Tsagaan Sar 2024 - Year of the Dragon (#1)

Mongolian Tsagaan Sar, the Lunar New Year Festival for the Year of the Dragon, was just celebrated in Arlington. Much of our County's large Mongolian community lives in the Columbia Pike corridor.

The gathering features Mongolian foods, dance, traditional wrestling (a national sport), costumes, music, and pageantry from Mongolian lore. Particular respect is paid to the elders of the community.

There will be additional celebrations of the festival in the community, which we will also be documenting.

Thank you to Ganna Gankhuyag Natsag, the Cultural Envoy of Mongolia.

Photography by Lloyd Wolf.

June Bug’s Kindness Hot Cocoa Stand

Encouraged and abetted by Kindness Activist Susan Thompson-Gaines and her family, June Bug (Mackenzie, 5 1/2 years old) came up with the idea to have a hot cocoa sale as a fundraiser for the needy in her community. The mission: to spread kindness. 

June Bug

A wide range of the Penrose and other neighborhood folks came by to support, enjoy cocoa, and have fun. Per June Bug's instructions, there was ample hot cocoa available, with marshmallows, whipped cream, candy canes, chocolate, and other fun toppings to choose from.

Ceramic mugs were donated by the community. Guests were able to fill them up, drink their cocoa, and take their mug home. Others used recyclable paper cups (as was June Bug's wish). 

A happy, successful day. Mission accomplished.

Photography by Lloyd Wolf. 

"Husband For Scale"

Arlington Tech College Composition class- media projects

Peter Stephens teaches an innovative set of classes at Arlington Tech high school. The students are currently engaged in designing a variety of creative media projects about culture, community, advances in science, immigration, history, and other subjects using podcasts, photo essays, PechaKutcha, and video formats.

Thanks to all the students, Mr. Stephens, and Dr. Miriam Thomas for their help.

Photography by Lloyd Wolf.