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By Katie Bianco, Alice Levitt, Jess Feldman, Holly Gambrell, Michele Kettner and Jennifer Zeleski
Never stop learning
I’ve always been a curious person, and any time I can read a book, watch a documentary or listen to a lecture that’ll teach me something new, I’m all in, especially when it comes to arts and culture. That’s why tomorrow I’ll be joining Workhouse Arts Center’s virtual “Making Mosaics at Home” course. Being held in July and August, this class will give me a brand-new hobby to try throughout the summer, teaching me how to prepare materials, cut glass, grout and more to create mosaic designs. Are you interested in learning something new during the summer months too? Click here to find five more local, virtual options. -Holly Gambrell, Digital Editor // Tuesday, July 7, Thursday, July 9, Tuesday, Aug. 4 & Thursday, Aug. 6, 7-9 p.m.; $120 to register, $80-$95 for new-student kit
The show must go on
I’ve always been a sucker for live entertainment, especially in the form of plays and musicals. So far, I’ve seen probably about 10 Broadway shows, including cult-classic hits like Mamma Mia!, Wicked and Billy Elliot. But the best show I’ve seen by far was a small production on a Brooklyn stage of Romeo and Juliet—partly because I have a weakness for Shakespeare, and partly because Orlando Bloom was cast as Romeo. As the pandemic drags on, keeping theaters across the country closed for the time being, I’ve set my sights on virtual events to tune into. And, this Tuesday, I’ll stream a unique take on the traditional Shakespearean fair, Roméo et Juliette, courtesy of Wolf Trap’s newest offering, Wolf Trap Sessions, which was launched in place of the beloved venue’s in-person summer shows. If you too are in need of a theater fix, check out what else is in store from Wolf Trap Sessions here. -Jess Feldman, Editorial Assistant // Starts streaming Tuesday, July 7; free
No more “Hot Girl Summer” please
Despite 2020’s transgressions, one thing I’ve been grateful for is the lack of coverage on “bikini season.” Not only does the emphasis on “getting in shape” and “showing some skin” make the entire summer feel intimidating, it also taints my experience of going to the pool, laying in the sun or simply enjoying a day on the beach. The lack of pressure for perfection has led me to finding new ways to get my heart rate up and enjoy the energy of exercising again (as someone learning to treat working out as a fun hobby, not punishment), so I’ve been spending some time each week doing low-impact, high-intensity workouts with [solidcore] At Home. I don’t plan to show off a six-pack of abs, but I will be grateful, even if I didn’t go to the pool due to the pandemic, that I didn’t stop moving during quarantine. To get more insider info from a local [solidcore] trainer, check out our interview with Clarendon’s Michelle Martini. -Jennifer Zeleski, Editorial Assistant
Drive-in everything
I am old enough to remember when the now-defunct Hot Shoppes was a drive-in restaurant. I have vague memories of going with my mom in the early ’80s before it shuttered (and then became a cafeteria-style restaurant, which was equally cool for a young kid, if I’m remembering the timeline correctly). Longtime Northern Virginians? Raise your hand if you remember this. Well, now with the pandemic, it seems everything that’s old is new again. So many restaurants are offering curbside pickup and, an even bigger throwback, drive-in movies are back. That’s something that had already gone out of fashion by the time I was old enough, so I’m looking forward to giving this vintage activity a try. Benjies, a classic drive-in theater in Maryland, is one of the closest to NoVA, but there’s also a slew of nearby places that have turned their outdoor space into a temporary drive-in. I’m looking forward to trying a few of these this summer. I’ll get my kids in their pajamas and they can fall asleep to a blockbuster while my husband and I eat popcorn in the front seat. Sounds like a perfect pandemic summer evening. -Katie Bianco, Editor
Dog days of summer
We are only a few weeks into the summer season and that DMV humidity is already unbearable. After a day of either working outside or social distancing with friends at a picnic, all I want to do is cool off in the water. And with two Labrador retrievers in the house, that is all they want to do too. Unfortunately, the little puppy pool in the backyard isn’t cutting it this summer. So this week we are going to venture out to a local stream for a some water play. To get prepared for the trip, I’m taking into account the water safety tips provided by local veterinarians Dr. Virginia Vincent and Dr. Rocky Deutsch to help keep my dogs safe (and me sane) while keeping everything fun. -Michele Kettner, Editorial Assistant
Earn my training wheels
OK, don’t laugh, but I never learned to ride a bike. I’m working on it now and this article inspired me to venture beyond my driveway. I’m going to try the Burke Lake Loop Trail, partly because the whole thing is less than 5 miles, partly because the park has mini golf, another can’t-miss summer activity on my list. -Alice Levitt, Food Editor/Critic
The post From mosaic classes to bike rides: What We’re Looking Forward To This Week, July 6-12 appeared first on Northern Virginia Magazine.
