This story appears in our weekly Things to Do newsletter, sent out to subscribers every Monday. Get it in your inbox by signing up here.
By Katie Bianco, Jess Feldman, Holly Gambrell, Stefanie Gans and Jennifer Zeleski
Time for new tumblers
Vintage cocktail paraphernalia shop The Hour—by the way, did you know owner Victoria Vergason also started her own barware line, Modern Home Bar?—celebrates 10 years in Old Town Alexandria with snacks, cocktails and discounts. I think my bar cart deserves some new tumblers. -SG // The Hour 10th Anniversary Celebration: 1015 King St., Alexandria; July 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; $45
Soak up the nostalgia
I love dancing to music in the car. Sure, it can be embarrassing when I’m at a stoplight. But do I care? No. It’s entirely my parents fault, by the way. They’re the ones who raised me on the classics, from my dad blasting Steve Miller Band in his beat-up red Ford pick-up truck to my mom bouncing along to The Beatles in her Chrysler minivan. Now I have the chance to relive the fond memories of the early 2000s with one of my favorite artists, Sheryl Crow, when she performs at Wolf Trap on Thursday. I distinctly remember jamming along to “Soak up the Sun,” with my mom when the C’mon C’mon album came out in 2002. It was one of the first in my CD collection, and somehow I knew at the time that memorizing all of those lyrics would come in handy someday. –JZ // Filene Center: 1551 Trap Road, Vienna; July 18, 8 p.m.; from $45
Long live the king
Believe it or not, I was 15 years old and a freshman in high school the first time I saw the original The Lion King movie. This is weird for two reasons. One: I had seen every other Disney tale (especially the ones featuring princesses) at least twice. And two: I love any film with a journey-back-home story. Once I did eventually watch Simba make his way back to the kingdom, I was hooked. I have now seen the cartoon version about six times, and I don’t doubt there will be a similar trend after I watch Disney’s modern remake of The Lion King at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Loudoun this Thursday. Photo-realistic computer animation and the voices of Donald Glover and Beyoncè? Yeah, I’m more than excited. –JF // Alamo Drafthouse Cinema: 20575 Easthampton Plaza, Ashburn; July 18, times vary; $12.75
Children shouldn’t go hungry
I usually like to keep my “What We’re Looking Forward To” blurb here light and fun for our Monday newsletter. But not today. Did you know that 27% of children in Fairfax County struggle with hunger? Yeah, I just learned that—and it’s pretty upsetting. In one of the wealthiest regions in the country, there’s no excuse for children to be without food. This weekend, I’ll be doing my part at the Generosity Feed Fairfax event. We’ll be packaging 10,000 meals to provide to local children who would go hungry otherwise. Come help me make a difference. -HG // Sidney Lanier Middle School: 3801 Jermantown Road, Fairfax; July 20, 10 a.m.-noon; free
S’mores, please
I hate to camp. Sleeping in a tent is just not something I enjoy. But all the attendant activities that go with camping? Love ’em. Think hiking to a waterfall, relaxing in nature and, when night falls, making s’mores around a campfire. Luckily for me, Arlington County Parks & Recreation is hosting a whole series of campfire nights this summer at both Gulf Branch Nature Center and Long Branch Center. For just $5, you can sign up to sit around a campfire, listen to stories, engage with special animal guests and, of course, roast some s’mores. There’s one at Gulf Branch Nature Center this Saturday from 7 to 8 p.m. Sounds great, and I’ll be sleeping in my own bed by 9. -KB // Gulf Branch Nature Center: 3608 N. Military Road, Arlington; see summer campfire dates here; $5, registration required
