festival

Arlington Festival of the Arts Coming to Clarendon

By Katie Pyzyk

The streets of Clarendon soon will become more colorful and creative with the return of the Arlington Festival of the Arts.

The fifth annual festival will take place at the intersection of Washington Blvd and N. Highland Street on Saturday and Sunday, April 22-23, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

More than 150 exhibitors will showcase their original works, which include paintings, photography, jewelry, pottery, glass and mixed media. Attendees will be able to purchase items at a wide range of prices.

The following roads will be closed from 4 a.m. on Saturday, April 22, through 9 p.m. on Sunday, April 23, to accommodate the festival:

  • Westbound Washington Blvd from N. Garfield Street to Clarendon Blvd
  • N. Highland Street from Clarendon Blvd to Washington Blvd
  • N. 11th Street between N. Highland Street and N. Garfield Street will be open to delivery traffic only

Columbia Pike Blues Festival Announces Performers

By Chris Teale

This year’s Columbia Pike Blues Festival will be headlined by three-time Grammy nominee Bettye LaVette, part of a lineup of blues, R&B and funk performers.

The 22nd annual festival is set for Saturday, June 17, from 1-8:30 p.m. at the intersection of Columbia Pike and S. Walter Reed Drive.

Jonny Grave kicks off the festival at 1 p.m., followed by Sol Roots with Carly Harvey at 2 p.m. The Full Power Blues Band follows at 3:30 p.m., before Rufus Roundtree and Da B-more Brass Factory at 5 p.m. and LaVette at 6:45 p.m.

LaVette has been touring and performing since the birth of soul music in the 1960s. She performed at the “We Are One” concert before President Obama’s first inauguration in 2008, as well as the Kennedy Center honors for The Who that same year.

Also at the festival, presented by the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization, will be food and drink, arts and crafts vendors and activities for children.

Photo via The Kurkland Agency

Taste of Arlington To Be Ticketed Event For First Time

By Chris Teale

(Updated at 2:30 p.m. on 3/29/17) You’ll need a paid wristband to get into Taste of Arlington this year.

Previously a free event, attendees at this year’s festival on May 21 will need to pay $5-15 for admission ($5 is the current early bird price) then pay an additional $5 for each drink ticket and $1-5 for each taste, paid directly to the restaurant or food truck.

Tickets can be bought online or on the BallstonConnect mobile app before the festival, or in person on the day. Admission to the event’s Family Zone will be free.

Many restaurants and food trucks will accept cash and credit cards, although some may only take cash. A number of ATMs will be on site.

Previously, attendees had to buy a $30-40 book of tickets to sample the food at the various restaurant booths; now it’s a la carte. The drink ticket is $1-3 less expensive than an equivalent pour last year, a spokesman pointed out.

Also a change from previous years is the Family Zone, which will combine the once separate KidZone and BarkPark into one area at Oakland Park. Admission fees will be charged for both.

More than 50 restaurants, food trucks and chefs are expected to participate, including international cuisine.

Restaurants will compete in the “Best of the Best” food competition in the following categories: Best Appetizer, Best Brunch, Best Fast Casual Entrée, Best Fine Dining Entrée, Best Dessert and Fan Favorite. Winners will be announced at 5 p.m. on the main concert stage.

This year’s festival has also moved closer to the Virginia Square Metro station on Wilson Boulevard, and stretches along Wilson from N. Randolph Street to N. Nelson Street. It will last from noon to 6 p.m.

Among the musicians performing are His Dream Of Lions, Jeff From Accounting, Burnt Sienna and the Jack Diamond-Jim Steed Band.

Last year, Taste of Arlington raised $40,000 for BallstonGives, the charitable arm of the Ballston Business Improvement District, and the Arlington Food Assistance Center.

Four-Day Music Festival Could Come to Courthouse in May

By Tim Regan

Festival BeCause stage at Clarendon Day(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.

Planned festival map via Festival BeCause“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

Rosslyn to Host Two-Day Holiday Festival, Five Mile Race

By ARLnow.com

Bonfire at the Rosslyn Holiday Market on FridayThe holiday season is well underway and Rosslyn is getting into the spirit with a free two-day festival this weekend.

Rosslyn’s Holiday Market Festival + Bonfire kicks off at 3 p.m. Friday with the opening of an artisan holiday market in Gateway Park (1300 Lee Highway). The market will be feature more than 25 vendors with “a full variety of unique and high quality gifts.”

That will be followed at 5:30 p.m. by the opening of a number of local food trucks and a bar serving spiced red sangria, mulled cider, beer and wine. At 7 p.m. a bonfire will be lit and a DJ will start spinning. From 8-11 p.m. 80s cover band The Reflex will perform.

Great Chocolate Race logoOn Saturday, the Great Chocolate Race, a five mile chocolate-themed race, will start at 7:30 a.m. on N. Kent Street. That will be followed by a finish festival in Gateway Park, with food trucks and the bar opening early to serve hot chocolate and bloody marys.

The holiday market will open at 8 a.m. Saturday and continue until 3 p.m., with live musical performances, gingerbread house workshops and a visit from Santa in between.

A number of road closures are planned for Saturday’s race. From ACPD:

The Great Chocolate Race will take place on Saturday, December 10, 2016.  The following roadways will be closed for this event:

  • Wilson Blvd. between N. Lynn St. and Route 110 will be closed from 5:00am until 12:00pm.
  • Kent St. between Wilson Blvd. and N. 19th St. will be closed from 2:00am until 12:00pm.
  • Route 110 between Wilson Blvd. and I-395 will be closed from 6:00am until 11:00 am.
  • Route 27 from Route 110 to Columbia Pike (Westbound Only) will be closed from 6:00am until 11:00am.
  • Columbia Pike from Route 27 to the Air Force Memorial Entrance (Westbound Only) will be closed from 6:00am until 11:00am. Eastbound Columbia Pike will be routed to Joyce St.
  • Southgate Road will be closed at Columbia Pike from 6:00am to 11:00am.
  • Joyce Street heading north from Army Navy Drive will be closed from 6:00am until 11:00am.
  • Traffic from the Pentagon South Parking Lot will not be allowed west on Columbia Pike, all traffic will be routed on Route 27 toward the George Washington Parkway.

Street parking in the area will be restricted. Motorists should be on the lookout for temporary “No Parking” signs. Illegally parked vehicles may be ticketed or towed. If your vehicle is towed from a public street, call 703-558-2222.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Full moon on 9/15/16

Road Closures for Street Festivals — In addition to street closures associated with Clarendon Day on Saturday, this weekend there will be closures for the 2016 Prio Bangla Potho Mela street festival. On Sunday from 8 a.m. to midnight, 9th Street S. will be closed from Walter Reed Drive to S. Highland Street. [Arlington County]

Home Sales Up — The volume of Arlington home sales was up 9.3 percent in August, compared to one year prior. [InsideNova]

Election Questions Answered — The Arlington Human Rights Commission and Office of Elections will hold a voter education event today from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Walter Reed Community and Senior Center. Officials will answer questions residents might have about how to vote in the upcoming election. [Arlington County]

Arlington’s Digital Future — Next month, on Oct. 11, Arlington County is holding an event about its “digital destiny.” The event, at the Shirlington library auditorium, will explore “today’s digital revolution and how it will enhance the quality of life for those who live, work and visit Arlington in the years to come.” It will feature an interview with author Shawn DuBravac. [YouTube, Arlington County]

Crystal City Sip and Salsa Event Returns Sunday

By ARLnow.com

Salsa dancing at Crystal City's Sip and Salsa event on SundayCrystal City’s annual outdoor food and wine festival, Sip and Salsa, will return on Sunday.

The event, held from 2-6 p.m. in the parking lot next to 220 20th Street S., features “delicious wines from Spain, Portugal, and Argentina together with food tastes from restaurants in Crystal City and the region.”

There’s also live Latin jazz, wine lessons from the Washington Wine Academy, and free salsa dancing lessons from Columbia Pike’s Salsa Room.

Crystal City says Sip and Salsa ” is the D.C. region’s only inside the Beltway, outdoor wine festival with the ease of safe and responsible transit access.”

Food and drink tickets are $20 online, while food-only tickets are $10.

The local professional football team, it should be noted, won’t be playing Sunday — the Redskins will face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night.

Disclosure: Crystal City BID is an ARLnow.com advertiser

Oktoberfest to Come to Shirlington Again

By Andrew Ramonas

Oktoberfest in Shirlington (Photo via Capitol City Brewing Company)Men in lederhosen and women in dirndls are set to descend on Shirlington for a day of beer drinking, pretzel eating and Bavarian music this fall.

Capitol City Brewing Company is throwing its 17th annual Oktoberfest at The Village at Shirlington (4001 Campbell Avenue) on Saturday, Oct. 1, from noon to 7 p.m.

Admission is $30, which gets festivalgoers who are at least 21 years old a glass and 10 tasting tickets. Extra tickets cost $1, with a five-ticket minimum. But non-drinkers can get in for free.

Capitol City, Mad Fox, Flying Dog and more than five dozen other breweries are expected to offer beer samples at the event. Patrons then can pair their lagers and ales with bratwurst, giant pretzels and other German food on sale during the festival, as they listen to bands play Bavarian tunes.

Beer taps are set to close at 6 p.m.

Photo via Capitol City Brewing Company

Columbia Pike Blues Festival Returns Saturday

By Adrian Cruz

Columbia Pike Blues FestivalThe blues will return to Arlington as the 21st annual Columbia Pike Blues Festival will be held on Saturday from 1-8:30 p.m.

The festival will feature a mix of local and nationally recognized blues talent throughout the day. Admission is free.

Here is the list of acts scheduled to perform:

  • Little Bit A Blues @ 1:00 p.m.
  • Bobby Thompson Project ft. Ron Holloway @ 2:00 p.m.
  • Bosley @ 3:30 p.m
  • Davina and the Vagabonds @ 5:00 p.m.
  • Jesse Dee @ 6:30 p.m.

Along with the music, the festival will also have have local food vendors. Some of the cuisines on offer include Moroccan, Nigerian, Mexican, Caribbean.

Here is a list of vendors:

  • Mazagan Restaurant — Modern Moroccan cuisine
  • Cantina Mexicana — Mexican and Tex-Mex
  • Suya To Go — Nigerian
  • BubbleTeaLicious — Bubble teas, shave ice, ice cream
  • Mac’s Donuts — Fresh-made donuts and lemonade
  • Carol’s Concessions — Caribbean and American festival fare
  • Sloppy Mama’s BBQ — Barbecue and all the sides

Arts and crafts vendors and other local businesses will also represented.

The festival will take place at the intersection of Columbia Pike and S. Walter Reed Drive. There will also be street closures for the event.

Here is a the list of street closures according to Arlington County:

  • Walter Reed Drive will be closed from Columbia Pike to 9th Street S. Vehicles can use 7th Street to Highland Street as a detour.
  • 9th Road will be closed from S. Garfield Street to Walter Reed Drive.
  • 9th Street will be closed from S. Highland Street to Walter Reed Drive.

Attendees are encouraged to take public transportation with many ART and Metrobus lines serving the area. The weather forecast for the festival is sunny with a high of 82 degrees.

Shirlington Music Festival Returns This Summer

By Adrian Cruz

Shirlala Music Festival logoThe Village of Shirlington recently released the schedule for its annual “Shirlala Music Festival” series of outdoor concerts.

The festival is an expansion of the former Shirlington Jazz Festival and this year’s selection contains a wide range of genres including swing, pop, rock, and even tropical steel drums.

The concerts take place every Thursday from the beginning of June until August 25, running from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

The schedule is as follows:

  • June 9 — Justin Trawick & the Common Good (Urban Folk Rock)
  • June 16 — Lloyd Dobler Effect (80s & 90s Cover Band)
  • June 23 — King Teddy (Swing)
  • June 30 — Taylor Carson (Acoustic Rock)
  • July 7 — Jelly Roll Mortals (Folk/Pop/Rock)
  • July 14 — Dan Haas Trio (Pop Rock)
  • July 21 — The Shack Band (Southern Funk)
  • July 28 — Ewabo (Tropical Steel Drums)
  • August 4 — Paul Pfau (Pop, Rock & Blues)
  • August 11 — Daryl Davis ft. Sandra Dean Band (Blues & Soul)
  • August 18 — King Teddy (Swing)
  • August 25 — Dan Haas Trio (Pop Rock)

Testicle Festival Returns to Va. Square Next Month

By ARLnow.com

Testy-Fest-2016-Logo-FBThe ever-popular Montana State Society Testicle Festival is only two weeks away.

Now in its 12th year, the festival is taking place from 6-11 p.m. on Saturday, May 14. As usual, it’s being held at the American Legion hall at 3445 Washington Blvd, in Virginia Square.

The event is, of course, all about the all-you-can-eat Rocky Mountain Oysters, but for those who aren’t fans of “swinging beef” — also known as “cowboy caviar” or “Montana tendergroins” — there are other options thanks to food trucks that will be parked behind the hall. And then there’s the beer and Crown Royal.

Here’s how the pun masters at the Montana State Society are promoting their big day.

You’d be NUTS to miss this! The Montana State Society would like to invite you to have a ball (literally!) at the 12th annual D.C. Testy Fest – “Members Only” – to be held from 6:00PM – 11:00PM on Saturday, May 14th, 2016 at the Arlington American Legion.

Last year over 600 people flocked to the event to enjoy live music provided by the Wil Gravatt Band and graze on all-you-can-eat Rocky Mountain Oysters! Thirsty? Wash them down with a limitless supply of Crown Royal (A.K.A liquid courage) & beer – all for the bargain price of $25 bucks! While the theme this year is “Members Only,” all are welcome at this great event.

Our Rocky Mountain Oysters are prepared by legendary chef Frank McGraw, and shipped fresh from the Rock Creek Lodge in Western Montana. Not your ‘bag’? Don’t worry baby! We will have food trucks there selling delicious grub. Get there early, the first guests will also get a T-Shirt to forever memorialize the event.

What: 12th Annual DC Testicle Festival “Members Only”
When: Saturday, May 14th 2016, 6:00PM – 11:00PM
Where: Arlington American Legion, 3445 N. Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA (metro accessible via Virginia Square or Clarendon stations)
TICKETS: $25 online OR $30 at the door. http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2540264
**MUST BE 21+ years of age!

Prepare to go Ballistic! For more information and to see all of your friends who are attending please visit our Facebook page for the event! https://www.facebook.com/events/104383383301895

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