Vote: Summer Photo Contest
It was tough work but we’ve narrowed down the dozens of entries to our Summer Photo Contest to ten finalists who successfully captured a unique, visually-appealing summer scene in Arlington.
Fire Works Pizza in Courthouse (2350 Clarendon Blvd) is sponsoring the contest in celebration of their new outdoor canopy, which will help keep patio diners cooler when the sun’s beating down, warmer on cool evenings, and dry during summer downpours.
You can vote below for up to three of your favorite entries.
Voting will take place through 2:30 p.m. tomorrow (Friday, May 24). The finalist who receives the most votes will receive a $100 gift card to Fire Works Pizza along with an ARLnow.com tote bag. Second and third place will receive a $50 and $25 Fire Works gift card respectively.
Call For Entries: Summer Photo Contest
Memorial Day is just around the corner. That means it’s time to break out the swimsuits, sandals, sunscreen — and the cameras.
In celebration of their new outdoor canopy — which will help keep patio diners cooler when the sun’s beating down, warmer (thanks to built-in heaters) on cool evenings, and dry during summer downpours — Fire Works Pizza in Courthouse (2350 Clarendon Blvd) is sponsoring a summer-themed photo conest.
We’re looking for your best summer snap from around Arlington. Maybe it’s your friends celebrating a patriotic holiday, neighbors out at a street festival, lightning from a summer thunderstorm, your pet trying to keep cool during the dog days of summer — anything that just screams “summer in Arlington.” (Since it’s not officially summer yet, it’s okay if the photo was taken in previous years.)
Email one photo in JPG format to arlnowcontest@gmail.com by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23. Please include your name (which may be published) along with the best email address at which to contact you (which will not be published). ARLnow.com will pick 10 finalists and will let readers vote on their favorites this coming Thursday, May 24.
The finalist that receives the most votes will receive a $100 gift card to Fire Works along with an ARLnow.com tote bag. Second and third place will receive a $50 and $25 Fire Works gift card respectively.
The contest is open to U.S. residents 18 years of age and older. By submitting a photo to the contest you affirm that you took the photo, own the rights to the photo, and agree that ARLnow.com can use the photo for any and all contest-related purposes. Limit one entry per person.
Good luck!
Festival-Goers Consume 110 Pounds of Testicles
The Montana State Society’s Testicle Festival in Virginia Square was a rousing success this year.
Festival-goers consumed 110 pounds of bull and bison testicles, 84 liters of Crown Royal and 1,500 cans of beer this year, according to event organizer and Society president Jed Link. All three were records for the event, now in its eighth year.
Organizers estimate that nearly 600 people attended the Testicle Festival, which was held at the American Legion post at 3445 Washington Boulevard. Even though the event didn’t start until 6:00 on Saturday evening, Link said a line started to form at 4:30 p.m.
Taste of Arlington May Expand Next Year
(Updated at 10:55 a.m.) The 25th annual Taste of Arlington was held on Sunday afternoon.
Thousands came out to enjoy the nice weather and to sample a wide variety of appetizers, entrees and desserts from local restaurants. There was also beer and wine for the over-21 set.
Of the 35+ restaurants that participated in this year’s event, three captured top marks, as determined by a contingent of roaming judges. P.F. Chang’s (901 N. Glebe Road) won for Best Appetizer, brgr:shack (4215 Fairfax Drive) won for Best Entree, and Bayou Bakery (1515 N. Courthouse Road) won for Best Dessert.
As before, the event was held in front of the Ballston Common Mall along Wilson Boulevard. Even though the footprint of the event was expanded up N. Stuart Street and into Welburn Square this year, it was still difficult at times to get around, especially in places where long lines had formed. New Ballston Business Improvement District Executive Director Tina Leone says organizers are working to fix that.
“We have some pretty big plans for next year,” she told ARLnow.com. “We would like to further expand the footprint of the event. Of course we want more people to come every year, but we need to accommodate them. We really want to make next year’s event even easier for people to get there, get tickets, get around, and just enjoy themselves.”
Other plans in the works for next year include more entertainment — perhaps an additional stage — along with an expanded “kid zone” and a new “dog zone” for those who bring their pups to the event.
Photos: Neighborhood Day 2012
Many residents spent this past Saturday taking part in the various Neighborhood Day events throughout Arlington.
The weather cooperated, providing warmth and sun for the outdoor activities. From yard sales to cook outs to petting zoos, residents came out to connect with their neighbors and partake in the festivities. As you can see, kids’ activities took center stage at most of the events.
Here’s a look at the festivities at Highland Park Overlee-Knolls Family Fun Day, Bluemont Neighborhood BBQ and Fairlington Day.
Then and Now: The Hicks Store on Lee Highway
The photo on the left is of the Hicks Store on Lee Highway at N. Culpeper Street, taken in 1960. The store was in an area known as Hall’s Hill — now often called High View Park — which became a predominantly black community when freed slaves settled there shortly after the Civil War. Many family run stores owned by black residents opened in the area during the early 1900s. Hicks store was one of several businesses owned by the Hicks family.
Near the store, the Hicks cemetery is where family members were buried, until the land was condemned in 1959, to accommodate for the widening of Lee Highway west of Glebe Road. The remains were moved to a cemetery in Herndon.
The photo on the right is how the corner of Lee Highway at N. Culpeper Street looks today. A Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant now sits on the site.
Historic photo courtesy Arlington Public Library’s Virginia Room
Video: Frida Kahlo Photos at Artisphere
Artisphere’s exclusive exhibit of Frida Kahlo’s personal photos continues through March 25. In case you haven’t gotten a chance to see the famed Mexican artist’s collection of 259 photos, AVN (the county-run television station) has a preview.
Several special musical performances and workshops will be held between now and March 25 in conjunction with the Kahlo exhibit. The exhibit opened on Feb. 23.
Photos: ‘Mindset’ at H-B Woodlawn Auditorium
A unique original theatrical production, created entirely by Arlington high school students, premiered last night at the H-B Woodlawn auditorium.
‘Mindset’ is a show “about an artist’s inner battle against the fear of failure.” Fusing dance, voice, live music and narrative, Mindset casts its starring actors as adults who look back with regret at their choice to pursue conventional careers instead of artistic endeavors.
The show was entirely student-created, with almost no supervision or instruction from teachers. It was written, stage directed, music directed, composed, choreographed and arranged by Jace Casey, an H-B Woodlawn junior. Casey teamed up with creative partner and fellow junior Cassandra Kendall, who was credited as an assistant director, choreographer, lighting designer and technical designer. The creative duo also acted in the show itself.
Casey and Kendall recruited a cast and crew of some 35 students, including actors, dancers, singers and musicians. In an interview after the show, one cast member described the group as “the weirdest, rag tag bunch… a gumbo.” That description matches the avant garde nature of the show
“Stylistically, Mindset doesn’t fit the typical mold of most high school productions since it draws influence from performance art, musical theatre, and live concert,” Casey said in an email. “The performance is structured around dialogue but is interwoven with dance and live music from popular culture.”
Proceeds from the show are being donated to the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry. Additional performances will take place tonight and tomorrow (Saturday), starting at 7:30 p.m. H-B Woodlawn is located at 4100 N. Vacation Lane.
More photos, after the jump.
Photos: Signs of Spring Around Arlington
One could hardly have asked for a more beautiful start to March.
As the thermometer hit 70 degrees today — the first day of meteorological spring — trees, flowers and other plants were starting to bloom. From Shirlington to Ballston, from Waverly Hills to the Custis Trail, the colors of spring are beginning to emerge.
It’s no surprise that the blooms are getting an early start. According to the Capital Weather Gang, this year’s meteorological winter was the third warmest on record in D.C.
The official start of spring — the Vernal Equinox — is March 20. The peak bloom for D.C.’s cherry blossom trees, meanwhile, is now predicted for March 24.
Artisphere’s Opening Night of Kahlo Exhibit
Last night the public got its first look at Artisphere’s exclusive exhibit of personal photos from famed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Nearly 2,000 people showed up for the opening night.
Dignitaries from Kahlo’s native Mexico, such as Alejandra de la Paz from the Embassy of Mexico and Jefe Delegacional en Coyoacan (similar to a mayor) Raul Flores Garcia, also attended. Coyoacan is a suburb of Mexico City, and a sister city to Arlington.
The exhibit contains 259 of the artist’s personal photographs. Artisphere is the only venue in the United States to display these photographs. The free exhibit will run through March 25.
Photos courtesy of Artisphere
Photos: Clarendon Mardi Gras Parade
Clarendon’s annual Mardi Gras parade marched up Wilson Boulevard last night, to the delight of hundreds of paradegoers.
Among the those marching in this year’s parade were the Ballou High School Band, Washington Nationals mascot Screech, the D.C. Rollergirls, and the all-women, Afro-Brazilian/samba-reggae percussion band Batala Washington. Local businesses, churches, nonprofits and political parties also took part.
Photos by Erin Schwartz Sutherland
Photos: Models Strut Their Stuff at Crystal Couture
The talents of local fashion designers has been on display at the annual Crystal Couture fashion show this week.
Each night of the event, which kicked off on Tuesday, models walk the runway sporting the latest trends from local designers and boutiques. In addition to watching the models strut their stuff, attendees can shop at trunk sales, get makeup and hair makeovers, get temporary henna tattoos, and sip wine or beer.
Tonight’s event will feature Hot 99.5′s Sarah Fraser as emcee. Tomorrow night’s finale will be hosted by NBC4′s Angie Goff. Crystal Couture takes place in the former Crystal City Shops food court at 1750 Crystal Drive.
Lots of photos after the jump.
Disclosure: Crystal City BID is an ARLnow.com advertiser.
Morning Notes
Artisphere Gets Exclusive Photo Exhibit — Artisphere has scored a bit of a coup by becoming the first and only venue in the United States to host an exhibit of the personal photos of famed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. “These images reveal a little-known side of the artist and lifelong resident of Mexico City suburb and Arlington, Va. sister city, Coyoacán,” Artisphere said in a press release. “The collection of photographs in this exhibition reflect Kahlo’s tastes and interests, the experiences she shared with those close to her, and her complicated, but also thrilling, personal life.” [Artisphere]
General Assembly May Ban Motorcycle Checkpoints — State legislators are considering a bill that would ban police from setting up motorcycle-only safety checkpoints. Arlington is one of the jurisdictions cited as having conducted such a “discriminatory” checkpoint — during last year’s Rolling Thunder ride to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. [Virginian-Pilot]
Company: Moving Out of Arlington Was a Mistake — The non-profit research firm that’s planning to move in to this soon-to-be-built office development in Clarendon says they’re happy to be moving back to Arlington. “We had a brief moment of insanity and we moved to Alexandria,” a company executive is quoted as saying. “Now we just want to move home.” [Arlington Mercury]
Photos: School for Sign Spinners
Think spinning a sign by the side of the road sounds easy? Think again.
Sign spinners — they who inform passing motorists of closeout specials and condo sales — undergo training sessions to learn many of their acrobatic routines.
We spotted nearly a dozen spinners from the local Aarow Advertising franchise practicing in a small park near Columbia Pike on Friday. They were getting ready to perform during the next day’s Georgetown basketball game at the Verizon Center.
Rainbow, Sunset Produce Spectacular Photo Op
Mother nature treated us to some spectacular sights last night.
Following a prolonged period of rain yesterday, the sun came out just in time to produce an extraordinary golden sunset and a vivid double rainbow.
Photos courtesy Brendan Lilly (top), BrianMKA (left), and Rich Thomasson (right).
