Events | ARLnow.com

Subterranean Bike Race Series Returns to Crystal City

Published March 3, 2017 at 3:30PM

A bike race series that lets cyclists pedal through an underground parking garage has started up again in Crystal City.

The “Wednesday Night Spins” indoor race series held its first match of the year on March 1, according to the event’s organizers.

Though last year’s races were held at the complex at 2345 Crystal Drive, this year’s events are taking place on the G3 and G4 level of the parking garage at 201 12th Street S.

“Wednesday Night Spins hosts races for elites and amateurs with participants in each category competing for weekly prizes and points in pursuit of the Series Title,” the Crystal City BID said on its website.

According to the BID, the races last approximately 35 minutes and take place every Wednesday in March from 6-9 p.m. Each night’s schedule is as follows:

6:00 p.m. — Onsite Registration/Check-in
6:30 p.m. — Beginner Race
7:25 p.m. — Women’s Open Race
8:25 p.m. — Open Race

On the final evening of the series, organizers will combine the beginner and open races and add three more competitions: the “Anything Goes Race,” “Feds Vs. Contractors,” and the “Fixed-Gear Finale.”

Cyclists who want to participate in any of the scheduled races can sign up online. Registration is generally $15 per race, though some are more or less, depending on the match.

The race is free for spectators, who will have access to a wine and beer garden in the building’s lounge.

Photo via Crystal City BID

GMU Planning the Future of Its Arlington Campus

By Tim Regan

Published March 3, 2017 at 1:15PM

Arlington residents will have a chance to weigh in on what they’d like to see at GMU’s Arlington campus during a two-day event planned for next week.

The campus is scheduled to host a “conversation about George Mason University’s role in developing the nation’s future leaders and influencers” at Founders Hall, which is located at 3351 Fairfax Drive, on March 8 and 9.

The two-day event’s schedule includes a virtual tour of the campus, a presentation and Q&A from AOL co-founder and entrepreneur Steve Case, and break-out “visioning sessions” where attendees can brainstorm about branding, academic priorities and new facility needs.

A large part of the workshops will center on what the college should do with the original campus building at 3401 Fairfax Drive, which is currently vacant.

“We’ve had plans over the years on what to do with this space, but we never got very far,” said Tom Calhoun, a vice president at George Mason University. “We’re taking this opportunity to say, what’s our vision for that space?”

The workshops are free and open to the public.

#George Mason University

Clarendon Mardi Gras Parade Will Go On Despite Rain Forecast

By ARLnow.com

Published February 28, 2017 at 3:30PM | Updated February 28, 2017 at 5:45PM

(Updated at 5:45 p.m.) Organizers are hoping for a Mardi Gras miracle, but it looks like tonight’s parade in Clarendon will be a soggy one.

The 18th annual Clarendon-Courthouse Mardi Gras Parade is slated to kick off at 7 p.m., making its way up Wilson Boulevard from N. Barton Street to N. Irving Street.

An hourly forecast suggests rain may begin shortly before the parade begins, but Matt Hussmann, executive director of the Clarendon Alliance, says it will go on rain or shine — unless there is lightning in the area.

“We’re going forward and hoping the weather holds off,” said Hussmann. “The Mardi Gras Ball will go on irrespective.”

The annual parade has not had the best luck with weather. It was postponed in 2010, postponed and then cancelled in 2014, and postponed again in 2015 — all due to snow. It rained during the rescheduled 2015 parade.

Screen capture (top) via Weather.com. Photo (bottom) courtesy Jason Dixson Photography.

Arlington Agenda: Feb. 27-March 5

By Tim Regan

Published February 27, 2017 at 1:00PM

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

Klan We Talk? *
Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre (125 S. Old Glebe Road)
Time: 7 p.m.

During the event, a man famous for befriending members of the Ku Klux Klan and convincing them to leave the group will discuss “how his approach caused several Klan members to walk away from those beliefs.”

Tuesday

Clarendon Mardi Gras Parade and Ball *
Wilson Blvd from N. Barton to N. Irving Street
Time: 7-11 p.m.

The annual Clarendon Mardi Gras Parade is a free family-friendly event with bands, floats, marchers, dogs and horses. For the second year in a row, the parade will end in a Mardi Gras Ball at Clarendon Ballroom.

Mardi Gras Parade Party
Bayou Bakery (1515 N Courthouse Road)
Time: 4-7 p.m.

The New Orleans hangout will “party hard, NOLA style,” with food and drink specials slated to last until the parade starts at 7 p.m. The eatery is just one block from where the Clarendon Mardi Gras Parade kicks off.

Mardi Gras Menu and Drink Specials
Whitlow’s On Wilson (2854 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 7 p.m.

The Clarendon bar and restaurant will serve a Mardi Gras menu and drink specials to celebrate the annual holiday. The bar also will host a live performance from local group Thunder Buddies Lite at 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday

Ukulele Jam Session
Westover Branch Library (1644 North McKinley Road)
Time: 7-9 p.m.

Attendees can try, learn, practice, share and teach at this “low-key” ukulele jam session. The event’s organizers will bring along a limited amount of ukuleles to try. The program is for adults of all skill levels.

Friday

Found Footage Festival
Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike)
Time: 7:30 p.m.

Hosts Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher will exhibit weird and rare VHS tapes during this touring event. This year’s festival will include such gems as “The Law Enforcement Guide to Satanic Cults” and Highlights from David Letterman’s video collection. Pickett and Prueher also will host the festival on Saturday, March 4, at 7 p.m.

Saturday

Ride for Arlington Charity Spin Class *
CycleBar (3400 Columbia Pike, Suite 100)
Time: 1:30-2:20 p.m.

Arlington’s newest indoor cycling studio is set to host an event to benefit the Arlington Community Foundation, the largest provider of scholarships in Arlington, a grantmaker to nonprofits and manager of over 150 charitable funds.

Masquerade Carnival Kickoff Party
Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department (3900 Lee Highway)
Time: 2-3:30 p.m.

This dance party workout will celebrate “the best season of all,” Carnival. The event will include Caribbean cuisine, a costume contest and “other exciting surprises,” organizers said. Attendees are also encouraged to show up in festival attire such as costumes, masks, feathers and beads.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event

#Arlington Agenda

Famed Anti-KKK Author to Hold Talk in Arlington

By Tim Regan

Published February 24, 2017 at 11:15AM

A man famous for befriending members of the Ku Klux Klan and convincing them to leave the group will hold a talk in Arlington next week.

Author, actor and musician Daryl Davis is scheduled to host a discussion entitled “Klan We Talk?” at the Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre (125 S. Old Glebe Road) on Monday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m.

During the event, Davis — who authored the 1998 book “Klan-destine Relationships: A Black Man’s Odyssey in the Ku Klux Klan” — will discuss “how his approach caused several Klan members to walk away from those beliefs.”

As detailed in his book, Davis has devoted decades of his life to converting members of the KKK through friendship and discussion. His efforts have been notably chronicled on The Atlantic and in an episode of the Love + Radio podcast.

Davis has also widely discussed his mission on media outlets such as CNN, PBS and NBC. He was most recently the subject of a documentary called “Accidental Courtesy,” a film featured as a New York Times Critics’ Pick.

Shamrock Crawl in Clarendon? ‘Not This Year,’ Organizers Say

By Tim Regan

Published February 23, 2017 at 11:15AM | Updated February 23, 2017 at 12:22PM

(Updated at 12:20 p.m.) Revelers searching for some St. Patrick’s Day-themed pub crawl fun will have to look outside Arlington this year.

The Shamrock Crawl, once dubbed Arlington’s biggest bar-hopping event, won’t happen this year, its organizers said. When one person asked on Facebook whether this year’s crawl would come to Clarendon, a representative for Project D.C. Events, the company that puts on the annual event, responded, “not this year.”

The event still will take place in D.C., however. Tickets for the District’s Shamrock Crawl have been on sale for at least a week.

A representative for Project D.C. Events didn’t respond to requests for comment, and although it’s not clear why the Clarendon portion of the event isn’t moving forward, the cancellation could have something to do with declining attendance.

In 2015, nearly 3,700 people participated in the big green party, which was down from 5,000 revelers in 2014. Crime also declined that year, as a new bar crawl policy provided funds from organizers for a stepped-up police presence.

Despite the drop in crime, the event has in the past peeved certain local business owners as well as residents of surrounding neighborhoods, who have complained of parking issues and drunken partiers.

Arlington Agenda: Feb. 21-26

By Tim Regan

Published February 21, 2017 at 11:30AM

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.

Thursday

Community International Potluck Dinner
Oakridge Elementary (1414 24th St. S)
Time: 6:30-9 p.m.

The elementary school is set to host a celebration of international culture and food. The planned event includes dishes, posters and flags that represent different countries and cultures from across the globe. The dinner also will have a fashion show and a flag procession.

Paul Zerdin at Arlington Drafthouse
Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike)
Time: 7:45 p.m.

Ventriloquist and “Americas Got Talent” winner Paul Zerdin is slated to perform on the Drafthouse stage. In addition to Thursday’s show, Zerdin will perform twice per night on Friday, Feb. 24 and Saturday, Feb. 25.

Friday

FORUM Feast: Mardi Gras *
FORUM Arlington (3304 Washington Blvd.)
Time: 7:30-11 p.m.

FORUM will host its annual Mardi Gras event with music, food, and drinks. The party includes performances from award-winning Capital Focus Jazz Band and a happy hour with beer and wine specials. Food will also be available for purchase.

Saturday

Feel the Heritage Festival *
Drew Community Center (3500 23rd Street South)
Time: 1-6 p.m.

Attendees will be able to experience Arlington’s African-American roots through food, art, and entertainment. The event will also have free activities for kids and a “Hall of History” with photos and artifacts from Arlington churches and organizations.

Sunday

Christian/Muslim Dialogue *
Founders Hall, George Mason University (3351 Fairfax Drive)
Time: 1-2 p.m.

Emmanuel Presbyterian Church is set to host a conversation between two friends, a local reverend and a local sheikh, “to explore what it means to be children of Abraham.” The event will include a respectful conversation of the similarities and differences between Christianity and Islam.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event

#Arlington Agenda

‘Feel the Heritage Festival’ Bringing Music, Dancing and Food to Nauck Next Week

By Tim Regan

Published February 17, 2017 at 3:45PM

An annual festival based around Arlington’s rich African-American history and culture is scheduled to bring live music, dancing and food to Nauck next week.

The “Feel the Heritage Festival” is scheduled to take place at the Drew Community Center (3500 23rd Street South) next Saturday, Feb. 25, from 1-6 p.m. This is the event’s 25th year running.

As in previous years, attendees will be able to experience Arlington’s African-American roots through food, art, and entertainment. The event will also have free activities for kids and a “Hall of History” with photos and artifacts from Arlington churches and organizations.

Food vendors slated to sling food during the festival include the A.R. Seafood and Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company. Additionally, the festival will have more than 20 artisans selling handmade and local goods and booths from community exhibitors such as BikeArlington and the Nauck Civic Association.

The festival is free to attend and parking will be “ample,” according to Arlington County.

Arlington Agenda: Feb. 14-19

By Tim Regan

Published February 14, 2017 at 12:45PM

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

Valentine’s Day Dinner *
Osteria da Nino (2900 S Quincy St.)
Time: 4-10 p.m.

The Shirlington Italian eatery is holding a special dinner for the ubiquitous holiday of love, romance and gifts. The dinner costs $69 per person, and each couple gets a four-course meal and a rose.

Valentine’s Date Night *
Twisted Vines Bistro and Bottleshop (2803 Columbia Pike)
Time: 4-11 p.m.

This Valentine’s Day dinner includes a sparkling wine toast, cheese board, one small plate, two entrees and a dessert to share for $75, tax and gratuity included. The restaurant also will have a special Valentines Day wine flight and other drink specials.

Wednesday

Digital Destiny: Learning in Arlington *
Arlington Central Library (1015 N Quincy St.)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.

Join Arlington County officials and industry experts as they engage in a conversation with the community about the impact of the digital revolution and what it will mean for mobility and the future of education in Arlington.

Thursday

Business After Business
Hyatt Regency Crystal City (2799 Jefferson Davis Highway)
Time: 5-7 p.m.

Arlington residents are invited to this networking event to meet and greet with their fellow working professionals. Soft drinks, beer, wine and food are all included in the event’s registration fee of $25-35.

Friday

Marina Franklin at Arlington Drafthouse
Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike)
Time: 10 p.m.

Comedian and “Chapelle’s Show” actress Marina Franklin is slated to tell jokes on the Drafthouse stage. In addition to Friday’s show, Franklin will perform again on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 10 p.m.

Save a Dog, Ride a Bull *
Crystal City Sports Pub (529 23rd Street S)
Time: 6-9 p.m.

Patrons can get drink specials on beer and cider by buying a $5 wristband. All proceeds from the event’s cover charge will go toward Homeward Trails Animal Rescue. Additionally, Crystal City Sports Pub is donating 10 percent of its Heineken sales to Homeward Trails, and Heineken itself is donating $2 per drink sold up to $1,000.

Yorktown Theatre’s The Lottery
Yorktown High School Auditorium (5200 Yorktown Blvd)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.

The Lottery is a one-act play by Brainerd Duffield that was adapted from the original short story by Shirley Jackson. The play tells story of a small town that holds a lottery every year in June to insure a plentiful harvest for the following year. The performance is free and open to the public.

Saturday

Arty Party
Columbia Pike Branch Library (816 S. Walter Reed Drive)
Time: 10 a.m.-noon

Kids can enjoy creating their own artistic masterpieces with a variety of art materials during this free event from Northern Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children (NVAEYC) and Arlington Library.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event

#Arlington Agenda

Fundraiser Planned for Nauck History Preservation Project

By Tim Regan

Published February 9, 2017 at 11:15AM | Updated February 9, 2017 at 11:38AM

(Updated at 11:38 a.m.) Arlington residents will be able to raise a glass while raising money to help preserve the history of the Nauck neighborhood during an event later this month.

The Community Association of Resources, Education, Enrichment and Economics (CARE) is scheduled to host a fundraiser at the New District Brewing Company (2709 South Oakland St.) on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m.

The fundraiser is set to include live entertainment, a silent auction and an exhibit of historic papers, photographs and memorabilia from notable Nauck people and businesses.

Proceeds from the event will go toward digitizing paper records, creating a “physical museum infrastructure at Nauck Town Square” and hosting “inter-community meetups and events to foster conversations with other Arlington civic associations and encourage community learning and partnerships in development,” organizers said.

More from the fundraiser’s Eventbrite page:

Green Valley Remembered and Preserved is a kick-off fundraiser to support the historic preservation of Nauck’s History and Heritage. On display will be a collection of papers, photographs and memorabilia that is being preserved and shared as a historic preservation project. The collections feature John Robinson, Churches that migrated from Freedman’s Village in 1866, the work of the Nauck Civic Association, Bridge Builders of Nauck and the overall history on development and happenings in the African American Community of Nauck, established in 1844.

This proposal therefore seeks investment to develop a “preservation” infrastructure.

Funds will be used to:

Digitize, organize and preserve more than 150 years of past paper records in an effort to capture its remarkable narrative. Partner with Arlington County to develop a physical ‘museum’ infrastructure at Nauck Town Square to celebrate community history and highlight its most notable residents and businesses. Preserve the past but nurture the future.

Funds will be used to organize inter-community meetups and events to foster conversations with other Arlington civic associations and encourage community learning and partnerships in development.

Send us your family stories and information and artifacts that should be in our community archives for future generations. Call 703-486-0058 or email [email protected].

Image courtesy of Nauck Green Valley Remembered

Four-Day Music Festival Could Come to Courthouse in May

By Tim Regan

Published February 7, 2017 at 3:45PM | Updated February 7, 2017 at 4:21PM

(Updated at 3:59 p.m.) A new festival could bring music, food and thousands of people to Courthouse this spring.

If all goes according to plan, “Festival BeCause” would bring around 40 bands and other performers to the Courthouse Square area (1425 N Courthouse Road) on May 26-29. The event would include four music stages, a beer and wine pavilion, food trucks, interactive community art walls and a “future tech exhibit,” according to its website.

The purpose of the festival is to raise awareness and money for good causes, said Festival BeCause co-organizer Anders Thueson. A large portion of the square would be dedicated to a “Village of Causes,” an area where attendees can learn about local charities and other nonprofits.

“People are going to come out to see their favorite band, but ultimately, they’re going to learn about the causes,” Thueson said. “Something’s going to strike them that day, whether it’s a veteran’s cause or a puppy rescue cause.”

If such a large undertaking sounds expensive, that’s because it is. Thueson estimates that, after booking bands and securing the space, the festival could end up costing as much as $250,000. So far, organizers have secured a pledge of $150,000 from a generous local underwriter, he said.

The festival also has the backing of Clarendon Alliance, the group that organizes Clarendon Day. Clarendon Alliance will help secure permits and sell tickets for the event.

“If we’re able to do this event and walk away giving some money to causes and artists and have very little left over to do it again, we would consider this a success,” Thueson said.

Many of the festival’s details will be finalized in the coming days and weeks. Those interested in keeping up with the event can register to get email updates on the Festival BeCause website.

Images courtesy of Festival BeCause