This Saturday, May 15, is Neighborhood Day in Arlington County. Neighborhoods and community groups around the County will hold community-building events, from block parties and stream clean-ups to neighborhood festivals and yard sales.
Through the years, the goal of Neighborhood Day has always been to help Arlingtonians make connections with neighbors, and 2010 is no different. This year's Neighborhood Day offerings include something for everyone, from early birds to night owls. Here are just a few examples:
Highland Park-Overlee Knolls Neighborhood Association 3rd Annual Neighborhood Fitness Run
Neighbors of all ages are invited to join this early morning one-mile Fun Run. Kids can also visit Arlington County firetrucks and participate in other fun fitness and craft activities too!
Time: 7:45am
Location: Ohio and 22nd Street N
For more information: bryna.helfer@gmail.com
Nauck Community Yard Sale
Time: 8am-1pm
Location: Nauck Town Square, 24th Rd. between Kenmore & Shirlington Road.
For more information: 703-521-2852
Bluemont Park Twilight Tattoo
Time: 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Location: Bluemont Park; take Metrobus or Metro (Orange Line) to Ballston and walk or ride your bike down the Bluemont Junction Trail to the park.
Arlington's neighbors at Fort Myer (now known as the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall) are hosting a Twilight Tattoo for the community! Come pack a picnic and bring the family to this hour-long military pageant featuring The Old Guard and The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own." The performance provides a fast-paced journey through Army history, from Revolutionary times to your Army's involvement in current military operations. Come and experience a glimpse into American history with The U.S. Army Blues, vocalists from The U.S. Army Band Downrange, The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, The Continental Color Guard, The Commander-in-Chief’s Guard and The U.S. Army Drill Team. Bleacher seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, but there is plenty of space for chairs and blankets.
Taste of Arlington on Sunday, May 16
If you're busy on Saturday, don't fret. Neighborhood Day continues into Sunday with the Taste of Arlington, an annual event that transforms the Ballston area into a lively street festival, complete with local entertainment, children's activities, special exhibits, and lots of food from Arlington restaurants.
Each year, over 40 restaurants participate in this spectacular community event. This year, the event will expand its footprint by showcasing the County's urban villages such as Ballston, Clarendon, Columbia Pike, Rosslyn, Shirlington, Crystal City, and Pentagon City.
The event is hosted by the Ballston-Virginia Square Partnership, in conjunction with the Clarendon Alliance, Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization, Rosslyn Renaissance, and the National Science Foundation.
So whether you connect with neighbors on Saturday or Sunday, in the morning or at night, in Nauck or in Ballston, just get out there, neighbor, and be neighborly!
Any fans of YouTube may have noticed Arlington's increasing presence on-screen in recent months. Just this month, two walkable Arlington neighborhoods - Columbia Pike and Ballston-Virginia Square - made new on-camera appearances,but for two very different reasons.
Columbia Pike is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year, and the Pike 200 Minute series has been chronicling some of the different phases of the last two centuries on the Pike in words and pictures. Each one-minute episode highlights one of the Pike's unique treasures. Click here to view all three episodes of the Pike 200 Minute.
Of course, if you're interested in seeing the Pike from the ground up, check out the WalkArlington Pike Hike Walkabout!
Fast forward from the 1800s to 2010. Have you ever heard of a Flash Mob? It sounds a little scary, but the Flash Mob hosted at Ballston Common Mall by the Ballston Partnership and featuring Bowen McCauley Dance and America's Got Talent semi-finalists The DC Cowboys back on May 2 was anything but.
Here's how a Flash Mob works: A choreographer creates a sequence of movements and demonstrates them in a video online. They also teach the dance moves live in pre-scheduled group rehearsals. Through digital networking, teaching others live, and spreading the word among friends via social media and other means, the public gets involved and ensures that the dance "lives and thrives."
In Ballston on May 2, the Flash Mob unveiled the dance version of ABBA favorite "Mamma Mia." Click here to see how it looked and sounded, courtesy of YouTube. If you'd like to try it yourself, here's the online tutorial!
And if your feet aren't too tired afterward, go on WalkArlington's Ballston-Virginia Square Walkabout!
Stan Karson, longtime president of the Radnor-Fort Myer Heights Civic Association and former vice-chairman of the Arlington County Civic Federation's executive committee, was honored last month with the Federation's Sun-Gazette Cup in recognition of his civic leadership and local activism. (photo courtesy of The Sun-Gazette)
You might recognize Stan as the host of WalkArlington's Radnor-Fort Myer Heights video Walkabout, produced in 2008. Once you've viewed the video and been persuaded by Stan to explore "RAFOM," be sure you grab your trusty Radnor-Fort Myer Heights Walkabout map before you head out!
Congratulations, Stan! If Arlington had a Walk of Fame, your star would be on it!
Have you met Arlington's newest celebrities? Their names are Ross and Todd. Perhaps you've seen them out on the sidewalks or walking trails in their space-age running shoes, whizzing past on their cool new bikes, or using their Smartrip cards to travel by bus or train?
Still not sure if you know them? Maybe you remember the article in last month's issue of the Pacer, which introduced Ross and Todd and their head-to-head Car-Free Skeptics Challenge to try going car-free for 30 days?
Of course, it's all being captured online and on camera...hence their meteoric rise to fame. In fact, the Skeptics Challenge showdown, which began on Earth Day/April 22 and runs through Bike to Work Day /May 21, is being documented not only by the good folks at Arlington's Car-Free Diet but by Ross and Todd themselves.
If you haven't crossed their paths yet, maybe you will before the Challenge ends. Even if you don't see Ross and Todd in person, you can still cheer them on/share Arlington walking tips via cyberspace. Just click here to comment on Todd's blog. Or click here to comment on Ross' blog.
With one week to go, our Car-Free Diet Skeptics are in the home stretch, so now is the time help them cross the finish line (on foot, two wheels or public transit!) in their quest to go car-free for 30 days. Go Ross! Go Todd! Go Car-Free!
This just in: A public forum on Arlington County's proposed snow removal ordinance has been scheduled for Thursday, May 20, from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. The forum will be held at the Department of Human Services, 3033 Wilson Boulevard (across from the Clarendon Metro), in Conference Rooms 7E and 7F.
The proposed snow removal ordinance would require property owners, people in charge of property, or tenants to clear sidewalks adjacent to their property after snow and ice storms. It would apply to both residential and commercial properties and establish time frames for snow clearing and fines and penalties for non-compliance.
The County's proposed action is meant to help keep the public right of way clear, ensure the continuation of business operations within the County, allow residents and workers mobility, and provide access to critical services after a snowstorm.
During the forum, County staff will review the proposed ordinance and hear from the public. The County Board is scheduled to vote on the proposed ordinance after a public hearing on Saturday, June 12.
Click here to read the proposed ordinance and staff report (item #39 on the April 24 County Board agenda). If you can't make it to the May 20th forum but would like to submit comments on the proposed ordinance, email: snow@arlingtonva.us.
