1969 Classic Albums at Iota

Throwback to 1969 Classic Albums with local musicians at Iota this Saturday January 28! Cover is $12 and music starts at 8:30 pm.

• Alex Vans' Bad Business as The Stooges
• Jonny Grave feat. Maryjo Mattea as Led Zepplin
• Oh He Dead as The Beatles

Goodbye Mad Rose

Another late night staple in Clarendon has shut it's doors this weekend with Mad Rose Tavern throwing its Last Call party Saturday Jan 21. This isn't as much as a tear jerker as other recent closings, as the next door Pampola owners Social Restaurant Group also are involved with Mad Rose and are planning on opening a Taiwanese food restaurant Bao Bar to replace Mad Rose.

Mad Rose opened in 2011 with a strange layout and mediocre food. They worked on focusing themselves on their patio hooka service and late night DJ's. In 2013 they made a splash by hosting a Sisqo concert, which I was hoping was going to lead them to more live music shows in the future. They did well with events and parties thrown by Social DC PR and others as well as frequently hosting popular DJs like Yezmin Soliz. Their back patio was their biggest draw, even if it was in an easy to miss location hidden behind 3100 Clarendon office building.

Looking forward to Bao Bar! Hope it opens soon, maybe later in 2017.

Justin Trawick Birthday Show at Iota

Come to Iota in the Clarendon this coming Saturday, Jan 21 night for Justin Trawick's Seventh Annual 29th Birthday Show! Tickets are $12 and the show starts at 8:30pm with Louisa Hall Music opening followed by Justin Trawick and The Common Good! This show will feature Justin's entire band including Jean Finstad on upright bass, Josh Himmelsbach on mandolin, Pete Daniels and Matvei Sigalov on fiddle, rapper Flex Mathews, plus special guests!

Justin Trawick and the Common Good is a high energy "urban americana” band packed full of emotional raw musicianship, heartfelt lyrics, and powerful harmonies.  Justin is a local legend in the Arlington music scene who is very active with solo projects, the Common Good band, creating the Nine Songwriter Series and the Circus Life podcast.  In February 2014 Justin won Song of the Year at the Washington Area Music Awards for his song “All the Places That I’ve Been." Happy birthday Justin!

Pamplona Grand Opening

Aamir Mohd @aamirmohd_

This week Clarendon welcomes a much anticipated Spanish themed restaurant Pamplona! It is officially opening this Thursday, January 12 in the old Sobe space next to Mad Rose.

Pamplona's Grand Opening will be held on Thursday but if you just can’t wait to get a peek they will  host soft openings beginning on Tuesday, January 10 and Wednesday, January 11. Come sample their signature black squid ink seafood paella, extensive pinxtos menu, and 8 different sangrias. Pamplona looked great when it was unveiled during their private NYE celebration and is sure to be a hit in the Clarendon nightlife scene.

Goodbye Sehkraft Brewery

Justin Trawick and the Common Good performing
an amazing set at Sehkraft late Dec 2016 

Local authoritative news source ARLNow is reporting the unfortunate news that Sehkraft Brewing is closing early January. The new venue, barely one year old, was one of my favorites with its ambitious goal of being a brewery, butcher meat backed restaurant, outdoor beer garden and live music stage. Their last day will be Tuesday Jan 10. This seems sudden as they had booked bands out until March.

I recently had the opportunity to see Justin Trawick and the Common Good put on a great show, as well as Sehkraft being a home for a short time to the Nine Songwriter Series and Derek Evry's open mic nights. Sadly, it wasn't enough to keep Sehkraft a float combined with the tough restaurant competition in Clarendon.

Sehkraft will be missed. No word yet on what might replace it in the large commercial space on 925 North Garfield Street, but I'm hoping for the best.

Justin Trawick at Sehkraft Brewery

This Friday, Dec 30 local favorite Justin Trawick returns to Sehkraft Brewery for a live show starting 9pm. This is a free event at one of Clarendon's best live music stages with one of our best musicians. Justin Trawick is a Virginia native born in Leesburg. His music ranges in styles from folk/bluegrass all the way to funk/hip hop. Justin’s lineup varies for each show varies from upright bass, electric and acoustic guitars, to everything else including harmonica.

Don Tito Taco Eating Contest

On Monday, December 19 one of Clarendon's most popular nightlife spots Don Tito will host their first Annual Arlington Taco Eating Contest upstairs on the 2nd floor at 7pm. The cost to enter the contest is $20 and includes all of your tacos. The contest includes two rounds: Preliminary and Championship. The first Preliminary speeds round determines who can eat the most chicken and beef tacos in one minute. The Championship round feature one winner from each of the first 10 rounds. The winner of the final round will be the first person to eat 10 tacos of varying spiciness.

The winner will win a $150 Don Tito gift card and a championship belt. The second place contestant will win a $100 Don Tito gift card and third place will receive a $50 Don Tito gift card. 

Rosslyn Holiday Market with The Reflex

This Friday and Saturday, Gateway Park in Rosslyn is hosting the Fourth Annual Holiday Market. This year again we will be showcasing over 25 local and renowned vendors who will be offering a full variety of unique and high quality gifts.

Then at 5:30pm Friday the Pub in the Park opens with a cider, beer and wine area to enjoy along with food trucks and a photo booth. A DJ starts spinning at 7pm and from 8-11pm popular 80s band The Reflex takes the stage.

On Saturday the Market opens again after The Great Chocolate Racea five mile chocolate-themed race. That will be followed by a finish festival in Gateway Park, with food trucks and the bar opening early to serve hot chocolate and bloody marys.
Holiday market hours:

• Friday, Dec 9, 2016 3 pm - 11 pm
• Saturday, Dec 10, 2016 8:00 am - 3 pm

Barley Mac Pig Roast

On Saturday, November 19 Rosslyn newcomer Barley Mac will celebrate a couple of their favorite indulgences of the fall and winter season: Roast Pig and Bourbon Bash. This decadent affair will run all afternoon from 1 to 5pm. Tickets are just $30 and include all the roast pig you can eat, as well as Chef Mike and Jeremy’s creative side dishes, plus several tastings of select bourbons. The weather will have probably taken a turn for the chilly worst by this time, so they will have spiked hot apple ciders and hot toddy’s ready to help warm you up until the bourbon kicks in. Tickets are available for pre-purchase using the link above or at www.barleymacva.com and this is a limited event.

Alex The Red Parez at Iota

Every Wednesday night my favorite local live music venue Iota hosts an open mic night at no cover charge. This Wed November 16 the free open mic night is hosted by Alex Parez and features Brian Dolzani as the guest artist at 10pm. Two signups at 7:30pm and 10pm if you want to play onstage.