Hello September! School’s in, and summer is on its way out. Let’s savor the extra free time and the warm weather :-)
Here are some things I am sure we would both enjoy:
Outdoors
Make the month count! It’s our last chance to enjoy the weather, even if it means getting a little too sweaty, before October ushers in cool temps and windy weather.
One of my favorite past times is going to the State Fair every year for corn dogs and chili cheese fries - luckily, the DMV area consists of 2 states and a wanna-be. The Anne Arundel County Fair will be from September 12-16, or we can mini-road trip/staycation down to the Virginia State Fair in Doswell, VA from Sept. 28 - Oct. 7 for a more traditional experience. D.C. does an solid improvisation of the fair experience on September 23 at the Southwest Waterfront.
Over at Yards Park, the Boat Life Festival brings music, beer, and boats on September 29 and 30th for 2 days of entertainment to close out the month and the season.
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Smithsonian Zoo will host ZooFiesta on September 23. The fun-filled day will feature live music, tastings of Central and South American staples, and animal feedings. I haven’t been to the museum all year, but I would love to go before the summer ends!
Sports
The Nationals aren’t having the best season, but they certainly aren’t having a bad season either - and as we enter the last stretch of summer, why not enjoy the good weather at a ball game? We can catch up with the team and see how the latest roster additions shift our odds when the Nationals host the New York Mets from September 20-23 or the Miami Marlins from the September 24-26.
It’s time to get back out on the ice with our Stanley Cup winners, The Capitals, as the preseason begins at the end of the month. The championship formula has remained largely unchanged besides a few shake ups, like the addition of Sergi Shumakov to the roster earlier this week. We can gauge our chances of a two-peat when the first pre-season game at home commences on September 18 against the Boston Bruins; otherwise, we can see them square off against the Carolina Hurricanes (Sept. 28) or the St. Louis Blues (Sept. 30).
Wayne Rooney has already done a lot for D.C. United, and this is the perfect month to head over to the new Audi Field as the team hosts the next three matches at home against the Minnesota United FC (Sept. 12), New York Red Bulls (Sept. 16), and the Montreal Impact (Sept. 29). This month also has a treat for soccer fans: Brazil and El Salvador will play a friendly match at FedEx Field on Tuesday, September 11 at 8pm.
Food
Before pumpkin spice, with its offspring and derivatives, take over the restaurant scene, let’s make some time for a date that includes a nice meal.
We can stroll the streets of Georgetown and enjoy food from some of the neighborhood’s most beloved restaurants at The Taste of Georgetown on September 23 from 11am-4pm.
Everyone knows oysters are the perfect date food, being an aphrodisiac, which is why we should definitely make our way to Oyster Wars on September 29 at The Salt Line. Chefs from several restaurants I love, like Mike Friedman (All Purpose) and Victor Albisu (Taco Bamba) will serve tastings from the finest oyster farms and best breweries in the Northeast.
Up for something new? So am I! There have been a few exciting restaurant concepts introduced to the D.C. dining scene over the past few months - I’m ashamed to say I have not been venturing away from my favorite places as of late. On my to-do list: O-Ku, a Japanese restaurant with a southern flare; Pappe, a new Indian restaurant in Logan Circle; and Gravitas, a small tasting-menu only dining room addition to Ivy City.
Museums and Art
Totally loved this random art installation my date and I stumbled upon last week!
I read a fascinating exposé on Chinese Art thefts in August’s GQ, and now I am aching to revisit Freer-Sackler, my favorite museum, to view some of the art in a new light. One of the latest exhibitions there is Spreading the Word: Buddhist Art in Japan, which features some of the Chinese and Japanese literature and art that was couriered across land and sea from India into Asia.
The Smithsonian Portrait Gallery, one of the best museums in D.C., celebrates its 50th anniversary in One Year: 1968, An American Odyssey. Thirty portraits guide us through the moment in time where the tides of the Vietnam War were turned, the Civil Rights Act came into being, and man orbited the moon.
If you want to talk American history, we can pay a visit to one of the newest Smithsonian showcases at the National Museum of American History entitled The American Revolution: A World War. The exhibition centers around the Franco-American alliance that made American victory possible.
Movies, Music, and Live Entertainment
Okay, so you’ve never been to a music festival, and maybe you’re a little scared. If you need a primer to determine whether or not your ready for the big ones like Coachella or SXSW, Trillectro is your best bet. SZA, 2 Chainz, and Young Thug headline this year’s iteration at Merriweather Post Pavilion on September 22. I promise not to drag you into the mosh pit, but only if you promise not to judge me for my awful take on the high note that leads into SZA’s smash hit Love Galore.
For a change in pace, who better to set the mood for an intimate evening than Ginuwine? The R&B legend is on stage at The Howard Theatre on September 29, and just imagining his voice live and in person makes my panties drop!
As of late, I have found myself sleuthing around the restaurant scene to satisfy my craving for live entertainment. It feels good attending smaller events that celebrate local artists and musicians or smaller bands. I totally re-discovered Open Mic Night at Busboy’s and Poets and jazz at JoJo Restaurant and Bar on U Street. I am ashamed that I forgot how good it is! Also, Mastro’s is the perfect place for live music and amazing food on a Friday night. I stumbled upon a live band at Sotto on 14th Street one random night - the downstairs sibling to one of my favorite Italian places, Ghibellina, is full of character!