kids

Santa Coming to Cherrydale Fire Station

By Michael Doyle

Santa Claus is coming to Arlington County’s historic Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Station on Sunday, Dec. 19, bringing with him gift bags for children and good cheer for all. Santa’s appearance between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. marks the 80th time he has arrived courtesy of the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department, the oldest organization of its kind in Arlington County.

Santa’s appearance will be particularly meaningful this year, as the Arlington County Fire Department’s Engine Co. 3 is preparing to depart for new Lee Highway quarters in 2011. The Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Station at 3900 Lee Highway will remain as a community resource; it is listed on both the state and national historic landmark registries.

The Cherrydale station’s holiday celebration has changed over the years, even as it has grown in popularity. Up until 1960, Santa brought refurbished toys to give away. Following several years of a gift exchange, the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department in 1964began buying gifts for distribution. Typically, several hundred children show up for the afternoon festivities.

Organized in 1898, the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department includes members who are cross-trained as both firefighters and emergency medical technicians. The volunteer department owns and operates Light and Air 103, which provides emergency lighting, salvage and other services. The volunteers also own a general services vehicle called Utility 103.

Volunteer Opp: Help Out With a Soccer Tournament

By ARLnow.com

Have you ever wondered who runs the game clock at sporting events? Does watching a soccer game while pressing a few buttons sound like a sufficiently low-effort way to give back to the community?

If so, the Arlington Parks Department needs you to help out with an indoor youth soccer tournament at the Barcroft Sports and Fitness Center on Nov. 20.

In addition to running the clock, the parks department needs volunteers to help with registration and the monitoring of games.

No previous soccer or coaching experience is required.

Call Milada Weaver at 703-228-4730 or email her here for more information. (Note that Arlington government offices are closed today.)

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.

Saying ‘Thank You’ for Being a Bike Commuter

By ARLnow.com

A mother and daughter are planning to wake up early tomorrow morning to prepare a special treat for local bike commuters. They’re calling it “Yay for Bike Riders Day.”

The plan was hatched by a second grader who told her mom that she wanted to “say thank you to all the nice bike riders she sees every morning on her walk to school.”

From the BikeArlington forums:

We’ll be at the little covered picnic table at the intersection of the Custis and W&OD trails serving juice, muffins, breakfast bars and coffee if I can figure out a place to borrow a presspot from. The purpose is to simply thank all the cyclists who ride the trails each day that we pass on our way to school. If you have a free moment please stop and have some refreshments, or at least say hello – it will make my daughter’s day.

The pair plans to be out on the trail from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. tomorrow.

Robot Events and Classes for Kids

By ARLnow.com

Do you have kids? Do they like robots? Of course they do, what kid doesn’t like robots. Let’s face it, those Transformer movies didn’t make millions of dollars off of Megan Fox Austin Green’s looks alone.

So it stands to reason that your kids would probably be thrilled to see some real-life robots in action this weekend. Good news: Anthony Nunez of local research firm Infamous Robotics is hosting a robot demonstration from noon to 2:00 p.m. Saturday at Central Library (1015 N. Quincy St.).

If you know a 7 to 12 year old who wants to get even more hands-on with robots, Nunez also teaches a Robots 101 class through the Arlington County Parks Department.

The next class is on Wednesday, Sept. 22. The class will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Madison Community Center (3829 N. Stafford St.).

“This introduction to robotics will help your child determine the two types of robots, important basic mechanical/electrical/software terms and concepts, how to use magnets in robot, common types of motors used in small robots and how to choose one, and ways to modify or use existing motors,” the class description reads. “Learn the initial steps needed to begin programming (algorithm, flow chart) and key electrical components. The class will discuss robots in foreign environments and challenges that occur, several common sensors and their applications, and what responsibilities a robotic engineer (electrical, mechanical and software).”

Once again, this class is for (smart) 7 to 12 year olds.

ArtJamz Coming to Crystal City

By ARLnow.com

The art/nightclub mash-up known as ArtJamz will be coming to Crystal City later this year.

The event will take place from Dec. 2-5, in the lobby of the building on 23rd Street that housed the G-40 street art ‘summit’ earlier this year. It will feature the same mixture of music, drinks and art creation that has drawn crowds at ArtJamz events in DC. However, the Crystal City event will be double the scale of previous ArtJamz — with 50 easels available for painting simultaneously.

Would-be artists — who reserve an easel ahead of time — are supplied with a canvas and paint, and then have four hours to create a piece of original art that they can take home.

The event, created by local artist Michael Clements, will also feature a specially-designated day for kids to create their own art.

In related news, the dates and location for the returning Crystal Couture fashion festival were revealed today. Crystal Couture will take place from Feb. 1-5 in the space used by the Crystal City Shops food court.