October is here and while I despise the onslaught of Pumpkin Spice flavored-shit that comes as a result, I am ecstatic about everything else fall entails: thigh high boots, golden hues, and morning meditations over a cup of chai tea.
The crowds are gone, and so is the heat… this month ushers in impressive fall foliage that’s perfect for daytime strolls on the mall, fresh harvests to enjoy in favorite foods, and weather that makes you want to nestle into the layers of another warm body.
Food
Michelin has spoken, and it would be rude for us not to answer. The Michelin inspectors have announced the newest iteration of acclaimed restaurants, keeping some of my favorites like Minibar, Sushi Taro, and Plume. I would love to introduce you, if you have not yet had the pleasure? Or, we could do dinner and a room for two at the restaurant and hotel with the area’s first Michelin three-star rating: The Inn at Little Washington.
As reluctant as I am to bid farewell to rooftop dining with summer menu favorites like frosé and citrus salads, I love a new flavor palate and a change in scenery! The exposed brick and familiar feel of The Dabney is the perfect place to enjoy cocktails, conversation, and comfort food. We could discretely disappear down into Sotto for live music and Italian delights; or, won’t you allow me to charm you over smelts and shishito at American Son - a new addition to the D.C. dining scene with a menu that centers around locally sourced seasonal produce.
I’m a woman who loves options - so food festivals make for a great twist on the traditional lunch/dinner date! The Taste of D.C. is back this month on October 26 and 27th at the all new Audi Field! Taste of D.C. is one of my favorite local food festivals, as it always features an array of excellent restaurant vendors and an amazing marketplace for unique gifts. Let’s make it a day date, or even an evening to remember with the “Taste After Dark” option!
I’ve yet to develop a discerning taste in brews, but I’d love for you to introduce me to some of your preferred profiles at Snallygaster Beer Festival on October 13 in Yards Park! The festival will showcase over 350 different beers, including many that are rare to find in the D.C. area. Alongside, we can treat ourselves to food trucks and play some (drinking?) games.
Museums, Art, and Live Entertainment
The humble and overlooked gem that is the Heurich House will premiere a new exhibition on October 5th entitled A (“Good”) American, exploring the very timely and current question about what it means to be an American. Eight artists, including Pakistani-American photojournalist Sobia Ahmad and Ethiopian-American interdisciplinary artist Tsedaye Makonnen, will put forth their answers in the artistic discussion.
A newly expanded Glenstone Museum will reopen this month with additional exhibition space and a water garden filled with outdoor sculptures! It is by far one of the most reflective and meditative museums in the D.C. area - the curators have gone to great lengths to create an experience that passes along serene, powerful energies to the visitor through art, architecture, and nature.
If Halloween is your favorite season, this month should be a treat! Haunted Houses, Mansions, and Museums have taken over D.C.! The Mansion at O Street, with its many mysteries and hidden secrets, will host Halloween Hunts from October 24th - 31st. For a less puzzling experience, we can venture over to the Night of the Living Zoo on October 26th from 7-10:30pm. The adults-only costume party at the National Zoo will allow exclusive access to some of the animal exhibits alongside DJs and food trucks. Alternatively, the Newseum Frights costume party will feature an open beer and wine bar with bites from Wolfgang Puck on October 26, 2018 from 8:30 pm – 11:00 pm.
Take a seat and be entertained at any or all of the theater performances on stage this month. I love to laugh (who doesn’t?), and the Bentzen Ball Comedy Festival at the Lincoln Theatre on U Street is a weekend full of tear-inducing entertainment. If that’s not enough, DAR Constitution Hall will host Trevor Noah of The Daily Show from October 19 - 27.
Star Wars fans rejoice - the Kennedy Center’s NSO Pops will perform the score from The Empire Strikes Back, alongside a screening of the full feature film, in shows from October 23 - October 25. I’ve never seen Star Wars, so this is your chance to school me! Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theatre will present a production of the thought-provoking play Actually, which centers around the touchy (relevant) subject of consent between two collegiate freshman. Or, let’s dial up the drama and enjoy the opera! The Washington National Opera will cover the famous La traviata (or The Fallen Woman) by Giuseppe Verdi. The plot centers around Violetta, a sought after courtesan, who reckons with love, society, and death all at once.
Sports
After some very interesting roster shake ups this off-season, I am more than excited for this year’s NBA season to start! John Wall has set the standards high with a stated goal of over 50 wins and the Eastern Conference Finals this year… so we should be in for a treat when the Washington Wizards begin the regular season with a home game against the (at the time of this writing, Butler-less) Miami Heat on October 18. But what I’m most anxious to see is how Kawhi Leonard is meshing with the rest of the Toronto Raptors when the Wizards host them here at the Capital One Arena on October 20. Let’s share a Shock Top and fries in the arena and yell #GoWiz!
Time to come down from the high of the Stanley Cup! The Capitals have had an interesting pre-season leading up to the first regular season game on October 3 against the Boston Bruins. A couple of injuries have been keeping the Russian machine from running at peak performance, but hopefully things get recalibrated in time for the home games later this month. The Capitals will play the New York Rangers on October 17 and the Florida Panthers on October 19. Just say the word and I will pair my Capitals Jersey with my most risqué red lingerie for a date night on the ice!
Outdoors
No need to feel you’ve missed out if you have yet to participate in any one of the numerous parades and various celebrations that have taken place for the first Washington Capitols’ Stanley Cup - there’s yet another way to commemorate our victory, and it’s much more fun than being trapped in an massive, drunken crowd! Let’s spend our Saturday getting lost in the ALLCAPS corn mazes that have popped up in Maryland at Bowles Farms and Greenstreet Gardens. As long as we’re together, I won’t be spooked!
For 10 days, from October 5 - October 15, Vikings will be at The Wharf! After the arrival ceremony on October 5 from 12:30-2:00pm, the Draken Harald Hårfagre will be docked for exhibition. Let’s take a tour, and then dine on seafood-inspired dishes at Hanks Oyster Bar or Del Mar de Fabio Trabocchi.
Before the weather becomes prohibitively cold, H Street and Navy Yard squeeze in the last street festivals of the season! Yards Park will host its first ever Boardwalk Block Party on October 7th from 12-5pm. Neighborhood restaurants like Osteria Morini, Whaley’s, and Ice Cream Jubilee (a personal favorite!!!) will offer tastings while guests enjoy live entertainment. H Street Festival will take place on October 13, with a massive set up of entertainment stages, food stalls, and art vendors spanning ten blocks of the H Street corridor. It’s one of the most popular D.C. neighborhood festivals, and for good reason!