festival

Festival Will Celebrate African-American Culture

By Katie Pyzyk

February is Black History Month, and Arlington is holding an event to celebrate African-American culture. The 20th Annual Feel the Heritage Festival is taking place next Saturday, February 25.

The whole family can enjoy the free event at the Langston-Brown Community Center (2121 N. Culpeper St) from 12:00-5:00 p.m. Visitors can taste soul food and browse vendor displays while being entertained by various types of music and dancing teams, in addition to a comedian. Children’s activities such as arts and crafts, face painting and balloon art will keep little ones occupied.

On the more serious side, the “Hall of History” will display photos and artifacts from Arlington’s historically black neighborhoods, along with African Americans in the Civil War. There will be a WalkAbout of the Hall’s Hill/Highview area. Visitors can also take advantage of health services, from free screenings to flu shots.

Attendees can buy raffle tickets to win a vacation getaway. The winner receives two round-trip tickets to one of 40 destinations in Africa.

Parking at the event will be limited, so free shuttles will run from Glebe Elementary School (1770 N. Glebe Rd) and the Carver (1415 S. Queen St) and Charles Drew (3500 23rd St S.) Community Centers.

Shirlington Oktoberfest: Beer List

By ARLnow.com

The Capital City Brewing Co. Oktoberfest in Shirlington is only four days away, but it’s never too early to stare in awe at the massive list of 60+ breweries that will be represented at the annual Teutonic suds celebration.

Adult beverages from the following manufacturers are expected to be available on Saturday: Capital City Brewing, Southern Tier, Woodchuck Cider, Fuller’s, Hacker-Pschorr, Rogue, Climax, Gordon Biersch, Old Dominion, Starr Hill, Tröegs, RJ Rockers, Laughing Dog, Harpoon, Sierra Nevada, Yuengling, Samuel Adams, Mad Fox, Legend, Abita, Allagash, Brooklyn, Heavy Seas, Stoudts, Alewerks, Duck Rabbit, Hebrew, Dogfish, Lost Rhino, DC Brau, Port City, Epic, Oskar Blues, Lagunitas, Delirium Tremens, St. Louis Framboise, New Holland, Victory, Hofbrau, Weihenstephaner, Erdinger, Avery, Stone, Foudners, Bells, Timmermans, Thirsty Dog, Terrapin, Shlafly, St. George, Smuttynose, Otter Creek, Olde Richmond, Trunstein, Corsendonk, Liefmans, Uinta, Original Sin, Long Trail, Lost Coast, Left Hand, Green Flash, Firestone Walker, Crispin, Clown Shoes, Boulder, Blue Point, Bitburger, Kostrizer, Blue Grass, Ballast Point, Sweetwater Tavern.

Of course, beer lovers will have to be choosy with their drinking plans. Each Oktoberfest attendee is only granted tickets for 10 beer samples. (At a cost of $25, which includes a souvenir tasting glass.)

In addition to beer, a number of local restaurants and groups will be offering food to the masses. And, as always, a German band will perform.

The Oktoberfest will take place on Campbell Avenue in Shirlington Village from noon to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Photo courtesy Amber Wilkie Photography

Crystal City Plans Wine-Filled September

By ARLnow.com

Bummed out about the approaching end of summer? Crystal City’s Business Improvement District hopes to ease the transition to cooler weather with a little vino.

Crystal City will be holding six wine events during the month of September, including its popular annual ‘Vintage Crystal’ wine and jazz festival on Sunday, Sept. 18.

The wine-filled month will start on Sept. 2, with the first of five ‘Wine in the Waterpark’ events. The Washington Wine Academy will pour $5 glasses of wine and $4 beers in the Crystal City Water Park (across from 1750 Crystal Drive) while Crystal City’s Jaleo restaurant serves up free snacks and while DJ Adrian Loving spins “mood-setting, ambient music.”

Wine in the Waterpark will take place from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. It will continue every Friday through Sept. 30, when Pacers will host a special ‘5K Friday’ race. The race will start at 6:30 p.m. and will count the night’s Wine in the Waterpark event as its official after party.

The marquee Vintage Crystal event on Sept. 18 will feature tastings of 30 different wines from Spain, Argentina and Chile. More than 20 local restaurants will be there, handing out free samples. Latin jazz group Trio Caliente will perform, as will dancers from Columbia Pike’s The Salsa Room.

Tickets to the event — which will take place from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. — are $20 and include a free wine glass.

Disclosure: Crystal City BID is advertising its September wine events on ARLnow.com.

Rosslyn Jazz Fest Returns with All-Star Lineup

By ARLnow.com

The annual Rosslyn Jazz Festival is one month away, and this year’s lineup includes a trio of acclaimed performers.

The festival headliner for 2011 is Dee Dee Bridgewater, who won a Tony Award for her acting performance in ‘The Wiz’ and who has also snagged two Grammy Awards for ‘Best Jazz Vocal Performance’ and ‘Best Arrangement Accompanying a Vocal.’ In addition to her musical and acting accomplishments, Bridgewater hosts the weekly NPR jazz program ‘JazzSet.’

Also on the bill is New Orleans native Henry Butler, an eight-time W.C. Handy ‘Best Blues Instrumentalist – Piano’ award nominee. Blind since birth, Butler not only is a musical chameleon — mixing jazz, Caribbean, classical, pop, blues and R&B influences — but he’s also an accomplished photographer whose work has been displayed at exhibitions.

Rounding out the lineup is rising jazz star Grace Kelly. A saxophonist, singer, composer and arranger, Kelly has already amassed an impressive array of awards and accolades at the age of 19.

The Rosslyn Jazz Festival will take place from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, in Gateway Park (1300 Lee Highway). D.C.’s own Al Williams Quartet and guest vocalist Juanita Williams will kick off the event, which is free and open to the public.

Photo via Rosslyn BID

Singin’ the Blues on Columbia Pike This Weekend

By Katie Pyzyk

Disclosure: The Columbia Pike Blues Festival is an ARLnow.com advertiser.

You might get the summertime blues on the Pike this weekend.

The 16th annual Columbia Pike Blues Festival kicks off at 1:00 p.m. Saturday on South Walter Reed Drive and Columbia Pike. The free event runs through 8:00 p.m. and features acclaimed acts like southern blues rocker Tinsley Ellis, along with Columbia Pike’s own blues and soul band, The Curbfeelers.

Even if blues music isn’t your thing, the street fair offers a variety of other entertainment options. From kids’ activities like face painting and the “Guitars Not Guns” booth, to around 50 market and craft vendors, to a variety of food vendors, everybody should be able to find something to keep busy.

Thousands of people are expected to attend the event, which organizers say helps to celebrate the Pike’s diversity.

“The Pike is a very bluesy place,” says Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization Executive Director Takis Karantonis. “This is the place where you find diversity. You will see all types of people coming in.”

Karantonis says the festival will be an opportunity to show off the transformation Columbia Pike has undergone in the past several years. He points out the addition of another large apartment complex and the long-awaited opening of a new Giant food store next week. He says such developments bring back essential functionality to the neighborhood.

“This reflects the ‘new Pike,’ the urban environment in our area,” Karantonis said. “It’s a milestone in a long development over many years, and that’s something good to celebrate.”

CPRO is still looking for volunteers who want to help out at the neighborhood event. If you’re interested in lending a hand, contact CPRO at (703) 892-2776 or email [email protected]. There will also be a booth at the event for donations to help cover the costs of the festival.

Photos from Testicle Festival

By ARLnow.com

About 500 people showed up at the American Legion post in Virginia Square on Saturday to chug beer, drink Crown Royal and sample bull testicles.

The Montana State Society’s 2011 Testicle Festival was a rousing success, said co-organizer Jed Link, who noted that last year’s event in the District — which lacked Crown Royal — only drew 200 attendees. Link also observed that the line for fried testicles was longer than ever.

Our photos from the event, for those who have already eaten their breakfast, are below.

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Morning Poll: Testicle Festival

By ARLnow.com

More than 500 people are expected to show up at the Arlington American Legion post in Virginia Square (3445 Washington Blvd) this weekend to chow down on 60 pounds of “peeled, sliced and fried bull testicles.”

The seventh annual Montana State Society ‘Testicle Festival’ is being held from 6:00 to 10:00 Saturday night. A $20 ticket buys you “all the Crown Royal you can drink and all the balls you can eat,” as festival co-organizer Brittany Beauleiu told NBC Washington. There will also be all-you-can-drink beer and country music from the Wil Gravatt Band.

Also known as Rocky Mountain oysters or cowboy caviar, bull testicles are said to be chewy and taste like chicken.

The western delicacy might not be for everyone — but everybody has a price, right? How much would someone have to pay you to sample some bull baby makers?

Photo by Fernando Hartwig

Taste of Arlington Adds Craft Beers to the Menu

By ARLnow.com

Arlington’s largest food festival is adding a selection of craft beers to its menu.

Taste of Arlington features dozens of local restaurants and draws a crowd of thousands to the stretch of Wilson Boulevard in front of Ballston Common Mall. In years past the beer selection at the event has been limited, but organizers say they’re now “trying to make the drink selection as diverse as the food selection.”

A craft beer distributor will be bringing ten different brews to the festival, including varieties of Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada, Newcastle, Ommegang, Saranac, Franziskaner, Breckenridge, Gordon Biersch, Shiner and Magic Hat. As before, wine will also be available.

Now in its 24th year, Taste of Arlington will be held from noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 22. Admission is free but tickets are required to sample the food and drinks. Tickets are currently for sale online for $20. Tickets sold on the day of the event are $25.

See a list of participating restaurants, after the jump.

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Taste of Arlington Tickets Go on Sale Today

By ARLnow.com

Tickets go on sale today for the 24th annual Taste of Arlington.

The ever-popular event will be little-changed from years prior. It will be held on Wilson Boulevard, in front of Ballston Common Mall. There will be food from 40 Arlington restaurants, beer and wine, arts and crafts, children’s activities and live entertainment.

About 12,000 people are expected to attend.

The event will be held from noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 22. Admission is free but tickets are required to sample the food and drinks.

Eight advance tickets purchased online cost $20, versus $25 on the day of the event. Food samples cost one ticket, while beer and wine cost two.

Proceeds from the event will benefit several local charities and non-profits.

Fall Heritage Festival Comes to Gulf Branch on Saturday

By ARLnow.com

They’re going to be partying like it’s 1859 at the Gulf Branch Nature Center (3608 N. Military Road) this weekend.

“Bring the kids and be immersed in 19th century Virginia life,” beckons county parks spokesperson Nate Spillman. “This is a great outdoor event for the whole family!”

The fun includes watching blacksmiths in action, touring a log cabin, as well as making your own apple cider, corn husk dolls and hand-dipped candles.

There will also be old-timey music, historical interpretation, folks dressed up in traditional 19th garb and more. Tickets are $5 per perform, with a maximum of $20 per family. Kids 3 and under are free.

The event it being held on Saturday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

The parking lot will be closed, but street parking will be available nearby. For more info call 703-228-3403.

See other weekend events around Arlington here.

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