Events

Arlington Agenda: April 1-7

By Airey

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 2

Cherry Blossom Dinner at Josephine’s*
Josephine’s Italian Kitchen (2501 Columbia Pike)
Time: 6:30-10:30 p.m.

Reserve one of the limited tables for a cherry inspired dinner, complete with cocktail and wine pairings. Tickets are $75 per person (includes tax and gratuity).

Wednesday April 3

DC/Virginia Diversity Employment Day Career Fair
Embassy Suites by Hilton (1300 Jefferson Davis Highway)
Time: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

The 19th Annual Diversity Employment Day Career Fair is hosting the largest and best diversity and inclusion recruiting event in the U.S. Free and open to applicants 18+.

National Walking Day Happy Hour & Walk
Heavy Seas Alehouse (1501 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 6-9 p.m.

An evening walk around Rosslyn to see the Deep Throat garage, Gateway Park, and Dark Star Park followed by a happy hour at Heavy Seas Alehouse with appetizers and happy hour specials.

Thursday April 4

Trade Roots Global Dinner Series: Morocco
Trade Roots (5852 Washington Blvd)
Time: 8-9:30 p.m.

Trade Roots is hosting 3-course Moroccan tagine dinner (meat or vegetarian) by La Côte d’Or chef and owner Jacques Imperato this week, for a fixed price of $28.

Friday April 5

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

Soup Suppers for Lent with meatless soups, noodles, bread, community and fellowship, followed by Confessions beginning and Stations of the Cross.

Freaky Friday the Musical*
Thomas Jefferson Community Theater (125 South Old Glebe Road)
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Thomas Jefferson Middle School performs Freaky Friday the Musical. This is a great family event filled with catchy songs and many laughs. Tickets are $5 and are sold at the door.

Saturday April 6

USA Yoga Central/Southeast Regional Asana Championship
Kenmore Middle School (200 S. Carlin Springs Rd)
Time: 9- 5 p.m.

The competition includes athletes from 16 states including Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. A free community yoga class will also be held, open to anyone.

Jennie Dean Park Feedback Session
Shirlington Branch Library (4200 Campbell Ave)
Time: 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation is asking for feedback on design plans for the new Jennie Dean Park — such as the playgrounds, frontage, and restrooms.

Ball-Sellers House Season Opening
Ball-Sellers House (5620 3rd Street S.)
Time: 1-4 p.m.

Re-enactor musicians from the Monumental City Ancient Fife and Drum Corps will perform at 1 p.m., followed by free docent-led house tours and colonial-era snacks.

Spring ArtFest Week
Fort Smith Park (2411 24th St. N.)
Time: 6-8 p.m.

The second day of the 16th annual ArtFest Week includes a card-making workshops and three painting demonstrations featuring soft pastels, adhesives, and rice paper.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event

Local Faith Leaders To Host Benefit Concert for Victims of Gun Violence

By Airey

Local congregations are hosting a benefit concert in May to raise funds for families affected by gun violence.

The concert will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington at (4444 Arlington Blvd) on Saturday, May 4 from 7-8:30 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now for $10 per person or $25 for families.

The concert will begin with a performance from the children’s choir from Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church.

Choirs from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, All Souls Church in D.C. by Columbia Heights, and Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax are scheduled to then perform Gabriel Fauré’s “Requiem” together.

Local faith leaders have raised awareness of gun violence before. The Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ displayed 155 T-shirts outside the church three years ago in remembrance of the people who were killed with guns in the Greater Washington area that year.

Photo courtesy of UUCA

Arlington Agenda: March 25-31

By Airey

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, March 25

1st Time Home Buyer Seminar*
Keri Shull Team (1600 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.

Learn everything you need to know about buying your first home and receive a credit totaling $1,500 at closing OR put it towards breaking your lease so you can move sooner.

Love is Love LGBTQIA+ Book Club
Shirlington Library (4200 Campbell Ave)
Time: 7-8 p.m.

The group will meet the 4th Monday of each month and alternate between assigned titles and BYOB (Bring Your Own Book) selections to share with others.

Wednesday, March 27

Escape Junk News: A Guide to Sharpening Your Media Skills
Shirlington Library (4200 Campbell Ave)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.

Newseum education staff will teach clear definitions of current media terms, practical tools to identify fake and flawed news, and practice with real examples.

Friday, March 29

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

Soup Suppers include include meatless soups, noodles, bread, community and fellowship during Lent, and are followed by Confessions beginning and Stations of the Cross.

Monte Carlo Night Masquerade, presented by the Junior League of Northern Virginia
Army Navy Country Club(1700 Army Navy Drive)
Time: 8-11 p.m.

Wear your masquerade mask and your fancy attire and join us for our third annual Monte Carlo Night with games of chance, a silent auction dancing, an open bar and light hors d’oeuvres.

Saturday, March 30

Sketch Walk Arlington
Clarendon Central Park (3140 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Explore Clarendon with Sketching the District and WalkArlington and stop to sketch. No experience required, bring a notebook and pencil.

Hiring Event at Market Common Clarendon
Market Common Clarendon (2800 Clarendon Blvd)
Time: 12-4 p.m.

Hiring event for those interested in fashion, or a little extra spending cash. Store representatives will be in front of each participating store ready to talk and assist you with the application process.

Sunday, March 31

Helping Your Children Achieve Authentic Success
St Peter’s Episcopal Church (4250 N. Glebe Road)
Time: 10-11 a.m.

Psychologist Dr. Heather Tedesco discusses how kids can look inward for self-esteem instead of being tied to extrinsic rewards.

 

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event

Star Wars Dance Party to Be Held at National Airport

By Airey

Interplanetary and interstate travelers now have a chance to mingle at Reagan National Airport thanks to a Star Wars-themed event planned in the airport’s historic Terminal A.

The event is being hosted by D.C.-based Scorpio Entertainment on May 4 — a day otherwise known as “May the 4th Be With You” to Stars Wars fans. The event will feature an open bar and a mix of music from new pop, EDM, Motown, 80s, and disco.

“Explore all corners of the glass-enclosed lobby with front row views of the runway, as we present an epic night of fun celebrating all things outer space,” the DJ company said in its Facebook post about the upcoming event, where it encouraged attendees to wear “themed attire.”

The party will “blast off” at 7 p.m. that night with a pre-show, followed by the main event, according to the event’s webpage.

Tickets are on sale for $45 and the event is open for attendees 18 years or older.

Flickr pool photo by Alan Kotok

Friday Races to Return to Crystal City in April

By Airey

Crystal City’s 5K Fridays are just around the corner for those looking for a “low key race” each week.

The race series returns to Crystal City for its 10th anniversary this year. Starting on April 5, runners can race each Friday starting 6:30 p.m. Billed as the area’s “fittest happy hour,” Crystal City 5K Fridays give race participants tickets for exclusive bars after they finish.

The race itself starts and ends at the Crystal City Courtyard Green (2121 Crystal Drive), looping along Crystal Drive and Long Bridge Drive.

Attendees can register here and pay $25 for one race, or $75 for all the races which comes with a free T-shirt.

Crystal City 5K Fridays is organized by Pacers Running store and sponsored by the Crystal City Business Improvement District and JBG Smith.

Runners can check their bags with race attendants before the 5K begins and will have access to restrooms in the Crystal City Shops (2100 Crystal Drive), per the organizer’s website.

Participants can use a water station at the start line to fill up water bottles and will be able to refill at another water station organizers say will be outside Long Bridge Park.

Current course records for the Friday race are 15 minutes, 10 seconds for men set by Bert Rodriguez in 2011, and 16 minutes, 22 seconds for women set by Susanna Sullivan in 2016, according to the Pacers website.

Photo via Pacers Running

‘Bark Madness’ Brings Basketball and Puppies to Ballston BID

By Airey

(Updated at 10:30 a.m.) It’s the eve of the big NCAA basketball tournament and the Ballston Business Improvement District is planning to mark the occasion with puppies.

The BID is hosting an event dubbed “Bark Madness” from 5-7 p.m. tonight (Wednesday), with pizza and drinks — and puppies looking for a home. The event is being held at the BID’s office at 4600 N. Fairfax Drive.

“The BID office will be filled with pups and dogs of all shapes and sizes ready to be drafted into a permanent home,” said a spokeswoman for the BID.

Proceeds from the event will go to Arlington’s Homeward Trails Animal Rescue, which teams up with other rescues to help home animals from kill shelters. Homeward Trails is also where many of our Pet of the Week stars come from.

Attendees are asked to make a $25 donation to Homeward Trails to attend.

As for the cat lovers, don’t despair: Homeward Trails Animal Rescue is hosting a cat adoption event at noon this coming Saturday, March 23 at the Ballston Unleashed by Petco (3902 Wilson Blvd).

Arlington to Host Conference for Women Entrepreneurs

By Airey

This week Arlington is hosting conference dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs in the Greater Washington area.

The We Thrive Women Entrepreneurs’ Conference will be held on Thursday at Founders Hall at George Mason University’s Arlington campus (3351 Fairfax Drive) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and aims to provide business growth and social media training and opportunities to network for female entrepreneurs.

Keynote speakers include Melinda F. Emerson of the Pennsylvania-based marking consulting firm Quintessence Group who will share lessons from her 20 years growing and advising small businesses. Other keynote speakers include attorney Nicole Cober and Jen Pilcher of MilSpouseFest.

The all-day event includes break out sessions on topics like raising your capital, federal contracts, marketing tips, and pitching.

Arlington Strategy CEO Jennifer Mulchandani will moderate a workshop on marketing tips. The workshop will also include panelists Romona Foster, a social media consultant, Evelyn Powers who co-founded website design company Design Powers, Inc., and Maritza Lizama of brand developer LiMon, LLC

Tickets sell for $150 and those interested in attending can register here.

Also happening Thursday in Arlington is East Coast VentureCON 2019, which is billed as a conference for “VCs, angels, and entrepreneurs on the East Coast” looking to network, attend events, and check out the an “innovation showcase” with speed pitches from startup companies.

The conference is being held at Marymount University in Ballston (1000 N. Glebe Road) and ticket prices range from $159 to $3,000.

Photo via Flickr user Marco Verch

Arlington Agenda: March 18-24

By Airey

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, March 18

SCREENAGERS – Growing Up in the Digital Age
Saint Ann Parish Hall (5300 1oth Street N.)
Time: 7-9 p.m.

The film SCREENAGERS addresses the most pervasive parenting issue of our time head on-depicting teen struggles over social media, video games and internet addiction.

Wednesday, March 20

Toastmasters Open House*
Arlington Mill Community Center (4600 N. Fairfax Drive)
Time: 5:30-6:45 p.m.

Seeking people interested in communication and leadership: Hear from experienced guest speakers and learn how Toastmasters helps members develop leadership skills and gain confidence.

Tea and History: A Look at the Women’s Suffrage Movement
Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street)
Time: 2-4 p.m.

Come join us for afternoon tea and to learn the fascinating history of the fight for women’s voting rights as the 100th anniversary of 19th Amendment to the Constitution nears.

Aquatics Forum
W-L Little Theater (1300 N. Stafford Street)
Time: 7-9 p.m.

Learn how Arlington’s FY 2020 budget affects admission fee and the current and future operations of the Arlington’s schools pools. Join us March 20 from 7-9 p.m.

Thursday, March 21

Dry Shade Gardening “Made in the Shade”
Little Falls Presbyterian Church (6025 Little Falls Road)
Time: 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Learn about design choices, soil amendments, proven plant choices and inventive space substitutions for gardening in dry shade conditions.

Friday, March 22

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

The Lenten suppers will take place on Fridays through April 5 from 5:30-7 p.m. in the Parish Hall. It will be followed by confessions and stations of the cross in the church.

Saturday, March 23

“Backyard Critters,” A Photo Exhibit Opening Reception and Artists’ Talk*
Cherrydale Branch Library (2190 N. Military Road)
Time:  2-4 p.m.

Sightings of foxes, deer, hawks, owls and even flying squirrels have proliferated in Arlington in recent years. This exhibit comprises photographs taken by three local photographers.

Sunday, March 24

National Chamber Ensemble — The Viennese Classics*
Gunston Arts Center (2700 S. Lang Street)
Time: 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Experience the musical era obsessed with clarity, charm, balance, form and the works of Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven.

Cherry Blossom Tea
The Ritz-Carlton (1250 S. Hayes Street)
Time: 2-4 p.m.

Enjoy cherry blossom-inspired creations and Japanese-influenced delicacies, including unique teas and signature cocktails. Prices start at $42 per person.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event

Breast Cancer Fundraiser to Celebrate Nonprofit’s 20 Years in Arlington

By Airey

A charity fund raising money for local cancer patients’ medical needs is hosting its 20th annual fundraising night in Arlington next month.

The Sharon McGowan Breast Health Fund is throwing their 20th annual benefit in Ballston on Sunday, April 7 from 5-7 p.m., at the Mercedes-Benz dealership on 585 N. Glebe Road. The event is is being hosted together with the Arlington County Medical Society Foundation.

The benefit will serve drinks and hors d’oeuvres and will feature music and door prizes. Attendees are encouraged to wear business casual — and show up wearing the color pink.

General Admission tickets for April’s charity night cost $85, with a $35 discount for people younger than 40. Those interested in attending can RSVP online.

Proceeds will go towards covering the cost of preventative breast cancer screening for uninsured Arlingtonians.

Event co-organizers include the Virginia Hospital Center, the Arlington Department of Human Services and Arlington Free Clinic.

The Sharon McGowan fund was created by the family of Sharon McGown, an Arlington mother of seven who died in 1997 of breast cancer. The fund organizes activities year-round from T-shirt sales to networking happy hours raising money for breast cancer prevention and treatments, including mammograms, sonograms, biopsies, medical devices and medications for people without insurance.

The donations have provided “1,500 mammograms, 200 comprehensive sonograms, and over 140 biopsies” over the last decade, per the fund’s website.

Photo via Flickr user Faye Mozingo

Here are Some Ways to Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day Around Arlington

By Airey

(Updated at 4:50 p.m.) St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday this year — meaning more events for everyone looking for their fix of “kegs and eggs.”

There are plenty of local restaurants and bars hosting green-themed shenanigans — too many to list here. But it’s a safe bet that if you go to one of Arlington’s Irish pubs this weekend, it’s going to be crowded.

Whether you’re Irish or want to be Irish, here are some of the St. Paddy’s highlights around Arlington:

  • Pamplona and Bar Bao (3100 Clarendon Blvd in Clarendon: Attendance is free and this outdoor event will feature food, DJs, party favors, and prizes, per the Eventbrite invite.
  • The G.O.A.T. (3028 Wilson Blvd in Clarendon): The bar is hosting both March Madness games on TV and an Irish breakfast buffet all day Sunday from 9 a.m.-3 a.m. The buffet costs $21.95 per person, and the pub’s drink deals include $4 Guinness, $6 Jameson or $5 Tullamore, and green beer and mimosas.
  • Samuel Beckett’s Irish Gastro Pub (2800 S. Randolph Street in Shirlington): On March 17, the bar will open at 9.a.m. to host live music from Aidan Croke, Ciaran Quinn, and the Shamrockers (no cover charge) and a performance by the Irish dance group from the Boyle School of Dancers.
  • Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant (2500 Columbia Pike): The restaurant is serving brunch on Saturday (from 10 a.m.) and Sunday (from 9 a.m.) and features Irish musician Pat Garvey on Saturday from 7-8 p.m. Garvey returns to the restaurant Sunday at 2 p.m., along with Irish dancers.
  • O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub (3207 Washington Blvd in Clarendon): The pub will host two performances by the Boyle School Irish Dancers on Sunday at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., as well as showcase performances by musicians Greg Snyder, Britton James, Mike Leverone and Willem Dicke.
  • Ireland’s Four Courts (2051 Wilson Boulevard in Courthouse): The bar will have a heated tent for bar-goers along with live music, Irish dancers, and traditional food served all weekend. March Madness will also be on the screen for any die-hard fans not wanting to choose between watching college sports and listening to bagpipers. Four Courts is also hosting daily events (listed on its website) this week leading up to the big day.
  • O’Malley’s Pub (2650 Jefferson Davis Highway in Crystal City): Enjoy Irish food favorites like fish and chips, and bread pudding, along with a $4 Guinness special at this pub from Friday to Sunday.
  • Liberty Tavern (3195 Wilson Blvd in Clarendon): The restaurant is serving a bottomless brunch buffet of traditional Irish fare from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. After 3 p.m. the restaurant will offer drink specials, and will add “beer bucket” specials and DJ music at 8 p.m.
  • Wilson Hardware (2915 Wilson Boulevard in Clarendon): The three-story bar is throwing a 90’s party promising songs from Irish artists and plenty of their “shareable” pub food appetizers. Party will start at 8 p.m. on Saturday.

And of course the holiday offers more than just booze. Here are two St. Patrick’s Day-themed activities that are family friendly and bound to get you moving:

  • Four Courts Four Miler: If you’re a runner, the annual Four Courts Four Miler offers a challenging course from Courthouse, through Rosslyn, and back. Registration for the Saturday morning race is currently priced at $43.
  • 50th Anniversary Ceili: The O’Neill James School of Irish Dance is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a traditional Irish dance party (called a “céilí” in Irish Gaelic) at the Knights of Columbus (5115 Little Falls Rd) Sunday from 5-8 p.m. Tickets cost $10 online, $15 at the door, families pay no more than $60. Kids 5 and under are free.

Photo by Cobalt123 via Flickr

Help Us Toast Alex and Airey

By ARLnow.com

As you might have seen, our managing editor Alex Koma is decamping for the Washington Business Journal. On Tuesday, we’ll toast his accomplishments and you’re invited to join.

Alex’s goodbye party is being held Tuesday, March 12, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Ireland’s Four Courts in Courthouse. It will double as a welcome party for ARLnow’s new managing editor, Airey.

Readers are invited to join us in the front bar area of Four Courts — look for the ARLnow sign — for this informal event. (You’re on your own for drinks and food.)

See you then!

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