ArcLight goes dark, Athleta arrives, Backstage bargains at Macy’s

This week marked the final curtain for the ArcLight Cinema, whose California-based parent company is going out of business. The theater had been a community hub at Westfield Montgomery mall for the past seven years, offering a diverse mix of blockbusters, family films, classics and indie fare. Along with the iPic at Pike & Rose, ArcLight was one of the first theaters in our area to elevate the movie-going experience with a posh lobby, cocktail bar, state-of-the-art sound systems and reserved seating. So what’s going to happen to this space now? Probably nothing for awhile. Movie theaters aren’t exactly a hot commodity right now, and it’s unlikely that other theater operators will step in while the entire mall is up for sale. (More on that in our March 25th edition.) Our guess: We won’t see an ArcLight sequel until at least 2022.

Big news for local bargain-hunters: Macy’s Backstage is on the way to Westfield Montgomery mall. The existing Macy’s has completely changed its layout to make room for this new store-within-a-store, which will offer a mix of clothes, beauty products, housewares, toys and seasonal items at 20 to 80 percent off “regular” prices. Backstage is sort of a mashup of Nordstrom Rack, HomeGoods and T.J. Maxx, drawing products from Macy’s own clearance departments as well as overstocks and limited-quantity deals. With shoppers increasingly motivated by treasure hunts and markdowns, Macy’s is looking to open 45 Backstage locations by the end of this year. At Westfield Montgomery, you can start shopping there on May 1st.

The Washington Color School, an abstract expressionist movement that dates back to the 1950s, is having a new heyday on the art market. Works by notable D.C. artists from this period — Kenneth Noland, Morris Louis, Gene Davis, Howard Mehring, Tom Downing, Paul Reed, Sam Gilliam and Leon Berkowitz — are being sought by collectors and commanding record prices at auction. If you own some of these pieces, or others from that era, now is an excellent time to get an appraisal. “Over the past five or six years, museums, galleries and curators have been revisiting the critical and cultural importance of the Washington Color School in the overall abstract expressionist movement,” says Debrah Dunner, local rep for the auction house Freeman’s. “New catalogs are being written about these post-war artists, Sam Gilliam is going to have a retrospective at the Hirshhorn, and there have been Downings that reached $200,000 at auction. That’s a really good sign.” Think you might own something of value? Wondering if this is a good time to sell? Dunner can tell you for sure. She offers free auction estimates via virtual appointments, with easy no-contact pickup of your goods. Email ddunner@freemansauction.com or call (301) 738-0347.

A weekly guide sponsored by some of our favorite local businesses

It’s gorgeous outside, people are getting vaccinated, and now is a great time to shop (safely) at our local stores. This weekend, Scout & Molly’s celebrates its third anniversary at Pike & Rose with 30 percent off tons of cute looks like the one shown here. Gym & Tonic has your favorite trendy athleisure styles, Hanna’s Connection is full of spring color, and Oak just unpacked some beautiful jewelry and batik tops. Read on for more in our latest Store Reporter Guide.

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