Mardi Gras Parade and Ball

The Clarendon Alliance is producing the 2017 Clarendon Mardi Gras parade on Tuesday, February 28 starting at Wilson Blvd and N. Barton Street and will continue up Wilson Boulevard, past Liberty Tavern and end on N. Irving Street. Clarendon has for a number of years brought the community together to celebrate Fat Tuesday with an annual parade and nightlife celebrations. After the parade, there will be the Second Annual Mardi Gras Ball at Clarendon Ballroom. There will be live music, great food in the Fat Tuesday tradition with beer, wine and punch. The Mardi Gras Ball is a ticketed event, which along with parade entry fees helps the Clarendon Alliance defray their substantial parade expenses. A portion of the proceeds from the Ball will be donated to our nonprofit partners, Arlington Independent Media, and WERA-FM 96.7. Purchase Mardi Gras Ball Tickets here.

Save IOTA!

I nearly had a heart attack when ArlNow.com broke the story of the possible future closing of Iota given the developer Regency Centers plan to the demolish 2800 Clarendon building. Since then, the developer who also owns Market Common Clarendon has responded saying they have "been actively working with the owner of IOTA since we acquired the center to do what we can to keep her as a part of the redevelopment."

Despite those assurances, local fans of the small live music venue that has graced our neighborhood for decades have created a petition to Arlington County to Save Iota and oppose the demolition plan. The next Clarendon Courthouse Civic Association meeting is happening this Thursday February 23 at 7:30pm at the Hyatt Place hotel in Courthouse (where Wilson Tavern used to be).

Come out to the Civic Association meeting Thursday night to voice your opinion and talk directly the developers. With the recent rash of local restaurant closings last year I don't think the community can stomach another loss, let alone a long time historical staple like Iota Club and Café.

Reston Bar Crawl for Fairfax Boxing Club

A former Clarendon resident created the promotion company Rabid Events to help fundraise for local non-profits. Rabid's first event is the bar crawl for the Fairfax Boxing Club being held this Saturday February 11 2-8pm in Reston Town Center. Starting at World Of Beer, portions of the sales will go to support the Fairfax Boxing Club which strives to mentor at-risk youth through boxing and to put them on a track of health, fitness, and community involvement. FBC will receive 25% of every sale and a percentage of restaurant sales as well. Tickets are $20 at the door or $15 online.

Silent Disco at A-Town

On Thursday, February 9th, join the crew at A-Town for the grand opening of Silent Disco Thursdays! Watch three DJs compete and go head to head at the same time while you choose any of the three on your headphones and rock out to whichever you choose!

DJ Phlipz - EDM, Top 40, House
DJ Emervize - Bachata, Salsa
DJ Reckless - International, Latin

Tickets are just $5 for your headset for the night.

White Ford Bronco at Clarendon Ballroom

One of the best 90s cover bands out there White Ford Bronco will be playing Clarendon Ballroom  on Friday, February 3. Since 2008, this five member band has played all around the DC area at Clarendon Ballroom, Clarendon Grill and Truckeroo amongst over places. It's no surprise they were named Best Local Cover Band in Washington City Paper earlier this year, as their energetic renditions of your favorite songs and Gretchen's vocals will make you an instant fan of theirs. Music stars at 10pm and cover is $12.

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.