A new live music venue joins the entertainment scene in Arlington’s Ballston neighborhood. Filling Station, a 50-seat performance space and beer hall located next to taco restaurant and margarita bar El Rey, plans its grand opening on Friday, August 11.
The venue expects to have a rotating schedule of musicians and comedians. The opening weekend kicks off with Leesburg-based country rock band Cowpoke at 8 p.m. on Friday, followed by Arlington funk rock band Skip House at 8 p.m. on Saturday.
The opening weekend will feature surprise giveaways and prizes. Doors to the venue open at 5 p.m., with no cover charge.
Food will be available through El Rey’s kitchen. The menu includes a lineup of pub fare, such as nachos, quesadillas, chicken wings, and torta sandwiches. There will be 17 beers on tap, in addition to packaged beers, draft cocktails, and rail liquors.
The venue is outfitted with community-style seating and tables for small groups. Its “rustic interior” is decorated in memorabilia that “harkens to mid-century culture,” with album covers, magazine covers, and music posters lining the walls, according to a news release from the Filling Station.
El Rey is one of the many restaurants and bars operated by H2 Collective, the restaurant group owned by brothers Eric and Ian Hilton. The company owns several food concepts throughout DC, Virginia, and Maryland, including Parc de Ville in the Mosaic District and Café Colline in Arlington (both of which were named in Northern Virginia Magazine’s 2022 Best Restaurants list).
El Rey first opened on DC’s U Street, before opening a second location in Arlington’s Ballston Exchange in 2021. It specializes in tacos and margaritas.
Filling Station’s website notes that Wednesday night comedy shows and Sunday brunch will be on the September calendar. The venue includes large screen TVs that will show football games and other sports this fall.
It will be open Fridays and Saturdays through August, then will expand its operations to Wednesdays to Sundays beginning in September. 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Feature image by Mykl Wu/Filling Station
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