🍦 $88 Ice Cream Shock 💵

Happy Friday!
Let's pop into the good stuff.

☕️ Rise and shine, Arlingtonians! Spread the word! Tag a friend who needs their daily dose of local buzz and subscribe to keep Arlington at your fingertips. Follow us @arlbubble on IG 🚀 

👀 In today’s bubble:

• Weekend Fun: Markets, Nature, Poetry, and Leadership Expo!

• Andy’s Pizza opens today in Virginia Square with freebies

• Pet of the Week: Meet Pixie, a curious little cuddlebug with big personality!

Your Arlington cheat sheet starts now ⬇️

📰 News Bites 
Quick local updates

🎨 Open to Being celebrates its grand opening in Arlington! Visit Theresa Esterlund’s letterpress studio and shop for handcrafted stationery, local goods, and workshops that inspire connection and creativity. Join them for the Preview Evening on April 25, 6-9 PM and Grand Opening on April 26, 12-3 PM.

🍦ARL’s Melissa Hayes Shocked by $88 Ice Cream Charge! Hayes and her family were charged $88 for four small cups of ice cream on the National Mall—$22 each.

📱ARL app developer, Natalia Micheletti, created Pryze to help companies boost productivity by keeping employees off their phones. Now, major companies like McDonald's and Krispy Kreme use it.

☕ Ahmad Ayyad extended Detour Coffee’s hours during Ramadan, providing a space for the Muslim community to gather and break their fast together. The Washington Post recently profiled the shop’s role in uniting the community.

🌸 30 Things to Do in April Around ARL: From spring festivals and home tours to art markets and Earth Day celebrations, explore vibrant activities this month in Arlington, including the Friends of Arlington Library's book sale and local art

🪁 A kite struck a United Airlines plane near Reagan National Airport, leading to no damage. The incident occurred at Gravelly Point, where kite-flying is prohibited due to safety concerns.

🚗 New safety changes are coming to the Arlington Blvd and Highland St intersection with right-turn-only signs, aimed at reducing crashes and improving safety.

☕ Celebrate National Library Week with free hot beverages at Arlington Public Library! Visit your branch for a complimentary coffee. Check schedule for dates!

🥗 Life Alive Cafe Coming to Ballston! The vegetarian-friendly spot opens this September at 818 N. Quincy Street, serving smoothies, grain bowls, and superfood lattes

🍕 Andy’s Pizza opens today in Virginia Square! Enjoy award-winning New York-style pies at their new Arlington location, with free pizza slices when you buy wine this weekend.

🎒 Mini News Bites
Updates for the Kiddos

📱ARL students embrace phone-free classrooms: Wakefield High’s cellphone ban is helping students focus more on learning and reconnect with peers, leading to less stress and more meaningful conversations during breaks.

🐶 Pet of the Week
Because…awwwww…

Meet Pixie, a playful little lady full of energy and curiosity! She loves to chase, pounce, and test her hunting skills, especially with crunchy toys. When she’s not playing, she’s all about cuddling and soaking in love. Ready to bring this sweet, fun-loving cat into your home?

📩 If you are interested in adopting Pixie, please send an email to [email protected] to arrange an initial virtual meet & greet with the pet’s foster parent or a staff member. They will reply to you within 24-48 hours.

🥳 This Weekend in Arlington
Weekend Happenings

Today 🌇 

🎨 Spring Artful Weekend at Fort C.F. Smith Park! Join us all weekend for the annual spring art fair featuring artworks from 40 Arlington Artist Alliance members.

🌱 Memorial Arboretum Spring Native Plant Tour! Explore native plants, rain gardens, and urban trees at Arlington National Cemetery's Memorial Arboretum. 10 AM-Noon.

📚 Friends of the Arlington Public Library Book Sale at Central Library! Browse a wide selection of books for all ages and support the library all weekend form10:30 AM - 4:45 PM.

🎨 Family Art PAUSE! Celebrate National Poetry Month by creating your own section of "The Poetry Fence" to take home. Join at Studio PAUSE Pike from 5:30-6:30 PM.

🍷 Spring Sips Socials: Cherry Blossom Celebration! Celebrate the beauty of spring and cherry blossoms with a delightful evening of drinks, music, and good company from 6-8 PM.

👪️ Family Night at Carver Community Center! Enjoy inflatables, open game rooms, and creative crafts from 6-8 PM.

😂 Improv Comedy Night! Get ready for a night full of spontaneous and hilarious sketches performed live. 6:30-9 PM at UPSIDE on Moore. 

🎬 Cinema on the Plaza! Grab your lawn chairs and picnic blankets for a free outdoor movie night. 7 PM for a teaser performance of Legally Blonde by The Arlington Players, followed by the film and a digital BINGO game at 8 PM.

🎬 Reel Rock 19 at Arlington Drafthouse! Experience three inspiring climbing stories, from second chances to epic first ascents. 7 PM show on Friday & Saturday (doors open at 6 PM).

🎶 VOCE Herstory Concert at Unitarian Universalist Church! Celebrate the work of female composers across the centuries, including a world premiere by Emily Mason, from 7:30 PM.

Saturday 🪩

🛍️ Arlington Civitan Open Air Market at 4001 15th St North: One of Arlington’s best flea markets—held the first Saturday of every month! 7 AM - 1 PM.

🌲 Forest Bathing and Story Weaving at Potomac Overlook Regional Park! Immerse yourself in nature, practice mindfulness, and enjoy a storytelling experience from 9:30 AM to 12 PM.

🏛️ Charlie Clark Center for Local History Open House! Stop by to tour the center, chat with staff, and explore resources like monographs, maps, and oral history transcripts. 10 AM-12 PM.

🔪 Benchmade Knives Engraving Day at Casual Adventure! Bring in any Benchmade Knives you own or purchase a new one to get it engraved for free. 10 AM - 6 PM.

📜 Poetry Party at Shirlington Library! Create wacky poems with words hidden around the room, make a poetry bookmark, and enjoy snacks in this fun celebration of Poetry Month. 10:30 AM-12 PM.

🌟 Leadership, Career & Volunteer Expo at DoubleTree Crystal City! Connect with community leaders, attend leadership seminars, and explore job and volunteer opportunities from 1-5 PM.

🏡 Ball-Sellers House Opening Day! Celebrate the opening of the historic Ball-Sellers House with tours and exhibits showcasing Arlington's rich history. 1 - 4 PM.

🎶 Woodwind Ensemble: Musical Poetry at Central Library! Enjoy an afternoon of beautiful music with the Arlington Philharmonic Woodwinds performing works by Charles Gounod and W.A. Mozart. 2-3 PM.

🎨 Teen Night at Lubber Run! Calling all middle and high school teens! Join in on sports, games, esports, and art activities while celebrating the theme: All About the Arts. Plus, the Poet Is IN returns with on-site personalized poems just for you!

🎤 Best of Northern VA Comedy Night! Enjoy a hilarious evening with top comedians at this must-see comedy show. 8-9:30 PM at John Lyon VFW Post 3150.

Sunday 💫

✍️ The Poet is IN at Westover Farmer's Market! Visit the pop-up booth to get a personalized poem written just for you. Catch the fun from 8 AM - 12 PM!

🌸 MoCA on the Move: Celebrating Spring Family Fun Series! Explore the world of mixed media prints with Molly McCracken while enjoying live music from Sean Tracy. 10 AM-1 PM at Metropolitan Park.

🧹 Shirlington Neighborhood Cleanup! Join us for a community cleanup to help keep our neighborhood beautiful. Volunteers will meet in front of Pallet 22 for instructions at 11 AM.

🎬 Oddball Cinema Screen & Discuss: "Another Earth" at Westover Library! Watch this thought-provoking film about a new planet approaching Earth, followed by a discussion on its themes and significance. 2-4 PM.

🌈 Arlington Holi Event at Bluemont Picnic Shelter! Celebrate love, friendship, and spring with vibrant colors and music. 2:30 - 5:00 PM.

📣 Bubble Up Your Brand! 

🚀 Local biz, meet your new megaphone. The Arlington Bubble is ready to blast your message to hungry readers. Small space, big impact. Advertise now before we pop! 💥 If you’re interested, reach out to us at [email protected]

🎷 Live Music Lineup
Where to find your groove

📍 Three Whistles
Tonight: Dylan Pfaff at 8 PM

📍 Westover Market & Beer Garden
Tonight: Sean Tracy & Don Zientara at 6:00 PM
Saturday: Six Feet Apart at 5:00 PM

📍 O'Sullivan's
Tonight: Goodbye Vienna at 9:30 PM
Saturday: The Leftovers at 9:30 PM

📍 The Renegade
Tonight: Uncle Jesse at 9:30 PM
Saturday: Chaotic Blonde at 8 PM

📍 Samuel Beckett's
Tonight: Spike Burton at 9:30 PM
Saturday: Eddie Pasa at 9:30 PM

📍Galaxy Hut
Sunday: No One Sphere / The Sound Of Machines / Christopher Quattro at 9 PM

Know a great local music venue? Share your picks at [email protected]—we love featuring your Arlington favorites!

🙏 Thanks for reading!

💃 Keep up with us @arlbubble on IG. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected] 

Have a great day, Arlingtonians!