🏀 Bracket Bites & Big Wins 🍕

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

☕️ Rise and shine, Arlingtonians! Love staying in the loop? Spread the word! Tag a friend who needs their daily dose of local buzz and subscribe to keep Arlington at your fingertips. Follow us @arlbubble on IG 🚀 

👀 In today’s bubble:

• Weekend Fun: Festivals, fitness, food, and more in Arlington!

• Flight Wine Shop Lands in Crystal City: Charcuterie and tastings await!

• Pet of the Week: Meet Thomas, a shy cat with a sweet, chirpy personality!

Your Arlington cheat sheet starts now ⬇️

📰 News Bites 
Quick local updates

🏀 Best March Madness Bars & Deals: Catch games, enjoy watch parties, and score drink specials on brews, wings, and pizza across Arlington!

🌸 Where to See Cherry Blossoms Near Arlington: Skip the crowds and enjoy spring blooms at these scenic parks, trails, and gardens!

💰 Arlington Awards $1.8M in Community Grants: 23 nonprofits receive funding to support equity-driven programs for education, healthcare, and social services.

🚧 Key Bridge Marriott Demolition Begins! ARL’s skyline is changing as crews dismantle the hotel. Asbestos abatement is underway, with demolition expected by summer.

🏗️ More Apartments for Ballston! A 13-story office tower at 4100 Fairfax Drive may convert into 269 apartments, adding housing near Metro and retail.

🐟 Andrew Zimmern Partners with Arlington Nonprofit: The celebrity chef works with Seafood Nutrition Partnership to promote seafood’s health benefits and will speak at Seafood Expo North America this month.

🍛 Himalayan Wild Yak Opens in Ballston: The Nepalese restaurant brings authentic yak dishes, tandoori salmon, and sel roti to N. Glebe Road.

🍷 Flight Wine Shop Lands in Crystal City: The boutique retailer offers 300+ minimal-intervention wines, charcuterie, and tastings after departing DC’s Chinatown

🍱 Biàndāng Lunch Box Debuts in Arlington: Mala Tang’s $15 express lunch features three rotating Sichuan dishes, served bento-style for a quick, flavorful meal.

🎒 Mini News Bites
Updates for the Kiddos

💻️ APS Hosts First Programming Competition: Sixty students tackled coding challenges in Python, Java, and C++, showcasing their STEM skills.

🗣️ APS’ Your Voice Matters survey is extended through Friday, March 21—check your email or the Friday Five to participate!

🏫 Extra Elementary Seats Could Reshape APS Schools – Arlington may repurpose schools due to excess capacity, but no closures are planned yet.

🎒 Tierra Encantada, a Spanish immersion daycare, plans to open May 19 in Virginia Square, offering care for infants to pre-K.

🐶 Pet of the Week
Because…awwwww…

A little patience goes a long way…

Meet Thomas, a shy but sweet soul who loves a quiet, cozy space to call home. While he might take his time warming up, once he feels safe, his personality shines—complete with gentle chirps and soft meows to remind you he’s there (and ready for some love). Give him patience, and he’ll give you a lifetime of cuddles and companionship!

📩 If you are interested in adopting Thomas, please send an email to [email protected] to arrange an initial virtual meet & greet with the pet’s foster parent or a staff member. They will reply to you within 24-48 hours.

🥳 This Weekend in Arlington
Weekend Happenings

Today 🌇 

🎭 "Oliver!" by St. Andrew’s Players. The classic musical Oliver Twist comes to life at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, premiering March 21-29.

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

🍷 Weekly Wine Class – Pentagon City Wine Merchant, 5:00–8:00 PM
Sip and learn at Pentagon City Wine Merchant—VIP members drink free!

🏅 Teen Friday Night Sports at Lubber Run Community Center! Drop in for basketball and volleyball this week. 7-8:45 PM.

😂 Free Comedy Night: Enjoy a hilarious show at El Rey from 8 - 9:30 PM —just tip the comedians!

🏀 Ballin’ at the Mill: Late Night Basketball! Hit the court for late-night hoops at Arlington Mill Community Center. Starts at 9 PM.

Saturday 🪩

🌸 Pink in the Pool 2025! Celebrate cherry blossom season with free swim sessions, balloon twisters, and more at Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center from 9 AM-12 PM.

🎉 TGS Arlington’s STEAM Event! Celebrate STEM Week with a weather science talk, MAD Science show, and hands-on activities at The Gardner School of Arlington! 10 AM-12 PM. RSVP here.

🛍️ Women’s Maker Fair at Central Library! Celebrate Women’s History Month and shop local, woman-owned businesses featuring handmade goods, art, and more. 11 AM-2 PM.

🎉 HBW Block Party! Enjoy a chili competition, cookie contest, spikeball tournament, dunk tank, food trucks, and more! 11 AM-2 PM.

🎭 Mask-Making with Steven Luu at Mason Exhibitions! Drop in anytime between 11 AM-5 PM for this hands-on workshop exploring identity through art—all materials provided!

🏃‍♀️ Clarendon Run Club Private Class at MADabolic Arlington! Join us for an exclusive class designed just for the Clarendon Run Club at 11:30 AM. Register here.

🤖 Intro to AI: The Art of Prompt Writing at Westover Library! Learn the fundamentals of AI and effective prompt writing in this interactive workshop, with hands-on practice and Q&A. 1-2 PM.

🎉 Teen Night at Lubber Run! Hang out with friends, enjoy games, music, and more at this fun-filled evening. 7-10 PM.

🦉 Owl Prowl & Hot Cocoa at Long Branch Nature Center! Explore the night in search of owls, then warm up with hot cocoa from 7-8 PM.

Sunday 💫

🌿 Native Plant Gardening Clinic at Long Branch Nature Center! Get expert advice from naturalists and gardeners at this drop-in clinic from 10 AM-12 PM.

😂 Improv Comedy Sunday Brunch! Enjoy a delicious brunch while laughing along to hilarious improv comedy from 11:45 AM-2 PM.

📖 Spellbinders Story Fest at Long Branch Nature Center! Experience storytelling with tales from around the world in this family-friendly event from 1-1:30 PM.

🎤 Operation HerStory Panel Discussion at Military Women’s Memorial! Join authors, historians, and veterans for a powerful discussion on the importance of telling our stories. 1-3 PM.

🥗 Levantine Dips, Salads & Sips Cooking Class! Learn to make fresh Mediterranean-inspired dishes in this hands-on spring cooking class. 2-5 PM.

🎉 Seventeenth Annual Holi Hungama at Quincy Park! Celebrate the Festival of Holi with gulal, food, and fun. Wear white, bring friends, and get ready to play! 12-3 PM.

🎲 Cookies & Game Night at Captain Cookie Courthouse! From 4-6PM, come test your skills with bingo, trivia, and more for a chance to win sweet prizes like a cookie cake or ice cream sandwich.

📣 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

📍 Three Whistles
Tonight: Dave Palmer Trio at 8 PM
Saturday: Karafolke – Tommy Rueckert at 8 PM

📍 Samuel Beckett's
Tonight: Lil Rob Ralston at 9:30 PM
Saturday: Mike Leverone at 9:30 PM

📍 The Renegade
Tonight: Hijynx at 9:30 PM
Saturday: Rock Creek Kings at 8:00 PM

📍 O'Sullivan's
Tonight: Practically Einstein at 9:30 PM
Saturday: Lush at 9:30 PM

📍Galaxy Hut
Sunday: Caz Gardiner 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!