Annual Arlington Festival of the Arts

FL mixed media by artist Ana Jones

The 6th Annual Arlington Festival of the Arts returns to Clarendon the weekend of April 21-22. One hundred and fifty national and international artists are set to display their fine works from across the globe in a prestigious show encompassing fine jewelry, exquisite works of art and hand-crafted apparel and décor. From 10am to 5pm this free festival is open to pedestrians as Highland Street and Washington Blvd will be closed.

Marymount Alumni Social at Board Room.

On Thursday April 19 from 6 to 9pm Marymount University is hosting a Saints Social alumni happy hour at Clarendon's Board Room. Tickets are $10 per person and includes hors d'oeuvres and a full bar. Proceeds from the evening will benefit Marymount University's Scholarship Fund. RSVP by April 16 here. Please contact Cathryn Speck at cspeck@marymount.edu with questions.

Goodbye and Welcome Back Goody's Pizza

Update May 22: Goody's reopened under new management a month and a half after closing! New owners keeping the menu and staff but updated the interior. Read the full story at ArlNow.com.

Goody's pizza shop in Clarendon closed on Saturday, April 7 2018. As ArlNow.com first reported, the owners decided to close the tiny pizzeria and retire after their rent continued to rise and felt they could not increase pizza costs as well. Check out this ArlNow.com video interview for more perspectives from the owners.

Goody's opened in 2006 and will be missed as it served as mainstay staple for nightlife in the middle of Clarendon with its miniscule footprint serving a huge number of hungry party-goers late into the early morning. It would be common for lines to go out the door and down the block of Wilson Blvd after midnight on Friday or Saturday nights. I found that their pizza tasted the best late at night, as their kitchen pushed out tons of fresh cheese or pepperoni slices for the hungry (and mostly intoxicated) crowds.

Here's hoping another small family owned business can take their place at 3125 Wilson Blvd, as without local unique shops like this Clarendon will lose its unique and vibrant character.

Shamrock Bar Crawl

Project DC Events is bringing back the Shamrock Crawl one week prior to St Patrick's Day. The Clarendon bar crawl takes place on Saturday March 10 from 1pm to 9pm, while the Dupont Circle, DC and Baltimore, MD Shamrock Crawls happen the following week on March 17.

Tickets are cheaper online and get higher closer to the event date, or $30 at the door. I snagged a $8 ticket the first day they went on sale online with promo code "SHAMROCK8". But you don't even need a ticket to participate, as a ticket buys you a green mug and access to a few drink specials. You don't need a ticket or wristband for access to any participating bars. Drink specials include:

$2 Beers
$3 Rail drinks
$4 Shamrock Shots
$5 Irish Car Bombs

Venues that you can party at while wearing green are Clarendon Grill, Whitlows, Bar Bao, Pamplona, Hunan One, Oz and Mister Days.  Whitlows will also have their rooftop open for festivities.

11th Street next to Clarendon Grill will be closed by the police as ACPD and ACFD will have free CPR workshops and a "buzzed" giant beer pong game to warn of affects of drunk driving.

STARMAN at Clarendon Grill

On Thursday STARMAN, the Badass David Bowie Cover Band from Brooklyn is playing at Clarendon Grill at 9pm. March 8 is a special day for this blog as well, as it marks the 10 year anniversary of Clarendon Nights, which also first started at Clarendon Grill!

Seen in Bedford and Bowery and AM NY, STARMAN features an ensemble of New York’s top musicians. Combining world-class vocals, deft musicianship, Bowie-inspired costumes, and masterful stage presence, anyone who attends a STARMAN show is in for a simultaneously epic and intimate experience! STARMAN’s curated song list takes you back in time where songs were shared on the galactic playground. This is STARMAN's first stop in a multicity tour, afterwards they head to Cincinnati, Atlanta. New Orleans and Houston.

War of the Roses Wine Tasting at Ms Peacocks Lounge

This month Ms. Peacock's Lounge is having a Rosés sparkling wine tasting event on Tuesday February 20 from 7:30 to 9:30pm. Ms. Peacock's is the somewhat secret lounge attached to the new Board Room location. Reservations are $50 per person, contact events@theboardroomva.com for a space.

Mister Days Music Bingo

Mister Days is hosting Music Bingo this Friday February 16. It’s bingo with a twist as we test your music knowledge, as you have to figure the song in 30 seconds and then match that to your bingo card. Get 5 in a row in any direction to win the game. There are prizes after every round which last 15 minutes. Enjoy our Happy Hour from 4-9pm with half priced beer, wine and rail drinks. Ask about specials on Tito’s Vodka and our $6 food menu.

Clarendon-Courthouse Mardi Gras Parade

The annual Clarendon-Courthouse Mardi Gras Parade is right around the corner! Weather permitting the parade will start on Fat Tuesday, February 13, at 7pm at Wilson Blvd and N. Barton Street. It will continue up Wilson Boulevard, past Liberty Tavern and end on N. Irving Street. Register for the Parade, or buy Mardi Gras Beads here. The annual Mardi Gras Ball has been cancelled due to competition with the new Wharf  Mardi Gras celebration.

Games for Good at Board Room

This Monday Feb 12 7-9 pm at Board Room help support Dog Tag Inc. as they help wounded Veterans return to the work force. $25 contribution gets you a flight of Board Room Brews, 2 drink tickets and free games. Dog Tag Bakery will have a Pop Up selling their Valentine's treats.

Bubbly 101 at Ms Peacock's Champage Lounge

Ms. Peacock's Lounge, the best kept secret cocktail and champagne bar in Clarendon, is hosting a bubbly tasting class on Tuesday January 23rd. The classy lounge lives in the side section of Boardroom, in the former space of Sehkraft's butcher shop. The tasting runs from 7:30 to 9:30pm and requires a $40 reservation per person. Email them at events@theboardroomva.com to reserve a spot.