Total Solar Eclipse: Where To Watch It In Del Ray (Updates)

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The solar eclipse is just two weeks away, and Del Ray is gearing up for the rare phenomenon with fun events.

On Aug. 21, the solar eclipse will be visible across the U.S. for the first time since 1918. In Del Ray and the rest of the East Coast, it will start shortly after 1 p.m. and reach totality just before 3 p.m. Northern Virginia will see about 85 percent of the sun covered at the peak.

Residents planning on watching the eclipse will need solar eclipse viewing glasses, since looking directly at the eclipse could cause eye damage. Beginning on Aug. 14, Eye2eye Optometry Corner (1502 Mt Vernon Ave) will be giving out free solar eclipse viewing glasses.

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Four Directions Wellness (2001 Mount Vernon Avenue) will host a preview party on Sunday Aug. 20 from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Attendees will take a meditation class to prepare for the solar eclipse the next day. Tickets are $30, and the class runs for an hour and a half.

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The following day, Del Ray residents will gather to watch the solar eclipse at Dental Excellence (3116 Mount Vernon Avenue). The event runs 1:30 p.m.-6 p.m. RSVP for the event by Aug. 15 by calling 703-745-5496 or emailing care@dentalexcellenceva.com.

Del Ray residents can also gather at everyone's favorite outdoor hangout. The Front Porch at Evening Star Cafe is opening at noon for a solar eclipse watching party. Guests can enjoy eclipse-themed treats like a stellar Eclipse cocktail, Bourbon Slushies and Frosé alongside Buzz Bakeshop Solar Eclipse shortbread cookies, shishito peppers with mint and feta, cherry tomatoes with sherry and basil and chili-smothered chips with chives.

Nearby, you can also toast to the rare spectacle with wine tastings at Planet Wine. Throughout the day, the store will offer eclipse themed tastings including: Soliste "Lune et Soleil" Sauvignon Blanc, Orsolani "al Bacio" Erbaluce di Caluso, Ledge Los Topos "Moonsault", Mouvedre and Arizona Stronghold "Dala", Cabernet Sauvignon.

Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza and Tap will also be offering eclipse glasses and special food and drink offerings. See the restaurant's event page here.

If you can't make it to the viewing party, NASA will be live streaming the eclipse here.

Eye2eye Optometry Corner offers the following tips for watching the solar eclipse:

• Eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewers are the only safe ways to look at uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun. Do not use unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device.
• If lenses are damaged, scratched, or torn, do not wear them.
• Damage to your retina is permanent. If you experience retina damage you could have blurry central vision always, no more 20/20. You could also experience a loss of color perception and a lost of your cones located centrally.
• Solar eclipse glasses not meeting this safety criteria could cause eye damage. Wearing just sunglasses to view the eclipse is not safe and could cause damage. Four manufacturers have certified that their eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard for such products: Rainbow Symphony, American Paper Optics, Thousand Oaks Optical, and TSE 17.
• Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright sun. After looking at the sun, turn away and remove your filter. Do not remove it while looking at the sun.
• Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device.

Image via NASA