Lubber Run Community Center

Community Group Wants Affordable Housing at Lubber Run

By Ethan Rothstein

Lubber Run Community Center (photo via Arlington County)An interfaith community group says it has gathered more than 10,000 signatures for a petition that calls on Arlington County to help develop 1,000 to 1,500 new units of affordable housing over the next 3-5 years.

Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE) collected the signatures and plans to present them to Arlington County Board Chairman Walter Tejada next Thursday. VOICE says the affordable housing can be built by redeveloping government-owned sites, including the Lubber Run Community Center in Arlington Forest.

VOICE’s proposal identifies government-owned sites that could be redeveloped including Lubber Run Community Center. The group wants the units to be available only to families and individuals making less than $50,000 a year.

According to a press release, VOICE plans to bring more than 100 people — including clergy in religious attire — in front of the Arlington County government building (2100 Clarendon Blvd) Thursday, Dec. 12, at 5:45 p.m., in support of the plan.

The VOICE group is seeking immediate action from the County Board to start implementing some of its proposals at its Dec. 14 meeting.

Two Performances Added at Lubber Run Amphitheater

By Katie Pyzyk

Performance at Lubber Run Amphitheater (photo courtesy Arlington County)(Updated at 12:20 p.m.) Two additional performances have been added to the schedule at Lubber Run Amphitheater.

The Lubber Run Amphitheater Foundation (LRAF) credits its cooperation with Arlington Cultural Affairs and donations from supporters for the added shows on August 18 and 25.

LRAF added the shows in response to requests for more children’s programming. The organization hopes to further expand programming next year if this year’s additions are successful.

Below is the schedule for the remaining performances, including the two new shows in August:

  • Friday, July 26 — The Traveling Players — Performing William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing”. Selected as a “Summer School in the Arts” by the NEA, Traveling Players Ensemble is a professional theatre company dedicated to bringing great theatre into the great outdoors through a thriving summer camp and year-round acting classes and workshops.
  • Saturday, July 27 — The Tone Rangers — For 25 years, this award-winning D.C.-based vocal group has brought inventive arrangements and keen wit to everything from Gregorian chant to TV theme songs. Nominated for 7 Wammies, they were Best A Cappella Group four consecutive years (2007- 10) and Best A Cappella Recording in 2007. National finalists in the 2002 Harmony Sweepstakes (the Superbowl of a cappella), they are 3-time winners of Mid-Atlantic “Audience Favorite” and “Best Arrangement” awards.
  • Friday, August 2 — Hexagon Theatre Company — Hexagon is musical, satirical and theatrical. Every year since 1956, this nonprofit has put on Washington’s only all-original, all volunteer revue of its kind—donating more than $3.5 million to 40-plus organizations.
  • Saturday, August 3 — Rico Amero — He makes music. He tells the truth. Join Rico for a night of hiphop jazz.
  • Sunday, August 18 — The Great Zucchini — He will delight the youngest members of the community with his popular, comical, magic show. Bring the kids, grandkids, and young neighbors to Lubber Run to this engaging show for children.
  • Sunday, August 25 — Cantor the Miraculous — The magic continues with Cantor the Miraculous who dazzles audiences through wizardly interaction and artistry to bring “quality prestidigitation from a master crafts person.” The whole family is welcome. This show is at 5:00 p.m.

The amphitheater, which was refurbished in 2011, is located at N. Columbus Street and N. 2nd Street, two blocks north of Route 50. All shows are free and open to the public. Performances on Fridays and Saturdays begin at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday shows begin at 6:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Information about last minute weather cancellations can be obtained by calling 703-228-1850 the day of each show. Picnics are allowed but alcohol is prohibited.

Lubber Run Amphitheater Schedule Set

By ARLnow.com

Performance at Lubber Run Amphitheater (photo courtesy Arlington County)Arlington County has released the performance schedule for the upcoming summer season at the Lubber Run Amphitheater.

Opening night at the amphitheater is scheduled for Friday, June 14, with soul and R&B artist Marry Ann Redmond performing. The season will close on Saturday, Aug. 3 with hip hop and jazz artist Rico Amero.

The amphitheater, which underwent a round of critical repairs in 2011, is located at N. Columbus Street and 2nd Street N., two blocks north of Route 50.

The full schedule can be found below. All shows are free and open to the public, and start at 8:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

  • Friday, June 14 — Mary Ann Redmond (soul/R&B)
  • Saturday, June 15 — Halau O’Aulani and the Aloha Boys (Hawaiian dance)
  • Monday, June 17 — Metropolitan Chorus (choral)
  • Wednesday, June 19 — Potomac Harmony Chorus (a cappella)
  • Friday, June 21 — The U.S. Army Blues (jazz)
  • Saturday, June 22 — King Teddy (big band/swing)
  • Sunday, June 23 at 6:00 p.m. — The Constituents (acoustic/Caribbean)
  • Friday, June 28 — Margot MacDonald (singer-songwriter)
  • Saturday, June 29 — Eric Scott (pop/neo-soul)
  • Sunday, June 30 at 6:00 p.m. — Black Muddy River Band (acoustic)
  • Friday, July 5 — Colleen Shanley and Grand Junction (bluegrass/folk rock)
  • Saturday, July 6 — Mystic Warriors (New Age/jazz)
  • Sunday, July 7 at 6:00 p.m. — Bob Gibson Big Band (big band/swing)
  • Friday, July 12 — Juniper Lane (pop/rock)
  • Saturday, July 13 — Andrew Acosta and the New Old Time String Band (acoustic/traditional)
  • Friday, July 19 — Ted Garber (blues/rocsc
  • Saturday, July 20 — The Grandsons (rock)
  • Sunday, July 21 at 6:00 p.m. — Russkie Musikanti (Russian folk)
  • Friday, July 26 — “Much Ado About Nothing” (Shakespeare play)
  • Saturday, July 27 — The Tone Rangers (a cappella/comedy)
  • Friday, August 2 — Hexagon (political satire)
  • August 3 — Rico Amero (hip hop/jazz)

Family Friendly Halloween Events in Arlington

By Katie Pyzyk

Halloween falls on a Wednesday this year, so fans of the holiday have a number of opportunities to attend events over the next few days. There are numerous events for adults at the area bars and restaurants, but here is a list of some family friendly activities for participants of all ages:

  • Halloween Harvest (5:15-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24) — Buyers and Renters Arlington Voice (BRAVO) is hosting a community gardening event. There will be face painting, a treasure hunt, pumpkin decorating and healthy snacks fresh from the garden. Attendees can learn more about community gardens at the free event, which will be held at Whitefield Commons (106 N. Thomas Street).
  • Fire Pit of Horror (6:00-8:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27) — Join Arlington’s WSC Avant Bard at the Lubber Run Park fire ring as performers bring classic horror tales to life. There will be readings of works by Edgar Allen Poe and H.P. Lovecraft. Costumes are optional, but encouraged. The event is free, but attendees are asked to RSVP online.
  • Douglas Park Halloween Trail of Terror (7:00-9:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 27) — A haunted trail located at 1620 S. Quincy Street in the Douglas Park neighborhood. Attendees are asked to bring canned goods or nonperishable items for donation to the Arlington Food Assistance Center.
  • Trick or Treat with Shirlie (2:00-4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27) — The Village at Shirlington is encouraging patrons to dress up in costumes while enjoying free treats at the restaurants and shops. Several of the businesses will have promotions, face painting, crafts and other activities. A list of all participating businesses can be found online. Entries for the pumpkin carving contest can be dropped off at the Hilton Garden Inn from 8:00-10:00 a.m. on Saturday, and the winner will receive a $100 gift card to One, Two Kangaroo Toys.
  • FALLoween (10:00 a.m-2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27) — Market Common (2700 Clarendon Blvd) will hold its annual free event featuring a petting zoo, face painting, music and trick or treating at some of the businesses. A performance by Rocknocerous kicks off the event at 10:00 a.m. People and pets are invited to join in the costume parade at noon.
  • Halloween Party (1:00-4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27) — Walter Reed Community Center (2909 16th Street S.) will host a special day for kids ages 3-11. Activities at the free event include carnival games, moon bounces, crafts, a costume parade and prizes.
  • Ghostbusters Viewing (8:00-10:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27) — Take in a showing of the classic movie “Ghostbusters” in the Dome Theater at Artisphere. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased online.

A listing of some pet friendly Halloween activities can be found in a previous article.

Lubber Run To Host Trio Of Shows This Weekend

By Aaron Kraut

The Lubber Run Amphitheater will host a trio of events this weekend, including a Shakespeare play and a Hawaiian music and hula concert.

Lubber Run’s summer series of free outdoor shows will offer a change of pace with Traveling Players Ensemble’s performance of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 27.

The series, which typically features local music acts, will welcome Baltimore-based band The Project, on Saturday.

From a Lubber Run Amphitheater Foundation press release:

 Selected as a “Summer School in the Arts” by the NEA, Traveling Players Ensemble is a professional theater company dedicated to bringing great theater into the great outdoors through a thriving summer camp and year-round acting classes and workshops

The Project will play at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 28. Also from the release:

Baltimore musicians Bob Goldberg (lead vocals and guitar), Eric McCleaf (guitar), and Jason Wilson (bass guitar and backing vocals) rock the house with everything from classic rock to current pop, with some 80s rock, 90s modern rock, and lots of other stuff in between.

Finally, a group from Arlington-based “native Hawaiian school” Halau O ‘Aulani will take the stage at 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 29:

Native music and dance presented by Halau O ‘Aulani, founded in 1996 for the sole purpose of creating a learning environment for students interested in the preservation of the multi-faceted cultures of Hawai’i with primary emphasis on the Hawaiian culture.

Bolivian Cultural Night Comes to Arlington

By Margaret Doyle

Arlington residents can enjoy a musical taste of Bolivia without even leaving the county, as the Comité Pro Bolivia will be holding a Bolivian Cultural Night on Saturday (July 21).

As a non-profit cultural organization now celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Comité Pro Bolivia will showcase eight large Bolivian dance and music ensembles. Each performance will vary from Suri Sicuris, which is traditionally performed before the ostrich (suri) hunt, to the Tinku dance of strength and agility.

The event is free, open to the public and will begin at 8:00 p.m. It’s being held at the Lubber Run Amphitheater at North Columbus and 2nd Street North (two blocks north of Route 50). The amphitheater is wheelchair accessible.

Bolivians make up 20 percent of the approximately 33,000 individuals in Arlington’s Hispanic community. Numerous Bolivian dance groups have been active throughout the county since the 1990s. The Comité’s stated goal is to focus on the dancing traditions which help bring together the Bolivian Community in Arlington and to also create a feeling of belonging and home.

The event and is co-sponsored by Arlington Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Folklore Studies Program at George Mason University. For more information, call 703-228-1850 or visit www.arlingtonarts.org.

Photo courtesy Arlington Cultural Affairs

Local Performers to Play Lubber Run This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

The Lubber Run Amphitheater will be hosting three nights of music this weekend featuring some notable Arlington musicians.

It looks to be a beautiful weekend for an outdoor, evening concert. It’s expected to be sunny and very warm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

First up is Margot MacDonald, who is scheduled to perform at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, June 29. From a Lubber Run Amphitheater Foundation press release:

Margot MacDonald is a 20-year-old with an incredible voice and undeniable songwriting talent from Arlington’s Lyon Park [neighborhood]. Margot’s live performances have been described as “hypnotic. She lulls you into a meditative state from behind her keyboard, scorches you with dirty rock guitar and then layers scat over Siren call with a loop pedal.”

Justin Trawick is scheduled to perform at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 30. Also from the press release:

Walking the tightrope between various genres, Justin’s music fluently balances between sometimes rowdy, other times consoling, forms of folk, bluegrass, and hip hop bestowing upon listeners an incorporated and organic form of poetry. Navigating the Washington, DC music scene, Justin has been tunefully hitting the local clubs, coffeehouses, and bars since November 2004, quickly expanding his range to larger venues up and down the east coast. He plays both solo and with his band, The Justin Trawick Group, consisting of quite the velvety brew of piano, cello, violin, mandolin, upright bass, hand percussion, and drums.

Finally, at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 1, the Arlington Community Band is scheduled to perform.

The Arlington Community Band is a municipal wind and percussion ensemble based in the Ballston-Virginia Square area of Arlington. It is funded by the Arlington Adult Education Program and works to promote music education in the community.

Heat Advisory Prompts Concert Cancellation

By Katie Pyzyk

Tonight’s free concert at Lubber Run Amphitheater will be cancelled due to the heat advisory, which has been extended until 10:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Potomac Harmony Chorus, and all-female a capella group, was scheduled to perform.

The decision to cancel was made in consultation with the group, both for their health and safety, and for that of the audience.

As of now, Friday’s performance by The U.S. Army Blues is still on for 8:00 p.m.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Sauca Ends Food Truck Service — Coming on the heels of the closing of the Sauca restaurant on Columbia Pike comes word that the Sauca food trucks have also ended their run. Owner Farhad Assari says it was a lifestyle choice — he was tired of working 14 hours a day, seven days a week. [Eater]

County May Need to Create New Group Homes — Arlington County may need to find some new group homes to house 33 people with intellectual and related disabilities. Arlington is just one of numerous Virginia localities scrambling to house disabled residents after a federal judge ordered state-run “training center” facilities closed. [Arlington Connection]

Lubber Run Performance Schedule Set — The summer concert series at the Lubber Run Amphitheater will start on June 15 and end on August 4. Concerts are scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. [Arlington Arts, Sun Gazette]

Flickr pool photo by Philliefan99

Coyote Spotted Near Lubber Run?

By ARLnow.com

 

Now that we know for sure that there are coyotes living in Arlington, we’re starting to hear more reports of possible coyote sightings.

One resident sent along this tip and photo (above, left) after spotting what might have been a coyote in an Arlington park.

I was walking my dog yesterday morning (Sunday, 7:15AM) in Lubber Run and saw this by the bridge, at first I thought it was a fox, then realized it was too big to be a fox. Perhaps a coyote, it was definitely not a domestic dog. The tail was very long and bushy. It stood by the bridge for about a minute staring at me and my dog.

Photo (left) courtesy David Hartogs. Photo (right) via Wikipedia.

Lubber Run Performances Deemed a Success

By ARLnow.com

Performances at the Lubber Run Amphitheater this summer attracted sizable crowds and some community donations, the Arlington County Board was told this afternoon.

Thanks to much-needed renovations, the amphitheater sprung back to life in July, following a two year hiatus. Two teen talent and movie nights, and nine musical performances, were scheduled at the amphitheater this summer.

The performances attracted 2,400 attendees, Lubber Run Amphitheater Foundation co-president Esther Bowring told the County Board. In addition, $2,400 was donated to a “wishing well” near the amphitheater parking lot.

Bowring said her group of amphitheater boosters will continue working with county staff to make the venue a success in 2012.

“We’re going to be continuing to work with the staff to figure out what we need to do to help with the performances for next year,” Bowring said.

The foundation will work to recruit more volunteers and more private donations for next year’s performances, Bowring added. She said the group would like to see upgrades made to dressing rooms at the amphitheater, to allow additional types of performances to be held. In addition, they’re pushing for more local groups to be added to the performance schedule; such performances could be staged at little or no cost.

“We have a very talented community,” Bowring said.

County Board members expressed support for the amphitheater.

“It’s one of the best things we have going in Arlington,” said board member Walter Tejada.

“We look forward to even better things in the summers to come,” board chairman Chris Zimmerman said.

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