A water park is the perfect place to go on a hot summer day. | Photo via NOVAparks
If this heat wave has you looking for ways to cool off, don’t sweat it. Check out one of the ways you can lower your temp while enjoying life in NOVA.
Chill in the shade
Shade is essential on sweltering summer days in Northern Virginia, and luckily, there are great places to enjoy the outdoors without baking in the sun. Two of our favorite shady escapes are Scott’s Run Nature Preserve and Fountainhead Regional Park.
Take a dip
If you’re looking for the classic outdoor pool experience, we recommend Warwick Pool in Alexandria. To take your cooling off adventure to the next level, Pirate’s Cove Water Park in Lorton and Great Waves Waterpark in Alexandria are sure to keep the family occupied for hours on end.
Line dancing | 12-1 p.m. | Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library, Alexandria | Free | Get ready to groove by learning the basic steps of line dancing.
Friday, June 27
Lubber Run Summer Concerts - Bobby Thompson | 8-9:30 p.m. | Lubber Run Amphitheater, Arlington | Free | This artist offers a blend of both blues and rock, using vocals and guitar.
Saturday, June 28
Alexandria Health Fair | 8-11 a.m. | William Ramsey Rec Center, Alexandria | Free | Free health screenings and wellness resources are available at this public fair.
Bike for Good | 11:30 a.m. | City Hall, Alexandria | Free | Help out Alexandria community members in need and drop off produce from the Old Town farmers market.
Sunday, June 29
The Roots | 8 p.m. | Filene Center, Vienna | $65 | The Tonight Show’s acclaimed house band returns to Wolf Trap after last year’s sold-out show.
Attention, Blue Line riders. The Franconia-Springfield and Von Dorn St. stations will be closed from Saturday, July 5 to Saturday, July 26 for phase one of the summer 2025 construction project. Potomac Yard, Braddock Road, and King St-Old Town stations will only be open on the Yellow Line.
Opening
1983 Chinese Cuisine, a new dim sum restaurant, will soft open in Pentagon City at Westpost shopping center tomorrow, June 26. Dishes include pepper steak, salt and pepper calamari, congee, and more. (ARLnow)
Festival
Del Ray will host its Red, White, and Bloom street festival on Thursday, July 3, from 6 p.m. to sunset. Some festivities include a DJ and a watermelon seed spitting contest. (ALXnow)
Closing
Four Harris Tetter grocery stores in Greater Washington will close this summer — two in Arlington, one in the Tysons area, and one in North Bethesda. This comes six months after Kroger and Albertsons Cos. Inc. terminated their merger agreement. (Washington Business Journal)
Try This
Looking to learn how to sew a garment or work on your next project? The Shop at Arlington’s Public Library hosts volunteer-led monthly meetups for garment sewers of all levels. Sign up if interested, as spots fill up fast.
Arts
A new mural is coming to Old Town Fairfax. Created by Richmond-based artist Bailey Sullivan, the artwork will be unveiled at 10407 Main St. during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, July 10, at 2 p.m.
Biz
Briji Coffee, a coffee shop that opened in 2023 intending to combat homelessness, has closed in Crystal City. However, there’s still good news. Owner Skyler Kelley plans to open another location in Mount Vernon Square in DC later this summer.
Travel
Planning a trip to Orlando, FL, or Knoxville, TN? 6AM City has you covered. ORLtoday + 865today newsletters are officially live, ready to cover all of the local happenings in these areas.
Try This
POV: You’re in a bind trying to fill an important role for your local biz. We can help. Post your job on NOVAtoday Job Board and get connected to top local talent. Psst — it’s completely free.
Asked
Asked
🚇 How often do you use public transit weekly?
We’re curious how often our readers are using public transportation around NOVA.
Here’s how you can celebrate the Fourth of July early. | Photo via @fairfaxparks
Looking for a way to celebrate Independence Day this weekend? Enjoy live music, food vendors, and fireworks at 9 p.m. at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston. General admission is free.
Printer ink that’s shipped to your house when you’re running low (yes, it’s a thing). HP Instant Ink makes printing worry-free by delivering ink before you run out automatically. Save up to 50% compared to buying cartridges the old-fashioned way.*
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
On a hot day like today, I always reach for an iced coffee. Check out The Ballstonian to grab a Turkish coffee, spiced teas, and more. Owner Isa Seyran will also be holding a Poetry Hour on Sunday, June 29, with author Nistha Dube.
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