Live in Arlington?  Thinking about moving here?  This site is for you.  It includes a list of more than 365 things to do in Arlington.  In addition, AllAroundArlington.com includes local news, links to local resources, information on neighborhoods, homes for sale, and market statistics.  Be sure to visit our Facebook Page 365 Things to Do in Arlington, Virginia.  If you LIKE the page, you will receive regular posts of places to go, events, places to eat and much more. Feel free to browse our selections, comment or leave a suggestion of your own favorites.

Last year I started a Facebook page with 365 Things To Do in Arlington where I put a new post each day of something to do in the area.  As an Arlington native I think this is a wonderful place to live and want to share some of the reasons why with my readers.  We are now at 365 + and counting.  The response has been wonderful but I realize not everyone is on Facebook, so I am began posting on this site as well.  Although some of the items on Facebook were date specific many of these events happen on an annual basis so I would expect the same type of event to occur again in the future.  I will try to make them more generic as I post them here but please check with the website to get the most accurate information.  Until I have caught up on both old and current posts, the numbers may be out of order but I will resort them once it is complete.

Please feel free to email me with  suggestions – you  can include local restaurants, night life, music venues, attractions, parks, hiking trails, shops, fairs and festivals, or any other ideas of what makes this area so special.

*   *   *   *

Bike DC, the annual Washington and Arlington Community Bike Ride, is being held Sunday, May 13th, 2012. From the Capitol and White House to Arlington Cemetery and the Air Force Memorial, from Pennsylvania Avenue to the George Washington Parkway, Bike DC is a non-competitive bike ride through the heart of our community and the heart of the nation.  The entire route will be car-free, and this year includes a section of Rock Creek Parkway first time.  The Full Ride is 24-miles long and begins at 7 am with a shorter 11-mile long Family Ride suitable for novice cyclists beginning at 7:15 am.

Registration is available online until 11:59PM Saturday, May12th and in person on the morning of the event near the ride start line at NW 3rd Street and Madison, on the Mall side of the U. S. Capitol, beginning at 6 a.m.  Advance registration fees are $40 for adults on the full ride, $30 on the family ride, youths ages 13-19 $25 for the full ride, $15 for the family ride.  In person registration is $10 additional.  Children 12 and under may register for the family ride for free.

For route maps, registration or other information, visit BikeDC.net

Bike DC (Photo credit: JBrazito)

Saturday, May 12th, 2012 will mark the 12th annual Neighborhood Day designed to help make Arlingtonians connect with their neighbors.  Among the many events scheduled  are  a  BBQ for the Bluemont Civic neighborhood from 11:30-1:30 at Firehouse #2 on Wilson Blvd., a cookout in the Claremont Neighborhood at Claremont Mini Park from 11-2, a community yard sale and other family activities in the Nauck Neighborhood, a softball game between the Arlington Heights Fightin-Pineapples and Penrose Tracks,a Highland Park-Overlee Knolls Family Fun Day at Westover Library,  a Family Fun Night at TJ Community Center, Fairlington Day at the Fairlington Community Center, a yard sale in Ashton Heights, and a Neighborhood Day Festival and potluck supper at Dominion Hills Park from 4-7.  For a complete list and more information, visit the county website here.

Don’t miss Tuckahoe’s Elementary School’s 12^th Annual Home and Garden Tour, an annual fundraiser to benefit the Tuckahoe Discovery Schoolyard, on Saturday, May 19^th, 2012 from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.  This year’s tour features nine homes, 1 home/garden combo and 1 garden.  Tickets are $20.00 in advance, $25.00 on the day of the tour.  Visit the website at www.tuckahoetour.org, or on Facebook for more information.

You can purchase tickets online or at  ONE MORE PAGE BOOKS  on May 12th from 2pm-4pm . Come browse around the book store, purchase your tickets to the tour, enter a raffle to win a beautiful centerpiece from Arhaus Furniture or an autographed copy of a garden book by Katherine Howell, and enjoy some light refreshments. Kids are welcome, and there will be a story-time featuring a lovely picture book! One More Page Books is located at 2220 N. Westmoreland Street, Arlington.

The 88th Annual Lyon Park Spring Fair will be held on Saturday, May 19th from 11-3 PM.  Take some time out from your errands and stop by to enjoy the festivities!  Lyon Park is located at 414 N. Fillmore Street, and is the only privately owned park in Arlington.  The fair, to be held rain or shine, will include pony rides, moon bounces, plant and book sales, carnival games with prizes, cake walks, vendor tables, music and more!

Have fun, and support the upkeep and renovation of the 88 year old community center and park!

Contact lpspringfair@aol.com or 703-527-6521 with questions!

The Arlington Kiwanis Club is hosting a Family Faire to benefit the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) on Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 8 am to noon at Clarendon United Methodist Church, 606 N. Irving Street.  There will be a pancake breakfast, antique cars, music, a moon bounce, raffle prizes and more.  Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for kids 5-10 years (free for children under 5).

Arlington’s 6th Annual Home Show and Expo will be coming to Walter Reed Community Center (2909 S. 16th Street) on Saturday, April 14th, 2012 from 10-4.  More than 60 home builders, contractors and specialist vendors, architects, inspectors, Realtors, master gardeners, banks, nonprofit organizations and County housing, zoming and inspection representatives will be on hand to answer questions about your housing and remodeling needs.  There will also be free classes on a variety of topics regarding remodeling, green projects, gardening, being a landlord and other topics related to your home.  Visit the Arlington Home Show website for more details.

The Crystal City Business Improvement District, in association with Vornado/Charles E. Smith, Dandies & Quaintrelles (D&Q), BNA and Sciathan Productions, will be holding  the inaugural Crystal City Diamond Derby on Saturday, March 10, 2012 from 2PM to midnight. The event will be held in the parking garage at 1850 Crystal Drive in Crystal City turning it into a glitzy, urban cycling arena for the competitive cyclist, amateur biker and everyone in between. There will also be free activities for spectators.

According to the press release, “competitive cyclists can test their skills in obstacle courses with the goal of winning awards and prize money, casual cyclists can bike to the event in style and spectators can enjoy the action free of charge. The Diamond Lounge will be the hub of spectator activity, featuring a big screen displaying the on-course action, a cash bar and live music throughout the day. Cyclists and spectators can also get a breath of fresh air as they head outdoors for a midway featuring food, vendors and a wide-open sprint lane for cyclists.”

For the complete schedule or to register as a competitor, follow the link to the Diamond Derby registration page.