Lubber Run Amphitheater Schedule Set
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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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
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.
Lubber Run Amphitheater Damaged by Hurricane Irene
The newly-restored Lubber Run Amphitheater was damaged by a falling tree limb over the weekend.
The large, rotted tree limb, felled by the wind and rain of Hurricane Irene, hit the back of the amphitheater building and damaged the concrete brick parapet wall and capping. Some wiring also appeared to be damaged.
The damage is not enough to close the amphitheater for next weekend’s round of performances — the last of the summer — according to county spokeswoman Mary Curtius. She said that the power lines to the building are intact, but will be checked by an electrician. (Update at 2:05 p.m. — We’re now hearing that the power connection to the building may, in fact, have been damaged.)
The building will be repaired by a contractor, Curtius said. The county’s urban forester, meanwhile, will check the tree to make sure it doesn’t pose any additional danger.
Award-winning local rockers The Grandsons will perform at the amphitheater Friday night. On Saturday night the amphitheater will host a teen talent and movie night. Inception will be shown, rounding out the summer’s entertainment schedule.
Hat tip to twelvemilecircle.com
Lubber Run to Host Russian Folk Ensemble
The newly-reopened Lubber Run Amphitheater will host two very different musical performances this weekend: Arlington native singer-songwriter Margot MacDonald and Russian folk ensemble Russkie Musikanti.
Here’s how organizers describe both.
Arlington’s renovated Lubber Run Amphitheater (N. Columbus and 2nd St. between Arlington Blvd and George Mason Drive) keeps packing them in. This weekend’s free programs feature a home-grown Arlington talent and current Washington Area Music Award winner Friday (Aug 12) at 8 pm and an acclaimed ensemble from the Washington Balalaika Society on Saturday (Aug 13).
Arlington native Margot MacDonald is a unique talent whose classically-trained voice covers four octaves and brings new perspective to pop music – a textbook case of “classically trained soprano and pianist captivated by Led Zeppelin”. MacDonald started her singing career with the Washington National Opera at age 10, and by 15 she was releasing a second album and packing regional venues. She has appeared at 9:30 Club, Kennedy Center, Wolftrap, Birchmere, and the Bitter End in NYC.
Saturday evening brings Ruski Musikante to the Lubber Run Amphitheater. Composed of members of the renowned Washington Balalaika Society, the group brings the music of Mother Russia and the unique instruments that make it to the intimate outdoor setting at Lubber Run Park.
Amphitheater programs begin at 8 pm. For more information, call 703-228-1850, visit the County Website or search “Lubber Run Amphitheater” on Facebook. The amphitheater is nestled in a forest setting near the cool-running Lubber Run stream – an ideal place for picnics and families.
Lubber Run Performance Schedule Announced
(Updated at 10:55 a.m.) Two years after being “mothballed” by Arlington County, and less than two months after being saved by the approval of $100,000 worth of repairs, the Lubber Run Amphitheater is nearly ready to reopen.
Amphitheater supporters just released a schedule of performances for the upcoming summer season. The season will kick off on Friday, July 29, with a performance by Blues/R&B singer/songwriter Mary Ann Redmond. Organizers are planning on serving cake to attendees to celebrate the new season — the first since 2009.
“This wouldn’t have been possible without a community that appreciates the unique venue for family entertainment the Lubber Run amphitheater has offered for many years and a caring and responsive County government,” Lubber Run Amphitheater Foundation President Esther Bowring said in a statement. “We are looking forward to the amphitheater’s reopening and to working with Arlington County and the community to bring great entertainment to the Lubber Run stage for summers to come.”
All shows will begin at 8:00 p.m. The complete performance schedule includes:
- Friday, July 29 — Mary Ann Redmond
- Saturday, July 30 – Justin Trawick
- Friday, August 5 — Origem
- Saturday, August 6 — Teen Talent and Movie Night: Fast and Furious
- Friday, August 12 — Margot MacDonald
- Saturday, August 13 — Russkie Musikanti
- Friday, August 19 — Texas Chainsaw Horns
- Saturday, August 20 — Andrew Acosta and the New Old-Time String Band
- Friday, August 26 — Eric Scott
- Saturday, August 27 — Cartoon Johnny
- Friday, September 2 — The Grandsons
- Saturday, September 3 — Teen Talent and Movie Night: Inception
Lubber Run Amphitheater Repairs Approved
The Lubber Run Amphitheater will be open for performances later this summer thanks to the efforts of community members and county staff.
Just two months ago, a 107-page county-commissioned study suggested that it could cost up to $3.5 million to get the deteriorating amphitheater back up to current code standards. With tight county finances, amphitheater supporters feared that it could be years before the amphitheater would be restored and reopened.
Shortly after the study was released, though, a group called the Lubber Run Amphitheater Foundation was formed and began arguing that only a few relatively inexpensive fixes were necessary to reopen the local landmark. As we found out at this afternoon’s County Board meeting, they were right and they were able to work with county staff to turn their convictions into action.
For less than $100,000 — the amount allotted by the County Board this year for a floodplain study — contractors will soon commence a number of repairs to make the 43-year-old amphitheater safer and more accessible. They will replace the wooden stage, replace area and stage lighting, purchase portable hearing devices, and install handicap-accessible parking spaces, portable restrooms and designated seating.
“With the community’s help, we have developed a plan to make the amphitheater a safe, seasonal venue for outdoor entertainment,” County Manager Barbara Donnellan said in a statement today. “These basic repairs and modest improvements will make the amphitheater accessible to persons with disabilities and keep it in compliance with federal, state, and local guidelines for work in a 100-year floodplain and Resource Protection Area (RPA).”
Donnellan first announced the repairs at a Lubber Run Amphitheater Foundation-sponsored meeting last night.
“To say they were thrilled was an understatement,” Donnellan told the board today. “This is not a perfect solution, but it is do-able.”
The repairs are expected to take until the end of July. After that, there’s ample money in the budget to fund outdoor programming at the amphitheater.
With Funding in Place, Lubber Run Meeting Planned
Outspoken supporters of Arlington’s Lubber Run Amphitheatre managed to convince the county to include nearly $150,000 worth of funding for the aging amphitheatre in the FY 2012 budget. Now, with the funding in place, the Lubber Run Amphitheatre Foundation is helping to organize a meeting regarding the facility’s future.
The public meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. on May 16, at the Lubber Run Recreation Center (300 North Park Drive) Barrett Elementary School library (4401 N. Henderson Road). Among those expected to be in attendance is County Manager Barbara Donnellan. This is the second such meeting organized by the foundation.
The county is providing up to $45,000 for programming at Lubber Run this summer. Another $100,000 is going to “study capital needs toward restoration of the Lubber Run Amphitheatre.”
Budget Will Add Funds for Libraries, Lubber Run, Safety Net
Public libraries, the Lubber Run Amphitheater and ‘safety net’ programs are a few of the budget priorities that will receive funding above and beyond the amount proposed in the county manager’s budget.
The County Board has allocated $258,000 to allow each branch library to stay open for an additional three hours per week. The funds will also support longer Sunday hours at the Shirlington and Columbia Pike libraries and allow the purchase of additional books and e-books.
The board is providing an additional $370,000 for park maintenance, Friday hours at the Lubber Run Community Center and for the restoration of seasonal programming at the shuttered Lubber Run Amphitheater. An additional allocation of $100,000 will fund early stages of restoring the amphitheater.
Safety net programs like housing, mental health and substance abuse treatment and community medical care will also benefit from the board’s budget adjustment.
An additional $1.5 million will be added to the Affordable Housing Investment Fund, for a total FY 2012 contribution of $5.5 million. An additional $250,000 will be added for housing grants, the subject of a recent ARLnow.com poll. Service for those with serious emotional, mental and substance abuse problems will receive just over $500,000. Safety net non-profits like the Arlington Food Assistance Center, the Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network, Doorways and the Arlington Free Clinic will split an additional $420,000.
Public safety agencies will receive an extra $1 million under the new budget. The money will allow the police department to add several officers and to fund domestic violence support and the Gang Task Force. It will also fund a fire department battalion chief position and two sheriff’s office positions.
Other changes include additional ART bus service to the DHS building from western Columbia Heights, the planting of 300-400 trees around the county, and additional money to fund implementation of the Community Energy Plan and the Natural Resource Management plan.
The additional funding is possible despite the board’s commitment to hold the real estate tax rate steady. See more information about the County Board’s final budget, which is set for approval on Saturday.
