Around Town

Following a two-decade career at the Smithsonian Institution, a Fairlington artist has opened a new boutique with handmade stationery in Long Branch Creek.

Theresa Esterlund celebrated the grand opening of her new shop, Open to Being, last weekend at 2424 26th Road S. The shop carries cards, prints and notebooks featuring her original artwork, many printed on-site using an antique letterpress.


Events

Virginia Square’s newly renovated American Legion Post 139 plans to host its first-ever veterans art exhibit over Memorial Day weekend.

Highlighting art by Northern Virginia veterans, the gallery opening on Saturday, May 24 at 3445 Washington Blvd will “explore themes of service, conflict, healing and duty,” Commander Richard L. Rodriguez, who served in the Marines, Navy and Navy Reserve, told ARLnow.


Events

The Arlington Festival of the Arts returns to Clarendon this weekend, bringing back its free outdoor arts showcase for an 11th year.

The annual festival — featuring paintings, sculptures, jewelry and photography from over 125 artists — will take place from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday at 1051 N. Highland Street.


News

Arlington County is changing the way it bills performing arts groups for services, raising concerns among some advocates.

Beginning July 1, the county will shift from charging groups a 10% surcharge for tickets to charging an hourly fee for each staff member or contractor who provides services at a county- or school system-owned theater facility.


News

Arlington County is looking for a new poet.

Applications for the county’s fourth poet laureate — responsible for writing original poems to be presented at public readings and displayed on ART buses — are due by June 2.


Events

A pop-up art gallery, breakdancing competition and night market are happening in Pentagon City this Friday to commemorate the cherry blossom bloom.

The free event, Art of Pink, will take place from 5-10 p.m. at Met Park on 1321 S. Elm Street.


Around Town

A new hub for the performing arts has opened its doors in Falls Church.

Longtime arts nonprofit Creative Cauldron cut the ribbon on its new location this past Thursday, Feb. 13 — the organization’s 24th anniversary — before debuting “Steel Magnolias,” the group’s first performance in the new space. The organization was previously located inside a smaller space in Pearson Square at 410 S. Maple Avenue.


Around Town

Wax sculptures celebrating Black History Month and other pieces of art are on display in two new exhibits at Pentagon City’s mall.

The limited-time installations at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City showcase notable Black figures from throughout U.S. history, as well as artwork from the Arlington Artists Alliance.


Around Town

After leaving its 15-year homebase in Crystal City last spring, Synetic Theater has kept up Arlington performances as it continues to seek a new home.

The theater company, which vacated 1800 S. Bell Street in April 2024 amid redevelopment plans, is currently premiering a new comedy at Theatre on the Run in Green Valley and preparing to produce at least two 2025 shows in D.C.


News

Several arts groups appear to have missed out on Arlington County grants this year due to issues in handling paperwork.

A number of groups were left behind when the Arlington County Board recently divided up $366,000 in fiscal 2025 grants to arts organizations and individual artists. Among them were several performing-arts troupes, which in past years had received funding.


News

Final action on policies related to deer-culling, towing and residential-to-commercial conversions will be on the agenda when Arlington County Board members meet this Saturday (Nov. 16).

At the meeting, Board members are slated to take final action on zoning changes required to permit the use of sharpshooters to kill deer on public lands in the county.


Events

A full slate of artistic performances are coming to Arlington this fall and winter.

From the D.C.-area premiere of a Pulitzer Prize winning play to a comedy show starring the actor who played Todd Packer on “The Office,” here’s a look at musicals, concerts, plays and shows that are coming to the county in coming weeks and months.


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