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- 🍷 Bonjour ARL! 🇫🇷
🍷 Bonjour ARL! 🇫🇷
Plus: Arlington ranks high for biking 🚲
Happy Friday!
Let's pop into the good stuff.
☕️ Good morning, Arlingtonians! The weekend is looking packed with awesome events, and we’re especially excited about the opening of Bar Colline.
Thank you to everyone who filled out the poll on Monday. The results are in and most of you prefer receiving the newsletter on Mondays! Starting next week, we’ll pop into your inboxes only on Mondays for the rest of the summer. Same content, same local scoop, just once a week.
In today’s bubble:
📰 French bistros and fancy high-rises
🧃 Extraordinary teens making Arlington proud
📆 Alpacas, concerts, movie nights, and magic
🎷 Live music all weekend long
📰 News Bites
Quick local updates
🍷 Bonjour, Bar Colline!
A chic new French-inspired bistro from the team behind Café Colline opens today, July 11 in National Landing. Expect steak frites, $6 happy hour wines, serious Parisian vibes, patio seating, and a wraparound bar.
🚲 Arlington ranks high for biking
Despite Virginia cities scoring low overall in a national bikeability report, Arlington landed third in the state. Advocates say the data has flaws but agree it highlights areas still in need of safer, better-connected bike routes.
🎶 Fridays at the Fountain returns
Free outdoor concerts return to National Landing Water Park starting tonight with hip-hop artist Flex Mathews. Shows run 5:30 to 8 p.m. every Friday through August 29. Grab a drink, some food, and enjoy the vibes.
🌳 Tree clearing resumes along W&OD Trail
Dominion Energy is back to removing 131 trees near power lines, sparking concerns from locals and NOVA Parks. Critics say the timing and lack of shade may worsen invasive plant overgrowth.
🚆 $1B bridge project set to transform rail travel
Skanska and FlatironDragados are breaking ground this month on Long Bridge North—a key stretch of new track linking Arlington and D.C. Expect smoother rides by 2030.
🌆 National Landing’s Newest High-Rise
Leasing has begun at Valen, a 25-story glass tower with 355 apartments, rooftop pool, coworking space, and ground-floor retail. Located on South Bell Street, it’s steps from Metro, parks, and the future airport bridge.
📣 Advertise in the Bubble!
Local biz, meet your new megaphone. The Arlington Bubble is ready to blast your message to hungry readers. If you’re interested, reach out to us at [email protected]
🧃 Mini News Bites
Updates for the Kiddos
🎓 Meet ARL’s Extraordinary Teens
Arlington Magazine announced its 2025 Extraordinary Teen Award winners—local high schoolers making waves in academics, activism, and the arts.
🥳 This Weekend in Arlington
Weekend Happenings
🎥 Today
Alpaca Hour at Inca Social, 5 - 7 PM
Zumba Power at Mason Plaza, Free, 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Fridays at the Fountain featuring Flex Mathews (High Energy Hip Hop) at Water Park, Free, 5:30 – 8 PM
The Goonies at Met Park, Free, 6 PM
The Sidleys (rock and soul) at Lubber Run Amphitheater, Free, 8 PM
The Wizard of Oz at Arlington Mill Plaza, Free, 8:30 PM
🎂 Saturday
Crafty Kids: Take and Make at Courthouse Library, Free, 10 AM - 5 PM
HIIT by Juan Marcano at Clarendon Crossing, Free, 10 – 11 AM
Arlington Coffee and Chill Meetup at Quincy Park, Free, 10 AM - 12 PM
NOVA Sports Card Show at Cooperative Plaza Conference Center, $5–10, 10 AM – 4 PM
3-Year Anniversary Cleanup Crawl with District Cleanups starting at O'Sullivans Irish Pub, Free, 11 AM - 2:30 PM - Join the crawl at any time!
We Are Barcroft Documentary Showing and Art Reception at Columbia Pike Library, Free, 2 - 4 PM
Share the Love with a Library Wedding at Central Library, Free, 4 - 4:30 PM
Good Beats Ensemble Benefit Concert featuring Disney & video game music at Grace Community Church, Free, 4 – 5:45 PM
July Concert Series featuring Great Northern Out Of DC (Grateful Dead Cover Band) at Water Park, Free, 5 – 8 PM
Sips on the Terrace at Northside Social, $20, 6 – 8 PM
King Soul (southern soul and R&B) at Lubber Run Amphitheater, Free, 8 PM
Wicked at Penrose Square Plaza, Free, 8:30 PM
🪄 Sunday
MoCA on the Move featuring music from Andrew Barco and flower art at Met Park, Free, 10 AM – 1 PM
Drew Blue Shoes (kids’ magic show) at Lubber Run Amphitheater, Free, 11 AM
Board Game Afternoon at Central Library, Free, 1 - 4:30 PM
Cocktails & Coloring at Ballston Quarter Food Hall, Free to join but encouraged to bring your own coloring supplies, 2:30 - 4:30 PM
Herbal Allies & the Matrix of Destiny at PLNTR National Landing, $75, 3 – 4:30 PM
Potomac Waterfall Hike at Gulf Branch Nature Center, $9, 4 – 5:30 PM
Sip & Cinema: Wine Country on the Big Screen at Beauty Champagne & Sugar, $20, 4 – 6 PM
🎷 Live Music Lineup
Where to find your groove
🗓️ Tonight
Matt Lyttle Live @ 6 PM — American Legion Post 139
Sprinting Turtles @ 6 PM — Westover Market
Alpha Dog Blues @ 8 PM — Three Whistles
Shake Rattle & Roll @ 9 PM — Bronson Bierhall
Dan Barry @ 9:30 PM — Ragtime
Uncle Jesse @ 9:30 PM — The Renegade
🗓️ Saturday
Take Two @ 5 PM — Westover Market
Black Masala w/ MINKA @ 6 PM — The Renegade
Tyler Goldstein @ 9:30 PM — Ragtime
Hot Cactus @ 10 PM — The Renegade
🗓️ Sunday
Howling at the Earth @ 3 PM — Bronson Bierhall
Secret Wilderness, Atograph, J&Rs Music World @ 9 PM — Galaxy Hut
Know a great local music venue? Share your picks at [email protected]—we love featuring your Arlington favorites!
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Have a great day, Arlingtonians!