Happy Thursday from Tezza!
Happy Thursday Bagel Bites,
This week is basically a checklist of “Arlington spring is back.” We’ve got a new burrito situation to add to your rotation, plus two different live music lanes depending on your Friday mood (low-key hang or “we stayed for the whole set”). Thursday’s plan involves alpacas (yes, really), Saturday is stacked with rummage-sale treasure hunting and a new Saturday farmers market, and if you want to go full cherry blossom main character, Petalpalooza is waiting with the fireworks finale. Also: the cherry-flavored dessert options are getting aggressive, and we support it.
Scroll on to plan your weekend right.
– Billy
📅 Your Weekend in Arlington
Thursday
🦙🍹 Alpacas Happy Hour (Peruvian Brothers – National Landing) — Thursdays in April (5:00–7:00 PM)
Yes, this is real: Peruvian Brothers is hosting happy hour every Thursday in April with mini alpacas hanging out onsite from 5–7 PM. Come say hi to the fluffy guests, then stay for the food + drink specials—basically the perfect “after work but make it unhinged (in a cute way)” plan. 1450 S. Eads St. Info HERE
Friday
🎸🍻 Live Music at The Renegade (Clarendon) — Friday (9:30 PM - 1 AM)
If you want a Friday plan that’s low-effort but still feels like you went out, The Renegade is a solid move: live bands on Friday nights in a late-night, “show up for one drink and stay for the set” kind of atmosphere. The lineup changes weekly, so it’s worth checking the schedule before you go. Info HERE
Saturday
🛍️ Arlington Flea Market (Arlington, VA) — Saturday 7 AM to 1 PM
A local classic is hitting a milestone: the Arlington Flea Market is celebrating 40 years as one of the DMV’s oldest, biggest public flea markets. Expect 100+ vendors with everything from books and clothes to furniture, jewelry, and household finds—aka peak “go with a friend and hunt for treasures” energy. And if you’ve been meaning to purge your apartment: community members can rent a 9′×18′ selling space for $20 to sell used household items. Info HERE
🥕 Met Park Saturday Farmers Market (Metropolitan Park – National Landing) — Saturdays (9:00 AM–1:00 PM)
National Landing’s market season is back: Met Park hosts a Saturday farmers market where you can stock up on fresh produce, grab hot food, and browse local crafts—aka the perfect “coffee + wander + pretend I meal-prep” weekend routine. 📍 1330 S. Fair St. Info HERE
🌸🎆 Petalpalooza (Navy Yard / Capitol Riverfront) — Sat., Apr. 4 (1:00–9:00 PM)
If you want a cherry blossom event that feels like a full-on spring party, Petalpalooza is the big one: live music, interactive art/activities, roaming performers, and a beverage garden along the Anacostia—then it wraps with the official Cherry Blossom Festival fireworks show at 8:30 PM (set to music). It’s free, all-ages, and usually draws a big crowd, so plan on Metro and showing up earlier if you want prime viewing.
Sunday
Happy Easter 🐰
🍽️ Restaurant News
🌯 Monstera Burrito Opens at Water Park — Opened Mar. 23
National Landing just got a new grab-and-go obsession: Monstera Burrito is now open at Water Park with West Coast-style wraps stuffed with proteins like fried fish, grilled chicken, or cumin eggplant, plus fun add-ins like charred peppers, fried jalapeño, and spicy cabbage slaw. They’ve also got breakfast burritos and stacked sandwiches (barbacoa, mortadella, carnitas) — and an Horchata Latte for the full treat-yourself moment. 1721 Crystal Dr., Arlington (National Landing). Info HERE
🍜 Chao Ban Opens at Tysons Galleria — Opened Mar. 10
Tysons Galleria has a new fast-casual spot to know: Chao Ban, serving Vietnamese-American comfort food with Gulf South + Mid-Atlantic influences. Go for chicken or brisket pho, rice platters, or the Catfished Bánh Mì, then add shareables like Honey Pecan Shrimp or “Impossible” Xui Mai (plant-based meatballs in tomato sauce + parmesan). It’s from chef Kevin Tien (a 2024 James Beard finalist) and partner Alan Vo—the team behind Ballston’s Hot Lola’s. 2001 International Dr., McLean. Info HERE
🌸🍩 Cherry Blossom Treats (Good Company Doughnuts & Café) — available now
Cherry blossom season, but make it dessert-first. Good Company’s rolling out two very on-theme specials: the Cherry Blossom Doughnut (smothered in house-made cherry glaze) and the Cherry Vanilla Bomb (sourdough doughnut + Bavarian cream + tart maraschino cherry glaze). Pair it with the Cherry Cold Foam Iced Coffee if you want the full spring-sugar moment. Find them at 672 N. Glebe Rd. (Ballston), 1350 S. Eads St. (National Landing), or the Amazon Merlin lobby (510 14th St. S.). Info HERE
🥯 Get Involved
🎉 Birthday Shoutouts for Next Week!
Happy Birthday to Melissa Zigrang (5th)!!!!!🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳
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P.S. If you know someone who wants to automate their business or who has a really good app idea they want built, please send them to my new agency I started: stupid-simple-apps.com!
-Billy