Movie Shoot to Close Roosevelt Bridge
The filming of a big Hollywood movie will temporarily close the Roosevelt Bridge on Sunday.
The closures are scheduled from 8:20 to 9:10 a.m., and again from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. From the D.C. film office:
On Sunday, May 5 there will be intermittent closing of the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge to allow for the filming of a major motion picture set in the District. MPTD has negotiated an agreement with the DC Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Virginia Department of Transportation, Arlington Police and the National Park Service to close the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge.
The Theodore Roosevelt Bridge plays an integral role in the storyline. Aerial photography will be used to capture various angels (sic) of the bridge. While in the nation’s capital the production company will film other iconic sites.
VDOT is advising drivers to take alternate routes.
Drivers accessing the bridge from Virginia via I-66, Route 50 or the George Washington Parkway will be detoured. Virginia motorists heading into D.C. from I-66 have three options:
- Take I-66 East to Route 110 to the 14th Street Bridge (this is the official detour motorists can follow).
- Take I-66 East to Exit 73/Lee Highway to the Key Bridge.
- Take I-66 East to Exit 72 to Spout Run Parkway to George Washington Parkway to the Memorial Bridge.
Motorists heading from D.C. to I-66 can use the same options in reverse.
During the closures, message signs on I-66 as far west as Centreville will advise motorists to use alternate routes.
Virginia State Police, Arlington County Police, and U.S. Park Service Police will be stationed at various traffic control points on Route 50, I-66 and the GW Parkway.
VDOT traffic engineers anticipate that the 8:20 a.m. shut down will create 15-minute delays and the 1 p.m. closure will create 30-minute delays.
While neither agency specified which movie is being filmed, ComicBookMovie.com speculates that the closures are for the filming of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, a new superhero movie that’s set in D.C.
Hat tip to @shticksstickler
Marine Corps Memorial to Host Movie Screening
The Marine Corps War Memorial will host a movie screening on Friday and a ranger-guided history lesson on Sunday.
On Friday, May 3, the memorial will host a screening of the 1949 film Sands of Iwo Jima, starring John Wayne (see movie trailer, above). The public is invited to bring a lawn chair to the reviewing stand to watch the film, which will start at 8:00 p.m.
On Sunday, May 5, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., park rangers will give talks about little-known secrets of the statue.
According to a press release: “Rangers will host activities and offer short talks on the contents of the memorial’s cornerstone, graffiti inside the memorial’s base, and the amazing process by which workers climbed inside the memorial’s figures to piece them together in 1954.”
The events are part of the “Partners in Preservation Open House Weekend.” Partners in Preservation, a partnership between American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is currently hosting a contest that lets members of the public vote to direct $1 million worth of preservation funding to historic places in the D.C. area.
The Marine Corps War Memorial and Arlington House are both in the running. At the moment, however, they’re in 21st and 20th place respectively, out of a total of 24 entrants. The Memorial is seeking funding for a thorough cleaning and waxing.
“The Marine Corps War Memorial will compete for funds to carefully clean, wax, and re-gild the large outdoor sculpture at its center,” said a press release. “Each of the six giant bronze figures accumulates dirt, pollution, bird droppings, pollen, and natural weathering residues that must be removed with specialized pressure washing equipment. Because the statue is depicted with photographic realism, workers will need scaffolding and lifts to reach every angle and crevice of clothing and muscle, from the base of the memorial to its top 60 feet above the ground.”
Morning Notes
Mental Evaluation for Fire Bomb Suspect — Lawyers for Leon Traille, Jr., the man accused of trying to fire bomb the Ballston Common Mall food court last week, have asked the federal judge in the case to grant a mental health evaluation. Traille is charged with arson and faces 5 to 20 years in prison if convicted. [Washington Post]
Disturbance at Arlington Screening of ‘Hating Breitbart’ — A liberal activist is accused of disrupting the Friday night showing of the documentary Hating Breitbart at the Regal theater at Ballston Common Mall. Moviegoers say the activist, Ryan Clayton, shouted at the screen and laughed loudly at inappropriate times during the film about the late conservative media icon. [The Hollywood Reporter]
D.C. Sniper’s Ex-Wife Talks at Ft. Myer — Mildred T. Muhammad, the ex-wife of executed D.C. sniper John Allen Muhammad, spoke earlier this month at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. Muhammad, who was abused by her ex-husband, was the guest speaker at the base’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month observance. [U.S. Army]
New ‘Car Free Diet’ Video — Arlington County Commuter Services has commissioned a new series of videos for its ‘Car Free Diet’ campaign. The theme of the videos is “What’s Your One?” — and they make the case for walking, biking or taking public transit instead of driving. The videos will play on Arlington TV, the county’s cable channel, and prior to movie previews a the Regal Ballston Common and the AMC Loews Shirlington theaters. Disclosure: ACCS is an ARLnow.com advertiser. [YouTube]
Flickr pool photo by ddimick
UPDATED: Renovations to AMC Theater in Courthouse
(Updated on 10/9/12) A major renovation project is underway at the AMC movie theater at Courthouse Plaza (2150 Clarendon Blvd).
The renovations have been underway for at least two months. The lower level theaters have already been remodeled and now feature power adjustable leather recliners with footrests, as well as terraced rows of seating that make it easier to see the screen over the person sitting in front of you. With the lower theaters complete, renovations to the upper theaters are now underway.
Meanwhile, improvements to the lobby include updated decor, a new snack counter and new Coke freestyle machines. The theater’s restrooms have also been renovated, according to AMC spokesman Ryan Noonan.
The multiplex has remained open during the construction. Construction is expected to wrap up in the first half of November, according to Noonan.
The new recliners have reduced the seating capacity of each theater, but Noonan said the plush seating “makes for a phenomenal movie-going experience.”
Similar renovations were reported at an AMC theater in Atlanta earlier this year. Those changes included the addition of a bar that served beer, wine and cocktails that patrons could take to their seats, but Noonan said the Courthouse theater will not serve booze.
Can ‘Magic Mike’ Be a Magic Love Connection?
One local man is hoping that the movie “Magic Mike” can be his magic love connection.
A 42-year-old guy posted on the Craigslist Missed Connections page in an effort to connect with a woman he sat next to at an Arlington Cinema Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike) screening of the movie, which follows the travails of a group of male strippers.
From Craigslist:
It was a packed movie Monday night. I arrived a couple minutes before the movie started and you offered the empty seat next to you. We talked for a couple minutes. I thought you were intriguing, but regret not having the chance to get to know you more. I liked how you laughed at certain parts of the movie. Email me back if you are curious.
Flickr pool photo by wfyurasko
Voting in Progress for Next Year’s Outdoor Movie Fest in Crystal City
Crystal City has chosen a theme for next year’s outdoor film series, but it’s counting on locals to vote for which movies they want to see.
The neighborhood’s 2013 outdoor movie theme is “Blockbusters,” a reference to both hit movies and to the long-term plan to break up Crystal City’s “mega blocks” with new roads.
“With new buildings rising, new art popping up, fun daily events and activities going on, and the next evolution of an even more pedestrian-friendly street grid underway, the Crystal City Business Improvement District (BID) has selected a commensurate theme for its 2013 outdoor movie series that reflects these exciting changes,” the BID said in a press release.
Among the films that movie-goers can vote to see next year are classic and more recent hits like The Wizard of Oz, Citizen Kane, Jurassic Park, Brokeback Mountain, The Social Network, Inception, Black Swan, and The Artist. The winning films will be announced at the year’s final Crystal City outdoor movie night, on Monday, Aug. 27, outside 1851 S. Bell Street.
Crystal City BID says this year’s romantic comedy-themed movie series has drawn “thousands” of visitors from throughout the D.C. metro area.
Disclosure: Crystal City BID is an ARLnow.com advertiser
Weather Cancels Rosslyn Outdoor Movie
Rosslyn’s Outdoor FilmFest movie, “Dave”, will be canceled tonight because of expected rain and thunderstorms throughout the evening.
Weather permitting, the screening of “Swing Vote” will still take place next Friday (July 27) as scheduled.
The region is still under a flash flood watch from the National Weather Service until 11:00 p.m.
WIDESPREAD RAINFALL RATES OF ONE TO TWO INCHES PER HOUR CAN BE
EXPECTED FROM AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS.EXCESSIVE RAINFALL COULD CAUSE CREEKS AND STREAMS TO RISE
QUICKLY OUT OF THEIR BANKS AND COULD FLOOD LOW-LYING AND URBAN
AREAS…PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT HAVE HAD RECENT SIGNIFICANT
RAINFALL.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION
SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.
Central Library Hosting Family Friendly Outdoor Movies
Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street) is hosting two free outdoor movie screenings next month, as part of Summer Reading 2012.
Viewers are welcome to bring a blanket and picnic while watching the family friendly movies. Films will begin shortly after dusk, around 8:00 p.m.
The first movie is “Hugo,” which will be shown on Thursday, August 2. The second movie is “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” and will be shown on Thursday, August 9. Trailers for the films are available on the library’s website.
The screenings will take place in the field facing the Washington Blvd side of the library. If there is inclement weather, the movies will be shown in the library auditorium.
Crystal City Outdoor Movies Highlight Romance
Love will be in the air for Crystal City’s outdoor movie nights, which start next week. This year’s series will feature romantic comedies.
Starting next Monday, June 4, the movies will be shown in the courtyard at 1850 S. Bell Street. They’ll run every Monday through August 27, starting at sundown.
Attendees are encouraged to make the event a date night by bringing a blanket and picnic gear. Short chairs are allowed, but courtesy for other visitors trying to see the movie is requested. Organizers are asking that moviegoers leave their pets at home.
As with Rosslyn’s free outdoor movies, these will be shown rain or shine, unless weather becomes too severe. Should there be a cancellation, information will be posted online, but organizers hope for a continuation of the good weather they’ve generally enjoyed during the event’s six year history.
“We’ve had great weather karma,” said Crystal City Business Improvement District President Angela Fox. “Even one year when we started getting a deluge, we were able to cover the equipment and show the movie after.”
The schedule is as follows:
- Sex and the City — June 4
- The Wedding Singer — June 11
- Sweet Home Alabama — June 18
- Hitch — June 25
- My Big Fat Greek Wedding — July 2
- Sleepless in Seattle — July 9
- Bridget Jones’s Diary — July 16
- The Proposal — July 23
- You’ve Got Mail — July 30
- How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days — August 6
- Pretty Woman — August 13
- Love Actually — August 20
- When Harry Met Sally — August 27
Disclosure: Crystal City BID is an ARLnow.com advertiser.
Election Year Theme for Rosslyn Outdoor Movies
Rosslyn has picked a theme for its series of outdoor summer movies, and political buffs are going to love it. The movies will all relate to the theme “Friday Night is Election Night.”
All of the movies involve the American presidency or elections, featuring films like Wag the Dog, The American President and All the President’s Men. They will be shown at dusk every Friday night from June 8 through August 24 at Gateway Park (1300 Lee Highway).
The movies will play rain or shine, but may have to be cancelled in the event of storms.
Blankets, low chairs and picnics are welcome during the free showings, but alcohol is not, per local law. The full schedule is as follows:
- Election — June 8
- Primary Colors — June 15
- My Fellow Americans — June 22
- Dick — June 29
- The American President — July 6
- All the President’s Men — July 13
- Dave — July 20
- Swing Vote — July 27
- Head of State — August 3
- Man of the Year — August 10
- Wag the Dog — August 17
- Canadian Bacon — August 24
Plan Now for Valentine’s Day Activities
Valentine’s Day is on Tuesday. To avoid ending up in the dog house, now would be a good time to secure some plans with your loved one. While Arlington offers a plethora of options for celebrating, here are just a few to consider for this weekend and the big day on Tuesday.
- Celebrate with the traditional holiday staples of wine and chocolate at Screwtop Wine Bar (1025 N. Fillmore St). The Sweetheart Tasting on Saturday includes tastes of French and Italian wines and four stations of cheese, chocolates, cupcakes and charcuterie. Participants also get a box of chocolates to take home. Runs from 3:00-5:00 p.m. and costs $49.99 per person (discount for wine club members). Call 703-888-0845 for reservations.
- Aroma Indian Restaurant (4052 Campbell Ave) is hosting a “Love Bites Valentine’s Night” on Saturday, starting at 8:30 p.m. The bash boasts of a DJ, champagne toast, contests and prizes, cash bar and unlimited food with admission. Tickets cost $75 for a couple and $40 for singles.
- Make your date laugh with a night of comedy at Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike). The evening starts with stand-up comedy about relationships, then moves on to a showing of “The Princess Bride.” Tickets are $8. The 7:00 p.m. event is sold out, but there are still spots available for the 9:50 p.m. event. An optional wine tasting is also available for an additional cost.
- Learn how to whip up some romantic dishes at Sur La Table (1101 S. Joyce St) during a cooking class. The “Breakfast in Bed” class runs on Sunday and Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The class is $69.00 per person and can be booked online.
- Take in some romantic tunes while picking out last minute gifts at Market Common (2700 Clarendon Blvd). A guitarist, violinist and accordionist will play classic love songs while strolling from store to store from 2:00-4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Several stores will offer deals or discounts on merchandise.
- Surprise your special someone with a singing telegram. From Sunday through Tuesday, a women’s quartet from the Potomac Harmony Chorus will deliver two songs, a card and a box of candy. Today is the last day to order, by calling 703-764-3896. Options and pricing can be found online.
- Join the Opera Guild of Northern Virginia for its “That’s Amore Valentine’s Day Concert” at 4301 Wilson Blvd. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. for refreshments and shopping, concert starts at 7:00 p.m. Suggested donations for advance tickets and for walkups are available online.
Library to Host Star Wars Costume Event
If you’ve ever wanted to look like your favorite Star Wars character, now’s the time to learn how to do it.
With Halloween just around the corner, Arlington Public Library is hosting a Star Wars costume event this coming weekend. Representatives from the Rebel Legion and the 501st Legion — international costuming enthusiast organizations for the Star Wars good guys and bad guys, respectively — will be on hand at Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street) on Saturday to discuss how they make their elaborate Star Wars costumes.
Star Wars geeks and casual fans alike are invited to come take photos with fully-costumed members of the local Rebel Legion and 501st Legion (slogan: “Bringing order to the galaxy since 1997″). For those who want to follow in the footsteps of legion members, be prepared for intricate instructions on how to become an authentic storm trooper, Jedi knight or bounty hunter.
“This program will be very detailed, so it is recommended for upper-elementary school kids, teens and adults,” the library said on its blog.
The event will be held at the Central Library Auditorium from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call 703-228-5946.
Fmr. Arlington Resident Lands Big Role in ‘Moneyball’
(Updated at 4:15 p.m.) Reed Thompson, 28, didn’t move to Los Angeles with the intention of becoming a Hollywood actor.
The one-time Arlingtonian says he moved there on something of a whim after graduating from the University of Texas, to avoid moving back in with his parents. Thompson was working for an investment firm, in fact, when he received a fateful phone call a while back, asking him to audition for a new movie about baseball. Fast forward to present day and Thompson now has a supporting role in a blockbuster movie — Moneyball, which opens in theaters today — playing the younger version of one of the biggest stars in the world, Brad Pitt.
The path from Arlington’s Country Club Hills neighborhood to the big screen might never have happened, Thompson says, if it wasn’t for one simple request from a friend that he almost turned down.
A photographer friend in L.A., who was building her photo portfolio, talked a reluctant, recently-graduated Thompson into doing a bit of modeling for her. Somehow, years later, one of those shots landed on the desk of a casting director at Sony Pictures, who called Reed and asked him to audition for a part in a movie starring Brad Pitt. After all, Reed — who moved to Arlington from Texas in middle school — is a dead ringer for a younger version of Brad Pitt, even though he insists he doesn’t personally see the resemblance.
Thompson, a former student athlete at Gonzaga College High School in D.C., eventually made it though all the script readings, screen tests and baseball tryouts, and was cast in the movie. With no formal acting training, Reed embarked on an effort to learn the craft as quickly as he could.
“Since then I’ve been in class every week,” he said in a phone interview from Los Angeles last night. “I told myself, if I’m going to do this I might as well do it 110 percent and give it my all. It’s not as easy as you think it is… the people that you watch on television and the movies, they make it look really easy because they’re good at what they do.”
Luckily, Thompson had some help on set — advice from the film’s director, tips from fellow supporting actors and, of course, being able to watch Brad Pitt up close.
“I was able to watch a lot of the scenes anytime I wanted to go to the set,” Thompson said. “I was able to watch him and kind of say, okay, maybe I can try to mimic some of the stuff that he does in his scenes, whether it’s a face or a movement or anything like that.”
It helped, too, that one of the most famous people on the planet happened to be friendly and approachable.
“Brad is the nicest guy, super down to earth,” Thompson said. “He’s like one of your good friends. He’s not pretentious… he’s not a diva.”
“It’s surreal,” Thompson continued. “Someone who’s like that that’s in every magazine… to have him know who you are and to be on a first name basis, that’s amazing.”
Morning Notes
September Sunset — As warm temperatures gave way to fall-like temperatures yesterday, mother nature compensated by providing the D.C. area with an exceptionally beautiful sunset.
Gunfire on the GW Parkway — An SUV was struck by a bullet while driving on the GW Parkway near the Chain Bridge early Thursday morning. [NBC Washington]
Chain Bridge Closure — The Chain Bridge will be closed to all traffic and pedestrians this weekend, from 8:00 p.m. on Friday to 5:00 a.m. on Monday. The closure is one of a series of weekend closures planned through the end of the year. [DDOT]
Pike Outdoor Movie on Saturday — It was supposed to have taken place on Aug. 27, but thanks to Hurricane Irene the outdoor screening of The Blind Side at Penrose Square (Columbia Pike and S. Barton Street) is now being held on Saturday night. The free family-friendly flick will get underway around 8:00 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring friends, a blanket or lawn chair, and (unofficially) a jacket — since the temperature could get down to the low-to-mid 50s on Saturday night. [Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization]
Vintage Crystal Wine and Jazz Fest on Sunday — Crystal City will be holding its annual Vintage Crystal wine and jazz festival from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. The Latin-themed event will feature tastings of 30 wines and food from more than 20 local restaurants. Latin jazz group Trio Caliente and Latin dancers will perform. Tickets are $10 for food only or $20 for wine and food. [Crystal City BID]
Disclosure: Crystal City BID and CPRO are both ARLnow.com advertisers.
Flickr pool photo by BrianMKA
Next Year’s ‘Crystal Screen’ Theme: RomComs
The final screening of this year’s Crystal City outdoor summer film festival took place last night, but not before the theme for next year’s festival was revealed.
The festival, which is coming up on its sixth year, will host an entire summer of romantic comedies in 2012. Dubbed ‘Crystal Screen: Date Night Crystal City,’ the movie series will again start in June and wrap up at the end of August.
Films set to be shown under the stars next year include: Sex and the City, The Wedding Singer, Sweet Home Alabama, Hitch, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Sleepless in Seattle, The Proposal, Bridget Jones’s Diary, You’ve Got Mail, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Love Actually, Pretty Woman and When Harry Met Sally.
“The audience has selected a great line up of movies, and I know that everyone is looking forward to a romantic night under the stars in Crystal City,” Crystal City BID President Angela Fox said in a statement. The past two ‘Crystal Screen’ themes were ‘By the Numbers’ — movies with numbers in the title — and ‘Star Trek’ — an entire summer of Star Trek films.
