There are two free outdoor concerts well worth checking out tonight.
Shirlington Village is kicking off its summer jazz series tonight with a performance by the Felicia Carter Trio. The concert will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in front of the Shirlington Library (4200 Campbell Ave).
Meanwhile, The Reflex, billed as “the ultimate 80’s tribute band,” will perform at Pentagon Row’s summer concert series (1201 South Joyce Street). The band will take the stage from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
The Columbia Pike Blues Festival drew quite a crowd Saturday afternoon. The festival, which is part blues concert and part street fair, featured acclaimed musicians, acclaimed barbecue, and a wide variety of art and craft vendors.
Here are some photos from the event.
Shirlington’s Signature Theater has launched a contest to find the next “Signature Idol.”
The Tony Award-winning theater is looking for ten talented solo singers to compete on July 17 as part of its Target Open House. The contest will be judged by Signature Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer, Washington Post theater critic Peter Marks, and “a special Broadway guest.”
If you think you have the talent and nerve to belt out a Broadway song in front of nearly 300 strangers and a panel of expert judges, you’ll first have to submit a video to Signature by July 5. Here are the instructions:
The music must be a Broadway song. Applicants can either upload a video to YouTube and send Signature the link at [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> or send in a videotape to Signature Theatre, Attn: Signature Idol, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206. Anyone who has previously sung on a Signature stage is ineligible to audition.
Confused? A handy video explanation of the competition is after the jump.
Ribbon Cutting Today for New Field at TJ — Renovation of the lower athletic field at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center (3501 2nd St. S.) was recently completed, and today county officials will celebrate with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The field, which is used primarily for soccer, now has synthetic turf and state-of-the-art “dark sky” lighting. Because rain is predicted, the ribbon cutting will be held inside the community center. It will take place from 3:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Ballot Initiative Debate in Cherrydale Tonight — The Cherrydale Civic Association is hosting a debate tonight on the proposed change to Arlington’s form of government. Change-of-government supporters and Committee for a Better Arlington co-chairs Mike Staples and Ken Dennis will debate Alan Howze and Judy Connally of the opposition Coalition for Arlington Good Government. After the debate the public will be able to ask questions of both sides. The event is being held at the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department (3900 Lee Highway) starting at 7:30 p.m.
Shirlington Getting Jazzed Up — Shirlington Village will be sponsoring an outdoor summer jazz series this year. The concerts will start on Thursday, July 1 and will run through August 19. Each concert will be held in the plaza in front of the Shirlington Library from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Boozing It Up on July 4 — Good news: you’ll be able to buy liquor in Virginia on the 4th of July. Because it’s just not Independence Day without that bottle of Jim Beam. More from WTOP.
Update at 6:15 p.m. on 6/3 — Tonight’s concert has been canceled due to weather.
Rosslyn isn’t the only Arlington locale with an outdoor summer concert series starting this week. Pentagon Row’s eighth annual “Rock at the Row” kicks off tomorrow.
Virginia party rock group the Shields Brothers Band will headline the first show. Check out their awesomely hokey music video for “Shark Attack,” featuring an unwitting guest appearance by Wendy Williams, below.
The concerts will be held from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. every Thursday. The series wraps up on August 26.
After the jump: the full concert schedule, which includes local favorites like Gonzo’s Nose, King Cadillac and Brother Shamus.
Two weekly events start today in Rosslyn — part of a very musical summer in the otherwise business-oriented neighborhood.
From 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., local R&B and jazz act Spur of the Moment will kick off the CentralPlace Wednesday lunchtime concert series. The concerts are being held at “CentralSpace,” the temporary park at the corner of North Moore Street and Wilson Boulevard (CentralSpace will eventually be the site of a new office tower).
Tonight from 5:30 to 8:00, there will be live music, dancing and after-work drinks at Rosslyn Plaza, in front of the Rosslyn Spectrum Theater. The Party at the Plaza will take place every Wednesday in June and July. Tonight and for the rest of the month the event will feature salsa dancing. In July it switches to swing dancing. Free dance lessons will be held from 5:30 to 6:00, with the rest of the time reserved for people to dance as they see fit.
Tomorrow food gets thrown into the musical mix. BG & The Mojo Hands will play from 11:45 to 1:30 at the Rosslyn Farmer’s Market. The Thursday lunchtime concert series — which actually started last month and will stretch through October — is held next to the market, across from the Cupid’s Garden Sculpture at Wilson Boulevard and North Oak Street. The Rosslyn Farmer’s Market itself takes place from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and features fruits, veggies, herbs, pastries, breads, fruit preserves and more.
Yes, May has been an insane month. From stolen wigs to stolen cell phones, and from DoD job losses to creating new jobs for exotic dancers (or, at the very least, local arguments for it), Arlingtonians are ready for a long weekend. Take a look at some local events happening around our area to take a load off to fully appreciate Memorial Day weekend.
For Memorial Day observers: Arlington National Cemetery will hold its annual Memorial Day of Observance to remember fallen service members on Monday at the Memorial Amphitheater. The Full Honor Wreath-Laying Ceremony is at 11:00 a.m., but officials recommend visitors arrive at 9:30 for seats and for a musical prelude by the U.S. Navy Band.
For the kids: Gulf Branch Nature Center on Military Road is holding their weekly campfire for families on Friday from 7:00 to 8:15 p.m. Expect s’mores, games, and campfire songs for the little ones ($5 per person, $20 for families).
For music lovers: The Fleshtones, the quintessential 70’s/80’s American garage band, are playing Iota in Clarendon on Saturday night at 9:00. Tickets are $15 and available at the door.
For multicultural Arlingtonians: The 23rd Annual Argentine Festival is being held Saturday from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Thomas Jefferson Theatre (125 S. Old Glebe Road). Watch tango dancing, listen to traditional music and eat traditional Argentinian treats.
For those who don’t mind wearing leather when it’s ridiculously hot outside: Rolling Thunder will be loudly and proudly riding all around Arlington and D.C. this weekend. From Friday to Sunday, groups of motorcyclists will be rolling in and out of the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, which is serving as the official hotel of the annual event. On Sunday morning a “Ride for Freedom” demonstration will be held at the North Pentagon parking lot. Washington Boulevard from I-395 to the Memorial Bridge will be closed Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Memorial Bridge will be closed from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If you have a Harley, feel free to join the crowd (or just watch from the sidelines).
For people who like eating meat and giving to charity at the same time: 3 Bar and Grill (2950 Clarendon Blvd) will be hosting a “Charitable Pig Roast” on Memorial Day eve. There will be Bacon Bloody Marys, pulled pork sandwiches and some killer drink specials. It’s happening from 4:00 to 9:00 Sunday evening. A suggested $5 donation will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
County Government’s Michael Brown Era Begins — Former Savannah, Ga. city manager Michael Brown was officially appointed as Arlington’s new County Manager today, a month and a half after his hiring was first announced. Brown’s first order of business this morning was meeting with County Board Chairman Jay Fisette. He also met with his staff and spent much of the day preparing for his first board meeting, coming up this weekend. A public reception will be held in the lobby of 2100 Clarendon Blvd next Monday (May 24) from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. to welcome Brown to Arlington.
Iota Jam Session Reviewed — On Thursday night, The Infamous Stringdusters rocked Iota Club and Café in Clarendon. It may be the first time a band that includes a mandolinist, a dobro player, a fiddler and a banjo player started a performance with a “six-way fist bump.” More from jambands.com.
Endorsements for Berry, Murray — Conservative Virginia politics website Bearing Drift has endorsed Matthew Berry as the only GOP candidate who “has the capacity and wherewithal to give Jim Moran a run for his money.” Meanwhile, former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi has endorsed former Army colonel Patrick Murray, Berry’s opponent in next month’s eighth district primary.
DCist Does Brunch at Tallula — If you’re looking for a lumberjack-sized plate of pancakes, eggs and bacon, Tallula is not the place to find it. But the Lyon Park eatery does serve up some very artistic-looking brunch dishes that — when paired with one of Tallula’s dessert options — should satisfy all but the most voracious eaters. More from DCist.
It’s a good time to be an Arlingtonian. This weekend is jam-packed with fun outdoor community events. The weather should be gorgeous — the only problem will be finding time to do everything.
Trashy Pick Up Artists — Dubbed the “Pick Up Artists,” four recent college grads from Maryland are on cross-country journey to pick up trash and educate people about sustainability. On Saturday, Davey Rogner and Kelly Klein, 24, and Kim Alexander and Jeff Chen, 23 will kick off their 240 mile trek across Virginia in Arlington. Volunteers interested in helping them out should meet at the Clarendon Whole Foods (2700 Wilson Boulevard) at 10:00 a.m. According to the organizers, this event has been cancelled due to the permits from VDOT not coming in.
Neighborhood Day — Enjoy any number of activities being held throughout Arlington, from yard sales to block parties to barbecues to walks and runs. See the complete list here. The evening will conclude with a special military pageant and concert by performers from Ft. Myer. Called the “Twilight Tattoo,” the performance will take place between 6:00 and 7:30 p.m. at Bluemont Park (601 North Manchester Street).
Hub Spin Group Ride — Want to go on a “completely chill” bike ride around Crystal City? The new Revolution Cycles City Hub store is hosting a group ride for all skill levels from 6:30 to 8:00 Saturday night. Bring your own bike or rent one of theirs for free. While the ride will be nice, the after party at Bailey’s Sports Grille ($8 charge covers drinks and munchies) may be even better.
Taste of Arlington — One of the area’s most anticipated outdoor events. From noon to 5:00 p.m., more than 15,000 people are expected to cram into a one-block stretch of Wilson Boulevard next to Ballston Common Mall to try samples from more than 40 Arlington restaurants. See our preview here.
IBIS Chamber Music Society Concert — The last free IBIS concert of the season, featuring selections from Vivaldi, Handel and Mendelssohn. IBIS is an ensemble of professional musicians who normally perform with orchestras like the National Symphony and the Boston Pops. Their concerts are family-friendly and informal.
More than 60 swing dancers packed onto the Clarendon Ballroom dance floor Tuesday night as the Fabulettes — a trio of singers with polka dots and hair that would make Snooki jealous — sang hits from the ’50s and ’60s. Most of the dancers were members of the GottaSwing beginner and intermediate dance classes led by Tom Koerner and Debra Sternberg.
Each Tuesday, Tom and Debra teach a beginner’s class at 7:00 p.m. followed by an intermediate class at 8:00 p.m. and a dance open to the public at 9:00 p.m. Admission for dancers who are not attending a class is $10.
Note that the moves in this video of Tom and Debra are not necessarily covered in the beginner classes.
New classes start May 11. Tuition for the eight-week session is $125.
A live band performs every week — next week expect the Jeff Carmella Band to blast some rhythm and blues.
Both singles and couples are welcome, says Tom.
“We’ve had over 147 couples get engaged after meeting at one of our lessons or dances. Even if you’ve already got a significant other, nothing says ‘I love you’ better than committing to a relationship on the dance floor. You can always divorce your wife, but not your dance partner!”
Once again, there are plenty of events to choose from this weekend. Here are a few options:
Laugh. Kristen Schaal, best known as the Flight of the Conchords’ only fan, will be performing her stand-up comedy act tonight at Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike). Tickets for the 9:45 show cost $20. She has two additional performances scheduled for Saturday night.
Live. On Saturday, get free home improvement advice at the Arlington Home Show and Expo. There will be 14 free classes and presentations from 60 exhibitors. The expo is being held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Walter Reed Community Center (2909 16th Street South).
If the home show put you in the mood for redecorating, head over to The Arlington Urban Village Market. Talking place in the Courthouse parking lot from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the market will feature housewares and other furnishings for sale.
