Art Gallery
Winner: Gallery Underground
There’s a new show every month at this gallery from the 140-artists-strong Arlington Artists Alliance. Join a free opening reception on the first Friday of each month to celebrate the new art, which includes paintings, glass, photography, and jewelry. 2100 Crystal Dr., Ste. 2120-A, Arlington
Runner-Up: Workhouse Arts Center
Local, regional, and international artists are featured in the exhibitions here. Both in-person and virtual galleries are richly stocked with inspiring work for your next visit. 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton
Live-Music Venue
Winner: Wolf Trap
Year-round performances, including pop, opera, and practically everything in between, bring in droves of fans. Part of the appeal is packing a picnic to enjoy with the music, a Northern Virginia rite of passage. 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna
Runner-Up: The Birchmere
Since 1966, this stage has been filled with acts from around the country. The Flex Stage allows dancers to show off their moves during shows. 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria
Photo courtesy The Birchmere
Museum
Winner: National Museum of the Marine Corps
Don’t know your U.S. war history? You will after a visit to this longtime favorite museum. Exhibits begin with the Revolutionary War and continue through Vietnam, with treasures on view to memorialize every milestone. 18900 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Triangle
Runner-Up: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Proximity to IAD makes this museum a stop for locals and out-of-towners alike. The hangar is filled with airplanes that date back to the origins of human flight and also includes relics of space exploration. 14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy., Chantilly
Outdoor Concert Space
Winner: Wolf Trap
A full lineup of summer concerts is on deck at this legendary venue, which had to reschedule last season because of COVID. Soundwalk, a new art installation, allows visitors to soak in the outdoor space with GPS-enabled music from Pulitzer-winning composer Ellen Reid. 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna
Runner-Up: Jiffy Lube Live
A performance by the Village People was the 1995 debut for this amphitheater. This year, hot acts playing for up to 25,000 people include Luke Bryan and Maroon 5. 7800 Cellar Door Dr., Bristow
Outdoor Movie-Screening Spot
Winner: Mosaic District
In the past year, outdoor flicks have taken on a new importance, and this is readers’ favorite place to take one in. Family-friendly films are the order of the day at this drive-in experience inside Fairfax’s mega shopping center. 2910 District Ave., Fairfax
Runner-Up: Alexandria Drive-In Movie Theater
A real, old-school drive-in? Alexandria’s got one, and it screens the classics everyone loves, from the Star Wars trilogy to The Greatest Showman. 5001 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria
Stand-Up Comedy
Winner: Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse
Nationally known comedians appear on the stage at this converted Art Deco theater. Stand-up accounts for most of the entertainment, but there are funny murder-mystery shows and improv, too. 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington
Runner-Up: Tally Ho Theater
A partnership with the famed DC Improv comedy club means that the freshest new acts are now coming through Leesburg. Pair your guffaws with a meal from adjacent 19 West Gourmet Burgers. 19 W. Market St., Leesburg
Theater House
Winner: Signature Theatre
A focus on social justice means that this nonprofit professional theater’s contemporary musicals and plays on offer aren’t just fluff. Shows are currently digital, so fans can enjoy them at home. 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington
Runner-Up: 1st Stage Theater
An intimate setting allows top-notch professional theater artists to unleash new works sure to stun. Classes keep the next generation of performers and playwrights primed. 1524 Spring Hill Rd., Tysons
Feature image courtesy Wolf Trap
This story originally ran in our June issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to our monthly magazine.
