Halloween

Fall-Themed Events Planned in Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

Clarendon seems to be a hotbed of fall-themed events over the next week.

Tomorrow (Oct. 22), from noon to 2:00 p.m., the Whole Food Market in Clarendon (2700 Wilson Blvd) will be hosting AppleFest — a “harvest tasting event” devoted entirely to apples.

“From juicy and aromatic apples to those that are fine textured, families and apple-enthusiasts can welcome the new fall season while sampling a variety of tasty apples and enjoying its culinary and crafty delight,” Whole Foods said in a press release. Planned activities include cooking demonstrations, crafts, tastings and an apple scavenger hunt.

Next Saturday (Oct. 29), the Market Common shopping center in Clarendon (2700 Clarendon Blvd) — across from Whole Foods — will be hosting its annual FALLoween event.

The free, family-friendly event will feature a petting zoo, a kids circus, face painting, sidewalk chalking, a comedy show, a DJ and other live entertainment. Plus, there will be trick-or-treating for the kids at a number of stores and each attendee will have the opportunity to take home a free pumpkin.

FALLoween is being held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Costumed people and pets are also invited to join a FALLoween parade, which kicks off at 11:30 a.m.

Also on Saturday, Oct. 29, Doorways for Women and Families will be organizing a Howl-O-Ween Dog Walk for the Homeless.

From 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., dog owners are encouraged to dress up their pooches and bring them to the James Hunter dog park for a mini-walk to support Doorways. The park is located at the corner of N. Herndon and 13th Streets in Clarendon.

“All human participants will help Doorways to reach our walker goal for the Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walkathon, while our animal participants will get the chance to compete for prizes from local pet store merchants, including Wylie Wagg and Kissable Canine,” Doorways said on its website.

Registration for the walk is $30 for adults and $20 for youth 25 and under. Pets are free.

Library to Host Star Wars Costume Event

By ARLnow.com

If you’ve ever wanted to look like your favorite Star Wars character, now’s the time to learn how to do it.

With Halloween just around the corner, Arlington Public Library is hosting a Star Wars costume event this coming weekend. Representatives from the Rebel Legion and the 501st Legion — international costuming enthusiast organizations for the Star Wars good guys and bad guys, respectively — will be on hand at Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street) on Saturday to discuss how they make their elaborate Star Wars costumes.

Star Wars geeks and casual fans alike are invited to come take photos with fully-costumed members of the local Rebel Legion and 501st Legion (slogan: “Bringing order to the galaxy since 1997”). For those who want to follow in the footsteps of legion members, be prepared for intricate instructions on how to become an authentic storm trooper, Jedi knight or bounty hunter.

“This program will be very detailed, so it is recommended for upper-elementary school kids, teens and adults,” the library said on its blog.

The event will be held at the Central Library Auditorium from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call 703-228-5946.

Halloween in August?

By ARLnow.com

The leaves are still green and the air is still humid, but Count Gore De Vol will be donning his white makeup to present a special sneak preview for the Spooky Movie International Horror Film Festival this weekend.

De Vol (television legend Dick Dyszel) will be hosting “Spooky Shorts,” a three-hour screening of “thirteen of the wildest short films from around the world,” at Artisphere on Saturday.

The screening starts at 8:00 p.m. in the Artisphere’s Dome Theater. Tickets are $10.

The shorts will serve as an “exclusive preview” for the 6th Annual Spooky Movie International Horror Film Festival, which will be held from Oct. 13-16 this year. Additional summer spooky movie screenings are planned for Aug. 20 and Sept. 3.

Thanks to Listserve, Lost Wedding Band is Quickly Found

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 2:10 p.m.) Two-year-old Jack Stewart came back with quite the haul from a night of trick-or-treating with his four-year-old brother in Alcova Heights.

In addition to candy bars and other treats, the tike, dressed as Cookie Monster, managed to score an expensive gold wedding band. Mom and dad found the ring while rummaging through the contents Jack’s Halloween candy bucket.

“I immediately picked it up and knew that it had to be someone’s wedding ring and knew it must have fallen off when she was putting candy into Cookie Monster’s pumpkin bucket,” says mom Michaela Sims. “Knowing how awful it feels to lose something that important, I put the ring in a safe place and went to the computer to post something about it on the Alcova Heights neighborhood listserve.”

But when she looked on the listserve, there was already a message from the woman who lost the ring. So Michaela responded that she had it and left her email address. Elapsed time between messages: about an hour and a half.

Now, the ring is back where it belongs.

“I sent my address to her and she has just now brought it back to me,” said Carolyn Mauck, for whom the ring has held extra sentimental value since her husband passed away last year. “This is indeed a case of neighbor helping neighbor. Our neighborhood is great about doing things like that.”

“Sam (the four-year-old) and I dropped the ring off at her house a little bit ago,” Michaela wrote soon after returning from Mauck’s house. “She was very happy… After Sam said trick or treat a few times, he hugged her and said ‘God Bless You!’ (And then promptly ran into her yard to try to climb her tree.)”

“She seems so sweet,” wrote Michaela. “I’m so glad this ended well.”

Thanks to J.A. for the tip. Photo courtesy of Michaela Sims.

Halloween Events Around Arlington This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

Is Halloween more fun for adults or kids?

That question is up for debate — but what’s for certain is that there are plenty of Halloween-related events happening around Arlington this weekend.

Kids will be able to enjoy the Falloween family festival from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Market Common Clarendon on Saturday.  A YMCA haunted house for kids 11 and up is being held at the Madison Community Center from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. And on Sunday, a children’s parade and pumpkin carving contest will be held at Lyon Park Community Center from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.

With Halloween falling on a Sunday this year, most Halloween-related events for adults will be happening on Saturday.

P. Brennan’s (2910 Columbia Pike) is holding its first annual Halloween costume party starting at 9:00 p.m. Gonzo’s Nose will be playing a Halloween party and costume contest at Clarendon Grill (1101 N. Highland Street) starting at 10:00 p.m. And The Front Page (4201 Wilson Blvd) will also be throwing a Halloween party and costume contest, featuring performances by Kicking Norma and DJ Pat Premiere.

Also happening this weekend, but not Halloween-related: The Arlington Kiwanis 39th Annual Oyster and Barbeque Fest, which will be attended by most if not all of the local candidates for public office. That’s being held from 5:00 to 8:00 Saturday night at, of all places, the American Service Center garage (601 North Randolph Street).

See our events calendar for more details on each event.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

One Sign That It’s Almost Halloween — Around 5:00 yesterday evening, police were called to the ramp from northbound Washington Boulevard to Route 50 for a report of a severed human foot found in a bag in the middle of the roadway. Officers investigated and, as it turns out, the “foot” was made out of rubber. “A Halloween prank,” one officer concluded.

Pentagon Steps Up Security for Marine Corps Marathon — The Pentagon Force Protection Agency will provide more security than usual for Sunday’s Marine Corps Marathon. That revelation comes in the wake of three middle-of-the-night shootings that targeted Marine Corps and military sites. USA Today reports that the beefed up security will focus on the Pentagon’s north parking lot, which serves as the pre-race staging area for MCM’s 30,000 runners.

Candidates Forum Tonight — Ten northwest Arlington civic associations are teaming up to host a non-partisan candidate’s night at Resurrection Lutheran Church (6201 N. Washington Blvd) tonight. The candidates for school board, county board and congress will debate each other and answer questions submitted by residents. The school board candidates will square off starting at 7:00 p.m., followed by the congressional candidates at 7:45 and the congressional candidates at 8:30.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Sushi Rock Decision Deferred — The county board deferred its decision on whether to grant Sushi Rock (1900 Clarendon Blvd) a live entertainment permit until November, to allow more time for community input. At yesterday’s board meeting, neighbors complained that the restaurant is already so loud that it keeps them up at night. Sushi Rock management told the board that they’re losing money while waiting for the permit, which would help develop more late night bar business. More from TBD.

ACE Holds “Hallowgreen” Gala Tonight — Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment is holding its cleverly-named Halloween gala tonight on the Pike. There will be a costume contest, a silent auction and a concert by the band Trees on Fire. Tickets are $50. The event is being held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at The Salsa Room (2619 Columbia Pike).

Virginia GOP Hammers Moran on Comments — Rep. Jim Moran’s ill-advised critique of his GOP challenger, Patrick Murray, continues to haunt Moran and embolden Republicans. Now the state Republican party has released a web ad entitled “Just a Government Check?” which pairs Moran’s remark regarding Murray’s limited government stance and his military service to photos of Arlington National Cemetery.

New Mobile Visitors Center to Debut at Marathon — Arlington’s new electric-powered Mobile Visitor Center will be making its debut at the Marine Corps Marathon Health and Fitness Expo in the District on Friday. The county says the visitor center is “a fully customized ‘green’ vehicle that will serve visitors in the County’s urban villages and at major tourism events. ” More from Arlington County.

When Do Kids Go Trick or Treating in Arlington?

By ARLnow.com

When are kids supposed to go trick or treating this year in Arlington? Halloween is six days away, and we’ve heard that question asked several times already.

The answer seems logical enough: parents tell us that trick or treating will take place on Halloween night (Oct. 31) shortly after sundown.

Recent transplants may be surprised to know that there is no “official” trick or treating time in Arlington. Neither the county nor the police department has set an official time or day, spokespeople tell us.

Elsewhere around the country, it’s common for localities to designate a specific time and day for kids to knock on doors and demand candy. The tradition doesn’t always take place at night, nor does it always take place on Halloween.

So this year “Beggars Night,” as it’s called by some, will take place on a Sunday night in Arlington. That raises the question: will some neighbors keep the lights dark and the candy to themselves in order to ensure uninterrupted viewing of Sunday night football and the World Series?

Volunteer Opp: Help Kids Have Fun on Halloween

By ARLnow.com

Halloween is fast approaching, and two local organizations need volunteers to help out with their kid-oriented Halloween festivities.

Thomas Jefferson Community Center needs 20 volunteers to help throw a Halloween party for “200 small ghosts and goblins.” The event it to be held from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30. Volunteers will lead activities like games, face painting and arts and crafts. Any interested, enthusiastic volunteer age 16 or older should contact Milada Weaver at 703-228-4730

In addition, the Arlington YMCA is looking for members of the Community Volunteer Network to help out with its haunted house, to be held at the Madison Community Center next Friday and Saturday.

“Volunteers will be helping spook-up the event by working the registration table, setting up, monitoring the kids, being activity leaders, and cleaning up after it’s over,” organizers say. “If you are looking to find your inner child this Halloween, this scare-tacular event with Arlington kids is for you.”

Anyone interested in volunteering at the haunted house should call the Community Volunteer Network at 703-228-1197 or email cvn.admin [at] gmail.com.

Arlington YMCA Plans Haunted House

By ARLnow.com

The Arlington branch of the YMCA is planning a haunted house later this month.

The kid-oriented event is will be held at the Madison Community Center (3829 N. Stafford Street). It will feature ghost stories, Halloween treats, ghoulish games, and other spooky fun.

Tickets cost $5 per person, with $5 off for families of four or more. Proceeds go to the Y’s summer camp and after school mentoring programs.

A haunted house for children 5 and up will be held from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 29. Organizers will dial up the fright from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30, for kids 11 and up.