Music and concerts
No. Virginia and Tourism – Perfect Together?
When was the last time you were a tourist in your own backyard?
Most residents of Fairfax County and the northern Virginia area think they live in the shadow of Washington DC tourism. Who can compete with attractions such as the White House, the Capitol, the historical monuments and the Smithsonian museums?
But a closer look at Northern Virginia makes one realize how much there is to see before trekking into DC.
Start with a trip to George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens in Mount Vernon, VA. Open year round (including Christmas), Mount Vernon includes a restaurant, food court and shop, all recently renovated,
Fairfax County is home to Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, the nation’s only national park dedicated to the performing arts. Wolf Trap, with indoor and outdoor concert venues, is in Vienna, just off the Dulles Toll Road about halfway between downtown Washington and Dulles Airport.
When the Smithsonian ran out of room at its DC based National Air and Space Museum, it built a beautiful extension in Chantilly, VA. The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center displays the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay and the Space Shuttle Enterprise among others. There is also an Airbus IMAC Theater.
Nature lovers can visit Great Falls National Park for its hiking trails and beautiful views. Like Wolf Trap, it, too, is run by the National Park Service.
History, adventure, the theater and a hike? Sounds like a great vacation is just around the corner.
Summer season at Wolf Trap a fun, eclectic lineup
If you like Broadway shows, but can’t afford the tickets; want a night at the symphony but can’t seem to make the time; or are ready to revisit those rock and roll songs from your youth, make a date with Wolf Trap this summer.
Located between the Dulles Toll Road and Leesburg Pike/Rte. 7 in Vienna, less than 4 miles from Tysons Corner Center, Wolf Trap’s Filene Center will host more than 90 performances this summer.
The concert season kicks off on Memorial Day weekend with an eclectic mix of comedy, concerts and symphonies.
Where else can you see The Monkees (yes, those Monkees) on a Sunday night and enjoy the Morman Tabernacle Choir the following Wednesday?
The amphitheater, nestled in the National Park for the Performing Arts, seats 7,028 including more than 3,000 lawn seats.
This year’s lineup includes perennial favorites Garrison Keillor (of Prairie Home Companion fame), Bill Cosby, The Beach Boys and Mary Chapin Carpenter.
Broadway visits Wolf Trap with performances of “Sweeney Todd,” “Mamma Mia” and “Fiddler on the Roof.”
Take a step back in time with concerts by The Go-Go’s, Peter Frampton, The Temptations, The Four Tops and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
Symphony lovers will enjoy performances by the National Symphony Orchestra with “Tcheers to Tchaikovsky,” and “Three Broadway Divas.”
Tickets are on sale now for many shows. For a full list of the summer concert series and ticket availability, see wolftrap.org.
Make plans for a great night (or two) under the stars where, as Wolf Trap says, “the arts come out to play.”
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$809,900 : 1433 Towlston Rd, Vienna5 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths
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$710,000 : 1711 Jumper Ct, Vienna4 beds, 3 full baths
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$998,000 : 9816 Spring Ridge Ln, Vienna6 beds, 4 full, 1 part baths
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$675,000 : 9615 Cinnamon Creek Dr, Vienna4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths
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$799,000 : 1338 Stokley Way, Vienna5 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths
Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.
Workhouse Arts Center
Located in Lorton VA, the Workhouse Arts Center, formerly part of the DC correctional facility, is now the place to view art, buy art, make art and more! Set on 55 acres of land, the Workhouse provides a home for more than 100 of the regions finest professional and emerging artists.
Visitors can view work by nationally and internationally known artists, experience music, live theatre, film series and celebrity performances.
The Workhouse boasts a two-story gallery of ever-changing exhibitions of local and national artists and an extensive list of more than 150 quarterly classes and workshops for all ages, artistic interests and ability levels. An Art of Movement program has also been established, offering Pilates, yoga, dance and more.
The Workhouse Arts Center is a project of the Lorton Arts Foundation. The expansive complex, once a correctional facility and now a center for arts, culture, and history, has a rich past and an exciting new presence.
History
At the beginning of the 20th Century, President Theodore Roosevelt commissioned the purchase of a large tract of land in Virginia for the creation of a workhouse for Washington, DC’s non-violent criminals. In 1912 the prisoners created a brick plant where they produced bricks to construct the permanent buildings that now make up the Workhouse Arts Center. At the same time, the Women’s Division of the Workhouse was established west of the Men’s Workhouse. The Women’s Division is known for having held approximately 168 women, most from the National Women’s Party, for picketing in front of the White House for women’s voting rights. Lucy Burns, who, along with Alice Paul, founded the National Women’s Party, was one of the women incarcerated in the Women’s Division of the Workhouse.
In July 2002, Fairfax County received the title to the land that included the former Workhouse. The transfer of the land to the county was made possible through the Lorton Technical Corrections Act.. The Lorton Arts Foundation put forward a plan to transform the former prison facility into a cultural arts center and, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the rezoning of a 55-acre portion of the former correction’s facility to become the Workhouse Arts Center.
Visual Arts
The Visual Arts Program exhibits the work of local art organizations, private collectors, national and international artists, both emerging and professional, and regular exhibitions of juried work from members of the Workhouse Artists Association and the Workhouse Art Guild.
The Collector’s Showcase is a series of exhibitions from private collections. The exhibitions are accompanied by panel discussions on the art of collecting for both the novice and the seasoned collector.
Performing Arts
ArtNotes is a concert series celebrating the union of music and the visual arts and the soulful inspiration that both can provide.
Gallery After Hours is a music series that highlights new and innovative performing artists in the intimate setting of the Workhouse’s Gallery Building.
ArtStar Theatre Camp is designed for children ages 8-15. It is an exciting theatre program developed to promote self confidence and creative expression, while learning the basic tools of the theatrical trade.
ArtStar Youth Theatre Advanced Workshop is for students 14-18 that have had two or more years of training and are interested in pursuing a more in-depth theatrical experience. In a two week period, acting students rehearse a full length production while technical students design and build the scenery for the production.
The Spot-LYTE-s (Lorton Youth Theatre Ensemble) offers young actors the opportunity to perform no-cost productions for family audiences. In addition, educational partnerships with local schools may provide alternative opportunities for the Ensemble to perform to audiences of their peers, and to share their experiences with other students that may be interested in the performing arts.
Mind & Body Program
From the moment you arrive to the moment you leave, you will discover the best in all mind & body movements. Programs and classes are offered for all ages and abilities. Three beautiful studios encompass the program where Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, Balletone, Nia, Kukuwa Dance, and Kempo Martial Arts are held.
Kids Zone
Kid Zone is a place for young people to explore the world of creativity and to discover their own artistic passion. Students will have the opportunity to work with paint, clay, wire, glass, and so much more.
Arts Education and Outreach
The Business of Art is a certificate program jointly issued by the Arts Business Institute and The Workhouse Arts Center to artists to be competitive in the art market.
Art for a Change! is a dynamic visual and performing arts education outreach program delivering authentic learning opportunities by professional artists to local elementary, middle, and high school students.
The Workhouse Institute is the center’s rigorous and progressive collection of arts education courses and workshops designed for life-long learning experiences. Beginner through master classes are offered in all media and new course schedules are created quarterly.
Lorton Homes for Sale
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$399,999 : 9694 Eaton Woods Pl, Lorton3 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths
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$629,999 : 9063 Galvin Ln, Lorton5 beds, 4 full, 1 part baths
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$749,990 : 9290 Windrush Dr, Lorton3 beds, 2 full baths
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$600,000 : 9029 Virginia Ter, Lorton4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths
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$374,888 : 9654 Dutchman Dr, Lorton3 beds, 2 full, 2 part baths
Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.
In and About Alexandria in February
- WHAT: Farmer’s Market at Market Square.
- WHEN: All year round every Saturday from 5am to 10am.
- WHERE: Market Square at 301 King Street, Alexandria VA.
Farmer’s Market is the nation’s oldest farmer’s market that features a variety of vendors from local farmers to artists selling their goods since 1753. Baked goods, dairy, meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants, handcrafted items, cheese, etc. are offered at Farmer’s Market.
- WHAT: Second Thursday Art Night.
- WHEN: February 10 from 6pm to 9pm.
- WHERE: Torpedo Factory Art Center at 105 N. Union Street, Alexandria VA.
Open studios and galleries at the Torpedo Factory Art Center with the opportunity to interact with artists and refreshments.
- WHAT: George Washington’s 279th Birthday Celebration at Mount Vernon.
- WHEN: February 21 from 9am to 4pm.
- WHERE: George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Alexandria VA.
A free visit to George Washington’s home with festivities from patriotic performances, wreath laying ceremony and a party plus more!
- WHAT: George Washington Birthday Parade.
- WHEN: February 21 from 1pm to 3pm.
- WHERE: Old Town, Alexandria VA.
In celebration of George Washington’s birthday, a large parade shall join the merriment with marching bands, historic re-enactments and more.
- WHAT: Parade Day Open Houses at Historic Sites.
- WHEN: February 21 at 10am.
- WHERE: Friendship Firehouse Museum, Lee-Fendall Museum & Garden, The Lyceum, Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, Christ Church, and Gadsby’s Tavern Museum at Alexandria VA.
Friendship Firehouse Museum, Lee-Fendall Museum & Garden, The Lyceum, Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, Christ Church, and Gadsby’s Tavern Museum shall be open to visitors in celebration of George Washington’s birthday.
The National Christmas Tree and The Pageant of Peace
The National Christmas Tree and the Washington Monument
The first national Christmas celebrations began in 1913 when President Woodrow Wilson and over 20,000 visitors gathered together at the Capitol with a lighted community Christmas tree that began the national event.
In 1923, Vermont’s Middlebury College had presented the first official National Christmas Tree as a gift. It was decorated with 2,500 red, white and green lights and was lit by President Calvin Coolidge on the Eve of Christmas at President’s Park situated to the south of the White House also known as the Ellipse. Through the years, the National Christmas Tree had been relocated to several areas such as in 1923 when it was relocated to Sherman Plaza and to Lafayette Park years after, and was returned to the Ellipse in 1939.
On December 17, 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower started the lighting of the National Christmas Tree for the Pageant of Peace, permitting more visitors to view the lighting and celebrating Christmas Eve at home with family.
From a single Christmas tree, the National Christmas Tree now is accompanied by 56 smaller Christmas trees representing each state, territory and the District of Columbia. The National Christmas Tree is lit with reflection of the current events such as when the lights were turned off for a moment in support of the American hostages in Lebanon and their families on Christmas Eve in 1985 as instructed by President George H. W. Bush, and the lighting in 2001, when the children of the September 11 attack victims of the Pentagon had assisted in the lighting.
An array of trees, such as the Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir, Engelmann Spruce and Red Cedar were constantly donated for the event till 1973, when the National Arborist Association then donated a 42 foot blue spruce intended as a permanent National Christmas Tree till it began to die and thus a 40 foot tall living Colorado blue spruce was donated from Maryland and served as the National Christmas Tree. Standard filament burning bulbs had long ago decorated the National Christmas, then Solar energy was then used in 1995 to light the tree, in 2007 energy efficient LED lights are now used as a reminder to everyone that energy can be saved to decrease carbon footprint.
Every year, the tree lighting ceremony begins the festivities of the National Christmas Tree program or “Pageant of Peace”, with re-known performers and a military band and a message of peace by the President dedicated to everyone worldwide. Entertainment and musical performances provided by volunteer choirs, bands and dancers are for free.
For the “Christmas Pathway of Peace”, the National Christmas Tree and its accompanying 56 smaller trees shall be lit every night at dusk till 11pm all through the 1st of January. While model trains surrounding the base of the National Christmas Tree are provided by the National Christmas Tree Railroad.
McLean Community Center Brings Arts & Education to the Area
Approved in 1970 and built and funded by Greater McLean area residents, the McLean Community Center now relies on volunteers, gifts and donations to run its facilities and programs. Throughout the year the Center hosts many programs and services for adults and children, including classes, lectures, study tours, art exhibits, theater performances and specialty shows.
The Center offers more than 100 classes for all ages on varied topics including, but not limited to, art, business, dance, writing, chess, language, fitness and theater. In addition, McLean residents can experience the arts through the 424-seat Alden Theatre, which brings nationally and internationally known musicians, dancers and theater players. Groups that perform at the theater include the McLean Kids, Jammin’ Juniors, McLean Symphony and the McLean Community Players. Residents can also experience the visual arts through the McLean Project for the Arts galleries and the Susan B. DuVal Art Studio.
Families with children will love the Old Firehouse Teen Center operated by the McLean Community Center. The Old Firehouse hosts events and activities specifically with teens in mind. Activities provided are wholesome and help children and young adults through programs for physical, mental and emotional development.
Finally, the McLean Community Center holds many community events throughout the year, including:
- McLean Day at Lewinsville Park
- July 4th Fireworks at Langley High School
- McLean Antiques Show & Sale
- McLean Holiday Crafts Show
- McLean Jewelry Showcase
- Sunday Soiree Series
- MLK Day Blues & BBQ Dinner
- Be Fit McLean! Outdoor Fitness & Adventure Expo
- McLean Spring Community Garage Sale
- McLean Pet Expo
The Center is located at 1234 Ingleside Ave. in McLean. For more information, call 703-790-0123 or visit www.mcleancenter.org.
Shirlington Village Shopping Center in Arlington
One of Arlington’s Favorite Local Neighborhoods
Located at 2700 South Quincy Street, the Village at Shirlington or Shirlington Village Shopping Center is the perfect getaway for locals and for the new residents during the spring weekends.
European style walkway of shops, nightlife, art house cinema, fine dining and casual restaurants is featured in Shirlington.
Construction of Shirlington Village Shopping Center began in 2005 by the Federal Realty Investment Trust and Arlington County. 650 units were added and the length of the main street was doubled.
The Village at Shirlington offers a global fusion of cuisines, Oscar worthy entertainment and exquisite boutique shopping.
Restaurants that are worth the taste:
Aladdin’s Eatery
Aroma Restaurant
Bistro Bistro
Bonsai Restaurant
The Bungalow
Busboys and Poets
Cake Love
Capital City Brewing Company
Johnny Rockets
Luna Grill & Diner
Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream
Convenient Services:
BB&T
Enterprise Rent a Car
Hair Cuttery
Harris Teeter
Shirlington Library
INSIGHT Imaging Center of Arlington
Shirlington Valet Cleaners
Thrive Pilates & Yoga
U.S. Postal Services
Specialty:
Curious Grape
One, Two Kangaroo Toys!
Verbena Paper & Gifts
Theatres / Cinemas for high end entertainment:
Lights of the new Shirlington's Signature ....
AMC Loews Shirlington 7
Classika Theatre
Signature Theatre
Homes for sale in and around Shirlington
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$469,000 : 1945 Lowell St, Arlington2 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$355,000 : 3738 Gunston Rd #910-37, Alexandria2 beds, 1 full bath
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$319,500 : 2441 Oxford St, Arlington3 beds, 2 full baths
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$689,900 : 2662 Kenmore Ct S, Arlington3 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths
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$359,900 : 4111 Four Mile Run Dr S #201, Arlington2 beds, 2 full baths
Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.
Music and Art at Cherry Hill
Local artist along with local musicians come together for Concerts in the Park at Cherry Hill. The Village Preservation and improvement Society, Falls Church Arts and Falls Church City’s Recreation and Parks Division present this event every Thursday at 7:00p.m. at Cherry Hill Park.
For more information on featured artist and musicians please contact:
Falls Church Arts by e-mail at info@fallschurcharts.org.
Cherry Hill Park Concerts
Cherry Hill Park is holding “Concerts In The Park” every Thursday beginning June 17th, 2010. Different bands will perform and local bands are featured.
Bring your own blankets, chairs, and food and enjoy the park and music.
For more information please contact:
Cherry Hill Park
312 Park Ave.
Falls Church, Va. 22046
703-248-5001
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$875,000 : 226 Little Falls St, Falls Church3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$794,900 : 102 Spring St, Falls Church4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths
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$200,000 : 1136 South Washington St #204, Falls Church1 bed, 1 full bath
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$675,000 : 2829 Brook Dr, Falls Church3 beds, 2 full baths
Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.
An Evening of Contemporary World Music with Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra
Experience the best kinds of contemporary music with Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra this coming May 10, 2010, 7:30 PM at The Birchmere. It is an evening to remember. Tickets are sold at $35.00 and can be purchased at TicketMaster.com or Box Office 202.397.7328.
For inquiries please call 703.549.7500 or email: birchmere@birchmere.com or visit www.birchmere.com.
