Paris was famous for its artistic salons in the 1800s, and now Arlingtonian Michael Chapman is determined to bring a bit of that spirit to the banks of the Potomac. For the last 18 months, the Westover resident has been organizing Salon Arlington, a bimonthly meetup that brings an eclectic mix of local creative types and art lovers together under one roof. To ensure an intimate vibe that’s conducive to conversation, he only sells 30 tickets to each salon, at $15 a pop.
Held at Village Sweet bakery in Westover, each salon features four local artists and live music, plus drinks and baked treats by Village Sweet owner Dawn Hart. An accountant by day, Chapman has so far staged 10 salons featuring area painters, writers, jewelry designers, musicians, photographers—and one comedian. What’s his motivation? “I like planning parties,” he says, “but my favorite part is meeting the artists.” The salons are open to the public, but tickets sell out fast.
For ticket information, email Chapman at dustyswb@verizon.net, or check Salon Arlington’s Facebook page.