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With Patch Passport, Patch will help be your guide as you become a tourist in your town. Whether you're new to town or want to explore the place you've loved for years, we're here to show you what there is to see.
Many Arlington parents will tell you there is no better place to spend a hot summer day with the kids than Reservoir Beach in Arlington Heights. The popular Lowell Street swimming hole has all the amenities of an ocean beach without the drive or hassle, according to beachgoer and father-of-two Jason Barrett. “It’s just like being at the beach,” he said recently, “but we don’t have to go all the way to the ocean to get there.” He said Reservoir Beach is relaxing for parents and fun for kids. It’s also a safe place to bring your kids, he said, with lifeguards on duty and filtered and …
In the Venture Out portion of the Patch Passport series, we show you some of the best places you can visit in less than a tank of gas. 15-minutes: Venture Out to Reservoir Beach Believe it or not, you actually don't have to go that far to feel like you're miles and miles away from Arlington. If you’re looking to find a sandy beach surrounded by tall trees, there’s no need to leave town. Reservoir Beach is the perfect spot to bring the family and escape the heat. 30-minutes: An Island Adventure on Spectacle Island Spectacle Island consists of 105 acres, with a marina, visitor’s center, snack …
Do you want to get out of the kitchen, but are bored of the same old places you always go to? Want some fresh ideas for tasty meals? Today's Patch Passport is here to help. We have assembled a list of local places with international flavors. Try one out and let us know what you think. Bon Appetit! Ristorante Olivio Open in Arlington for over seven years, Ristorante Olivio is a place to find authentic Italian cooking. In an atmosphere that has a fine dining look but is casual and comfortable, Chef Angelo DiGirolamo serves simple food with fresh ingredients. There are offerings inspired by many…
No journey is complete without scouring the local stores for unique trinkets or picking up a gift or two for friends and family back home. Today, Patch Passport takes you to Derby Farm Flowers & Garden, a treasure of cool gifts—not just flowers—in the heart of Arlington Center. Owner Barbara Popolow has run the store since 2005, though it has been in Arlington Center since 1999. Popolow said she focuses on creating an European-style home boutique, also full of garden and home enhancement, nature-inspired and locally-made products. She also offers garden design services. The store buys flowers…
There comes a time in anyone's life when a little bit of paradise comes in handy. And in Arlington, that can come in the form of the various spas and salons that take you away from the stress of daily life.  Here are a few salons in Arlington that will take you miles away from home—even if just for a couple of hours. M.Y. Salon & Day Spa Maria Nogueira has been running M.Y. Salon & Day Spa with her sisters since 2004. The spa offers a wide range of services, including hair cuts and styling, coloring, highlights, make up, nails, facials and massages. The salon also does extensions and keratin …
No trip is complete without a bit of history. On Today's Patch Passport, we take you in a historical tour of a place in town that is bursting with the cultural and knowledge of Arlington's forefathers: The George A. Smith Museum, 7 Jason St. “The museum was completed in 1980 with funds contributed by Elizabeth Smith in memory of her father George A. Smith and her grandfather, Samuel Abbot Smith. The museum houses exhibits and the [Historical] Society's collection of artifacts, manuscripts, and other Arlington memorabilia,” states the Arlington Historical Society's website. The Museum recently…
Arlington has a wealth of parks, and taking the children to one of them is fun for the whole family. Today's Patch Passport takes you on a trip to Spy Pond Park and Robbins Farm Park. Spy Pond Park  This park includes a large soccer field, baseball diamond and four tennis courts. The playground area offers a beautiful view of Spy Pond—and a fenced-in play area to keep the kids from running away while you check out some swans.  Park hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.; tennis courts open at 9 a.m. on Sunday. Play on the courts is limited to one hour when other players are waiting. Robbins Farm Park …
Welcome to today's Patch Passport. Come along with us on a trip to Menotomy Rocks Park, a hidden gem within Arlington. The 35.5-acre Menotomy Rocks Park is the perfect spot for a weekend picnic or a quick lunch break in the middle of a busy day. It offers long wooded trails, wide open fields and a three-acre pond for fishing. On the Jason Street end, the park has a long playing field; on the opposite side is a small woodchip playground with slides and swings. There is fishing on the Menotomy Rocks Pond and there are off-leash hours for dogs. The thickness of ice on the pond is not monitored …
Patch will help be your guide as you become a tourist in Arlington. Whether you're new to town or want to explore the place you've loved for years, we're here to show you what there is to see. Check back to Arlington Patch daily to see what excursion is next. We will feature stories, photos and videos showing off the best Arlington has to offer. And you can tell us what you love about Arlington, and we'll include it as part of our project. We hope this project encourages you to shop local, eat local and be local. Patch wants to show you how much your Arlington has to offer. And although …

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