Just minutes away from the nation’s capitol, Springfield offers a wide selection of activities and eateries of its own. In particular, the community is known for its outdoor recreation opportunities and local restaurants. As the area is constantly changing, events and attractions of interest are available for newcomers and long-time residents alike. Mix and match these ideas with others to create the perfect Springfield weekend.
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Concerts in the Parks
As part of the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Summer Concert Series, Springfield residents have two nearby options for outdoor concerts on a Friday night.
Head over to Lake Accotink Park for the Braddock Nights free concert series. Local music groups such as the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra “Summer Band,” the Washington Balalaika Orchestra, The United States Navy Band “Commodores” and the Maxwell Street Blues perform at the outdoor pavilion for as many as 300 area residents. Performances take place each Friday night at 7:30 p.m., from June through the end of August.
Fran McLaren, wife of concert announcer Chet McLaren, attends the shows “every Friday, rain or shine.” Both of the McLarens are thrilled to see the community spirit fostered by the concert series. Created by Supervisor Sharon Bulova (D-Braddock), the concerts are intended to develop a small town feel throughout the greater Fairfax County area.
The community is invited to bring along a lawn chair and a picnic dinner and to enjoy the music and scenery.
The park is located at 7500 Accotink Park Road, and two large parking lots are open to accommodate guests. For those unable to walk from the parking lot to the concert venue, a golf cart shuttle service provides transportation back and forth. Since the parks are dark after the conclusion of the concert, it’s a good idea to bring a flashlight. For the latest information on weather cancellations, call 703-324-SHOW (7469) after 6 p.m. on the day of the event.
Alternatively, music lovers can go to Kingstowne to enjoy a similar musical performance in the Kingstowne Town Center. These free concerts are part of the Lee District Nights program, and also begin at 7:30 p.m. With acts like the Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition, The Fabulettes and the Stephen Samuel Band, these shows tend to attract a younger crowd. The Town Center is located at 5955 Kingstowne Center, Alexandria. Call 703-324-SHOW (7469) for cancellation updates, and 703-324-8563 for more information.
Friday, 9 p.m.
Late Dinner
After the concerts, head back indoors for a late dinner at a Kingstowne-area restaurant. Lucky’s Sports Theatre & Grill, opening in early August, offers a varied fare at moderate prices. Pete Ciaramella, general manager, notes the divisions between the finer dining, restaurant portion and the sports theater section, and emphasizes the opportunity this will provide people of all ages and interests to have a good time. The restaurant includes a mini game room, a bar, and a sports theater with multiple movie projector screens. Lucky’s is located at 7027 B. Manchester Blvd., Franconia.
Other nearby restaurants of interest include The Bungalow, Johnny Rockets, King Street Blues, Macaroni Grill, Noodles and Company, Pizzeria Uno Chicago Bar and Grill, Pasara Thai Restaurant and Shiro Japanese Steak House.
For an after dinner treat, try Kaleidoscoops or Baskin-Robbins ice cream shops.
Saturday, 10 a.m.
An Historical Perspective
Start off the day with a trip through history at the Franconia Museum. Jacqueline Walker, a museum director, says the newly established museum is working to bring attention to the often overlooked, rich history of the Franconia-Springfield area. Inside, learn about the Franconia Volunteer Fire Department, the freed slave settlement of Carrolltown and the Franconia School. Also, browse through the displayed volumes of Franconia family history, and look at artifacts from Fitzgerald’s Grocery. Pick up a map of historic Franconia, and continue a self-guided tour throughout the town. Choose any of the 33 listed locations.
The museum is located inside the Franconia Government Center at 6121 Franconia Road, across from the Helen Wilson Room. Hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For even more history of interest, visit the site of the Laurel Grove School. This one-room schoolhouse was built in the 1880s by freemen and former slaves who hoped to educate their children amid segregation. The school was restored as a living museum, designed to preserve its history, and is located at 6840 Beulah St.
Saturday, Noon.
Pack a Picnic and Take It to the Lake
For lunch, stop at one of the area grocery stores or take-out restaurants and pack a picnic to go. Trader Joe’s is a local favorite for its more exotic selection, though stores like Giant offer a similar variety of ready-made foods. Restaurants such as Vinny’s Grill, Chipotle and Subway also have a wide selection and minimal preparation time. Remember to pack drinks and utensils for the road.
With food in hand, head to Lake Accotink Park. The 493-acre park is replete with activities for all tastes. Families and friends can rent paddleboats, rowboats and canoes and enjoy a round of miniature golf. Younger children can ride the colorful antique carousel that dates back to the 1930s. Lake Accotink also offers a number of hiking and biking trails.
Area resident Josh Seager has chosen to bike the trails of the park for 12 years. Seager likes that the trails are shaded, weave through residential areas and continue all the way to Wakefield Park Recreation Center. While at the park, check out the historical marker for the Orange and Alexandria Railroad Trestle, and watch for the train to pass overhead.
From June 20 through Labor Day, the park is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends, and from 12-6 p.m. on weekdays. From Sept. 4 through Oct. 8, the park is open only on weekends. Pedal boat and rowboat rentals are $6 per half-hour and canoe rentals are $5 an hour. Boat rentals are processed at the snack bar, which also stocks a number of warm weather treats. Nine holes of miniature golf cost $4 for adults and $3 for juniors and seniors. Rides on the antique carousel are $1.25. Lake Accotink Park is located at 7500 Accotink Park Road. General admission is free.
Saturday, 3 p.m.
Discover a Hidden Gem
Continue the outdoor adventure at Hidden Pond Nature Center. Tucked away in the forests of Springfield, the park boasts trails, streams, wetlands and a 1-acre pond with ample opportunities for wildlife observation. On most days, turtles can be spotted sunbathing on logs. The nature center also features live displays, aquariums and turtle tanks, exhibits and a craft corner for young children. Naturalists are available to answer questions. Lighted tennis courts and a children’s playground are also available amenities for the general public.
West Springfield mother Diane Wenz enjoys visiting the park with her family, and notes the nature center as particularly “great for the kids.”
Call 703-451-9588 for information on children’s programs, workshops and demonstrations. The park is open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., holidays and weekends from 12-5 p.m., and is closed on Tuesdays. Hidden Pond is located at 8511 Greeley Blvd., and admission is free.
Saturday, 5 p.m.
Springfield Shopping
Take a break from the sun with a visit to some Springfield area shops. Of particular interest for book lovers is the Friends of Richard Byrd Used Book Sale, held in the meeting room of Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St. Check library announcements for special themed sales. Book Rack, a used book store at 7001 Manchester Blvd., also boasts thousands of used paperbacks. The store offers a large variety of books, organized into genres and bargain bins, but is small enough not to overwhelm the browser. Talbot’s Outlet, 6825 Bland St., is a local favorite for designer clothing, and World Market, 5954 Kingstowne Towne Center, features products from around the globe. For a wide selection of chain stores, Springfield Mall contains more than 230 retailers, and is located at 6500 Springfield Mall, off of Old Keene Mill Road.
Saturday, 7 p.m.
International Eateries
Enjoy one of the Springfield area’s many international restaurants for dinner. El Paso Restaurant, 6804 Commerce St., is locally renowned for its authentic, freshly prepared Mexican food. The restaurant also offers daily lunch specials and an outdoor patio, as well as a distinctly folk atmosphere. The authentic, affordable cuisine has inspired many area residents to become regulars.
Betty and Dave Nelbach eat at El Paso twice a week, and rave about the “good food, and good clientele.” Be sure to try one of Jose’s Super Size Burritos. For lighter fare, spend time at the small bar, hidden in the center room.
Other ethnic restaurants of interest include Kate’s Irish Pub, Gamasot, Aabshaar Sweet and Kabob House, Osaka Restaurant, Bombay Buffet, El Puente de Oro, Pho 495, Canton Café and Tokyo Inn Japanese Steakhouse and Seafood Restaurant.
Saturday, 9 p.m.
Night on the Town
Return to Kingstowne for some late-night golfing. TopGolf Kingstowne, at 6625 South Van Dorn St., features activities for all ages and skill levels. Two separate miniature golf courses allow families with young children and groups of friends to challenge themselves with desert and mountain themed obstacles. The innovative driving range provides for electronic shot feedback and competition, as well as free golf club rental.
Molly Cushing, a Springfield resident, enjoys the “laid back and relaxing environment” at the facility. Also, the club center contains a small restaurant and café, a bar, a lounge and a golf shop, and allows golfers the chance to head indoors and cool off.
As a nearby substitute for golf, enjoy a movie at the Kingstowne Movie Complex. The 16-theatre facility includes stadium seating and multiple showings of recently released films. Call 703-822-4956 for the latest movie times, and arrive to the theater early to avoid a sold-out show.
For a completely different type of activity, check out JAXX Concert Hall and Nightclub on Rolling Road, the area hot spot for metal bands. Internationally renowned artists, as well as regional bands trying to break into the music scene, perform here weekly. Check www.jaxxroxx.com to determine the show for a particular evening.
Sunday, 11 a.m.
Wildlife Observation
Search out wildlife at Huntley Meadows Park. The trails that span the park’s 1,425 acres offer the chance to see birds, beaver, deer and fox, among other wildlife. Additionally, a short boardwalk trail through the wetlands leads to an observation tower. During operating hours, the visitor center is staffed with a naturalist, available to answer any questions. The park is open from dawn until dusk, and the visitor center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and from noon to 5 p.m. on weekends. The park is closed on Tuesdays. For the months of July and August, weekend hours are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Huntley Meadows is located at 3701 Lockheed Blvd., and admission is free.
Sunday, 1 p.m.
A Taste of Italy
For Sunday brunch, enjoy the buffet at Paradiso Ristorante Italiano, 6124 Franconia Road. Jarett Goldberg, longtime manager, makes sure to “change food items every week, to keep it exciting.” All of the food is made from scratch using fresh ingredients, and buffets feature extensive, varied spreads. Restaurant owners Tom and Julia Amato are also in the process of creating a new menu and wine list.
Pat Gauthier and her husband, of West Springfield, eat at Paradiso several times a year, and praise the “magnificent desserts and swordfish.” Make sure to watch the chefs cook omelets, pasta and waffles made to specification.
Sunday brunch runs from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Other special events include poker nights on Mondays and Wednesdays, live music on Friday evenings, and Happy Hours on Mondays through Saturdays. Paradiso also serves an early dinner that runs from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays, and from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturdays.
Sunday, 3 p.m.
Exercise with the Community
At Wakefield Park Recreation Center, recently renamed the Audrey Moore RECenter, enjoy the 50-meter pool, outdoor sundeck, fitness center, photography lab, cross country trails, biking trails, outdoor volleyball courts, tennis and basketball courts, athletic fields and skate park, among others.
Kristy Long, an area mother, is particularly grateful for the skate park. She credits it with keeping children entertained in a “safe, supervised, legitimate environment,” and praises the low cost of using the center’s facilities.
RECenter hours are from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays. Pool hours are from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. On Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., the park also is home to the Wakefield Farmers Market from May through October. Farm produce, as well as baked goods and prepared foods, is sold at the market. The park is located at 8100 Braddock Road.
Note: During August 2007, the pool will be closed for renovations. The pool at South Run RECenter will remain open, at 7550 Reservation Drive. South Run also offers many of the same recreational amenities.
Sunday, 5 p.m.
Local Flavor
Enjoy an early evening dinner at a favorite local restaurant. Mike’s American Grill, at 6210 Backlick Road, is a popular community choice for its casual, fine dining experience, and its fun, bustling atmosphere.
Springfield resident Steve Chute visits Mike’s often because of its “conveniently close location, and consistently high quality of food and service.” Moreover, Chute lists the restaurant as a “great place to meet friends and dates.”
While there, be sure to try the Hickory Smoked Baby Back Ribs and the Crab Cakes. Though reservations are not accepted, guests are encouraged to phone ahead at 703-644-7100 to add their names to the waiting list. Mike’s hours are from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays, and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays.
Other traditional neighborhood picks include Five Guys, Silver Diner and Red, Hot and Blue.
Sunday, 7 p.m.
Winding Down
To conclude the weekend, play a game of Bingo at the Greater Springfield Volunteer Fire Department, 7011 Backlick Road. Games are organized every Sunday and Tuesday night. Families are welcome, though children under the age of 12 are not permitted in the hall during games. Regular games start at 7:45 p.m. and late games begin at 10:30 p.m. Call the Bingo Hall at 703-569-9828 for complete information about times, pricing and other events.
Afterwards, relax at one of the area’s many ice cream shops, and prepare for the upcoming week. Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream Treatery and Paradise Ice Cream are two community favorites for such purposes.