Reni Lane @ Iota

The lively and charismatic Reni Lane opened for Civil Twilight tonight at Iota to a decent sized crowd for a chilly Monday night. Sadly I missed her performance, which I'm sure was fun since last time I caught her show she had spunky stage presence and catchy pop/rock beats.

Reni just released her new album Ready, of which the lead song Place For Us is pleasantly stuck in my head. I'm looking forward to getting a hold of her themed t-shirts!

First time for me to watch Civil Twilight in action, and I was very impressed. Their energetic and polished sound took over the small venue by force. I also liked how Andrew McKellar used a bow to accent his guitar strumming ala violin style, and how the lead singer and brother Steve also played bass.

Lupus Happy Hour @ Front Page

Front Page in Ballston was crowded tonight as the happy hour fundraiser for Lupus had a great turnout.

Krista, pictured here with her roommates supporting her cause and selling $5 happy hour wrist bands, provided us with a good reason to seek shelter from the sudden winds inside the popular bar. The wrist bands got us half price draft beers, and allowed us to buy raffle tickets for a selection of prizes.

The event was also well attended by the local social media community, including Arlnow.com, Arlington Connection, and WashingtonParent. Great talking to you all!

Charity Front Page Happy Hour tonight

Remember to drop by Front Page tonight for the Lupus charity happy hour organized by local Arlingtonite Krista Blackburn with music by 90s cover band The Civilians!

From 5 to 9pm help fight Lupus by getting a $5 wristband, which goes directly to her team's fund raising efforts, and gets you the following specials:
- 1/2 price apps & burgers
- $2 Miller Lite bottles
- $2.75 rail drinks
- $3 drafts
- $3.25 glasses of house wine
- 50/50 raffle

Clarendon restaurants RAMMY nominated

The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington announced nominees for its 2010 RAMMY awards, and there are several local venues represented:

• Liberty Tavern nominated for Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year and chef Liam LaCivita for Rising Culinary Star of the Year
• EatBar nominated for Neighborhood Gathering Place of the Year
• Eventide nominated for New Restaurant of the Year

Congrats and good luck on winning the awards on June 6.

Charity Happy Hour at Restaurant 3 April 11

Next month on April 11 Restaurant 3 will be hosing a charity happy hour from 6 to 9pm. 15% of bar sales that night will go to the worthy Ronald McDonald House Charities, which provides housing to families with hospitalized children.

They will be offering featured glasses of wine for $5, drafts for $3 and feature half price bottles. There will be great door prizes and silent auction items including an autographed Alexander Ovechkin jersey.

If you are interested in voluntering, check out the Young Professionals council who organized it.

Charity Fundraiser at Front Page March 25

Next week Front Page is hosting a charity fundraiser, happy hour and walk organized by local Arlingtonite Krista Blackburn.

On March 25 from 5 to 9pm help fight Lupus by getting a $5 wristband, which goes directly to her team's fundraising efforts, and gets you the following specials:
- 1/2 price apps & burgers
- $2 Miller Lite bottles
- $2.75 rail drinks
- $3 drafts
- $3.25 glasses of house wine
- 50/50 raffle

To keep things lively local 90s cover band The Civilians will be on stage.

Here is the link to join the team:
http://lupusgw.kintera.org/dcwalk2010/kickinit4krista

St. Patrick's Eve Parade

Beautiful weather today allowed for a great little pre-St. Patrick's Day parade down Wilson Blvd. Home grown floats from local restaurants and venues entertained the crowd. Some reactions from the locals online:

• Remy M: at the clarendon st. patrick's day parade. fun!
• James P: Clarendon st. Pattys day parade was the shortest parade ever. Yet still awesome.
• Stacey V: Clarendon parade floats! LibertyTavernVA & Whitlow's
• Check out Afagen's great Flickr gallery of the parade!
  

Photo cred to Stacey, thanks for uploading pics so quick!

As for the actual St. Patrick's day holiday, there are lots of local options for getting into the Irish spirit. Arlnow.com has compiled this extensive list of events and festivites for tomorrow night.

St. Patrick's Day Parade tonight

Hopefully the rain will stay away long enough for the annual Clarendon-Court House St. Patrick's Day Parade to lighten up Wilson Blvd tonight at 8pm. The last parade on Fat Tuesday got nixed by the giant snow storm, so we are over due for a night of floats, music and green beer at Mister Days!

Stay for the Celtic punk rock band O'Tasty playing at Iota or many of the other local venues like Whitlows and Liberty Tavern that are hosting St. Paddy's Day eve parties.

Charity Date Auction @ Clarendon Grill

Tonight drop by the Clarendon Grill tonight at 7pm to bid on "Arlington's sexiest bachelors and bachelorettes" at a date auction to benefit the Arlington Food Assistance Center. Sign yourself up to be auctioned off or participate in the bidding if you need a date!

This is the ninth year that the Arlington Young Democrats have organized this event. Suggested donation of $5 gets you a bid card and raffle ticket. Or bring a canned or non-perishable food item for donation to Arlington Food Assistance Center to receive a free raffle ticket.

March Must-see Bands in Clarendon

Jenny Owen Youngs
Monday March 8 at Iota
Jenny's beats were honest and contagious last time I saw her grace Iota.

Middle Distance Runner
Thursday March 11 at Iota
Fastly becoming one of my favorite bands, I often find The Unbeliever song stuck in my head.

St. Patty's Party and Parade with OTasty
Tuesday March 16 at Iota
Clarendon has a lot to offer on the Irish holiday, and lets hope Mister Day's doesn't run out of green beer early like last year.

Laura Lea and Tripp Fabulous
Saturday March 27 at Clarendon Grill
Laura Lea has a excellent voice that grace's the Grill's stage pretty frequently

Reni Lane
Monday March 29 at Iota
The bright red hair matches her spunky personality. And she's currently organizing a slumber party?

Matthew Good
Tuesday March 30 at Iota
Two years ago the famous Matthew Good played to a somber crowd, so I'm hoping Clarendon will be more lively for him this time around.