Runners, head to the starting line! VIDA Fitness is hosting its fourth annual 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, October 13 at East Potomac Park. The local fitness club will donate proceeds from the event to Thrive DC – a local non-profit organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the D.C. area. Local radio personalities Kelly Collis and Jen Richer, co-hosts of 94.7 Fresh FM’s The Tommy Show, will emcee the race and awards ceremony. The 5K Run/Walk is open to the public and participants can submit their event registrations at: www.vidathrive5k.com.

Nicknamed Hains Point by locals, East Potomac Park’s flat running course, which circles the Potomac River, will again serve as the backdrop for the event. Both dog and stroller friendly, the VIDA Thrive 5K Run/Walk is geared toward families, kids, weekend athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike. There will be special race heats for both children and pets.

Events and prizes for the race include:

• VIDA memberships, personal training sessions and guest passes. 
• Gift cards from SweatBox, Aura Spa and Bang Salon.

2018 Packet Pick-Up will take place at VIDA Fitness-Gallery Place on Thursday, October 11 from 9 a.m. — 6p.m. and U-Street on Friday, October 12 from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Parking space is extremely limited at East Potomac Park, so VIDA encourages race participants to leave their cars at home. Convenient methods of transportation include: walking, Capital Bikeshare, DC Metro, Uber, Lyft or taxicab.

Continuing a race tradition, VIDA Fitness is again hosting a sock drive to benefit Thrive DC, which runs now right up to race day. Runners and spectators are encouraged to bring new socks of all sizes and styles to all VIDA locations or on race day where donation boxes will be located. VIDA Fitness is doubling the efforts and will match each pair of new socks donated to Thrive DC. Since their partnership began in 2015, VIDA Fitness has raised more than $50,000 for Thrive DC.

To purchase your race entry and receive more information on the VIDA 5K Run/Walk, please visit:www.vidathrive5k.com or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/events/442012079595140/. Registration costs $45 per person.    

WHO:        VIDA Fitness, Thrive DC and The Tommy Show

WHAT:      5K Run/Walk benefiting Thrive DC, with Tommy Show Hosts, Grand Prizes including PT sessions, massages and free month of membership

                    Tickets: $45

Schedule of Events on Saturday, October 13: 

• • 7:00 AM – Packet Pick-Up Opens
  • 7:00 AM – Bag Drop Opens
  • 7:40 AM – Warm-Up & Stretch
  • 7:55 AM – National Anthem
  • 8:00 AM – Race Begins
  • 9:00 AM – Awards Ceremony
  • 9:30 AM – Course Closes

WHEN:       October 13, 2018 at 8:00 a.m.

WHERE:    East Potomac Park at Hains Point

                  14^th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024

Copperwood Tavern is continuing the tradition of a fall festival in the Shirlington Village with Shucktoberfest, a craft beer and oyster festival featuring over thirty local craft breweries and cideries, and Waverly Point oysters from Northern Neck, VA. The event will take place on Saturday, October 20th from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Brewery tents, oyster tents, and food and vendor tents will line the streets of the picturesque Shirlington Village creating an inviting atmosphere for patrons and their pups! Guests who purchase tickets will be able to redeem them for beers and oysters.

The event is meant to highlight made in Virginia products and will showcase local artisans and their goods. Food tents of Shirlington restaurants will sell gourmet street-friendly fare for all to enjoy. For our younger visitors, family-friendly activities will be going all day.

Tickets are on sale now and are $25 until September 15th, when they will increase to $30 until the day of, where tickets will be $35. General admission tickets include 10 tickets. (1 TICKET = Beer – OR – Two Oysters). Guests may purchase additional tickets at the event.

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: A maestro, a yogi, and an orchestra walk into a tunnel. There’s no punchline, just an amazing and unique one-night experience awaiting fans of live music and yoga on Sunday, Oct. 21^st, as the American Pops Orchestra and yogi Michael Peterson will host their first Music and Mindfulness practice and concert at Dupont Underground.

Here’s what to expect:

Will there really be a live orchestra at a yoga class?

Yes — the American Pops Orchestra is versatile and nimble in size and musical stylings. To fit the space and vibe of this event, APO Founder and Musical Director Luke Frazier will conduct and play piano along with the Pops’ Chamber Ensemble: four cellos and one percussionist. APO’s principal percussionist Jeremy Yaddaw co-wrote the original score of an interwoven soundscape of classic Broadway melodies arranged in an eastern meditative style. Playing this music live in Dupont Underground lends an acoustic sound similar to a cathedral or the Paris catacombs.

What’s it like to do yoga in Dupont Underground?

Instructor Michael Peterson will guide participants on a journey through mindfulness and flexibility as the orchestra plays. This practice is open to all, no matter their level of ability. At last year’s event, there were people doing yoga for the first time and some simply sitting to enjoy the music and meditation without being physically engaged. Seating will be available for those seeking a calming experience.

Dupont Underground is a 15,000 square foot space that can accommodate up to 250 people for this event. Previous shows have sold out, and tickets are available here. Water, tea, juice and other snacks will be available for purchase, and participants should bring their own mats and towels. It is advisable to dress in layers to keep warm during the relaxation part of the session. The session will last 75 minutes.

How did this collaboration happen?

Frazier began practicing yoga a few years ago and was instantly enamored with the focus, strength and meditation yoga brings.

“As I spent more time doing yoga, I also spent more time thinking about how live music would enhance the experience,” says Frazier. “So I decided to combine these two loves into something different and exciting that allows us to explore the parallels between yoga and live music in real time.”

Before finding his calling as a yoga teacher, Michael Peterson studied dance and theater, and even played the drums.

“Sometimes in yoga we get so focused on technique, we don’t really let it be a fun and creative process,” says Peterson. “The atmosphere of a yoga class is so central to the practice, and live music has a way of creating a more artistic and creative atmosphere that rejuvenates the soul. It’s this communal experience where we all come together to create and experience something that only happens right in that moment.”

The practice on October 21 is the first in a series. The other practices will take place at Dupont Underground on April 13 and May 8, 2019 at 6pm.

‘Howl-o-ween’ on the Pet-friendly Patio – Saturday, October 27

Radiator will host ‘Howl-o-ween,’ a weekend happy hour for humans and furry friends from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Human guests may enjoy $5 bar snacks including sriracha deviled eggs and charred shishito peppers from Executive Chef Jonathan Dearden and a cauldron of craft cocktails from the bar team. Plus, Radiator will be handing out trick-or-treat goody bags for all dogs joining this special Saturday afternoon happy hour, with extra doggy biscuits for the canines in costume.

‘Howl-o-ween’ will be held on Saturday, October 27 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Radiator’s patio, weather permitting. Radiator seats patio guests on a first-come, first-served basis.

National Chocolate Day Celebrations

Alhambra at The St. Regis Washington DC is inviting guests to indulge all weekend long in a celebration of all things chocolate:

• Chocolate Connoisseur Wine Dinner

Kick off National Chocolate Day early with Chef Sebastien Giannini’s four-course chocolate inspired menu. Each decadent course is complemented with wine pairings from Alhambra’s esteemed beverage team. Enjoy highlights such as lobster tart topped with caviar, traditional Orelys chocolate white butter sauce and grilled Wagyu beef with black olive paste flavored with extraction of Illanka chocolate and preserved shallots.  Saturday, October 27, 5:30 pm to 10 pm, $95 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity

National Chocolate Day Celebrations

Alhambra at The St. Regis Washington DC is inviting guests to indulge all weekend long in a celebration of all things chocolate:

• Chocolate Indulgence Brunch

Celebrate National Chocolate Day with a sweet twist on Alhambra’s celebrated Sunday Brunch. Featuring a decadent chocolate buffet, expertly crafted chocolate drinks along with traditional brunch favorites. The day of indulgence is complete with an exclusive “pop-up” shopping experience from local boutique, Ella Rue, showcasing an array of luxury consigned and new fashion pieces from classic couture to today’s most in vogue designers. Sunday October 28, 11:30 am to 2 pm. $59 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity, and $79 per person with beverage package, exclusive of tax and gratuity.

Rise to the Roof for ‘Day of the Dead’ – Friday, November 2

Starting at 5:00 p.m., the Radiator team will rise up to the rooftop of the Kimpton Mason & Rook Hotel to host an evening of Mexican-inspired traditions celebrating ‘Day of the Dead.’ A selection of taco specials from Executive Chef Jonathan Dearden will be available all night as an after-work snack or as a leisurely dinner where guests can graze on Chef Jonathan’s version of Al Pastor tacos, a Central Mexican favorite. To help guests toast to friends and family of the past, Lead Bartender Patrick Barrett has conjured up a menu of cocktails highlighting the nuances of tequila and mezcal, which include:

·        Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire: mezcal, jalapeño, lime, and bitters

·        The Salty Skeleton: tequila, aperol, watermelon, lemon, and salt

·        Dia de Los Muertos:  tequila, cilantro, basil, lime, and a jalapeño-cinnamon tincture

From 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., a sugar-skull artist will be on hand to face paint elaborate skeleton designs for anyone interested in partaking in the holiday ritual. All face paintings are compliments of the Radiator team.

‘Day of the Dead’ will take place on Friday, November 2 from 5:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. on the rooftop at the Kimpton Mason & Rook Hotel. No reservations or cover charge required. Rooftop seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. In the event of inclement weather, ‘Day of the Dead’ will be moved downstairs to Radiator. Guests must be 21+.

 Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar, located steps from CityCenterDC at 801 9th Street, NW, 20001, will celebrate the release of Chef-Partner Guillermo Pernot’s second cookbook, CUBA COOKS: RECIPES AND DESRETS FROM CUBAN PALADARES AND THEIR CHEFS (October 2018) with a book signing party on Tuesday, November 13.

Guests pay $50 per person to enjoy select open bar to include beer, red and white wine by the glass, house red and white sangria, Pyrat Mojitos, Mango Mojitos and Spiced Cuba Libre’s along with an array of passed and stationary tapas, ceviches, and desserts profiled in CUBA COOKS. Dishes are subject to change, but may include Ceviche de Pez Perro, hog fish ceviche with blackeyes peas, coconut milk, cilantro and cachucha Chile sauce; Sopa de Cilantro, chilled cilantro soup with tempura of clams; Tacos de Berenjenas, malanga tacos with eggplant salad; Buñuelos de Espinaca, spinach and manchego cheese fritters, served with goat cheese sauce; Croquetas de Pollo, chicken croquettes with cachucha aioli; Alitas de Pollo a lo Chino, Chinese barbeque chicken winglets; Tostones con Ropa Vieja de Pato,braised pulled duck legs with Hawaiian toston, as well as Cuban Porchetta, pork belly and pork loin roast with Moros y Cristianos pilaf.  Desserts are just as enticing and include Churros con Chocolate; Macarrones de Coco; Guayaba con Mousse de Queso Crema as well as El Arroz con Leche de Mami Totty.  Cookbooks will also be available for purchase throughout the evening and priced at $40 each.

A vibrant celebration of the island’s bold flavors, creative techniques, and unique inspirations of Cuba’s finest paladares, readers of CUBA COOKS will find a rich variety of dishes which have been adapted from some of the best private restaurants from Old Havana to Santiago de Cuba.  Showcasing a cuisine which marries traditional foundations with modern influences, Pernot and Co-Author Lourdes Castro have thoughtfully collected recipes and stories that reveal a vibrant contemporary cuisine.  Throughout the book, readers will find illuminating and insightful notes about Cuba’s culinary heritage, as well as helpful notes found with every recipe. 

Guillermo Pernot is a nationally renowned chef and restaurateur, and chef-partner at Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar in Philadelphia, Atlantic City, Orlando and Washington, DC. Named “Chef of the Year” by Esquire magazine and one of “America’s Ten Best New Chefs,” by Food & Wine, Pernot is a two-time James Beard Award winner for Best Chef (Mid-Atlantic) and Best Single-Subject Cookbook for Ceviche: Seafood, Salads, and Cocktails with a Latino Twist (Running Press, 2001).   

Lourdes Castro is a professor, recipe developer, and author of three cookbooks, Latin Grilling (Ten Speed, 2011), Simply Mexican (Ten Speed, 2009), and Eat, Drink, Think in Spanish (Ten Speed, 2009). A recurring judge on Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay, Castro has also appeared on NBC’s Today Show, CBS’s The Early Show and The Talk, and on news and lifestyle programs for Better TV, Univision, Telemundo, and CNN en Español.  Her recipes have also appeared in Food & Wine, Latina magazine, and The New York Times.

WHEN:          Tuesday, November 13, 2018, from 6 PM to 8 PM. 

WHERE:       Cuba Libre Restaurant and Rum Bar is located at 801 9^th Street, NW, Ste. A, Washington, D.C. 20001;  

– On Nov. 14, 2018, NCMEC will host its first ROCK THE BLOCK. Guests will enjoy
specialty plates and craft drinks at more than 12 of Old Town Alexandria’s top restaurants and food
trucks in one evening – all for one price. All proceeds from the event will benefit NCMEC – a national nonprofit located in Old Town Alexandria – that leads the fight against child abduction and exploitation – because every child deserves a safe childhood.

From 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., event-goers will walk through Old Town Alexandria, enjoying food, drink and music at all of the participating restaurants. Restaurants include: Vermilion, Augie’s Mussel House, The Majestic, Columbia Firehouse, select food trucks at Market Square, Pizzeria Paradiso, Mia’s Italian Kitchen, Virtue Feed & Grain, Hi -Tide Lounge and more to come.

VIP ticket holders will have access to two VIP-only restaurants, including Hi-Tide Lounge. VIP access will also include a pre-party reception from 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (location TBD) and an “after-party” with live music upstairs at Virtue Feed & Grain from 9-11 p.m.

General Admission tickets are $125 and include unlimited food and drinks at all participating
restaurants. VIP tickets are $300 and include admission to all participating restaurants, the VIP pre-party reception, VIP-only restaurants and the VIP-only after-party.

– Pre-sale Tickets (20 percent discount) are available on Sept. 10
– Full Price Tickets are available starting Oct. 1
– www.Rocktheblocks.org