Events
The PAC advises the County Board and the County Manager on the implementation of the pedestrian element of the Master Transportation Plan and other matters the committee deems important to advocate for the needs of pedestrians in Arlington.
The committee is made up of volunteers who keep the County focused on making Arlington a better place to walk — from the high-rise canyons of Rosslyn, Ballston and Crystal City to the leafy residential areas of north, south, and west Arlington.
Meetings are held every second Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Members of the public are invited to join any meeting. Room location change for May 2019: Room 311.
About this Event
Do you love making your own accessories? Do you like being visible at night? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, join WalkArlington and artist Iris Vondell of Reflective Society. We’ll gather at a neighborhood coffee shop, where Iris will teach us to make simple pinback buttons we can attach to our backpacks, bags, and coats. She will guide the group through the pin-making process, including painting or stamping the fabric, cutting out circles, and using a pin press.
This activity is great for anyone who walks, runs, or bikes outside: Iris creates all her accessories with reflective fabric, so the pins will glow in the dark and increase nighttime visibility.
Afterwards, we’ll head out for a brief guided walk of the Rosslyn neighborhood, where we can test out the reflective properties of our new creations! Bring a friend!
Registration
This event is free but registration is required. Participants must descend a small staircase to access the event space. All supplies will be provided. Pin-making will take place from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on a rolling (drop-in) basis. The walk will start at 7:00 p.m. Be sure to bring cash/credit card if you plan on ordering coffee, wine, or snacks while we craft.
This event will take place, rain or shine.
Getting to the Event
This event will take place at East West, a neighborhood coffee shop and wine bar in Rosslyn, which is served by Metrorail and Metrobus, ART bus, multi-use trails, car-sharing and Capital Bikeshare. The entrance to the building is on a small access road parallel to North Lynn Street. Our crafting space will be at the large table in the back. Use Car Free Near Me to check out your transportation options.
Contact WalkArlington at info@walkarlington.com with any questions.
More
To learn more about Iris Vondell and view more of her beautiful reflective accessories, visit her website, Reflective Society. Iris will have additional jewelry and accessories on hand at the crafting event for purchase.
This event is cohosted by WalkArlington and Reflective Society.
March 17, 2020: Our team has been closely monitoring the public health recommendations about COVID-19 and has decided to cancel this event. Your wellbeing is important to us, and practicing social distancing is the best way to prevent the spread of the virus at this time. Follow us @WalkArlington on social media to stay updated on the rescheduled date for this event and for information about future events, walking tips, and more.
Join WalkArlington and Walk Virginia for a stroll through the neighborhood of Bluemont, featuring parks, trails, and a thriving retail core.
About this Event
National Walking Week is April 1-7, and what better way to celebrate than with a relaxing Saturday-morning stroll in Bluemont, recently named the best place to live in Arlington by Niche.com. WalkArlington and Walk Virginia are teaming up to lead this three-mile, guided ramble that will take us through Bluemont’s unrivaled network of trails and parks, not to mention its thriving retail core, which is home to small shops and several restaurants. We’ll finish at Lacey Woods Park, a favorite neighborhood spot that has places to sit, an open field, a basketball court, and a great playground. Bring your lunch or a snack if you want to enjoy an optional picnic in the park with us afterwards.
Registration
This event is free, but registration is required. Bring a lunch or snack if you want to picnic with us afterwards at Lacey Woods Park. Safeway Grocery is located approximately 10 minutes’ walk from the park if you want to purchase something to eat.
This event will take place, rain or shine.
Getting to the Event
This event will take place in Bluemont, a neighborhood in Arlington that is served by Metrorail and Metrobus, ART bus, multi-use trails, car-sharing, and Capital Bikeshare. The walk will start at the Capital Bikeshare Station on the corner of Wilson Blvd. and North George Mason Drive. Use Car Free Near Me to check out your transportation options.
Contact WalkArlington at info@walkarlington.com with any questions.
More
Walk Virginia (aka Virginia Volkssport Association) is an all-volunteer, 501(c)3, inclusive recreation program and an advocate for fitness for all generations and abilities. Every October, it hosts the world-class US FreedomWalk Festival, which draws athletes of all ages and abilities from around the world and the United States for three days of non-competitive, social walks and a bike event throughout Arlington and Washington, D.C.
This event is cohosted by WalkArlington and Walk Virginia.
Update: this meeting has been postponed to a later date, to be determined.
April 28, 2020 will be a special joint meeting of the PAC, BAC, and Parks and Rec Commission.
The PAC advises the County Board and the County Manager on the implementation of the pedestrian element of the Master Transportation Plan and other matters the committee deems important to advocate for the needs of pedestrians in Arlington.
The committee is made up of volunteers who keep the County focused on making Arlington a better place to walk — from the high-rise canyons of Rosslyn, Ballston and Crystal City to the leafy residential areas of north, south, and west Arlington.
Meetings are typically held every second Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Members of the public are invited to join any meeting.
If the stay-at-home order has significantly upped your reading time, consider joining us for our new virtual book club. We’ll be reading Bill Bryson’s funny and endearing memoir of his thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail, “A Walk in the Woods.” Now more than ever, many of us would enjoy cozying up with a familiar good book that makes us laugh!
To participate, simply order a copy of the book online if you don’t already have one and register here on Eventbrite. Registration opens on Tuesday, April 21.
As the date of the online event gets closer, you’ll receive information on how to participate.
This is an informal opportunity to connect with other Arlington, Va., residents who like reading and walking/hiking.
If you’re feeling festive, make yourself a special appetizer and enjoy a favorite drink while we chat!
About This Event
Walking is one of the simplest and most accessible activities we can take part in, yet it can play a transformational role in improving our mental and physical health. Even a short, 10-minute walk each day has been found to reduce stress, anxiety, and fatigue while boosting our mood and sleep quality.
In this online event, A Conversation on Walking Mindfully, you’ll learn why walking is good for your mental health and how you can practice mindful walking to derive mental health benefits. You’ll hear from two mental health and two wellness professionals and have the opportunity to ask questions. After our discussion, we’ll lead you through a virtual, 10-minute mindful walk that we’ll experience together but apart using Zoom. Walk in your living room or in your neighborhood: It’s up to you! We’ll reconvene to wrap up and share how it felt.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS ZOOM EVENT ON EVENTBRITE. YOU WILL BE EMAILED A LINK TO JOIN IN THE REMINDER EMAIL SENT THE DAY BEFORE IT TAKES PLACE.
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About Our Speakers
Nicole Armstead-Williams (pronouns: she/her/hers) is a clinical social worker/therapist (MSW, LICSW) who provides individual therapy and therapeutic forest bathing experiences to survivors of trauma/loss/grief, acute and chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness. She holds awareness to unique issues of mental health and intersectionality, focusing primarily on racial identity/issues impacting black people, indigenous people, and people of color, women’s issues, and LGBTQIA+ issues. Ms. Armstead-Williams is founder of Prolific Harvest, a mission-driven private practice that honors the power of narrative and nature as growth toward trauma repair. She infuses walk-and-talk therapy with sensorimotor approaches, mindfulness-based stress reduction practices, and creative writing journal prompts to support clients in their healing journey.
Colleen Avis is an Ayurveda and yoga wellness coach who works with clients to find balance in their lives through nourishment, movement, mindfulness, and time in nature. Ms. Avis often meets her clients in nature for meditative walks and yoga. Chopra Center-certified in Ayurveda and meditation, and a Yoga Medicine certificate yoga teacher, Ms. Avis combines these skills to create offerings that meet her client’s unique needs, meeting them where they are.
Gretchen Robbins is a health and wellness coach who offers her clients walking and coaching sessions, culinary coaching, and healthy cooking classes. She has a master’s degree in Health and Wellness Coaching from the Maryland University of Integrative Health. Ms. Robbins uses accountability, goal setting, and coaching techniques to help her clients achieve the balance that works best for their unique situations.
Jennifer Udler, LCSW-C is a licensed clinical social worker who leads the team at Positive Strides, a unique psychotherapy practice where therapists walk and talk outdoors to physically and emotionally move a client toward their therapeutic goals. Ms. Udler specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, and supportive counseling.
Mark your calendar! BikeArlington and WalkArlington are joining Arlington County Public Schools on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 to celebrate the annual Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day and encourage students to use active transportation to get to school. We’ll be at this year’s focus school.
This international event is designed to encourage students to bike, walk, or roll to school while teaching about the health and environmental benefits of active transportation. Walk, Bike and Roll to School Day is also an opportunity to raise awareness about safe routes to schools and the importance of bicycle and pedestrian safety in neighborhoods and around our schools.
APS schools and students are encouraged to walk the walk all year long by adopting weekly walking and biking promotions like “Walking Wednesdays” and “Foot Fridays,” supporting formation of Walking School Buses, Bike Trains and other creative commutes, and sharing important pedestrian and bike safety information for all ages.
For more information about Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day, visit Arlington Public School’s Safe Routes to School Program.