Taste of Arlington, hosted by the Ballston BID, raises funding for local charities like the Arlington Food Assistance Center and the Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network. Photo by Vernon Miles.
Even on a Sunday, Wilson Boulevard is usually crowded with cars in the early afternoon. But on May 20, along the length of the Ballston Corridor up to Clarendon, Wilson Boulevard was closed to traffic. Instead, it was packed with Arlingtonians and visitors from out of town sampling the best food and drinks the county has to offer at the 2018 Taste of Arlington. Taste of Arlington is an annual event hosted by the Ballston BID, which raises funding for local charities like the Arlington Food Assistance Center and the Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network.
“It’s great,” said Jackie Jordan, an “original Arlingtonian” from Bluemont Park. “We got to enjoy the VIP lounge and it was worth the ticket. I’m looking forward to all the food here.”
Like Jordan, many of the visitors to Taste of Arlington are former residents of the county returning for a visit home. Doug Jacobs lives in Reston, but said it was nice to bring his family back to Arlington where they used to live. His favorite part was getting ice cream for his children.
“We’re trying all the food,” said Jacobs. “We’re hanging out with family and enjoying the community.”
After a week of constant rains and storms, some visitors were thankful for a one-day reprieve of sunshine and warm weather.
“It’s a little hot,” said LeslieAnn Souders, enjoying a bruschetta from SER, “but after this week I’m not complaining.”