attended Taylor Elementary in the 1980s before his family moved to Great Falls.
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.
Arlington Cares will celebrate current members at this free event. Local nonprofit and county partners will share their work and promote community service opportunities.
EcoAction Arlington will hold an interest meeting for a new committee on environmental advocacy, focused on civic engagement. EcoAction Arlington asks that attendees RSVP.
This evening fundraiser will benefit the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing. There will be $4,000 worth prizes and giveaways throughout the evening, as well as food and drink.
Local author, Dave Price, will share his advice on editing and revising. This event is free but the library asks attendees to RSVP online. This event is part of a series offering various writing tips.
The weekly pop-up beer garden invites the community to enjoy a variety of beverages while listening to live music. Food from a local vendor will also be available for purchase.
Saturday, July 27
Ballston Field Day*
Washington Liberty High School (1301 N. Stafford Street)
Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
The Ballston BID invites the community to participate in a variety of athletic challenges. A mandatory $5 fee raises money for Doorways — a nonprofit fighting domestic violence, sexual assault and homelessness.
Cherrydale Fire House (photo courtesy of Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department)
Cherrydale Fire House 1946 (photo courtesy of Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department)
(Updated at 2:55 p.m.) Cherrydale’s volunteer fire house is set to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its construction in 1919 this weekend.
The Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department will host festivities and a fundraiser for the anniversary this Saturday (July 20) from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. The Central Firehouse, owned the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department, is the oldest in Arlington and recognized by the National Register of Historic Places as a local historic landmark.
A parade will kick off the Saturday celebration at 10 a.m. starting from Saint Agnes Catholic Church (1910 N. Randolph Street). The remainder of the festivities will be held at the firehouse (3900 Lee Highway). All activities are open to the public.
For kids, volunteers will set up a bouncy house and firetruck demonstrations after the parade.
Tours of the fire house and swing dance lessons will be available throughout the day, according to spokeswoman Elise Nelson. Radio station 94.7 FM The Drive will broadcast live from the event.
(Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department members are trained as firefighters and medics. They sometimes ride along with professional crews from the Arlington County Fire Department and provide some support services to ACFD during incidents, but do not currently fight fires, according to the local firefighters union. The Cherrydale VFD disputed the assertion that its members do not fight fires, but did not directly answer a request from ARLnow to provide a recent example of a VFD member engaged in fire suppression operations alongside ACFD.)
A chili cook off, a raffle, bingo and various games will wrap-up the evening. Guests can use a donation to vote for their favorite chili, made by members of the volunteer fire department. Prizes for raffles and bingo include gift basket from 35 partnering businesses.
The celebration will take on a more serious note mid-afternoon as firefighters who served during 9/11 will share their experiences with the audience, and the organization will remember Marvin Binns, a former member of the Cherrydale VFD. A plaque will be presented and hung on the wall along with his uniform. Binns died of cancer in 2015, according to his obituary.
“His inspiring 62-year legacy included many years of leadership as President, and 36 years bringing Santa to the station — making him a cherished figure for countless generations,” Nelson said.
The Cherrydale Fire Department began with a group of 12 men after they came together to battle a small fire, according to public library records. Over time, Cherrydale VFD grew as an organization and today has 50-60 members in its ranks. Though Arlington County took over responsibility for everyday emergencies, most of the members have emergency medical technician training and can assist police or other firefighters whenever a need may arise. They also help local authorities with lighting at emergency scenes and events.
The Saturday event will double as a fundraiser and proceeds will go towards the refurbishment of the fire house. Nelson said that the building needs foundational repairs as well as cosmetic retouches.
As a historical landmark, Nelson said that the building requires special attention from an expert familiar with refurbishing old buildings, which often comes at a higher cost.
“We can’t do anything that would go against that historical precedent,” she said.
For example, to repair crumbling brickwork on the outside of the building, they were quoted a cost of $50,000.
According to the book “The Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department: A History” by author Kathryn Holt Springston, former President Woodrow Wilson and his wife each purchased a brick for the fire house during a fundraising event when it first opened. But, Wilson’s brick was later stolen.
Today, the building serves as a center for the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department and as a gathering space for community members. There is a gathering hall which is available to rent for weddings, banquets, parties or other events.
Nelson said that the group hopes to raise $100,000 in 2019 to keep the Cherrydale fire house running for at least another century.
Photos courtesy of Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department
Tulips in bloom at the Netherland Carillon (Flickr pool photo by Joseph Gruber)
Map of Netherlands Carillon (Image via Google Maps)
The Netherlands Carillon
(Updated at 10:10 a.m.) Dutch artist Gijsbert Kok plays an instrument similar to an organ — except it controls bells instead of pipes.
The instrument is called a carillon and Kok will be playing it during his performance at the Netherlands Carillon, near Rosslyn and the Iwo Jima memorial, this Saturday (July 20).
Kok’s performance in Arlington is part of the free weekly concerts hosted by the National Park Service (NPS) through the end of the summer. The concerts run from 6-8 p.m., except for the September 2 event, which will take place from 2-4 p.m.
Guests can bring lawn chairs, blankets or simply sit on the grass. NPS suggests that guests park or arrive via the Rosslyn Metro, which is about a 15-minute walk. Parking is available at the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial.
This year’s concert lineup for the remainder of the summer is as follows:
July 20 — Gijsbert Kok, Bodegraven, The Netherlands
July 27 — Doug Gefvert, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
August 3 — Edward M.Nassor, Fairfax, Virginia
August 10 — Lynnli Wang, Washington, D.C.
August 17 — Edward M. Nassor, Fairfax, Virginia
August 24 — Elisa Tersigni, Washington, D.C.
August 31 — Jesse Ratcliffe, Warrenton, Virginia
September 2 — Edward M. Nassor, Fairfax, Virginia
In addition to his bell ringing, Kok is also an organist who performs at churches and for concerts across the United States and Europe.
The National Park Service received the carillon as a gift from the Netherlands in commemoration of the United States’ assistance during World War ll. It is comprised of 50 bells, weighing over 30 tons. The bells are set to be removed this fall and sent via ship back to the Netherlands for cleaning as part of a major rehabilitation project.
Photo (1) via Joseph Gruber/Flickr, map via Google Maps
The League of Women Voters of Arlington decided to take a stand against gerrymandering with an upcoming public event, an Un-Birthday Party for Elbridge Gerry.
The event is taking place tomorrow (Wednesday, July 17) at Ireland’s Four Courts in Courthouse from 6:30-8:30 p.m. There will be trivia, tips on political activism, free food and games. Tickets can be purchased for $10 on Eventbrite.
With Gerry’s birthday coming up on July 17, the League of Women Voters decided to remember his legacy and role in history.
Elbridge Gerry established a reputation as “the father of gerrymandering” in 1810, during his time as governor of Massachusetts. He was notorious for dividing electoral districts for political gain and power.
The United State Supreme Court ruled last month, that although gerrymandering seems unjust, it isn’t the place of federal judges to intervene. The ruling means gerrymandering decisions will be left up to individual states and Congress.
The League of Women Voters disagrees with the Supreme Court’s decision — and opposes partisan and racial gerrymandering in general — and plan to speak out on the issue at the event.
Jackie Rivas, a member of the Arlington League and coordinator for the upcoming event, said she wants people to understand that everyone is affected by gerrymandering. She said that she hopes this event sends a message to local politicians that the public is paying attention and cares about the issue.
Rivas told ARLnow that the League has invited local politicians to attend and hear elevator pitchesabout potentiallegislative changes from members at the event.
Image via Arlington League of Women Voters/Eventbrite
A new outdoor concert series will kick off in Ballston later today.
Starting today (July 10) through the end of August, “Ballston Quarter Beats” will bring in a new band every Wednesday for a free concert at the outdoor Plaza at Ballston Quarter (4238 Wilson Blvd).
The events are being held from 5:30-8:30 p.m and attendees can expect happy-hour drink specials and food from Ballston Quarter eateries, including the Local Oyster, Ballston Service Station, and Copa Kitchen and Bar.
The series will kick off with Marvillous Beats, a Bronx-born artist who combines a mixture of jazz, classical, pop and hip-hop for a unique musical experience. Marvill Martin is an Arlington local but began his career in New York as a violinist.
This event is open to the public. No tickets are necessary.
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.
This session will focus on trying to enter the workforce, advancing within your current organization, and transitioning into a new field. Free and open to the public. RSVP here.
Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) is hosting his next town hall at Wakefield High School to discuss the issues on your mind, and what he is doing in Congress. Attend the event to share your views and participate in the discussion.
Celebrate National Teddy Bear Picnic Day! Bring your own lunch and your best Teddy Bear pal for music, story time, giveaways, ice cream treats, and keepsake photos.
Justin Trawick & The Common Good perform at the Decades of Summer, which features music from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s on Wednesdays. Cheestique will offer $5 wine tastings.
Fridays at the Fountain is Crystal City’s seasonal pop-up beer garden, featuring food from The Stand’s rotating lineup of vendors, adult and kid friendly beverage selections, and live music.
Get a glimpse into the Virginia Tech Executive MBA student experience. You will sit in on a current Executive MBA class and have the opportunity to engage with students, faculty and program staff. Register here.
Saturday, July 13
Jennie Dean Park Project
Charles Drew Community Center (3500 23rd Street S.)
Time: 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
See the updated design for the Jennie Dean Park Project along with new information on the picnic shelters, public art and what is being discussed with Green Valley Civic Association for historic interpretation.
Your Favorite Saturday Morning Cartoons + Brunch Cocktails + Free Cereal! Over 100 cartoon series from the 1940s through the early 2000s and you get to choose what we watch!
Sunday, July 14
Aikido in the park
Glencarlyn Park (301 S. Harrison Street)
Time: 10-11:30 a.m.
Once a month, weather permitting, we hold an aiki-weapons class followed by a cookout. Extra bokken and jos should be available if you do not have your own. No need to wear your gi; please wear street clothes.
