Cocktail in hand, storefronts to explore and live music as you meander—that’s the promise of the first ever sip-and-stroll event in the City of Falls Church.
Little City Sips will take place June 13, 5-10 p.m. along the 100 and 200 blocks of West Broad Street. This tight-knit area is home to about 40 businesses, many of which are participating, either by selling drinks or allowing people to bring beverages inside in what they are calling the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA).
The goal is to turn the downtown area into a block party of sorts—a fun place to hang out with neighbors, says Sarah Swinton-Nussbaum, a marketing specialist with the City of Falls Church Economic Development Office. “There’s a core group of restaurants down there that we were really hoping to have sign up, and they all did. That was a vote of confidence that we were in headed in the right direction [with this idea]…. Everybody was really excited.”
Where to Go
- Northside Social, which will host a pop-up artist market and jazz singer Dominique Bianco from 5-7 p.m.
- Clare & Don’s Beach Shack, where Relaxed Fit will play from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
- Mr Brown’s Park, featuring Justin Trawick and the Common Good from 6-8 p.m.
- Ireland’s Four Provinces, where Dan Barry will play on the patio from 6-9 p.m.
- Stratford Garden, where Kenny & Joel (aka Hepcat Hoodie) will play from 6-9 p.m.
- Dogwood Tavern, where Breonna Sharde & the Band will play from 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
- Lucky Thai
- Maneki Neko
- Pho 88
- Thompson Italian
Northside Social Executive Chef Emer O’Rourke is hoping locals embrace the opportunity to unwind and explore. “We want to see more communitywide events happen in our Little City,” she says. “Other neighborhoods, such as Shirlington and Vienna, have become known as great areas to visit for an evening—not necessarily with a concrete plan or a reservation, but as a destination to simply enjoy the neighborhood and pop into several businesses for a snack and a drink along the way. We would love to see more of this here in Falls Church.”
“Creating this temporary social ‘district’ will be a great event for all of us,” adds Colm Dillon, owner of Ireland’s Four Provinces, which will have five frozen margaritas on offer. “Having people on foot, not having to worry about where they park, and being able to be out and about freely, it’s a more welcoming environment for people. As a pub owner, I get to meet more of our neighbors through the increase in foot traffic.”
What to Expect
Visit any participating restaurant to order a Little City Sips beverage in a signature plastic event cup. From there, you’re free to take it outside of the restaurant to enjoy as you wander. To find participating places, look for signs in the windows.
Signs indicating the DORA‘s boundaries will establish a perimeter for outdoor drinking; alcoholic beverages may not be taken outside of those boundaries. The event is family-friendly, but only people 21 and older with valid ID can order alcoholic drinks.
City officials hope this inaugural event will draw crowds and lead to many more, Swinton-Nussbaum adds.
Find parking for Little City Sips in public parking garages and the public lot at City Hall.
