Elizabeth, Author at All Around Arlington

Public Schools Start September 3, 2013

August 13, 2013 by Elizabeth

School buses in the fall (Photo credit: tncountryfan)

Most Arlington Public Schools open Tuesday, September 3rd for students in grades Kindergarten through 12. VPI and Pre-K students will begin Wednesday, September 4th. The Columbus Day Holiday falls on October 14th giving students a long weekend, as do Veteran’s Day November 11th, Martin Luther King’s Birthday and a Teacher Work Day January 20-21, President’s Day February 17th, and Memorial Day May 26th. Thanksgiving break begins Wednesday November 27th with students returning to school on Monday the 2nd of December. The winter break will run from December 23rd through January 1st and Spring Break will run from April 14th through April 18th.

Parent teacher conferences will fall October 10-11 and March 6-7 giving some students additional time off. The last day of school is June 18th for high school students, June 19th for middle school students and June 20th for elementary school students. High school graduation will be on June 19th.

For the complete Arlington Public Schools calendar including early release days, click the link below.

Celebrate the Fourth of July

June 30, 2013 by Elizabeth

Arlington County will be holding its second annual Fourth of July Celebration at Long Bridge Park from 3-10 PM on July 4, 2013. This free family event includes an arts and crafts market from 3-8, live music beginning at 3:30, food vendors, drop in games and other family friendly events along with a great venue to watch the fireworks on the National Mall.

Please note that there will be no on-site parking during the event. Complimentary shuttles will run continuously from 2:30-10:30pm from the Crystal City Metro at Bus Bays C & D located on Bell Street and the Pentagon City Metro at ART Bus Stop 74 & 84 located on 12th Street.

Nearby parking to access the Pentagon City Metro shuttle pick-up location can be utilized at The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City (1100 S. Hayes Street), with parking garage entrances located at Army Navy Drive and 15th Street. City parking garage (1600 Crystal Drive), with garage entrances on Crystal Drive, 18th Street and 15th Street.

Other popular spots to watch the fireworks from Arlington include the National Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima), Gravelly Point, the Air Force Memorial, Gateway Park and Key Bridge.

Neighborhood activities for the Fourth of July include parades in Barcroft, Douglas Park, Fairlington Village, Lyon Village, Albemarle and Lee Hights. The Bluemont neighborhood celebrates with a ringing of its historical bell located at the corner of George Mason Drive and Wilson Blvd. at noon on the fourth.

Live Music in Shirlington

June 6, 2013 by Elizabeth

The Shirlala Music Festival will be held every Thursday from June 13th-August 22nd, 2013 from 6:30-8:30 in the Signature Theatre/Library Plaza in Shirlington.

Wine samples ($5/ticket) will be available from Cheesetique. Ticket proceeds benefits the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC).

The Schedule of performers is below:

June 13th – Jeff Carmella Band (Rock)
June 20th – MARS 4-tet (Jazz)
June 27th – King Teddy (Swing)
July 11th – Dan Haas Trio (Pop Rock)
July 18th – Lloyd Dobler Effect (80s & 90s Covers)
July 25th – The Shack Band (Rock & Funk)
August 1st – Ewabo (Steel Tropical Drums)
August 8th – Taylor Carson (Acoustic Rock)
August 15th – The Morrison Brothers (Southern Rock)
August 22nd – Beach Bumz (Jimmy Buffett Tribute Band)

WAKEFIELD HIGH SCHOOL 60TH ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND MAY 17-18, 2013

May 12, 2013 by Elizabeth

The 60th Anniversary of Wakefield High School will be celebrated with a weekend to honor the past 60 years in the current Wakefield building and a peek into the new Wakefield building which has been built on the athletic field. Catch some memories before the “old” building is torn down and see what the future of Wakefield will look like. The general public is invited to attend the walking tours of the old and new Wakefield buildings on Saturday, May 18th. Walk back in time through each decade, celebrate with all the alumni and see how Wakefield has contributed and changed the Arlington community over all these years.

May 17th, 2013 Friday

Hall of Fame Induction, Wakefield High School

1pm lobby reception

2pm Hall of Fame Induction

Anniversary Alumni Party 7pm All Wakefield Alumni invited. DJ & cash bar. Sheraton Pentagon City.

Tickets on sale until May 13th – 12 midnight, wakefield60thanniversary.eventbrite.com

No tickets sold at the door.

May 18th, 2013 Saturday, Wakefield High School FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

10am-2pm Walking tours of the old and new building, maps of school/event at table in each of 4 lobbies

Video Booth – Room 110, Video Booth, tape your memories of Wakefield, take photos with Totem pole

New building -11am-2pm hard hat tours of new building every 20 minutes, line up at end of parking lot near new building to await your tour.

Drama Interest- Meet in auditorium 1950’s 12noon, 60’s at12:20, 70’s at 12:40, 80’s at 1pm, 2000 & beyond 1:40

Athletic Interest – Meet in Large Gym FALL sports meet at 10am, WINTER sports 11:45, SPRING & TRACK MEET 1:30pm

Spirit Teams Interest – Meet in Gym all day

History Fair – Small gym- take a stroll through the decades.

Latin Interest – 2pm meet in small gym

Wakefield gear- in lobby outside big gym- fundraiser for Booster Club and Soccer Team.

Food Court –Cafeteria Current Wakefield fundraising student will sell international foods, PTA offers coffee.

Reunions Saturday evening

1963 (50th reunion) Washington Golf & Country Club, reservation required

1965-1967 (and surrounding classes) Bailey’s Pub & Grill, Ballston mall, 7:30pm

1973 (and any alumni who wish to come) 7pm, Sheraton Pentagon City, 15th floor, DJ/Karaoke cash bar, great views of Washington skyline. Get tickets online at W73F.eventbrite.com or buy tickets Saturday in small gym 10am-1p

1983(30th reunion) 8pm Monty’s Steakhouse

2008 (5th Reunion) 8pm Bungalow Billiards in Shirlington

The anniversary celebration is sponsored by the Wakefield Education Foundation, a non-profit that grants scholarships, connects alumni and preserves the history of Wakefield. More information can be found at wakefieldalumni.org.

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EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES

April 16, 2013 by Elizabeth

With Earth Day coming up Monday, April 22nd, 2013, there are several related activities going on in Arlington. There is an E-Care Recycling Event at Thomas Jefferson Community Center on Saturday, April 20th from 8:30-3. On Sunday, April 21st, Arlington’s Green Living Expo will be partnered with George Mason University’s Earth Week Community Fair to be held at GMU’s Arlington campus from noon-4:30. Mason’s Office of Sustainability is also hosting speakers, workshops, volunteer opportunities and other activities throughout the month of April. For a list of events, click the Office of Sustainability’s link here. And on Monday, April 22nd, the Nauck Community Services Center will be holding a recycling fundraising event from 10-4.

Feed the Pike

February 16, 2013 by Elizabeth

The first ever Columbia Pike Restaurant Week will be held February 18, 2013 and runs through February 24th. More than a dozen Columbia Pike restaurants will be featuring $25 dinners and $10 lunches, including Lost Dog Cafe, Bangkok 54, Taqueria Poblano and Twisted Vines. For a complete list of participating restaurants and more information, visit the Feed the Pike website. Organizers hope to make this an annual event.