🏆️ RAMMYs Rising Stars 🍽️

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

🐇 Hop to it, Arlingtonians! Easter’s just around the corner, and we’ve rounded up all the egg-cellent events you won’t want to miss. Tag a friend, spread the cheer, and check out all your bunny-specific hoppenings on our IG —then subscribe to keep the local buzz in your basket!

👀 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

🍽️ ARL RAMMYs Finalists! Seven local spots—including Astro Beer Hall, Queen Mother’s Kitchen, Stellina, and Beauty Champagne & Sugar Boutique—are up for top honors at this year’s regional restaurant awards.

🎙️ Pour Yourself a Glass! When You Just Want a Glass of Wine—a new local podcast from Beauty Champagne & Sugar Boutique’s Zena Polin and wine-loving attorney Renée Gentry—debuts April 22 with zero pretension, all fun. Tune in here!

📝 Calling All Poets! Arlington is now accepting applications for its next Poet Laureate. The two-year term includes an honorarium and public engagement opportunities. Apply by June 2.

📏 Shrinking Spaces in Arlington! A new report ranks Arlington 20th nationally for smallest new apartments—averaging just 809 sq ft, well below the U.S. average of 908.

🐈️ Fairlington Cat Purrade! Join the feline festivities on May 17 as neighbors parade past porchside kitties in costume. $5/family, with proceeds benefiting AWLA. Cats welcome—dogs not invited!

🏃‍♀️ From College to Pro: RRCA’s RunPro Camp returns to Arlington July 10–12, guiding post-collegiate distance runners through the transition to a pro career. Applications due June 15.

🚦Intersection Revamp! Arlington is redesigning the Route 50 & Highland Street intersection after a spike in turn-related crashes drew concern from county leaders.

🦞 Buzzworthy restaurants are spicing up Arlington this spring and —think seafood towers, Filipino breakfast buns, Italian subs, and even a country bar with a mechanical bull.

🥪 Grazie Grazie Opens Today! Ballston gets a taste of Philly as the popular Italian deli debuts at 4121 Wilson Blvd with stacked subs, signature pizzas, and limited-time bites like the “Hot Rob.”

🎒 Mini News Bites
Updates for the Kiddos

🎶 Sing-Along With ‘Wicked’! Join ACPD and Arlington Library for a magical screening of Wicked with snacks, songs, and community fun this Saturday at Courthouse Library from 12–3 PM. Free popcorn & drinks!

🛹 Skate Heaven in Arlington! Powhatan Springs Park is a $1.8M concrete paradise for all ages, with bowls, rails, and serious shred cred just off Wilson Blvd near Seven Corners.

🐶 Pet of the Week
Because…awwwww…

Meet Darla, the sweetest couch potato you’ll ever find! This gentle girl is a pro at snuggling and loves relaxing with people of all ages—kids included. Though a little shy at first, she warms up quickly and gets along great with both dogs and cats. Darla is still working on her house training, but she’s eager to learn with a patient, loving family. She’s been diagnosed with a condition that may shorten her time, so she’s looking for a special home to fill her days with comfort, kindness, and care. If you’ve got room on your couch and in your heart, Darla’s ready to be your loyal companion.

🥳 This Weekend in Arlington
Weekend Happenings

Today 🌇 

🌿 Landscape & Integrated Pest Management Tour at Arlington National Cemetery! Explore the Memorial Arboretum with Arlington’s horticulturist and plant health care specialist. 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. 

🎨 Spring Break Make and Take: Stress Balls at Glencarlyn Library – Middle schoolers can create their own stress balls using balloons, flour, and rice. No registration needed. 1:00 - 3:00 PM. 

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

🎶 Friday Night Concert Series at Water Park – Groove to the Cathy Ponton King Band on Neon Night with live music, food, and drinks! 6 - 8:30 PM.

🎭 Legally Blonde The Musical at Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre. Follow Elle Woods on her journey of transformation in this fun, award-winning musical. Opens April 18th at 7:30 PM, runs through the 27th.

🎶 A-Flo Friday with Marcus Johnson at Busboys and Poets Shirlington – Step into a FLO state of mind with live music, soulful vibes, and inspiring conversation from 7:30 - 9 PM.

💾 Y2K After Dark at Punch Bowl Social Arlington – Get ready for a throwback night of Y2K vibes, music, and fun starting at 9:00 PM.

Saturday 🪩

🎨 Arlington Art Truck at Courthouse Farmers Market – Join artist Felecia Brice McFail for a hand-lettered family tree experience 8 AM - 12 PM.

🌱 Spring Celebration with the Glencarlyn Community Garden! Celebrate gardening at two locations: The Ball-Sellers House (10 AM-4 PM) with colonial gardening demos and a free tour, and Glencarlyn Library (10 AM-3 PM) to explore native plants, grind corn, and visit the community garden.

🐰 Douglas Park Egg Hunt – Hop over for a fun-filled egg hunt with a bouncy house, Easter Bunny, and face painting! 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM.

🌍 Earth Day Invasive Honeysuckle Removal on the Mount Vernon Trail – Join to help remove invasive honeysuckle and restore local habitats for Earth Day. 10 AM - 12 PM.

🚴 Trail Riding Basics at Quincy St Parking Deck – Improve your trail riding skills with this 3-hour class for beginners and those looking to build confidence. 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM.

🐰 Westover Village Easter Egg Hunt at Cardinal Elementary School – Hop over for egg hunting and a visit with the Easter Bunny. 10:30 AM.

🎷 Jazz@Central – Enjoy an afternoon of music with Steve Herberman (Guitar) and Lena Seikaly (Vocals) as they perform classics by Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass. 3:00 - 4:00 PM.

🌸 Spring Flower Stroll at Glencarlyn Park – Explore the blooming beauty of spring flowers with a leisurely walk through the park. 4:00 - 5:00 PM.

🔥 Forest Bathing Campfire at Long Branch Nature Center – Explore nature through sights, sounds, and smells while enjoying games, live animals, and making s’mores. 7:00 - 8:00 PM.

🎤 Estrogenius All-Female Comedy Show at El Ray – Enjoy an evening of laughter with a lineup of talented comedians, benefiting House of Ruth DC. 8 - 9:30 PM.

Sunday 💫

🌸 MoCA on the Move: Celebrating Spring Family Fun Series at Met Park! Create beautiful decoupage eggs while enjoying live music from Laurel Halsey. 10 AM-1 PM.

🥚 Easter Egg Hunt at Astro Shirlington! Join the fun with an egg hunt featuring a $100 gift card in the golden egg and a special visit from the Easter Bunny! 10 AM - 12 PM.

👚 Clothing Swap at Westover Taco – Bring gently used kids' clothes (0-11 yrs) and swap for new items. 10 AM - 12 PM.

Animal Encounters: Spring at Potomac Overlook Regional Park – Meet local wildlife and learn about springtime animal behavior. 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM.

🎤 Music Bingo at Punch Bowl Social Arlington – Enjoy a fun afternoon of music bingo with great tunes and exciting prizes! 2:00 PM - 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

📍 Westover Market & Beer Garden
Tonight: Elevated Roots at 6 PM
Saturday: Starryville at 5 PM

📍 Three Whistles
Tonight: Ahmad Salahuddin at 8 PM

📍 O'Sullivan's
Tonight: Twenty Dollar Prophet at 9:30 PM

📍 The Renegade
Tonight: Isaac Krapf Band at 9:30 PM
Saturday: Medicine Man at 9:30 PM

📍 Samuel Beckett's
Tonight: Jon Cresswell at 9:30 PM
Saturday: Brandon Kennedy at 9:30 PM

📍 Ragtime
Tonight: Enslow at 9:30 PM
Saturday: New Legacy Blues at 9:30 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!