movie

Free Stuff Friday: See ‘Centurion’ Gratis

By ARLnow.com

Do you like free stuff? Do you like bloody, gory movies about ancient wars? Do you want to see Dominic West, Detective Jimmy McNulty of The Wire fame, play a character named “General Titus Virilus?”

If you answered “yes” to all three questions, then our friends at the Arlington Athletic and Social League have an offer for you. They’re letting ARLnow.com readers get in on a giveaway of free tickets to a sneak peak screening of the upcoming Roman war flick Centurion.

It’s apparently along the lines of 300 and it’s gotten reached a respectable 53% on the Tomatometer.

Click here to RSVP for the screening.

And yes, we’re going to try to turn “Free Stuff Friday” into a regular feature. If you’re a local business that has a legitimately great free offer for our readers, email arlingtonnews [at] gmail.com with the subject line “Free Stuff Friday.”

Last Day For Free Family Flick In Ballston

By ARLnow.com

It’s the final day for this summer’s free family movie festival at the Regal Cinema in Ballston Common Mall.

The G-rated Space Chimps and the PG-rated Hotel For Dogs will be screened at 10:00 this morning, free of charge. Seating is first come first serve. Doors will open at 9:15 for those hoping to reserve a seat.

You can bank on the free family films coming back next summer. Regal has been running the festival every year since 1991.

Crystal City Announces Next Year’s Outdoor Movie Theme

By ARLnow.com

Crystal City’s Star Trek-themed outdoor film festival wrapped up last night with a screening of 2009’s JJ Abrams-directed Star Trek.

Now that this year’s film festival is in the books, the Crystal City Business Improvement District has announced next summer’s theme.

“Crystal Screen: By The Numbers” will kick off on June 6, 2011. It will feature a diverse selection of movies with numbers in the title, like Apollo 13 and Oceans 11. The new theme was voted on by audiences at this year’s movies.

“We just finished our most popular season yet, and look forward to next year’s run,” Crystal City BID president Angela Fox said in a statement.

Here’s next year’s movie line-up, after the jump.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Lost Chaplin Film Re-Debuts at Slapsticon — The Slapsticon film festival, held in Rosslyn over the weekend, debuted a silent film with a short cameo by a then-obscure comedian: Charlie Chaplin. The 1914 film was thought to have been lost to history, but was recently discovered at an antiques sale in Michigan. ABC News reported on the film’s re-debut on Sunday.

We Love DC Profile Columbia Pike — In case you missed it on Friday, We Love DC gave Columbia Pike some love in the latest installment of its periodic “Where We Live” feature.

Run for the Gulf 5K a Success — A 5K race was held at Bluemont Park Friday night to raise money for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill restoration effort. County Board Vice Chairman Chris Zimmerman and congressman Jim Moran (D-Va.) were among those in attendance. See a photo from the event here.

Flick pool photo by Amberture.

Free Family Movie Mornings in Ballston

By ARLnow.com

With the kids out of school, parents have to occasionally do something to keep them entertained and out of trouble. Going to the movies is a good, albeit pricey option. Now, the Regal Cinema at Ballston Common Mall is removing the pricey part with the introduction of a “Free Family Film Festival,” which will run through the end of August.

Starting this week, the theater will offer free admission to a G or PG movie every Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Doors open at 9:15 a.m. and the movie starts at 10:00 a.m. Seating is first come, first serve.

The Regal Cinema chain has hosted free family movie screenings every summer since 1991.

This year’s movie schedule includes Monsters vs. Aliens, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and Charlotte’s Web. The full schedule, after the jump.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Twilight Fans Stay Up Late for Latest Film In Series — A sizable crowd showed up at the Regal Cinema in Ballston Common Mall last night for a midnight screening of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. There was no mob scene outside — moviegoers with advance tickets steadily filed past the box office and into the theater. Most were exuberant girls and young women, although about one in ten was accompanied by a doting and expressionless boyfriend (or father). To accommodate the unusual crush of people coming out of the mall parking lot at 2:30 a.m., police directed traffic near the theater after the movie.

Byrd Funeral Will Take Place in Arlington — The funeral and internment of long-time Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) will take place in Arlington on Tuesday. The funeral is scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m. at Memorial Baptist Church (3455 North Glebe Road). The service is open to the public, although seating is limited. Byrd, who died Monday at age 92, will be buried next to his wife Erma in a private internment at an Arlington cemetery.

Free Cab Rides Return for the 4th — For a while, it looked as though a lack of funding might cancel the SoberRide program for the Fourth of July. But thanks to last-minute donations, the program will be back offering free taxi rides in Arlington, the District, Fairfax, Loudoun and other locales. The program will cover fares of up to $50, but you must call 1-800-200-8294 to book the cab.

Summer Doldrums for Real Estate Agents — After a busy spring, local Realtor Laura Rubinchuk says there are not nearly as many people buying and selling homes this summer. More from Arlington Real Estate News.

Midnight Showing of Twilight: Eclipse at Ballston Common Mall

By ARLnow.com

“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” the latest installment of the massively popular series, will premiere at midnight tonight in theaters around the country.

The Regal Ballston Common 12 is the only theater in Arlington hosting a midnight screening, although theaters in nearby Georgetown and Potomac Yard will also be staying open late for the film.

The Twilight series mixes romantic drama with vampire vs. werewolf action for a story that seems to be irresistible to swoon-prone teenage girls and perfectly rational grown women alike.

To Do This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

It’s not going to be the warmest spring weekend, and there may be a passing storm tomorrow, but on balance this weekend is not looking too bad.

If you’re looking for something fun to do, here are a few ideas. As always, you can check out our event calendar for more.

Tonight

I Love the ’90s Film Fest — Rosslyn’s weekly outdoor film series will be showing “Wayne’s World” tonight at Gateway Park (1300 Lee Highway). Party time starts at 7:30 p.m. Excellent!

Saturday

15th Annual Walk for the Animals — This dog-centric event raised more than $91,100 last year for the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. In addition to the three-mile walk, there will be demonstrations, entertainment, and sponsor booths. From 8:30 a.m. to noon at Bluemont Park (329 N. Manchester Street).

Semper Ride Motorcycle Show — If you’re in the armed forces, head to the Pentagon north parking lot for a motorcycle safety demonstration, group ride and freestyle stunt show. Featuring Red Bull freestyle motocross riders, Keith Code and the California Super Bike School, and an special celebrity guest. Registration begins at 0700, and the event will go until 1400.

P. Brennan’s Grand Opening — Columbia Pike residents have given a very warm welcome to the neighborhood’s new Irish pub. Now, P. Brennan’s (2910 Columbia Pike) is holding a grand opening celebration to officially mark their establishment as one of the Pike’s go-to watering holes. The party starts at 7:00 p.m. and will go to the wee hours.

Sunday

Benefit Concert for Haiti Children — Join the Opera Guild of Northern Virginia’s effort to send art and music supplies to school children in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. This benefit concert will take place from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the NRECA building (4301 Wilson Blvd).

To Do Tonight: Dude Fest

By ARLnow.com

The Big Lebowski is one of those films that has achieved a cult-like following — it has an almost timeless comedic quality that makes it entertaining even after repeated viewings.

It’s no surprise, then, that 12 years after it was first released, Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike) is expecting a big crowd for “Dude Fest: The Big Lebowski Movie and Music Night” tonight.

The evening will start at 7:30 with music inspired by the movie and music from the actual soundtrack. Then at 8:40 there will be trivia, bowling and awards for best costume (come dressed as your favorite character). Finally at 9:00, the big moment as the Big Lebowski is shown on the big screen.

Admission is $8.

Rosslyn to Screen 90s Movies at Gateway Park

By ARLnow.com

Last year Rosslyn held an “I [Heart] the 80s” outdoor film festival. This spring and summer the weekly film fest is back with a fimiliar theme: “I [Heart] the 90s.”

An unsustainable trend, perhaps, but the decade genre promises to bring some great late 20th century movies to Rosslyn’s Gateway Park (1300 Lee Highway), including Clueless, Wayne’s World, Airheads and Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.

Some generation-defining classics conspicuously missing from the line-up include Reality Bites, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, PCU, Forrest Gump and Clerks (feel free to add your favorite — there are many to choose from — in the comments).

The movies will be screened at Gateway Park after sundown every Friday from April 30 to September 3, rain or shine. There will also be pre-show 90s-themed games and prizes.

Bring low chairs and picnic gear, organizers say, but leave the booze at home, per local law.

The full schedule, after the jump.

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