Ambar and TTT discount on takeout

Ambar and TTT locations are having a take out special starting today Dec 1 through Dec 13. Ambar at Home and TTTake out are giving you immediate cash back on your take out orders made via their website. For Ambar, they give a 20% discount on every $60 order. TTT is a 20% discount on each $50 order.

Ambar may be my favorite dine-in restaurant in Clarendon, so their gift cards are a great way to support them until its safe to dine inside attain. Ambar is offering an additional $25 on a $100 gift card purchase. Buy before Dec 31!

Boardroom Survival Pack

Boardroom in Clarendon has a lot going on during these awful times. After just celebrating their 3rd anniversary in Clarendon they released their Belgian dark beer brew Hops Against Hunger, which is a collaboration with the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC). Each one of these beers Boardroom sells, they donate $1 to AFAC.

Continuing through the pandeimic is the weekly trivia nights Tuesdays at 7pm and pub feud Thursdays also 7pm.

Boardroom continues brewing their own brews, and is offering a beer kit to get you through quarantine. Their Survival Pack (for at least one day) provides youa 64oz growler of your choice, 32oz crowler of Black Knight Stout, two Board Room pint glasses, glass mug and a t-shirt.

Physical distancing enforced for Clarendon bar lines

Police are starting to enforce the county's physical distancing rules for public spaces tonight, Friday August 28. People in lines outside of the Lot, Spider Kelly's, Don Tito, Whitlow's and Wilson Hardware must stay 6 feet from others and no more than 3 people per group. Arlington county has added traffic cones and pavement markings to encourage bar goers staying a safe distance from each other.

Since all restaurants are operating at 50% indoor capacity, long lines often form down the block outside as people wait to drink inside. These late night bar goers often don't voluntarily follow rules such as wearing a mask in public or staying away from others on the sidewalk. The Arlington County emergency ordinance is a response to this behavior that went into effect last week, but ACPD delayed enforcing it to give the public and venues a chance to find their feet meeting the new rules.

Most Clarendon restaurants are doing everything possible to meet CDC guidelines and keep their patrons safe. The Lot even dedicated two of their own staff to policing their line on 10th Street to make sure customers are staying away from each other.

Stay safe out there Clarendon!

Safe music benefit for Papillon Cycles

The back parking lot of Acme Pie Co is turning into a socially distant live music stage this Friday July 31 starting at 6:30pm. This outdoor is held to benefit Papillon Cycles, Arlington's oldest bicycle shop. Masks and social distancing is required to see some awesome local bands live, including one of my favorites Jumpin Jupiter! Bring a folding camping chair to check these these four acts:

Grumbler
Jumpin Jupiter
Delarcos
X-Motorcycle Couriers


"COVID-19 has been hard on small business and although there is a demand for bikes, Papillon can't get stock or parts, putting them in a tight spot - so let's help them out while having a great time with music, friends and neighbors and plenty of space between you.


Join us on July 31st, from 6:30pm to 11pm for music from Jumpin' Jupiter, Grumbler, The Delarcos and X-Motorcycle Couriers. Pizza from Sicilian Pizza, pie from Acme Pie Co.
and soft drinks will be available. Entry donation is only $10.00, available at the event or in advance via Venmo (@sol-schott).


All proceeds benefit an awesome local business, that's been part of the community for over 35 years.
In order to keep everyone safe, strict social distancing guidelines will be followed and MASKS ARE A MUST! BYO lawn or camping chair. or advance purchase or to make a donation to the cause even if you can't attend, Venmo - @sol-schott. "

The North Country streaming Youtube

The North Country, a DC based experimental pop band, is doing a special livestream on YouTube this Sunday, July 12 at 8pm. The group is promoting their new LP America and Afterwards, which was originally going to be performed at SXSW before everything got cancelled.


The group’s music is eclectic, and each track contains a story that transports fans into a different point of view. America and Afterwards is an honest look at the present and a hopeful look to the future.


The North Country's music is very appropriate to modern times as they are "responding like future humans, also the name of the album’s first single, which dropped shortly before the pandemic struck. While there are dark themes throughout the album and criticisms of our society, there is also an earnest belief of what society can become when we rid ourselves of the forces that got Trump elected like racism, misogyny, and unchecked capitalism."


RSVP here on Facebook for the free livestream on YouTube!

Attack Of The Comics at Drafthouse Zoom

This Friday at 8pm Arlington Cinema Drafthouse is hosting its recurring comedy standup Attack Of The Comics for free on Zoom.


The show is raising money for local charities:
DC Coalition for Homeless
One DC


Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/96811958203
Meeting ID: 968 1195 8203
RSVP here for free tickets

Drive in movie night at Ballston

BallstonConnect Club is doing a retro drive-in movie night showcasing "The Princess Bride" this Saturday, June 13 8pm. You can place orders for &pizza before the movie begins. Drive into the parking lot of the Holiday Inn Ballston and safely watch the 1987 classic from your own car. Cost is $40 per vehicle.

Partial restaurant openings with Phase 2

Arlington will join the rest of Virginia in entering "Phase 2" restrictions this Friday, June 12 that will allow limited indoor restaurant seating again. Outdoor patio seating at 50% capacity has been allowed since Phase 1, with many local restaurants like O'Sullivans, Whitlows, TTT and Bar Bao already having very limited seating outside.

Some venues like Pamplona have remained closed completely despite having outdoor space, while in contrast The Lot became very popular when it reopened. Despite The Lot following CDC guidelines with 6 feet between tables and no more than 50% capacity, it still can hold over 350 patrons at once.
It also appears The Lot attracts those who care the least about spreading the virus, as virtually none of the customers wear masks (all Lot employees do though) and none of them respect social distancing in line to get in.

Live streaming music will continue as before with Phase 1, as large gathering entertainment isn't allowed yet either. The Renegade continues to host local bands like Kara and Matty D, Uncle Jesse and KeetonBand tonight at 9pm. The Pop Rocks DC played on Renegade's stage last week and even donated all their tips from the virtual show to Black Lives Matter.

Be sure to check out Justin Trawick and Laura LeMunyan, Derek Evry, CathyD, and DJ Neekola streams on their Instagram Live and Facebook Live accounts. WERA also has daily live music on their app, website and 96.7 FM.

Pitch A Friend Facebook Live

Another fun quarantine activity is the weekly Pitch A Friend series, where one or more friends does a PowerPoint presentation on why you should date their friend. You have 3 minutes to tell everyone in the audience on Facebook Live about your single friend and sell them to potential suitors. It's a fun and light hearted Friday night even that starts at 8pm. Tickets are $10 on Eventbrite, or $2 off with PITCH25 promo code. You can just watch other people's pitches, and at then end there is time for spontaneous pitches if you get inspired. Beth In The City does a great job keeping the event moving and entertaining.

Screwtop Zoom Wine Tasting

Screwtop Wine Bar is throwing their first Zoom wine tasting on Friday May 22 7pm. Their theme is "I Love Paris in the Springtime" with a new Wino Survival Pack. For $95 this pack includes:
Magic Door Champagne
Lot 33 Languedoc Rose
Beaujolais
Brodeaux
Cotes Du Rhone
D'Affnois Brie
Fresh Baguette
chocolates


Screwtop also offers food, wines and 12oz glass pours to go in a solo cup for carryout!


Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82964739302?pwd=Ni81TkRQZTAyanAxNVNzVE5yUzZ2Zz09
Meeting ID: 829 6473 9302
Password: 910788

The Nine Songwriter Series on Facebook Live

The Nine Songwriter Series continues during quarantine! This not-to-be-missed traveling group was the idea of local musician Justin Trawick in 2008. For this Facebook Live edition on Friday May 15, we have another nine talented musicians each playing each hour starting 1pm.


1pm - CaSh & Earle
2pm - Roemer
3pm - Andrew Rohlk
4pm - Farragut West
5pm - Lora Kelley
6pm - Gordon Daniels
7pm - Gina Sobel
8pm - Cecilia Grace
9pm - Mark Farmer

GoFundMe to save Clarendon bar staff

If you want to help out your favorite Clarendon venue but need to stay at home to help the fight against COVID-19, there are plenty of fundraisers and gift card options. Below are all the ones I know about in the immediate area.

There are still a number of restaurants offering carryout and sometimes delivery now.

ArlingtonCanDo is a huge list of direct links to purchase gift cards for local businesses

Ambar - gift cards towards employee fund, $130 value for $100 purchase. Their GoFundMe is ongoing for $20,000

Arlington Cinema Drafthouse has a GoFundMe for employees of $10,000

Casal's - gift cards, get $125 value for $100 gift card

Galaxy Hut - closed with gofundme for staff $26,000 goal

There is a separate gofundme for Galaxy Hut and Spacebar business for $10,000

The GOAT and Don Tito - purchase gift card and 50% value goes to employees

Liberty Tavern - gofundme with $30,000 goal

Lyon Hall - gofundme with $30,000 goal

Northside Social - gofundme with $100,000 goal for both of its locations

O'Sullivans - gofundme for staff with $5,000 goal

Pamplona - gofundme for staff with $15,000 goal

Quarterdeck - gofundme with $15,000 goal

Rhodeside Grill - gofundme for employees with $5,000 goal

South Block Smoothies is matching donations to its Fruit Relief Fund up to $5,000 to donate 9,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables to local families

Screwtop Wine Bar has a virtual tips jar for its servers

Spider Kelly's - gofundme for 30 person staff with $20,000 goal

Whitlows - gofundme with $10,000 goal for its people

Union Stage and Jammin Java - surpassed its $20,000 goal for its employees!

Clap for healtcare heros at 8pm

Applaud out your balcony, windows or front yard at 8pm tonight, Monday March 30 to pay tribute to healthcare workers fighting to save lives against the COVID-19 spread. Arlington County is participating in the clap which coincides with National Doctor's Day.

Goodbye Bracket Room (not really)

Update:
Not an April Fools joke, but Bracket Room announced on Instagram Monday March 30  that it is re-opening for carryout only. These are confusing times. Glad to have this Clarendon venue back though and hope all the other restaurants can eventually re-open too after the pandemic.

Original post:
The COVID-19 coronavirus appears to have permanently closed Bracket Room today, March 24. The sports venue on Garfield Street had previously reduced service for take out and delivery to help limit the spread of the virus. It is the first in what could be a series of permanent closures that will completely change the Clarendon nightlife and business scene in these dangerous times.

Bracket Room will be missed as it has been servicing drinks and throwing sports events for more than six years. I particularly remember an incredibly fun night in 2013 that turned into my favorite NYE in Clarendon ever. While relatively small and tucked behind Circa, it had a multitude of TV screens and often threw charitable events for suicide prevention and cancer fundraisers.

Thank you for Chris Bukowski and the other owners for the past six years! Sad to see Bracket Room shut down.

Justin Trawick on Facebook Live

Photo via Washington Post

As in person concerts are currently unsafe and prohibited, live performances on social media platform have started to fill in the gap. Arlington resident and musician Justin Trawick was one of the first to embrace this new medium and his live shows with Lauren LeMunyan have caught the attention of Reuters, Washingtonian and the Washington Post!

Filmed from their apartment, the couple perform original songs and covers while interacting and taking requests from Facebook comments live. The shows are free, but you should tip them on Venmo or Paypal just as you would in person. All of his income comes from live performances like this so be generous!

Their next show will be Sunday, March 22 broadcast from his Facebook music page (the one with the blue check mark) at 8pm and will last about an hour.

Stay indoors to stop COVID-19 spreading

Clarendon completely failed at social distancing this past weekend sadly. Arlington bar goers did not take the Coronavirus COVID-19 virus threat seriously, despite multiple cases already verified in Arlington and the constant warning from the CDC that this pandemic will get much worse soon.

At the present rate, the United States is on track to have the same level of infections as Italy which has been completely overrun with the virus. Unfortunately many 20 and 30 year olds didn't care about preventing our medical services from collapsing and running out of ICU room, but instead prioritized getting a drink on a rainy weekend of March 13-14 as if it was an ordinary time.

Bars and nightclubs are prime ground for the virus to spread, as many young people are infected with COVID-19 and show no symptoms and insist on selfishly socializing in close groups in these critical times. DC government first closed all nightclubs over the weekend, and now have taken the steps to shutter all DC bars at well because of this threat. Arlington County unfortunately is unable to shut down the nightlife venues itself due to the Dillon Rule and have to wait for decisions form Richmond to enforce. The governor has banned all events of 100 or more people as of today, and many bars and restaurants are closing or offering only carryout service to lower the number of infections.

This could be the worst time to try to convince Clarendon venues to act for the greater good and close their doors, as the combination of warmer weather, St. Patrick's day and many outdoor and patio spaces opening last week equal a huge boom to local businesses. Sadly, some venues are still staying open and promoting socializing while other bars have voluntarily closed for this holiday. If you want to support local restaurants and business during a quarantine, please buy gift cards from your favorite bar to redeem later or order take out/delivery from them.

There are still a few innovative options to get live music during a health crisis. Arlington musicians Justin Trawick and Laura LeMunyan put on several Facebook Live concerts that were so successful they attracted the attention of Reuters to interview them. Jasmine Gillison had a live show with Ben Tufts on WERA 96.7 last week. Derek Evry has an Instagram live show at 8pm March 16. All performers have Venmo or Paypal accounts where you can tip them virtually.

The blog, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for Clarendon Nights is going quiet for a long time, as its inappropriate and dangerous to promote large events. I'll probably still retweet events and news about Clarendon. Please check out ArlNow for up to date local news and coverage during these stressful times.

Bowties and Tails at Arlington Rooftop

Visit Arlington Rooftop Bar and Grill this Saturday Feb 29 starting 7pm Lu's Labs celebrate five years of animal rescue at the Bowties and Tails fundraiser. Your $75 ticket includes beer, wine and heavy h’or d’oeuvres and music by Smoky the DJ. Cocktail attire and bowties encouraged.

Approximately $25 of each ticket goes directly to Lu’s Labs to help us continue their mission of saving the lives of as many dogs as possible. Lu’s Labs is a 501(c)3 approved foster based rescue, in Alexandria dedicated to the saving and rehoming of Labrador Retrievers and Labrador Retriever mixes.

Queer API game night at Boardroom

Come join us for a joint queer API board game happy hour at The Board Room VA on Friday, February 28. Join your friendly neighborhood queer Asians for board games, socializing, and conversation, and learn more about our various queer API area organizations (AQUA DC, APIQS, KhushDC, KQT) and our upcoming events.

Board games are available to rent for $2 each, or bring your own! Drinks and food are also available for purchase. If you are under the age of 21, you are allowed into the venue so long as you arrive before 8pm.

Relay-Palooza Battle of the Bands at Jammin Java

Join Relay For Life of Northern Virginia for our annual Relay-Palooza Battle of the Bands kickoff celebration benefiting the American Cancer Society on Sunday, February 23rd 2020! Doors open at 12 pm and the event begins at 1 pm. Local acts may register to perform on the Jammin Java stage and then we need your vote to choose a winner. The winner of Relay-Palooza will get the chance to headline our 2020 Relay For Life event! This is a family-friendly event. Donations benefit the live-saving mission and programs of the American Cancer Society. Tickets $15 on Eventbrite.

King Street Bluegrass at Jammin Java

Although based in DC, King Street Bluegrass’ members have rural, farm and coal miner family roots from the mountains of West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Southern Virginia. In 2014 lead singer and ace banjoist Robert Swain had a devastating stroke, which took away his speech, his right side, and nearly his life. The band wouldn't quit, from creating conga lines in ICU, to having him sing baritone at shows immediately upon his hospital release. His recovery has been remarkable. Their latest album celebrates his journey and the bands recovery.

Music starts at 7:30 at Jammin Java with Split String Soup. Tickets are $15 at the door or $10 advance on Eventbrite.

Acoustic Wednesdays at The Renegade

Every Wednesday from 7:30 to 11pm The Renegade is now hosting local acoustic acts on their new stage. The Renegade replaced the Clarendon staple bar Mister Days and has retained its charm and layout, but has added a coffee bar and new large central stage. Their lineup for this upcoming month:

1/8 : Tommy Gann Music
1/15: Down Wilson
1/22: Dan N' Friends
1/29: Ted Garber
2/5: Justina Beth-El