Courthaus Social Anniversary

When the forgettable Velocity 5 announced it was leaving its Courthouse location, we had to wait years until Courthaus Social took over its spot in 2015. It was worth the wait, and worth checking out their first birthday party on Saturday May 21.

To celebrate, they are having their one year anniversary Haus party starting at noon on Saturday. They will have ten different breweries' beers at happy hour from 12pm to 7pm and live music starting at 10pm. Courthaus Social will continue their happy hour the following day and will last all day Sunday.

Cards Against Urbanity at Courthaus Social

Bring your ideas (and gentle barbs) to the rematch of Cards Against Urbanity Game Night! Come out and shuffle the deck of Arlington’s streetscape, and contribute your own ideas for cards, at Courthaus Social, from 5:30–7:30 p.m., on Tuesday, January 12, 2016. Free and appropriate for all audiences.

Cards Against Urbanity is a version of the popular and not safe for work game Cards Against Humanity, but with special cards dedicated to Arlington, Virginia. This is the second CAU event since the last successful game back in November.

Courthaus Social opening soon

After years of teasing Arlington citizens, the Courthouse beer garden themed bar appropriately named Courthaus Social is opening in April.

I am excited for the change, as Velocity 5 was forgettable at best. Courthaus Social should have a friendlier, brighter atmosphere with bench social seating and server 2 liter boots and steins with lots of draft beers. I'm looking forward to their "life-size games" and District Trivia on Wednesday nights.

Learn to Bartend in Courthouse

The always active 20s and 30s Meetup group is hosting another bartending class on Sunday, September 7 at 1pm. The Learn to Bartend event is hosted at the Professional Bartending School in Courthouse, right next to Arlington Rooftop Bar and Grill.  The organizer JT used to bartend at Ultrabar in DC and got his certification at PBS in Arlington. This is a class to learn to mix drinks, so colored liquids instead of actual alcohol is used. As of Thursday, there are still 8 early bird spots available at $40 per person and price will go up to $50 a week before the event.

Bartending School meetup

Want to learn how to mix drinks just blocks from where you already go out to the bars? The Professional Bartending School near Courthouse is hosting their annual casual bartending class Sunday Oct 14. This 20s and 30s meetup is now priced at $40 (it goes up to $50 soon) and is sure to have a fun crowd of young people eager to learn how to make their own concoctions. The class consists of 2 hours of lessons, followed by 1 hour of hands on bar training by local bartender Dimitri Ofiesh.

Apartments from Dr. Dremo's ashes... one day?

Plans for 2000 Wilson. Photo via DCMetroCentric.com

It's interesting that while most of the land in Arlington is bought up by developers and then designed so that every square foot of space is used, there are still strips of baren and undeveloped space stuck in real estate limbo.

The best example of this is the space where Dr. Dremo's used to reside in Courthouse. Torn down over four years ago, the large open area now serves as an eyesore as plans to builda mixed use building continually get delayed. Clarendon's own version of story happened with the same developer named Zom in the space next to O'Sullivan's that was supposed to be the 10 story Waverly building.

But now DCMetroCentric is reporting that their are rumors of some progress on the 2000 Wilson project. It will be nice to see the land used for something one day, but I don't think the area needs more high rise apartment buildings. Rather, I would perfer to see more afordable light commericial spaces to promote more restaurant diverstiy. Clarendon is lucky to have tons of great dining options now, but more and more of them are becoming higher end and more expensive restuarants.

Ireland's Four Courts in Courthouse closed tonight

Ireland's Four Courts in Courthouse, a popular local Irish bar with occasional live music, will me closed tonight. According to the sign on the door, there was a small fire in the kitchen. They should be re-opened in time for the weekend rush.

Do you think its a coincidence something was lit on fire on 4/20 day? Sorry, bad joke.

Thanks to Siouxsie212 for the heads up!

St. Patrick's Day + Mardi Gras Parade March 8

The annual Clarendon parade combining Mardi Gras and St. Patrick's Day is happening Tuesday, March 8. Starting at 8pm, the parade will march down Wilson Blvd from N. Barton St to N. Irving St.

Toscana Grill in Courthouse

After being too hungry to wait in the long line for a table at Fireworks Pizza, I decided to try out the vegan Italian Toscana Grill down the block in Courthouse.

Tucked away in the same complex as the AMC Courthouse movie theater and Velocity Five, Toscana is a hidden jem for Arlington. Its' modern decor and outdoor seating was a welcome sight for my rumbling stomach.

Most of the menu items were vegan, organic, or gluten-free. I tried the "Make-Your-Own-Pasta" offering with Gnocchi in marinara sauce and spinach, tomatoes and sausage. The meal was delicious and I look forward to dining at Toscana again.

Photo credit to Shenanadoah Vegan, also check out their detailed review of Toscana.

Fireworks Pizza in Courthouse

Fireworks Pizza just opened last week down the street in Courthouse to much fanfare and anticipation. The large restaurant on Clarendon Blvd and N. Adams St. offers an air eating area, bar with TV, and a surprising amount of outdoor seating. There is also an interesting looking outdoor fireplace that is available to eat around, but they have not lit it yet. I highly recommend dining outside if the weather permits.

Their staples are obvious, with good beer and pizza selections, although the spinach dip appetizer was delicious. Their beer choices were my favorite part, and they came in nice branded glasses as well. The pizza was good but honestly can't compete with Pupatella on Wilson.

I'm very happy that Fireworks opened in this section of town, as it will help out the nightlife in this border region between Clarendon and Courthouse. There was plenty of foot traffic around Clarendon Blvd during the day, which also makes it a great people watching venue.

Arlington Flu Forum tonight

For information about where to get flu vaccines and who should be getting them, attend the forum tonight in Court House:

Where: County Board Room, 2100 Clarendon Blvd, Third Floor
When: Wednesday, October 28th
Time: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM

For more complete details click here.

Thanks to What's Happening in Arlington Village for the heads up.

Velocity Five

Velocity Five opened its doors in Courthouse a few months ago. Its a typical northern Virginia sports bar that attempts to be more upscale than other typical northern Virginia Sports bars.

It has some nice outdoor setting, and is smoke free. But that hasn't saved it from the mediocre reviews on Yelp.

The best thing this sports bar has is its location near a metro station, as well as being strategically located across from Ray's the Steaks. That upscale steak house is definitely worth visiting, especially when they have their $20 soup and steak and desert special available.

Half Priced Burgers @ Kitty O'Shea's

Thursdays are half priced burger night at Kitty O'Shea's in Courthouse. Billed as the "best burger in town", the small Irish pub does not disappoint.
The wait staff aren't too friendly, but this is a bar that doesn't pretend to be anything more than a quaint hole in the wall.

My new goal is to eat a half price meal every day for one week in Clarendon, and it looks like Thursdays will be here.

Speed Dating @ Gua-Rapo

Never thought I'd attend a Speed Dating event, but why not try something new once? And it seemed like a good way to meet new people in the area.

Professionals In The City organized this one in Gua-Rapo. The fashionable Courthouse restaurant featured a colorful and modern lounge upstairs with a full bar.

The place was packed and it became difficult in some areas to talk as the combined conversations of 52 couples was quite loud. There was a diverse range of female personalities present, although I was worried about the male turnout. A few of the guys are creeping me out, and I'm not even talking to them obviously. Oh well, those idiots just made me look better in contrast I suppose =)