A new series of outdoor events in Ballston is offering free scoops of Van Leeuwen ice cream tomorrow (Wednesday).
“Honeycomb” ice cream made with caramel candy will be available in a courtyard at 4075 Wilson Blvd, which organizers are calling “The Commons Pop-Up Park,” starting at 11:30 a.m. and continuing while supplies last.
The event will also feature lawn games as part of a summertime series taking place on Wednesdays this month and next.
“The Commons Pop-Up Park is about creating a simple, welcoming place for people to pause, connect and enjoy Ballston throughout the day,” Ballston BID Marketing and Communications Manager Jackie Nnaji told ARLnow. “By bringing together local businesses, community partners and programming in one space, we’re creating more opportunities for people to experience Ballston in a new way and strengthening the connections that make our neighborhood feel like a community.”
Nnaji said she expects the ice cream will serve about 75 customers. It’s from the new Van Leeuwen Ice Cream location that opened at the same address in June.
Lawn games will include giant chess, giant Jenga and cornhole.
More programming in the courtyard at 4075 Wilson Blvd has been promised for some time.
For a few months in 2024, the space was home to the Ballstonian coffee truck, which set up an outdoor “Urban Oasis” featuring seating and a bookshelf. That ended after the nearby office building, Two Liberty Center, got new owners with different goals for the space.
John Wolf, founder of FarmViewVentures LLC, one of the building’s new owners, told ARLnow in October 2024 that he was “in active discussions with county officials to improve the space for the community.”
“We are eager to see what they would like to see. Smiling kids playing games and happy parents watching them is the goal,” Wolf said at the time.
Last week, the new pop-up event series brought free food from nearby Life Alive cafe. Activities will continue in September, when Arlington Central Library will bring books to the park every week to celebrate National Library Card Sign-Up Month.
