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  • 🄯 Your Weekend in ARL: restaurant week, waffles, and ways to feel like a functional adult(October 16-19)

🄯 Your Weekend in ARL: restaurant week, waffles, and ways to feel like a functional adult(October 16-19)

Even if the government’s shut down, Arlington isn’t—there’s plenty to do (and eat) this weekend.

Happy Thursday from Izzy!

Happy Thursday Bagel Bites,

Who says adulting has to be dull? This week’s lineup has actual life skills tucked between pancakes and live music. Learn how to buy a home at the Free Home-Buying Workshop, patch a wall at the Home Maintenance Series, and then reward yourself with maple syrup at the Special Olympics Pancake Breakfast. There’s also PikeFest and MoCA on the Move for your artsy side, plus Ballston Rock Night if you just need to shake off the week. On the food front, Arlington Restaurant Week is in full swing—Good Company Doughnuts is giving out freebies, Sumen just opened with sushi and ramen, and Tatte Bakery brought its tahini-pumpkin lattes to Falls Church. Keep scrolling—because while D.C. might be paused, Arlington’s still wide open.

Scroll on to plan your weekend right.
– Billy

šŸ“… Your Weekend in Arlington

Thursday

šŸ” Free Home-Buying Workshop (Virtual) – Discover Arlington + The Davenport Group @6:30–7:30 PM (Thursday, Oct 16)
Thinking about buying in ARL? This free, one-hour virtual workshop covers financing, timelines, what lenders look for, and how to craft a winning offer—ideal for first-timers who want clear next steps without the sales pitch.

Friday

šŸŽµ Ballston Rock Night – Ballston local spot, 7:00–9:30 PM (Friday)
Classic rock vibes with live band 2 Car Living Room on the outdoor or indoor stage. Perfect for a Friday night with music, drinks, and local energy. Free

Saturday

šŸ›  Home Maintenance Workshops – Arlington Career Center @10 AM-1 PM (Saturday, October 18)
Want to fix, paint, or upgrade things around your place? Arlington’s offering a series of free home maintenance workshops covering basic repairs, energy efficiency, and DIY tips. Great for new homeowners, renters, or anyone who wants to save on handyman bills.

šŸŽ‰ PikeFest – Penrose Square @12-5 PM (Saturday, October 18)
PikeFest brings the street party: live music, food vendors, local arts, dance performances, and a fun crowd from all across Arlington. It’s a full-block celebration, perfect for exploring, snacking, and people watching. Free

Sunday

šŸ„ž Special Olympics Pancake Breakfast – Bronson Bierhall @8:00–11:00 AM (Sunday, Oct 19, 2025)
Join the third annual pancake breakfast benefitting Area 26 Special Olympics. Bronson Bierhall will serve up pancakes prepared by their team, with local athletes doing the serving—100% of ticket sales and tips support the program. 

šŸŽØ MoCA on the Move: Autumn Print Postcards – Metropolitan Park @ 10AM-1 PM (Sunday, October 19)
Join MoCA Arlington in the park for a creative pop-up: make your own autumn-themed postcards using print techniques, enjoy music, and soak in open-air art vibes. All ages welcome—bring a pen, bring a friend. Free

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šŸ½ļø Restaurant News

šŸ“ Your Arlington Restaurant Week Guide Oct. 13-20
Looking for the full scoop on what’s participating this year? Arlington Magazine ran a roundup covering every prix-fixe menu, participating spot, and special deal. Think of it as your one-stop map to discover all the hidden gems you should hit between Oct 13–20.

šŸ© Good Company Doughnuts & CafĆ© – Free Doughnut Deal (Oct 13–20)
The family-owned favorite is sweetening Arlington Restaurant Week with a freebie: grab any lunch sandwich at either Good Company Doughnuts & CafĆ© location (Ballston & Fairfax Dr.), and they’ll throw in a scratch-made doughnut on the house. Perfect excuse to take your lunch break up a notch.

šŸœ Sumen Asian Eatery – Soft Opening (Friday, Oct 10)
New flavor alert: Sumen makes its Arlington debut this Friday, serving up ramen, sushi, and donburi bowls in a modern-casual space. Expect comforting broths, fresh rolls, and a menu built for crisp-air evenings. Great new stop to test out before the crowds find it. 

🄐 Tatte Bakery & CafĆ© – Now Open in Falls Church (Oct 15)
The beloved bakery-cafĆ© chain keeps growing—Tatte just opened a new spot in Falls Church. Expect all-day breakfast, tartines, salads, and Mediterranean-inspired plates like the Lamb Kebab Pita or Roasted Salmon Winter Vegetable Rice Bowl. Pair your pick with a Tahini Pumpkin Oat Milk Latte for peak fall flavor. Other nearby locations: Clarendon and National Landing.

🄯 Get Involved

šŸŽ‰ Birthday Shoutouts for Next Week!

Happy birthdays to Jin(19th) and Sahithi(17th)!!! 🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳🄳

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šŸ™ Thank you!

Thank you for reading!

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