📚️Bookstore Day Bash 📖

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

☕️ Rise and shine, Arlingtonians!

👀 In today’s bubble:

📰 News Bites: Quick hits on what’s happening in ARL
🎉 Weekend Plans: Your go-to guide for what to do in ARL
🐾 Pet of the Week: Ready to steal your heart—and your couch.
🎷 Live Music Lineup: Where to catch a groove

Your Arlington cheat sheet starts now ⬇️

📰 News Bites 
Quick local updates

📚 Free books, prizes & golden tickets! Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day at One More Page Books this Saturday from 11–4 in East Falls Church—plus, the NoVa Indie Bookstore Crawl begins!

🏆 Arlington ranks No. 4 on Niche’s 2025 Best Cities to Live list, praised for livability, diversity, schools, and job opportunities—beating out cities like Irvine, Charleston, and Charlotte.

🇻🇦 Arlington’s Msgr. deLadurantaye interpreted for Pope Francis at the Vatican—meeting world leaders and celebs like Stallone. He remembers the late pontiff as gracious, kind, and deeply human.

💼 Support is strong in Arlington! Federal workers can access 27+ free services and perks—think job fairs, headshots, meals, massages, and more.

📍Arlington 2050 advances with a major Comprehensive Plan update—focusing on equity, resilience, and livability. Community input is open through June 1. Learn more or apply to be a liaison!

🏡 March’s priciest Arlington home sales included a $2.56M Cherrydale stunner and a Lyon Park Colonial that sold for $1.55M in just 4 days.

🌿 Arlington’s “Tiniest Preserve” is making a big impact—this native plant garden supports birds, insects, and local ecosystems, reminding us that every backyard can help protect nature.

🎒 Mini News Bites
Updates for the Kiddos

📢 ‘Really thrilled’: Arlington will not cut its Integration Station special ed program after strong community pushback. Families call the decision a meaningful win for inclusion and early intervention.

✨ Community Spotlight
Support Small, Strengthen Community

🧘‍♂️ Refresh your mind and body this May with wellness workshops and a retreat from The Teal Center. Explore Qigong, sound meditation, constellation healing, and more

🎶 Create More Musicians, Build a Stronger Community: Support local music education with Piano & More! Your sponsorship funds lessons, events, and scholarships—bringing music, confidence, and creativity to families across Arlington.

🐶 Pet of the Week
Because…awwwww…

Meet Elana, the nap queen with a heart of gold! This mellow beauty takes her beauty sleep seriously, but she’s quick to trade dreams for ear scratches and sweet snuggles. Elana is pure affection—whether she’s curled up by your side or gently leaning in for pets, she’s all about quiet comfort and cozy companionship. Friendly, gentle, and endlessly loving, she’s the kind of cat who turns every cuddle session into a moment of calm.

🥳 This Weekend in Arlington
Weekend Happenings

Today 🌇 

🌳 Memorial Arboretum Walking Tour: Arbor Day at Arlington National Cemetery! See the trees of Arlington in full bloom with vibrant colors. 9:00 -11:30 AM.

📚 Pick Your Own Book Club at Continental Beer Garden – Join fellow book lovers for an open-air book discussion, enjoy food and drinks, and a casual conversation about literature. 5:30 PM.

🧘‍♀️ Zen in the City: Sound Healing at Gateway Park! Relax and rejuvenate with sound healing at this unique event. Enjoy a tranquil experience and restore your inner peace. 5:30 - 6:30 PM. 

🌳 Arbor Day Yoga Flow at Quincy Park – Join Rooted Rainbow Yoga for a nature-inspired yoga practice benefiting EcoAction Arlington's sustainability efforts. 6:00-7:00 PM. 

🎶 Friday Night Concert Series at Water Park – Groove to Hand Painted Swinger on white out night with live music, food, and drinks! 6:00 - 8:30 PM.

🐐 BINGOAT: Goats + Bingo at Faith Lutheran Church – Play Bingo with Nigerian Dwarf goats from Walnut Creek Farm and enjoy animal therapy with the herd! 6:30-8:00 PM.

🎭 Muffed Premier Weekend by Prologue Theatre, 7:30 - 9 PM; Show runs through May 18th.

😆 Live Comedy Showcase Starring Rahmein Mostafavi at Crystal City Sports Pub (3rd Floor Lounge), 8:00 - 10:00 PM.

Saturday 🪩

🎨 11th Annual Arlington Festival of the Arts at 3140 Washington Blvd. Enjoy a weekend of diverse artwork from sculptures to jewelry at this free community event. 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday and Sunday.

🧸 Saturday Play Day at Central Library – Enjoy a brief storytime followed by play stations for children 12-36 months. 10:15 - 11:00 AM.

🧶 Knits & Flicks at Westover Library, 10:30 - 12:30 PM. 

👚 Fairlington Free Clothing Swap at Fairlington Villages Community Center, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM.

📚 Independent Bookstore Day 2025 at One More Pages Books, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

👶 Military Children 2025 World Expo at Fashion Centre At Pentagon City, 12:-00 PM - 5:00 PM.

🎨 Crafty Saturdays: Black-out Poetry at Westover Library, 2:00 - 3:00 PM.

🌲 City Nature Challenge Hike at Potomac Overlook. Ages 8+, 2:30 - 4:30 PM.

📚 Launch Party for Her Dark Everything by Arlington’s Poet Laureate Courtney LeBlanc at Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 7:00-9:00 PM.

🌙 Night Hike and Campfire – Nocturnal Wildlife at Potomac Overlook. $10 for ages 7+, 8:00 - 9:30 PM.

Sunday 💫

🌸 MoCA on the Move at Met Park! Craft your own DIY pinwheels and enjoy music from Duck Chuck Goose. 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM.

🌍 Earth Day Every Day Festival at Lee Heights Shops – Enjoy local art, live music, food, and family-friendly activities from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

🖌️ Hands-On Henna Class at Immigrant Food Ballston with KAMA DC, 12:00 - 2:00 PM.

🪀 The YoYo Club at Central Library, 1:00 - 4:00 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

📍 The Renegade
Tonight: Supernova at 9:30 PM
Saturday: New Potato Caboose at 8 PM

📍 Westover Market & Beer Garden
Tonight: 40 Miles Home at 6 PM
Saturday: Front Porch Rockers at 5 PM

📍 Samuel Beckett's
Tonight: Steve Bray at 9:30 PM
Saturday: Mike Leverone at 9:30 PM

📍 Three Whistles
Tonight: Joe Hurowitz at 8 PM

📍 Ragtime
Tonight: James Stevens at 9:30 PM
Saturday: Colby Sard at 9:30 PM

📍 Galaxy Hut
Sunday: Sleepmarks 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!