Events

Pop-Up Book Festival Coming to Rosslyn on Thursday

By Vernon Miles

Over 25,000 used books, DVDs and CDs are set to be offered for sale at a sprawling book festival in Rosslyn on Thursday (April 25).

The Rosslyn Reads Book Festival is an annual fundraiser for Turning the Page, a non-profit that helps students receive educational resources. The festival is planned to be held in Rosslyn’s Central Place Plaza at 1800 N. Lynn Street.

Book prices range from $1 to $8. Attendees are also invited to bring their own used books to donate as well.

A series of events are also planned throughout the day, with children’s activities through most of the day and adult-focused activities in the evening.

  • 10 a.m. — Tunes & Dales, a family story time organized by the Arlington Public Library
  • 4 p.m. — Magic of Zain, a magic show for children
  • 4 p.m. — The bar opens
  • 5:30 p.m. — Discussion with Elaine Weiss, author of The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote
  • 6:30 p.m. — Weiss book signing
  • 7-10 p.m. — Live music by UltraFaux

File photo

Arlington Agenda: April 23-28

By Airey

(Updated on 4/23/19) 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.

Wednesday, April 24

Ready for 100 Pints & Postcards Happy Hour
Don Tito (3165 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 6-8 p.m.

The Ready for 100 campaign is inviting community members to meet for a drink and to write postcards to public officials in support of 100% clean energy.

Westover Village Historic Fundraiser*
Westover Beer Garden (5863 Washington Blvd)
Time: 6-8 p.m.

The Westover Preservation Legal Fund will host a fundraiser at Westover Beer Garden featuring live music from a Westover based band.

Thursday, April 25

Rosslyn Reads! Book Festival
Central Place Plaza (1800 N. Lynn Street)
Time: 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Rosslyn’s outdoor book festival returns with 25,000 used books, CDs and DVDs with prices ranging from $1 to $8. All proceeds benefit Turning the Page.

Bike to Work Day Interest Party
Heavy Seas Alehouse (1501 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Get free help mapping a safe bike route to work, among other tips to for those looking to try cycling commuting for the first time. Registration is required.

Redskins Draft Day Fundraiser
The G.O.A.T. (3028 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 6:30-10 p.m.

Raising money to donate to Abby’s Army, a nonprofit “dedicated to supporting the children and families affected by and fighting pediatric cancer.”

Friday, April 26

EcoAction Arlington Earth Day Breakfast
Virginia Tech (900 N. Glebe Road)
Time: 7:30-9 a.m.

Register online to join fellow community leaders in sustainability to network and hear our featured presentation from Virginia Delegate Rip Sullivan about the 2019 legislative session.

Voices for Solidarity Concert
Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington (4444 Arlington Blvd)
Time: 6-9 p.m.

The Voices for Solidarity concert will celebrate solidarity by diverse communities by featuring local artists, actors, and poets reflecting the diverse community.

Saturday, April 27

Aprilfest at Walker Chapel
Walker Chapel United Methodist Church (4102 N. Glebe Road)
Time: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sale features flowers, hanging baskets, and mulch; beautiful, gently used books for children and adults; CDs, DVDs, and computer games along with a bake sale and breakfast/lunch cafe.

Handmade Arlington 2019*
Swanson Middle School (5800 N. Washington Blvd.)
Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Locally-organized arts and crafts show featuring over 60 high-quality, professional arts and crafts makers and four local food trucks.

The Art and Science of Storytelling: Toastmasters Club*
Cafe Sazon (4704 Columbia Pike)
Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

At Storymasters Toastmasters Club, you will learn that the best way to get your point across is indeed to tell a story, and what stories you should tell.

Candidate Debate Delegate District 49 
Columbia Pike Branch Library (816 S. Walter Reed Drive)
Time: 2:30-4 p.m.

The League of Women Voters of Arlington, the Nu Xi Zeta Chapter, Alexandria, and the AAUW Arlington Branch will host debate between Del. Alfonso Lopez and Julius Spain, Sr.

Arlington Bunny Hop*
Clarendon United Methodist Church (606 N. Irving Street)
Time: 8 a.m.

The church is hosting its 2nd annual 5K Family Fun Run/Walk through the Ashton Heights neighborhood beginning at the church. The event supports Bridges to Independence.

Sunday, April 28

In Christy’s Shoes Sole Celebration*
Clarendon Ballroom (3185 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 5-8 p.m.

This fundraiser for women in the DMV features a fashion show, a silent auction, shoe box raffle wall, shoe and sock selfie contest, photo booth and complimentary hors d’oeuvres.

2nd Annual Quinceanera Expo Arlington
Holiday Inn Crystal City (2650 Jefferson Davis Highway)
Time: 12-3:30 p.m.

Meet the Area’s well known professionals as you start your planning. Enjoy delicious bites, decadent sweets and more. Stick around to see the hottest and latest quinceañera gowns.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event

Earth Day Happenings Around Arlington Today

By Airey

(Updated at 10:35 a.m.) Today, Arlington will be celebrating Earth Day 2019 with a number of events and a giveaway.

The local Sierra Club chapter will host an “Activist Happy Hour” tonight from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Board Room in Clarendon (925 N. Garfield Street). The event will serve hors d’oeuvres and will help participants “identify the campaign coordinators spearheading local initiatives, and figure out how they would like to devote their time and energy to the Club’s goals,” per the description in our event calendar.

The Glencarlyn Library will be hosting another of its gardening class series for kids. Today (Monday), the lesson will teach tips on growing fruits and vegetables and lead an art project for kids 4-10 years old. Sign-up is required to attend the free class which goes from 4:30-5:30 p.m at the library.

Ride-hailing company Lyft is giving away free 30-minute rides on Capital Bikeshare with the promo code EARTHDAY19.

“If you’ve never ridden Capital Bikeshare before, Earth Day 2019 is a great time to give it a try,” said said Jim Larsen, Bureau Chief of the Arlington County Commuter Services, in a statement last week. “Just download the app, enter the code, and get riding on one of the thousands of bikes across more than 530 stations throughout the metro D.C. area.”

Lyft’s ride share competitor, Via, announced last week it would be disabling the “private ride” feature on its app so passengers would take only shared rides on Earth Day.

“By moving more people with fewer cars, we reduce congestion and emissions and ensure that drivers spend less time cruising around empty,” Via’s CEO Daniel Ramot said in a statement.

The county started celebrating Earth Day early this year, with a number of events and projects last week and an “Earth Day Cafe” coffee giveaway this morning.

Photo from Flickr Pool user Erinn Shirley

Black Heritage Museum to Host Talk With Local Civil Rights Icon

By Airey

The Black Heritage Museum of Arlington is hosting a talk with local civil rights activist Joan Trumpauer Mulholland.

On Tuesday, April 30, the Museum will hold a talk with Mulholland, who hails from Arlington and who will share her experiences as an activist in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.

“She is known for taking part in sit-ins, being the first white to integrate Tougaloo College in Jackson Mississippi, joining the Delta Sigma Theta, joining Freedom Rides, and being held on death row in Parchman Penitentiary,” the museum said in a press release about the upcoming event.

Mulholland’s stories were previously chronicled in the 2013 documentary, “An Ordinary Hero.”

The event is free and will start at 7 p.m. in the Reinsch Library Auditorium at Marymount University (2807 N. Glebe Road).

Image courtesy of Black Heritage Museum

Arlington Agenda April 15-21

By Airey
Boundary stone at Carlin Springs Elementary

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, April 16

Rent vs. Buy Happy Hour*
Century 21 Redwood Realty (1934 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Learn how you can get $1500 towards your closing costs immediately. All while getting your questions answered with complimentary appetizers and drinks. RSVPs encouraged.

Make It Tuesday: Comic Book Magnets
Crystal City Pop-Up Library (2100 Crystal Drive)
Time: 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Stop by to create your own craft in a relaxing and fun environment. Supplies will be provided, until we run out. RSVP for an event reminder. Event is open to children and adults.

Wednesday, April 17

Reel Page Turners Movie Book Club
Westover Library (1644 N. McKinley Road)
Time: 1:30-2:30 p.m.

A monthly movie-themed book club at Lee Senior Center and Westover Library. Meeting at the Lee Senior Center to discuss the novel, then enjoy a screening of the film at Westover Branch Library.

Thursday, April 18

Functional and Resilient Landscapes
Little Falls Presbyterian Church (6025 Little Falls Road)
Time: 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Landscape architect Thomas Rainer will speak on how to plant functional and resilient landscapes that thrive in cities and towns. This free program is sponsored by Rock Spring Garden Club.

Ticket to Work Information Session
Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street)
Time: 2-3 p.m.

Social Security’s Ticket to Work program offers beneficiaries an opportunity to achieve greater financial independence by providing education about benefits, individualized employment services.

Saturday, April 20

Earth Day Event — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!*
Corner of 26th and S. Grant Streets (639 26th Street S.)
Time: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Donate furniture, recycling (including paint), and items for free paper shredding. Home Energy Medics will raffle a free home energy audit and provide information on energy-saving.

Easter Egg Hunt at Quincy Park*
Quincy Park (1021 N. Quincy Street)
Time: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

The Emmanuel Presbyterian Church is hosting a free Easter egg hunt this Saturday, April 20 at 10 a.m at Quincy Park. Join for a great time of fun, fellowship, and community outreach.

Become a Better Communicator and Leader: SALT Toastmasters Club*
Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street)
Time: 2-4 p.m.

Ralph T. Jones, Jr. presents in the Bluemont Conference Room lessons learned in his time in Toastmasters including: to be successful in life, you must be good at the things you don’t like to do.

Pop-Up Retreat: Restoration of Communion with Earth Day*
Barton Park (2401 10th Street N.)
Time: 2-5 p.m.

A restorative 3-hour workshop including a meditation walk and a simple and deeply relaxing hands-on body process done on the soles of the feet that will revitalize you.

Saint Agnes Easter Vigil Mass*
St. Agnes Catholic Church (1910 N. Randolph Street)
Time:  8:30-midnight

On Holy Saturday, the church will celebrate Easter Vigil Mass during the Holy Night of Easter between 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Following Mass, there is a reception in the Parish Hall.

Boundary stone at Carlin Springs ElementaryBoundary Stone Bike Tour
East Falls Church Metro Station (1942 N. Sycamore Street)
Time: 9:15 a.m.-7 p.m.

Bike for $2 for about 35 miles at a leisurely pace on an all-day tour of historic places. Travel along streets in Arlington, Falls Church, Fairfax County and Alexandria, with many stops.

Sunday, April 21

Easter Brunch at The Ritz-Carlton 
Pentagon City Grand Ballroom (1250 S. Hayes Street)
Time: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Executive Chef Sriram Hariharan invites guests to enjoy a festive Easter Brunch complete with an Easter Egg Hunt. The brunch costs $99 per adult and $40 per children up to 12.

Easter Worship and Party*
Quincy Park (1021 N. Quincy Street)
Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Join Arlington Commons Church for Easter worship on Sunday, April 21 at Quincy Park. Worship begins at 11 a.m. and will be followed by a party and Easter Egg Hunt with free Rocklands BBQ.

Saint Agnes Easter Sunday Mass*
St. Agnes Catholic Church (1910 N. Randolph Street)
Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m

The church invites people to celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord on Easter Sunday. Masses are at 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. Bring your family to this joyous occasion!

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event.

Road Closures Planned for This Weekend’s Art Festival in Clarendon

By Airey
1/2

Several road closures are planned for this weekend’s Arlington Festival of the Arts in Clarendon.

The 7th annual arts event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday on the 3000 block of Washington Blvd. The free festival is set to feature handmade paintings, jewelry, ceramics, glassware and more creations from around 150 artists.

ACPD announced the event will prompt a number of road closures between 4 a.m. Saturday and 9 p.m. Sunday including:

  • Washington Blvd between 10th Street N. and Clarendon Blvd, except for one lane of traffic which will be open eastbound.
  • N. Highland St. between Washington Blvd and Clarendon Blvd.
  • 11th Street N. between N. Highland and N. Garfield Streets, except for delivery traffic.

Southbound N. Garfield Street will have eastbound left turns open to Washington Blvd, according to police, though additional road closures may be necessary. Police are encouraging attendees to take Metro or ride-hailing services, as parking will be limited.

Drivers should watch out for “No Parking” signs in Clarendon near the festival this weekend, according to ACPD.

Photos via Howard Alan Events

Easter, Passover Services in Arlington

By Airey

This year Easter and the Passover Seder fall on the same weekend, and Arlington is hosting celebrations for people of Christian and Jewish faiths.

In addition to services at local churches, on Sunday, April 21, Arlington National Cemetery is reprising its annual Easter Sunrise Service starting at 6:51 a.m.

The non-denominational service is held at the Arlington National Cemetery’s Memorial Amphitheater where gates open at 5 a.m. The service will feature a performance by the U.S. Army Band and a message from Chaplain (Brig. Gen.) Thomas L. Solhjem, the Army’s Deputy Chief of Chaplains.

The cemetery’s parking garage will be free for all attendees until 8 a.m. and a shuttle will escort people from the cemetery welcome center to the amphitheater. DoD ID holders can park at the Tri-Services parking lot in the base where a shuttle will also ferry riders to the amphitheater.

The sunrise service is free and attendees are encouraged to check Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall’s Facebook page for updates. Backpacks and pets, except service animals, will not be allowed in for the event.

For Passover, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington (4444 Arlington Blvd) is hosting two events together with the Northern Virginia Reconstructionist Jewish Community — on Sunday, April 14 from 5-6:15 p.m., and on Saturday, April 20 from 6-8 p.m.

On April 14, Rabbi Gilah Langner and Tot Shabbat Coordinator Andrea Cate will perform Passover songs and stories and give “tips and practice for leading your own Seder at home” per the event description on their website.

The event is free and advertised as “great for kids 0-8.” Attendees are asked to RSVP to [email protected].

On April 20, UU congregation member Herb Levy will read from Kol Ami’s Haggadah and lead the evening’s events. The “Community Seder” potluck features poached salmon and costs $20 per adult, and $5 per child, plus a dish to share.

The online event description asks attendees to sign up by April 13 online and let organizers know if they can help with set up and cleanup.

Synagogues in and around Arlington will also be hosting their respective services.

Flickr pool photo by Lawrence Cheng Photography

Arlington Agenda: April 8-14

By Airey
The Mister Days storefront in 2017 (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, April 8

Galaxy HutGalaxy Hut Comedy Night
Galaxy Hut (2711 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 8:30-10:30 p.m.

Reid Clark is hosting a comedy night at the Galaxy Hut featuring performances by Rob Coffee, Shop Kelly, Fernando Madrigal, Sid Reynolds, and Alex Starr. Tickets cost $5.

Tuesday, April 9

The Climate Crisis: Impacts and Solutions
George Mason University (3351 Fairfax Drive)
Time: 7-9 p.m.

Former Arlington County Board Chair Jay Fisette will give a presentation on climate change, following by panel discussion about climate crisis and what Arlington is doing about it.

Wednesday, April 10

French Students Choral Concert*
Clarendon United Methodist Church (606 N. Irving Street)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.

Arlington’s sister city of Reims, France performs in the county as the last stop on a three week tour. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 16 and can be purchased online.

#MeToo: Being Men — Raising Men
Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.

Join County Board Members and Male Community Leaders (teachers, coaches, veterans, fathers, students and more) for a panel discussion about healthy masculinity and sexual assault.

Arlington Committee of 100’s: E-Scooters, Dockless bikes
Marymount University  (2807 N. Glebe Road)
Time: 7-9 p.m.

The Committee will hold a discussion on the benefits and downsides of e-scooters and dockless bikes. The Meet & Greet begins at 7pm, dinner at 7:30.

Thursday, April 11

Mother2Mother Presents Songs of Hope
Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse  (2903 Columbia Pike)
Time: 6:30-10 p.m.

The Cabaret-style show with pop, jazz, and broadway music advocates for at-risk women and children and raises funds for The DC Children’s Advocacy Center.

Friday, April 12

Saint Agnes Lenten Fish Fry*
St. Agnes Catholic Church (1910 N. Randolph Street)
Time: 5:30-7 p.m.

The church’s annual Lent fish fry returns with plenty of fish, sides and drinks for everyone. Families are invited, and anyone looking to attend the dinner event can RSVP online.

Mister Days’ Last Days
Mister Days (3100 Clarendon Blvd)
Time: All day

Clarendon’s longtime sports bar Mister Days invites the public to help celebrate its last night open after 43 years in business. Owner Robert Lee told ARLnow last week he’s retiring.

Saturday, April 13

Arlington Arts Festival (Photo via event website)

7th Annual Arlington Festival of the Arts 
3003 Washington Blvd
Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday

Admission is free to the 7th annual Arlington Festival of the Arts which will feature works of art from pottery to paintings by over 100 artists this weekend.

Trail Cleanup on the W&OD
Barcroft Sports & Fitness Center (4200 S. Four Mile Run Drive)
Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Volunteers are cleaning litter from the side of the W&OD Trail between Barcroft Sports & Fitness Center and Columbia Pike. Refreshments, water, and trash bags are available.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event

Arlington County To Host an Event About Masculinity and Sexual Assault

By Airey

(Updated at 3:40 p.m.) County officials are hosting an event this week about the #MeToo movement and how men and boys can stop sexual harassment.

The event is called “#MeToo: Being Men-Raising Men” and aims to create a “community discussion about masculinity and the role of men in addressing sexual assault and harassment in our community,” per a county press release. It comes at a time when officials say they’ve seen increases in requests for “sexual assault services across Arlington County… from police to advocacy and hotline to medical services.”

The event is the latest response from officials following a 2017 survey indicating as many as half the APS female students in grades 8, 10, and 12 have been sexually harassed at school.

The discussion will run from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Arlington Central Library Auditorium.

Officials from APS, ACPD and the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office will speak at the event.

Also attending are representatives from groups dedicated to combatting sexual violence based in the county’s Department of Human Services, INOVA Loudon Hospital, and abuse hotline Doorways for Women and Families.

The event is a sequel to last year’s discussion, which was entitled #MeToo: What Men, Boys, and Everyone Need to Know.

Arlington County is planning several other events this month in honor of April being Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Upcoming events include a poetry night at Metro Stage on Tuesday, April 16, and a rally at Gateway Park, near Rosslyn Metro, on Thursday, April 25.

‘Arlington Palooza’ Returns to Alcova Heights Park Next Saturday

By Airey

An annual, family-friendly outdoor festival is scheduled to return next weekend with music, dancers, and games.

The 3rd annual “Arlington Palooza” will be held in Alcova Heights Park (901 S. George Mason Drive) from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 13.

This year, organizers at the Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation say there will be laser tag, a bouncy house, face painting, and lessons in making flower crowns and pinwheels, among other activities listed on the event’s website.

Four food trucks will serve the festival, including Big Cheese, El Encanto Latino, Little Miss Whoopie and Salou’s Softy.

This year’s musical line-up includes:

  • 1-1:30 p.m. — The Sunshine Gang, a classic rock and roll band
  • 1:50-2:20 p.m. — Sarah Baumgarten, an H-B Woodlawn student and singer-songwriter who plays the ukulele
  • 3:15-3:50 p.m. — The Blue Flames, an five piece Arlington-based rock band

The Sultanas Troupe will perform a fusion of traditional Middle-Eastern and modern dances from 2:40-3 p.m.

The Arlington Art Truck will also join the festivities with a traveling show about electricity by Baltimore artist Neil Feather.

Police will close one block of 8th Street S. between S. Randolph Street and S. George Mason Drive during the event.

The county is warning that parking near the event will be “extremely limited” and is encouraging attendees to find alternative transportation. A spokeswoman for the event noted there will be bike valets, and that scooter company Bird is offering a $5 credit with the coupon code BEFREE.

The department said there will be a “designated drop-off area along S. George Mason Drive near 8th Street S.” for people with disabilities.

Photo via Arlington County

Columbia Pike Blues Festival Returning in June

By Airey

17th Annual Columbia Pike Blues Festival (photo courtesy Columbia Pike Documentary Project)

(Updated at 2:35 p.m.) The 24th annual Columbia Pike Blues Festival is hitting the streets again this June.

The free blues festival will be held on Saturday, June 15 from 1-8:30 p.m. at the intersection of Columbia Pike and S. Walter Reed Drive.

The event is organized by the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization (CPRO).

This year, the CPRO is partnering with Shirlington-area New District Brewing Company, which will serve up craft beer during the event, per an organizer’s announcement.

CPRO board president John Snyder said the organization is “delighted” to partner with New District Brewing this year.

“We love to get together with neighbors and local businesses — New District is both — and we love their beer!” Snyder said in a statement.

Thousands have attended the festival in previous years, which closes nearby roads from around 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. that day.

Details on the performance line-up, activities, and road closures are yet not available on the festival’s website.

Photo courtesy of the Columbia Pike Documentary Project

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