Reni Lane at Iota tonight

The talented and always colorful Reni Lane will be playing tonight at Iota. One of my favorite artists to see live, her music is mesmerizing in person and is perfect for remixing. In fact, she offers a few free remixes of her songs for free here. She will probably go on about 9pm-ish and open for the Horse Feathers.

Katie Herzig at Iota tonight

Don't miss Katie Herzig's performance at Iota tonight at 9pm. I first saw her perform when she toured with Ten Out Of Tenn a few years ago. I'm looking forward to hearing the live rendition of her hit Hologram. Opening for her tonight is Paul Dempsey.

Crystal City Outdoor Film Festival: Star Trek

Join me at tonight's outdoor movie showing of Star Trek: First Contact in Crystal City! It seems like we've gotten a slight break from the heat wave after the storm, so this seems like a great activity to take advantage of the outdoors.

This is a summer long event happening every Monday at sundown until August 16. This year's theme is Star Trek and every week is a different movie, each in chronological order.

Tonight features an extra special people watching event: a Star Trek Costume Contest!

Middle Distance Runner at Iota tonight

Middle Distance Runner is headlining tonight at Iota for what I'm sure will be a live performance not to be missed. I was really impressed with their show last year, as they are a highly talented band that won't even let illness stop their energetic beats. Opening for them tonight will be Death By Sexy as well as Cobra Collective.

Clarendon Center coming December 2010

The massive Clarendon Center project has been rising out of the ground very quickly and is getting close to completion. Some of the tenants are claiming to open this December. Started over two years ago, the two tower project will change the Clarendon skyline and add lots of new venues and restaurants to the area, including:

Restaurants:

• Burapa Thai Restaurant
• Circa
• Red Velvet Cupcakery
• Pete's New Haven APizza
• BGR Burger Joint

Commercial:

• Members Cleaners
• Burke & Herbert Bank

Residential:

• Lyon Place

Rumor has it that Trader Joe's might be interested in one of the larger spaces. Crossing my fingers for that to be true!

Bomb Scare at Ballston Mall

On Sunday night parts of Clarendon's neighbor Ballston was shutdown or closed early due to what is rumored to be a bomb scare on the corner of Wilson Blvd and Randolph Drive.

Some of the nearby restaurants like Noodles & Company closed early and cleared out patrons from their spaces in reaction to the police and fire department activity.

Hoping everything turns out peacefully, but the activity did add some excitement to a humid Sunday evening.

Update: At around 9:30pm Sunday night Brian reported that police declared the area clear. Thanks for the update! Check out his Twitter feed for the minute by minute updates of the event.

Rosslyn Outdoor Film Festival

Tonight was the free outdoor showing of the 90s classic drama "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" at Gateway park in Rosslyn. A small park at the foot of the 14th street Key bridge and one block north of the Metro, its a nice location for the fun and casual Friday Film Festival series.

Tonight was hot and humid and not too crowded. If you arrive after 8:30 you will have a hard time claiming a plot of grass. The event starts around 6pm with games like bean bag toss and t-shirts as prizes. One of the pre-movie videos featured local comedian Remy promoting the Arlington arts community.

Make sure to bring a blanket for your group, or better yet a very low chair. Regular sized chairs will block the view of people behind you, unless you sit on the pavement on the edges of the park. Also recommended is to bring a cooler with chilled water and snacks to fend off the summer heat, or just grab an ice cream cone from the McDonald's next door.

Next week "Empire Records" is playing.

Must See Bands at Iota in July

July is a good month to check out Clarendon's indie music heart - Iota on Wilson Blvd. The low key venue hosts live music every night of the week, as well as a free open mic night on Wednesdays.

Bobbie Allen is a Pop-Folk-Fusion singer/songwriter (think of Neko Case mixed with some Jenny Lewis), playing Thursday July 22 with The Morrison Brothers Band.

Middle Distance Runner is sure to put on an awesome show on Saturday July 24. Their live performance of The Unbeliever was just as memorable as the stop motion claymation video for the song.

I'm looking forward to seeing Katie Herzig on stage again Tuesday, July 27. I first saw her perform with the amazing Ten Out of Tenn supergroup two years ago, and her enchanting song Hologram is pleasantly still stuck in my head.

The stunning red head Reni Lane is returning to Iota again Thursday July 29 and is opening for Horse Feathers. Check out 10 Random Things About Her and her other entertaining music videos.

Whitlows Mug Night this Thurs July 15

Whitlow’s is hosting “Mug Night” and giving away free beer mugs on July 15 from 4 – 6 p.m. Whitlow’s has 12 new bottled craft brews to its already extensive beer menu including local and unique microbrews, and the popular bar will give away free take-home beer mugs for two hours to anyone that asks for one. Mugs will receive $1.50 refills every Thursday from 4 – 9 p.m. during Whitlow’s famous 12-year tradition of Mug Night.

Great Date Scenes - Lyon Hall

Next in this series of recommended dating venues is Clarendon's newest restaurant, Lyon Hall. This is a fashionable and upscale French brasserie that is sure to impress with its dark decor, airy outdoor seating and friendly staff.

Lyon Hall offers a great experience from drinks and appetizers to full course dining. I highly recommend trying the place out for a casual date with their wine and cheese selection. A carafe of wine ($18) and three fine cheeses ($9) is fun to share with someone.

If beer is more your date's thing, make sure to try one of three beer flight samplers, pictured here. Each comes with four flavorful brews and makes for an easy conversation starter.

The restaurant offers an interesting diverse dining menu, with lots of flavorful choices. Plenty of carnivore choices with steak, burger, mussels etc. The staff are especially helpful is explaining the menu and offering suggestions, and I just ordered the specials and was very pleased. For around a $60 to $80 dinner for two, Lyon Hall is impressive and fun.

Garland of Hours at Galaxy Hut on July 5

Wind down a patriotic weekend on Monday July 5 with Arlington's own cello-rific Garland of Hours, who bring their dark Appalachian/English ballad-infused musings to the patrons of Galaxy Hut. Fledgling singer-songwriter ingenue Anna Connolly opens, backed by the duo at 9pm.

Thanks Paul for the heads up!