🤖 Bots in ARL

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

☕️ Good morning, Arlingtonians! Remember the couple who won a free wedding at the Central Library? We were so happy to hear they made it official this weekend with paper flowers, donated cake, and a true community celebration.

We also wanted to share this Kid-Friendly Guide to Arlington we put together with Stay Arlington. Got a favorite kid spot we missed? Let us know!

In today’s bubble:
📰 Board agenda & music with a mission
📆 Kitten meditations & game nights
🎷 Live music lineup for the week

📰 News Bites 
Quick local updates

🤖 Laser Robots Hit Arlington Sidewalks
A fleet of high-tech bots is scanning sidewalks from Ballston to Rosslyn for cracks, weeds, and gaps. The 20-day pilot will help the county decide if the laser-equipped surveyors should be part of its next full sidewalk assessment.

💍 Love Story Sealed at ARL Library
After a decade together across cities and continents, ARL couple Katie Lettie and Vincent Bauer tied the knot at Central Library—thanks to a free wedding contest. Local vendors and library staff turned the space into a community celebration.

🎷 Rosslyn Jazz Fest Lineup Drops
Arlington’s biggest free outdoor music fest returns Sept. 6 with headliner Southern Avenue, plus New Breed Brass Band, The Sensational Barnes Brothers, and more. Live jazz, funk, food trucks, and family fun light up Gateway Park from 1 to 7 p.m.

🎸 Music with a Mission in ARL
Singer Steven Cade brings his Giving Guitars Tour to Bridges to Independence today, performing and donating a signed guitar to support residents. The nationwide tour uses music to heal, inspire, and uplift people facing homelessness.

🥕 Check Out ARL Farmers Markets 
From fresh berries in Courthouse to breakfast burritos in Westover, ARL is packed with vibrant farmers markets all week long. Pick up local produce, baked goods, coffee, and treats across neighborhoods like Ballston, Green Valley, Cherrydale, and more.

📋 Big Agenda for July Board Meetings
The County Board meets Saturday, July 19 and Tuesday, July 22 to vote on major planning efforts, including Ballston One redevelopment, Crystal Drive adaptive reuse, and 800+ new homes in Rosslyn. Public input is welcome in person or online.

📣 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]

📆 This Week in Arlington
Weekday Happenings

🐱 Today

• Share the Love with Animal Welfare League of Arlington for Teens at Columbia Pike Library, Free, 4 – 5 PM

• Family Game Night at Glencarlyn Library, Free, 5:30 – 7:30 PM

• July Kitten Meditation to Benefit the CDFR at Faith Lutheran Church, $45, 6 PM & 7 PM

• Vinyasa Yoga by Mind Your Body Oasis at Water Park, Free, 6 – 7 PM 

• Arlington Songwriters Group at Columbia Pike Library, Free, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

• Melodic Adventures (for kids) at Shirlington Library, Campbell Room, Free, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

💈 Tuesday

• Art Lab: Felt Animal Sewing & Bead Bracelets at Mason Square, Free, 5 – 6 PM 

• Summer Wellness Series: Acupressure at Gateway Park, $7, 5:30–6:30 PM

• Rosslyn Trail Tuesday: Vegetation Cleanup in Rosslyn (exact location in eventbrite), Volunteering, 5:30 – 7 PM

• Yoga (Tems theme) by Radiance Basden at Clarendon Crossing, Free, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

• Ready - Set - Sing Lesson with The Arlingtones Barbershop Chorus at Lubber Run Community Center, Free, 6:45 - 7:45 PM - every Tuesday through August 12

☮️ Wednesday

• BuzzEd Networking at Westover Taco, Free, 10–11:30 AM

• Practicing Mindfulness at Courthouse Library, Free, 12 – 12:45 PM

• Teen Space Grand Opening for Grades 6–12 at Central Library, Free, 3 – 5 PM

• Share the Love with Animal Welfare League of Arlington for Teens at Westover Library, Free, 3:30 – 4:30 PM

• Gardening at the Fort for Adults at Fort C.F. Smith Park, Free, 6 - 7 PM

• Qi Gong: Wellness Wednesdays at MoCA Innovation Studio, $23, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

• ​Laugh Lab: Finding Your Comedic Voice Workshop at Columbia Pike Library, Free, 6:30 - 7:30 PM

• Garden Talks: Water Where it Counts: Rain Barrels, Drip Irrigation & In-Ground Ollas at Central Library, 6:30 - 7:30

🎸 Thursday

• National Landing Community Clean-Up at Pentagon City Metro Station, Free, 10 AM – 12 PM

• MoCA Made in the Shade Happy Hour featuring artist Lex Marie, The Art of Still Life with a Twist, and DJ Electro-Cute at MoCA Innovation Studio + Store, Free, 5 – 7 PM

• Rosslyn Rocks: Jimmy Buffett Tribute at Central Place Plaza, Free, 5:30–7:30 PM

• Artist Talk and Reception: Keeley Rae at Central Library, Free, 6 – 7 PM

• Animal Tales Theatre Art for Grades K – 5 with Educational Theatre Company at Central Library, Free, 6 – 7 PM

• Thursday Night Live featuring Dixon Hall Band (Country covers) at Mason Square Plaza, Free, 6:30–8:30 PM

 🕺 Friday

• Fridays at the Fountain featuring Sahel (Afro-Diaspora Music) at Water Park, Free, 5:30 – 8 PM

• Footloose by Encore Stage & Studio opening night at Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre, $18–22, 7 PM – show runs through July 27

• Little Shop of Horrors on the Plaza at Mason Square, Free, 7 - 10 PM (movie starts ~8:30 PM)

• Bongo District (reggae, funk, ska, Latin fusion) at Lubber Run Amphitheater, Free, 8 PM

• Open Mic Magic Show at The Filling Station at El Rey, Free, 8 – 10 PM

• Moana at Arlington Mill Plaza, Free, 8:30 PM

 💿️ Saturday

• Chilly Beans Club (plunge, coffee, & music) at Cut Seven, Free, 9 AM – 12 PM

• Crafty Kids: Take and Make Seashell Necklaces at Columbia Pike Library , Free, 10 AM - 5 PM

• Yoga by Kat Buechel at Clarendon Crossing, Free, 10 – 11 AM

• Basic Self-Defense Class with EvolveAll at Columbia Pike Library (10 - 11:30 AM) and Westover Library (1 - 2:30 PM), Free

• Knits & Flicks featuring A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood at Westover Library, Free, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

• Ecstatic Dance Arlington: Sisters in Sound Takeover at Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, $18–33, 2 – 5:30 PM

• Y2K 2000s Party at Arlington Beer Garden, Free before 5 PM, 2 – 9 PM

• July Concert Series featuring Vinyl Horizon at Water Park, Free, 5 – 7 PM

• US Navy Band Commodores (big band jazz) at Lubber Run Amphitheater, Free, 8 PM

• Moana 2 at Penrose Square Plaza, Free, 8:30 PM

 🌈  Sunday

• MoCA on the Move featuring music from Scott Ricker and paper mosaic art at Met Park, Free, 10 AM – 1 PM

• The Rainbow Rock Band (educational children’s music) at Lubber Run Amphitheater, Free, 11 AM

• Collage Meetup at Central Library, Free, 1 - 3 PM (DM for details)

• Board Game Afternoon at Shirlington Library, Free, 2 - 5 PM

• Summer Concert at Netherlands Carillon, Free, 3 - 4:30 PM (+ Park Rangers led kids activities from 2:30-4:30 PM)

🎷 Live Music Lineup
Where to find your groove

🗓️ Monday
Kevin Koa @ 6 PM — Bronson Bierhall

🗓️ Tuesday
Mackenzie Ryan @ 6 PM — Bronson Bierhall

🗓️ Wednesday
Malarkey @ 6 PM — Westover Market
Justin Suede @ 6 PM — Bronson Bierhall

🗓️ Thursday
Mike Heuer @ 6:00PM — Bronson Bierhall

🗓️ Friday
Karina & The Besets @ 5:30PM — American Legion
Bud Skeleton @ 6:00PM — Westover Market
Sara Delaney @ 7 PM — American Legion
Postskript @ 8 PM — Three Whistles
Shake Rattle & Roll @ 9 PM — Bronson Bierhall
Enslow @ 9:30 PM — Ragtime 
My Chemical Bromance @ 9:30PM — The Renegade

🗓️ Saturday
Badger Crossing @ 5 PM — Westover Market
Ben Demase @ 6:00 PM — American Legion
Rob Hornfeck @ 9:30PM — Ragtime
Run for Cover @ 9:30 PM — The Renegade

🗓️ Sunday
Shortcut Sunny @ 3 PM — Bronson Bierhall
Czonka, Right Chipper @ 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!