Events

Pentagon Row Ice Skating to End With Party

By ARLnow.com

Ice skating rink at Pentagon Row on 11/3/14Sunday is the last day of ice skating for the season at Pentagon Row, and the shopping center plans to end the season with a party.

On Saturday, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., the ice rink at 1201 S. Joyce Street will host a “Decades Night on Ice” party, in which participants are encouraged to dress according to their favorite decade.

“A DJ will be spinning the best tunes of each decade starting with the 60s at 6 pm, then the 70s at 7 pm, the 80s at 8 pm, and the 90s at 9 pm, through 10 pm,” according to a PR rep.

Admission for adults is $9, for children 12 and under and seniors 55 and up it’s $8. Skate rental, for those who don’t have their own, is $3.

Just don’t expect a throwback to this winter’s cold for the party. While snow is expected on Friday, the first day of spring, on Saturday the high temperature is expected to reach the upper 50s.

Rosslyn Hosting Pop-Up Beer Garden Today

By Ethan Rothstein

The new plaza at N. Moore and 19th StreetsRosslyn workers can enjoy a beer outside this afternoon in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.

Today from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., the Rosslyn Business Improvement District is hosting its second ever pop-up beer garden, in the plaza at the corner of 19th Street and N. Moore Streets.

“In a busy urban area like Rosslyn with a large amount of pedestrians walking around, pop-up events like this do well since they maximize open space, grab attention and present something new and exciting,” Rosslyn BID President Mary-Claire Burick told ARLnow.com in an email. “With Plaza on 19th, an area that was previously just sidewalk, we now have a great space to regularly hold events like these.”

The beer will be a collection of Irish favorites like Guinness and Magners cider along with some craft beer selections, provided by the Washington Wine Academy. All of the beers will be $5.

The food will be served by the Urban Bumpkin BBQ truck, an Asian and barbecue fusion staple of the Rosslyn food truck lineup. Playing music during the whole event will be Rew Smith, a “pop/rock singer-songwriter” from Maryland.

Last year’s Oktoberfest beer garden — the first at the new plaza — drew more than 600 people, and event organizers are hoping the holiday and the warm weather will draw an even bigger crowd today. The BID will be passing out green koozies as a bonus for beer drinkers.

File photo

Arlington Agenda (March 16-22)

By Ethan Rothstein

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

WOB_PourHandles_3.413Wx2.277H_300DPI_CMYKJourney Through Pilsners
World of Beer (901 N. Glebe Road)
Time: 11:00 a.m.-midnight

Drink Pilsner Urquell “in its purest form,” straight from the brewery in Czech Republic. Fans of the pilsner brewing style can go on a “tour” of pilsners from around Europe.

Tuesday

171528_10150096874573337_2203405_oLive Music: O’Tasty
IOTA Club & Café (2832 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 8:00-11:30 p.m.

Celtic Punk band O’Tasty’s returns to IOTA for the seventh straight St. Patrick’s Day. Tickets are $10 at the door. Check out our Irish bars guide for other St. Patrick’s Day specials.

Wednesday

19291_1016504655043780_8204450530811894989_nSkyline Wellness Open House*
Skyline Wellness Center (1600 Wilson Blvd, Suite 320)
Time: 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Skyline Wellness Center is launching its Arlington location with giveaways, including a year of free massages, and the entire event is catered by Arlington’s own District Taco.

p1204356640-5Wednesday Night Spins*
Crystal City Parking Garage (2345 Crystal Drive, G4 Level)
Time: 6:00-9:00 p.m.

A weekly indoor bike race this March. A “fast and fun” course for cyclists of all abilities, participants can also win prizes. Spectators welcome. Sign up here.

DCCG_PaperShow201512th Annual D.C. Paper Show*
NRECA Building (4301 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Discover the latest paper products, services and techniques from paper and print vendors big and small. Learn about the latest techniques in printing from the area’s top print shops.

Friday

14302-UrbanArias_BlueViola-Title-472x394Live Music: Blues opera “Blue Viola”*
Artisphere (1101 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 8:00-9:00 p.m.

A blues opera about a blue viola, found on the street, and the upended lives of the people who discovered it. Tickets are $28. It is UrbanArias’ last show at the Artisphere.

Saturday

shamrocklogo_newThe Shamrock Crawl*
Clarendon bars
Time: 2:00-9:00 p.m.

Tickets to the latest Clarendon bar crawl are $20 online and $30 at Clarendon Ballroom and Clarendon Grill from 2:00-5:30 p.m.

Sunday

IMG_2360-3Rose Bush Pruning Demonstration*
Bon Air Memorial Rose Garden (850 N. Lexington Street)
Time: noon-2:00 p.m.

Learn how to sharpen your pruners and prune different varieties of rose bushes. Please bring your by-pass pruners and wear gloves. Free. Call 703-371-9351.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) content

Get ‘Coffee With A Cop’ in Courthouse Next Week

By Ethan Rothstein

Coffee with a Cop (photo via Sean Douglass)The Arlington County Police Department wants to grab a cup of joe with you.

Next Thursday, March 19, members of the ACPD’s Second District team will be serving as baristas at Java Shack from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. The ACPD has pre-paid for $100 worth of drip coffee to give out to customers, and officers will be serving it as well as making themselves available to the community.

ACPD’s Second District covers from Ballston to Rosslyn, Crystal City and Pentagon City and the residential neighborhoods closeby. Capt. Kamran Afzal is the commander of the second unit, and he said the event is a way to talk to the community “with no agenda.”

“We’re just trying to engage the people that we serve over a cup of coffee,” Afzal told ARLnow.com over the phone today. “Anything goes, whatever people want to discuss, we’ll discuss, and maybe humanize each other.”

The First District unit of ACPD hosted a similar event at Metro 29 Diner in January, Afzal said. The Java Shack, under new management since January, will look to do more community-oriented events like ‘Coffee With a Cop’ in the future.

“‘Coffee With a Cop’ is a great example of the types of community events that have defined Java Shack’s growth over the years,” Java Shack manager Robert Peck said in a press release. “We are honored to host the Second District Team and look forward to giving our baristas a break while the police run the counter.”

Photo courtesy Sean Douglass

Arlington Library’s Community Reading Theme is #BlackLivesMatter

By Ethan Rothstein

Authors Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Jesmyn Ward (images courtesy Arlington Public LIbrary(Updated at 5:10 p.m.) It was the rallying cry on social media for activism after nationwide protest surrounding several police shootings and now it’s Arlington Public Library’s theme for Arlington Reads 2015: the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter.

The community-wide reading initiative focuses on race, according to a library press release, in two books: “Men We Reaped,” a memoir surrounding the deaths of five young black men close to author Jesmyn Ward, and “Americanah,” a novel about African emigrants struggling with race in Western civilization by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Arlington Reads is the library’s annual attempt to bring the community together around a single topic, to encourage reading and educated discussion. This year’s theme was selected because the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag was chosen as the American Dialect Society’s Word of the Year in 2014 after police-related shooting deaths in Ferguson, Mo., Cleveland, Ohio and elsewhere in the country.

The two authors will discuss their books — both published in 2013 to broad critical acclaim — in separate events at Arlington Central Library.

Ward, a professor at Tulane University, will speak at Central Library on Wednesday, April 8, at 7:00 p.m. Adichie — known also for her TED Talk “We Should All Be Feminists” and her speaking part on Beyoncé’s song, Flawless — will speak at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 7. Admission to the events are free.

Images via Arlington Public Library

Clarendon Parade Still On Despite Rain

By ARLnow.com

2013 Clarendon Mardi Gras paradeThe Clarendon-Courthouse Mardi Gras Parade is still on tonight despite the rain and despite Mardi Gras having happened three weeks ago.

The parade is scheduled to start at 8:00 p.m. on N. Barton Street. About 30 floats and assorted groups are currently expected take part in the roughly half-hour-long event, which will run up Wilson Blvd to N. Irving Street.

Last year the parade was postponed due to a snowstorm, before being cancelled altogether due to another snowstorm. This year the parade was originally scheduled for Feb. 17, but was again postponed due to snow.

Matt Hussmann, executive director of the Clarendon Alliance, which organizes the parade, said that he’d rather march in some rain than chance another parade-less year.

“It’s not raining hard,” he said. “What are the odds that if we postpone it again that it’s going to be any better?”

Hussmann said the parade has received a handful of cancellations from scheduled participants, including the beloved Ballou High School Marching Band. Still, Hussmann was optimistic for a good turnout and said the cancellations wouldn’t rain on his parade.

“It’s going to be a good crowd and we’re hoping as many people come out as [possible],” he said. “It should be fun.”

Arlington County Police say they’re planning the following parade-related road closures tonight:

  • Wilson Boulevard from Veitch Street to Barton Street will be closed from 6:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
  • Adams Street and Wayne Street, between Clarendon Boulevard and Wilson Boulevard, will be closed from 6:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
  • Wilson Boulevard from Barton Street to Irving Street will be closed from 7:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

‘The Bachelor’ Contestant to Watch Season Finale in Clarendon, Courthouse

By Ethan Rothstein

The Bachelor contestants (photo via Facebook)Arlington’s very own contestant on the reality show “The Bachelor” will be at Clarendon’s very own “The Bachelorette” contestant-owned restaurant tonight for the 19th season finale.

Jillian Anderson was eliminated early on this season, and infamously slipped on a rug and nearly fell when she thought this season’s bachelor, Chris, called her name during the rose ceremony. Instead, he picked her competitor, Julia, and 25-year-old Anderson returned to her home in Arlington. Tonight, she will be at Bracket Room in Clarendon (1210 N. Garfield Street) to watch Chris hand out his final rose.

Bracket Room is owned by a former contestant of The Bachelorette, Chris Bukowski, and has hosted viewing parties for the reality show’s season finales since it opened in 2013. Happy hour begins at 4:00 p.m. and the show starts at 8:00 p.m. Bracket Room’s Facebook page says there will be specials on wine and dessert.

At the same time, at Guarapo Lounge in Courthouse, radio hosts Sarah Fraser — another Arlington resident — is hosting a watch party of her own. Starting at 7:00 p.m., Anderson is expected to stop by for another appearance. There will be $1 tacos plus wine and cocktail specials and the chance to win prizes.

It’s unclear at which restaurant Anderson will watch Chris give out the final rose to one of the two finalists, Whitney and Becca.

Photo via Facebook

Arlington Agenda (March 9-15)

By Ethan Rothstein

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

Astropops-parade-float-300x225Clarendon-Courthouse St. Patrick’s Day Parade*
Wilson Blvd from N. Barton Street to Irving Street.
Time: 8:00-9:00 p.m.

The re-scheduled Mardi Gras parade returns, in possibly rainy, but warmer conditions. Fifty bands, floats and organizations will stroll down Clarendon and Courthouse’s main drag.

654Guinness Dinner
Ireland’s Four Courts (2051 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Three courses of dinner prepared by guest chef Pedro Flores of The James Joyce in Baltimore prepares a three-course dinner with pairings of Guinness, Harp Lager and Smitchwick’s ale.

Wednesday

p1204356640-5Wednesday Night Spins*
Crystal City Parking Garage (2345 Crystal Drive, G4 Level)
Time: 6:00-9:00 p.m.

A weekly indoor bike race this March. A “fast and fun” course for cyclists of all abilities, participants can also win prizes. Spectators welcome. Sign up here.

Thursday

View-of-GW-ParkwayThe Origins of the George Washington Parkway
Marymount University (2807 N. Glebe Road, Rowley G127)
Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m.

A lecture about the history of the GW Parkway, built in the 1920s and one of Arlington’s national parks. An Arlington Public Library program, free to attend.

Saturday

Swanson Arts and Crafts fair
Swanson Middle School (5600 Washington Blvd)
Time: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Handmade jewelry, bags and purses, pottery, scarves, housewares and home accessories will be on sale by local artisans at this annual event, free to attend.

Dance5Live Music: Bach, Beethoven, Brahms*
Spectrum Theatre (1611 N. Kent Street)
Time: 7:30-9:45 p.m.

Three Baroque and Classic Era composers are celebrated by the National Chamber Ensemble. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for students.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event

Childhood Cancer Ice Skating Fundraiser Comes to Ballston

By Ethan Rothstein

This Friday afternoon, an Arlington family is hosting an ice skating fundraiser to help fund childhood cancer research, in memory of the daughter they lost to the disease.

Ellen and Tom Blair lost their daughter, Catherine Elizabeth Blair, in 2011 to neuroblastoma, a deadly cancer that mostly affects children younger than 5 years old, according to the Mayo Clinic. In her memory, they started the Catherine Elizabeth Blair Foundation to provide grants to researchers searching for a cure for the disease that kills more than 60 percent of those afflicted.

Friday’s event, Skate for Catherine, is the foundation’s largest fundraiser, now in its fourth years. From 1:30-3:00 p.m. at Kettler Capitals Iceplex (627 N. Glebe Road), attendees will skate on the ice and participate in raffles for prizes like an iPad mini or a package of tickets to Capitals, Wizards and D.C. United games.

“Even though the reason is serious, the event is a lot of fun,” Ellen Blair says in the foundation’s promotional video, embedded above. “Catherine would have loved it. It’s a skating party with food, music, lots of prizes and your friends will be there.”

Tickets for the event are $20 and include skate rental and refreshments. The deadline for purchasing online is today (Wednesday), but tickets can be purchased at the door. Blair told ARLnow.com this morning that the event typically sells out, so online purchasing is strongly encouraged.

St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl Returns March 21

By Ethan Rothstein

shamrocklogo_newThe Shamrock Crawl, an annual bar crawl in Clarendon for the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, is back again this year, on March 21.

The Saturday following the annual celebration of the Irish spirit, thousands of carousers will be wearing green and holding commemorative mugs for the event hosted by Arlington’s Project DC Events.

To take part in the festivities, drinkers can register online for $15. After 11:59 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday), the price goes up to $20.

The crawl will start at 2:00 p.m., with participants registering at either the Clarendon Grill (1101 N. Highland Street) or Clarendon Ballroom (3185 Wilson Blvd) before 5:30 p.m. Crawlers will get a shamrock mug to be refilled at participating restaurants, party favors, St. Patrick’s Day beads and $2 slices at Bronx Pizza (3100 Clarendon Blvd).

The participating businesses are:

  • Clarendon Grill
  • Clarendon Ballroom
  • Mad Rose Tavern
  • Whitlow’s on Wilson
  • American Tap Room
  • Hard Times Cafe
  • Spider Kelly’s
  • Hunan One Restaurant
  • Mister Days
  • SoBe
  • IOTA Club & Cafe
  • Don Tito

Last year, thousands of revelers packed the streets all day, including one woman who allegedly tried to visit her husband in the Arlington County jail sans clothing.

Arlington Agenda (March 2-8)

By Ethan Rothstein

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

p1204356640-5Wednesday Night Spins*
Crystal City Parking Garage (2345 Crystal Drive, G4 Level)
Time: 6:00-9:00 p.m.

The first of a weekly indoor bike race this March. A “fast and fun” course for cyclists of all abilities, participants can also win prizes. Spectators welcome. Sign up here.

BaconBeerPortCityFW2Bacon and Beer Dinner
Fire Works Pizza (2350 Clarendon Blvd)
Time: 7:00-9:00 p.m.

For $75, diners/drinkers will enjoy a five-course, bacon-themed meal, with beers from Alexandria’s Port City Brewing to pair with each item. Call 703-527-8700 for reservations.

Thursday

150213_PikeFuture_1pbadgeColumbia Pike Future Forum*
The Salsa Room (2619 Columbia Pike)
Time: 6:00-8:30 p.m.

Discuss the future of the Pike with Del. Alfonso Lopez, County Board member John Vihstadt and other community and business leaders. Free to attend.

Friday

COE-APPLE-ICONLogo2-12Live Theater: Children of Eden
Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington (4444 Arlington Blvd)
Time: 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Chalice Theatre presents a musical written by the composer of “Wicked” and “Godspell.” Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and youth.

Saturday

1K-Wine-Beer-Walk_V31K Wine and Beer Walk*
Crystal City Shops (1750 Crystal Drive)
Time: 2:00-6:00 p.m.

For $20, “racers” will mosey along the course with 25 “hydration” stations, choosing between beer and wine, ending with a “giant dance party.”

10891498_838325856231235_3069997240574000828_nNight Hike and Campfire
Potomac Overlook Regional Park (2845 N. Marcey Road)
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Go on a moonlight walk through the park, learning about the stars and the natural environment. Cost is $10, and includes headlamps and a campfire. Hiking boots required. Call 703-528-5406 to register.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) listing

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