Earth Day is an event that takes place every year on April 22 that demonstrates support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, Earth Day now includes a wide range of events coordinated by EarthDay.org 

Here are the six ways to do Earth Day this year. The first is to increase your climate literacy and promote the education of climate literacy for students. Second, end plastics. Plastic pollution is one of the most important environmental problems facing us. Third, donate as little as one dollar to plant a tree. 

Next, use your voting power to protect our environment. Then, join a global cleanup campaign. Find a local event to clean up your communities, beaches, rivers, lakes, trails, and parks. Finally, shop sustainable fashion. Fight fast fashion by shopping secondhand or purchasing from eco-friendly stores and shops. 

These are the six ways being focused on this year for Earth Day 2023. We encourage all of our residents to participate in Earth Day in as many ways as possible. Also, The Beacon Clarendon urges our community to continue their Earth Day activities all year long. 

For example, participate in a community cleanup every month, use only reusable water bottles, or shop at sustainable brands as often as possible.

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O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub is a traditional Irish Pub and Whiskey Bar. The pub features over 130 whiskeys plus tasty and traditional Irish food.

The Celtic House specializes in traditional Irish food and drink and topped Travel + Leisure’s list of the best 50 bars in the U.S. to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Ireland’s Four Courts combine traditional Irish fare with American cuisine. Stop in for brunch, lunch, or dinner, and come prepared for the cozy pub atmosphere.

Then, take a twist on a traditional bar crawl with the Pedal Saloon. Take a biking tour around Arlington. While pedaling your own bar, pedal bar to bar creating a one-of-a-kind bar crawl! Book your Pedal Saloon any day of the week at 11 am, 1:30 pm, 4 pm, 6:30 pm, and 9 pm that lasts for two hours.

Finally, if you are looking for a different way to celebrate your Irish side, partake in the Roosevelt Island DC Parkrun. Taking place every Saturday at 9 am join your community in a free, fun, and friendly 5k community event. After the run make sure to join in a post-run coffee with your fellow racers!

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Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be the end-all-be-all of romance. It can be simply a great day to enjoy with those you love. Simply spending quality time and having fun with a loved one in our cozy community room will have you feeling the love. There are plenty of ways to show your love this Valentine’s Day.

While gifts are a traditional part of the holiday, they don’t have to be budget-breaking. Sure, places like Target overflow with adorably-themed pillows, candles, wreaths, and the works. But what could be better than creating something with your own two hands?

Make a DIY Etched Wine Glass: Surprise your sweetheart with a home-cooked meal and a personalized etched wine glass, which is actually much easier to make than it seems!

Heart-Shaped Elbow Patch: Wear your heart on your sleeve, literally. Make it yourself or for your Valentine, using an old sweater or two and scrap fabric (or even paper)!

Lipstick Art: All you need is a piece of white card stock and shades of lipstick for this fun-themed wall art.

Valentine’s Day is all about love. Spend the day in Arlington, VA, or cuddle inside, as long as you are surrounded by love then there’s no way to go wrong.

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The Beacon Clarendon is proud and lucky to be located so close to the fantastic Washington DC community, where there is always something to do. Yes, even in the cold of January, there are plenty of fun events and things to do- there’s no need to stay inside all month long! 

Every Friday at the Cafe Saint-Ex is the Friday Funnies Showcase. Every Friday at 8 pm, check out the excellent line-up from the top comedians in the DMV area. 

Enjoy an hour of gliding on the ice with tickets for Ice Skating at Cameron Run!

On Saturday, January 21st- Drink the District, a wine bonanza with a wide array of wines to sample. 

Then on Sunday, January 22nd, participate in a Goat Yoga Pajama Party. Yes, you read that right! 

The following weekend is just as fun-filled! Saturday, the 28th hosts a Lunar New Year Celebration at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. 

Finally, Sunday the 29th, an event for the kiddos- a Grand Princess Show and Character Experience. Twirl on stage, watch the performance and meet your favorite characters. 

There never has to be a dull day left in January!

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The first Thanksgiving dates back to 1621, when the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag shared an autumn feast. Then, for more than two centuries, Thanksgiving was celebrated on different days by the US colonies and states. It wasn’t until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November. 

According to the National Turkey Federation, 90% of American households eat turkey for Thanksgiving- whether it be roasted, baked, or deep-fried. Other traditional foods include stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. 

Parades have also become a common aspect of the holiday. Presented by Macy’s department store since 1924, New York City’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the largest and most famous, attracting up to 3 million in-person spectators along its 2.5-mile route and drawing an enormous television viewing crowd. 

As in the name, Thanksgiving is dedicated to giving thanks. So, this year take an extra moment to figure out what you are most grateful for. 

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Of course, if you’d rather sit down for dinner, that’s an option, too. Pull up a chair in Hawkers’ dining room and dig into contemporary Asian dishes, including a wide variety of small plates. Start with the locally famous dim sum like the aforementioned roti canai, which pairs two Malaysian flatbreads with a house-made curry for dipping, and the roast duck bao drizzled with a house-made black vinegar hoisin sauce. Enjoy the spicy Sichuan wontons complemented by the pork soup dumplings or the tender shrimp summer rolls. Then dig into signature meats like the Korean twice-fried wings and the coconut shrimp next to veggie-centric sides, such as spicy kimchi and chili-garlic edamame. Noodle plates, rice dishes, and soups round out the menu along with a handful of sweets (don’t miss the doughnuts).

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Register for the 5K on November 19th in Sterling or November 20th in Arlington and you’ll trot alongside a diverse group of participants, including adolescent girls and their adult Buddy Runners, their coaches and family, and other members of the local community like yourself. The easy 5K courses are perfect for beginners, and you’re welcome to walk or run depending on your individual skill level and comfort. Best of all, a portion of your registration fee ($45+) goes back to the Girls on the Run Program, so by participating in the race, you’re actually helping to raise up the next generation of awesome and empowered young women!

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Delightful Devilish Handsoap- Buy some hand soap from the Dollar Store, and fill it with a few plastic spiders or festive confetti for an ominous touch.

Make A Pumpkin Vase- Turn your pumpkin into a vase for a Halloween-chic centerpiece. 

Whip Up A Scary Dessert- Your desserts can double as decor, too. Try making some Halloween dirt cups; chocolate pudding topped with Oreos, chocolate chips, and Belvita cookies. 

Send Test Tubes Invitations- Don't limit Halloween party decor to the big event itself. Make sure your invitations are just as spirited and fun. 

Make A Googly Eye Wreath- You'll need a lot of ping pong balls, but the scary mass of watching eyes will be so worth it.

Paper Bats- Frame a doorway with flying paper bats for a super simple but fun Halloween vibe at home. 

Decorate your entire space with these terrifyingly terrific DIYs!

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Sit down inside or outside to sample the New American snacks that headline the menu at Dovetail. Start with the kimchi deviled eggs dusted with Korean pepper and the snap cracklin’, which are barbecue-spiced pork rinds. They pair well with the artisan cocktails and fine wines that flow from the bar. So do the entrees, most of which fall into three categories: Dock of the Bay (seafood), Field and Farm (chicken and steak), and One in the Hand (burgers and sandwiches). You can’t go wrong with the signature Dovetail burger loaded with cheddar cheese, caramelized onion aioli, and kimchi relish, all tucked neatly inside of a pillowy brioche bun and served with garlic dill pickles and French fries on the side.

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Reserve your tickets on Eventbrite ($15) for free entry to some of the neighborhood’s buzziest bars, like Blackfinn, Rewind, and Rosebar. Show up as early as 2 p.m. to grab your wristband at any participating bar, and you’ll have a full eight hours to explore Dupont Circle with your costumed crew. Drink specials will flow from the bars all day long (until 10 p.m.), including $3 beers, $4 shots, and $5 rail drinks. Keep the cocktails coming as you strut onstage in the costume contest and wait to hear if you’ve snagged any of the other door prizes, courtesy of the crawl’s organizers. In between giveaways, dance the day away to soundtracks spun by D.C.’s top DJs, who will set up shop at bars across the neighborhood for the Halloween Bar Crawl.

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