October is one of the funnest months in my opinion… usually beautiful weather and leisurely things to do before you get into the crunch of the holidays. Here are some fun stops to get you going this October:
I can’t believe I haven’t mentioned this place on the blog yet, because it’s terrific. They roast the beans right there and sell them by the pound, and their coffee drinks are really excellent. The bakery items are spot-on, and I love they way they showcase local artists. In fact they are super nice people overall, and always pitching in to help out with stuff at the high school or other needs in the community. I highly recommend a tall iced coffee when you’re in Annandale to get yourself a….
Fried Chicken Sandwich at Pelicana
Just for the record I was obsessed with friend chicken sandwiches before this whole hullabaloo about Popeye’s. I don’t know why I need to claim credit for that but I do. Anyway I did some on-the-job research for you guys and stopped by the tiny chicken spot one door down from the Block in Annandale. It definitely feels more like a bar than a restaurant, and the Korean street food menu looks very tasty! The sandwich was quite good; very crispy coating and tender inside, fluffy bun, but I wished I had asked for some yummy sauce on the side. Even without it, though, I would describe it as extremely decent and worth a stop.
A Walk in the Woods
How about a woodland hike or bike ride one of these beautiful October weekends? It can be a little challenging to become one with nature in our busy metro area, but you may have some luck at Prince William Forest Park. As the largest protected natural area in the region, this National Park offers 37 miles of trails, dedicated bike paths, and even overnight campsites. They even have an app where you can pay your entrance fees in advance. Make a day of it and head to Harold and Cathy’s Dumfries Cafe for breakfast, and/or Mission BBQ in Stafford after.
Don’t you just love the after-5 efforts at the museums downtown? This one on October 3rd looks especially fun: go-go, hip hop, and jazz, food from Ben’s Chili Bowl, DC’s original Rickey Cocktail (look it up; you’ve probably been making these all summer!), and beer from Right Proper Brewing Company. They’ll also have DC muralists and street artists on hand to discuss their work. It all sounds very cool and I’m actually going to this! Text me if you go!
So our old local Italian restaurant closed down, and a new one popped up in it’s place! It all sounds very promising: a husband executive chef and his pastry chef wife who learned their craft at some of NYC’s top Italian restaurants. The menu looks divine and the eclectic decor is a fun twist: it features neon signs and ’80s and ’90s rock posters. Try it out! Reservations are available on Resy.
They call it a Beastly Beer Jamboree for Beer Geeks of all stripes, and the Post says it’s the best Beer Festival on the East Coast. The lineup looks great: 400 different beers, tons of Food Trucks, Live Music, various types of fun and games; plus it’s a fundraiser for ArcadiaFood.org. There’s literally no parking and with unlimited beer on tap, it’s probably a good day to Uber. October 12, noon til six.
