👨‍🏫Harbor Hero 🛟

Plus: 💚 A Daughter’s Life-Saving Gift

April 07, 2025

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

☕️ Rise and shine, Arlingtonians!

🏒 ICYMI: Ovi Hits 895, becoming the All-Time NHL Goal Leader! 👏

👀 In today’s bubble:

  • 💻 Grants, Gadgets, Growth: ARL’s Digital Push Begins

  • ⛽️ Hoagies, Pumps, Plans: Wawa Eyes Arlington Expansion

  • 🧩 Speed, Sips, Strategy: Puzzle Night at Pike

Your Arlington cheat sheet starts now ⬇️

📰 News Bites 
Quick local updates

🛟 Heroic teacher alert! During a Baltimore field trip, St. Agnes science teacher T.J. O’Leary dove into the Inner Harbor to rescue a struggling father and son. Everyone’s safe.

💚 A daughter’s gift of life. This National Donate Life Month, ARL’s Mark Maggio and daughter Carrie share their powerful story—after she donated a kidney to save her father’s life.

💻 $500K for digital equity. Arlington launches its first-ever digital inclusion grant cycle to boost tech access and skills. Nonprofits and colleges can apply by May 15.

💼 Federal workers and contractors in Northern VA can access free services, including job fairs, discounted haircuts, headshots, financial planning, and more. Check out local resources to ease job transitions.

🚗 Tariff troubles ahead. ARL used car dealer Mohan Gill warns new tariffs could drive up prices—even for used cars—making vehicles harder for customers to afford long-term.

📚 April reads are here! From a Golden Girls murder mystery to a CIA spy saga, Arlington Public Library’s 10 new picks promise drama, history, horror—and one hungry orchid.

⚠️ Disasters don’t plan—you can. April is Arlington Preparedness Month. Update your emergency plans, build a kit, and stay informed with local ARL resources.

🐇 Attacks on rabbits! At least two injured in Lyon Park, prompting an investigation by ARL’s Animal Welfare League. It’s the second such incident in the past year.

⛽️ Wawa is eyeing Arlington for a new store! The popular convenience chain is exploring potential locations to expand its reach in Northern Virginia with gas and fresh food options.

🎒 Mini News Bites
Updates for the Kiddos

🏈 Fall football is set! ARL’s four varsity squads kick off Aug. 28—including a W-L vs. O’Connell showdown, their first regular-season faceoff since 1983. Full schedules are live.

🏙️ This Week in Arlington 

Today  

🎮 Video Game Social at Mason Square! Grab a controller and jump into Nintendo favorites like Mario Kart, Just Dance, and Super Smash Bros. 5:30-7:30 PM. 

🎲 Board Game Evening at Cherrydale Library! Enjoy a variety of modern and strategy board games with friendly, expert instruction from 6-8 PM. No registration required.

🎨 Family Art Night at Central Library! For families with children of all ages, experiment and create a work of art from 6:30-7:30 PM. No registration required.

🧩 Puzzles, pints & prizes! Race the clock at Pike Cornerstone’s Speed Puzzling Night from 7–9 PM. Teams of 1–4 compete—and keep the puzzle!

🎤 Laughs on tap! Beer Run Comedy returns to The Board Room VA at 7:30 PM with Pete Bergen, Kevin Skiffington, and host Ace Jackson. $20 online.

🎉 Local Singles Meetup at Punch Bowl Social! Mingle with singles from the NOVA area for a casual and fun night! Enjoy free bowling, great food, drinks, and a chance to meet new people from 8-10 PM.

Tuesday

🎨 Artist Talk and Reception at Shirlington Library! Join local artist Zafri Yussoff for a discussion of his work, process, and inspiration from 6-8 PM.

💃 Salsa under the stars! Join Herencia Latina for beginner Latin dance lessons at Glencarlyn Library from 6–7 PM. No partner or experience needed—just show up and dance! 

🎤 Taylor Swift Drag Bingo at Big Tony’s! Enjoy a fun-filled evening of bingo, drag performances, and all things Taylor Swift at 7 PM.

🏛️ Civic voices in action. Arlington Civic Federation meets at 7 PM—hybrid format—with a public safety panel and vote on W&OD Park emergency resolution. Livestream on Facebook.

Hump Day 🐫 

🏃‍♂️ Wind Down Wednesday! Join this free, high-energy outdoor fitness class with Training Ground from 5–6 PM. All fitness levels welcome—expect strength, cardio, and serious endorphins.

🧘 Outdoor Yoga with Mind the Mat. Join this all-levels class in Mason Square from 6-7 PM every Wednesday through May 16.

🗣️ Artist talk at MoCA! Milan Warner joins mentor Foon Sham for a conversation on sculpture and Warner’s debut solo show. Free in the Tiffany Gallery at 6 PM—registration recommended.

🧘‍♀️ Meditation & Breathwork Practices at The MoCA Innovation Studio! Join us to calm the mind and rejuvenate with guided meditation and breathwork exercises. 6:30 - 7:30 PM.

🏡 What does aging in Arlington look like? Join Advance ARL’s hybrid forum at 7 PM for an open conversation on aging with dignity, independence, and community. In person or via Zoom.

😂 History meets hilarity! Test your trivia skills and laugh along at the Laughing Historically show at Astro Beer Hall from 7:30–9:30 PM. Prizes await!

🍄 Glow-in-the-dark fungi! Discover the magic of mushrooms on a guided night hike from 8–9:30 PM. Use UV lights to spot bioluminescent species. Ages 10+, $7.

Thursday

🌸 Pink in the Park: Pink Beats! Celebrate cherry blossom season with live music, spring-inspired food, and drinks at the Water Park. 5 PM-8 PM. RSVP here

🎉 Columbia Pike Happy Hour at Sabores! Join us for a relaxed evening of drinks, snacks, and community connections at Sabores from 5:30 - 7:30 PM. 

🔧 Shop Workshop: Fix Nearly Anything at Central Library! Bring your broken items and learn how to repair them using tools and materials from 6-8 PM.

💪 Pilates with Mind the Mat. Join this high-energy outdoor Pilates class at Mason Square from 6-7 PM.

🎗️ Pink Out Night at Yorktown High – Watch the Yorktown Patriots vs. Wakefield Warriors for a charity softball event to support breast cancer awareness. Proceeds benefiting Arlington Free Clinic. 6:30 - 8:30 PM

🧘‍♀️ Monthly Meditation at Columbia Pike Library! Relax and unwind with a guided meditation session from 6:30-7:30 PM.

🧬 Ancestry for Beginners at Westover Library! Learn how to start building your family tree with Ancestry.com and other genealogy resources from 6:30-7:30 PM.

🌊 Who Owns the Potomac? Join us for a discussion on the history and complexities of the Potomac River's ownership. 7:00 - 8:30 PM.

Friday

🌱 Plant Health Care Tour at Arlington National Cemetery! Join us for a tour focusing on plant health care, including pruning, disease management, and soil nutrition. 9-11 AM.

🎨 Art of Pink: Experience an immersive art & music event at Metropolitan Park! Enjoy a pop-up gallery, local bites, and a breakdance showcase by DJ Fleg from 5-10 PM. Free with RSVP!

💃 Zumba Power Hour at Mason Square! Join this high-energy cardio dance class every Friday from 5:30-6:30 PM through May 16.

🎨 Paint & Sip at UPSIDE on Moore! Enjoy a two-hour watercolor workshop to create your own floral illustrations, with all supplies included and a complimentary drink. 6:30-8:30 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 info@arlbubble.com

🎷 Live Music Lineup
Where to find your groove

📍 The Renegade
Tonight: Latin Night – Lessons at 7:30 PM, Live Band at 8:30 PM
Wednesday: Country Music Night at 8:00 PM
Friday: Jovon Newman Band at 9:30 PM
Saturday: 7 Deadlies at 9:30 PM

📍 Westover Market & Beer Garden
Wednesday: Song Writers Nite at 6 PM
Friday: Swell at 6 PM
Saturday: Mercy Alliance at 5 PM

📍 Samuel Beckett's
Thursday: Lenny Burridge at 9:00 PM
Friday: Something Shiny at 9:30 PM
Saturday: Rocky Guttmann at 9:30 PM

📍 Ragtime
Friday: Rob Hornfeck at 9:30 PM
Saturday: Drew Stevyns at 9:30 PM

Know a great local music venue? Share your picks at info@arlbubble.com—we love featuring your Arlington favorites!

🙏 Thanks for reading!

💃 Keep up with us @arlbubble on IG. Send comments and suggestions to info@arlbubble.com 

Have a great day, Arlingtonians!