Hispanic Heritage Month is here, and around the DMV that means a month of good food, live music, and culture as communities show up to celebrate what makes them, well, them.It runs September 15 through October 15, not the 1st, cause September 15 is Independence Day for five Latin American countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua), with Mexico's right behind it on the 16th and Chile's on the 18th. What started as a one-week observance in 1968 became the full month we know now in 1988, and ever since, it's been a chance to celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities in everything from food and music to art and business.See our calendar of events for events and celebrations all month long.

Are you ready for some football?! Who isn't. Around the DMV, football season means more than just the game - duh? -  it means beer buckets, wing towers, rooftop TVs, and every bar in town finding a reason to pour a pitcher special. Whether you're claiming a stool at your team's official DC bar or just looking for the spot with the most screens (and the best happy hour), we've got you covered from kickoff through the final whistle. Here's where to watch, what to order, and who's doing it right this season.Game Day SpecialsAlexandria Bier GardenABG is offering beer bucket specials and football food combos all season long, with the game shown inside at the bar, out in the beer garden, or up on the partially covered rooftop overlooking King Street.Astro Beer HallAstro Beer Hall brings back game day specials to its downtown DC and Northern Virginia outposts, with drink and food deals for NFL and NCAA game days all season long. With 20+ TVs at each location, look for $15 Astro Kolsch pitchers on Saturdays in Shirlington, or $2 off all beers every Sunday downtown.BoulevardMultiple TVs make Boulevard an easy call for football fans, with specials running all week: $29 Steak Frites and half off wine bottles on Wednesdays, $3 off sushi rolls and half off sake on Thursdays, and $3 off apps and drafts Sundays from 5 PM to close.CHIKOSkip the kitchen and order in: a bucket of 20 Korean double-fried chicken wings tossed in spicy soy glaze, $40, feeds the whole watch party. Hours vary by location, so order ahead online.Little EngineStock up for football feasts at home with wings tossed in Guava Glaze or Classic Buffalo, or shareable dishes like the Family Van pack and chicken tenders — everything you need to watch the game from your own couch. Order via website.MadhatterFootball specials run during every NFL game: $4 Madhatter Light and Mich Ultra drafts, $5 NÜTRLs, $16 pitchers, $20 buckets of Bud Light, $25 buckets of NÜTRL and Mich Ultra, and $40 Mich Ultra beer towers, plus food specials under $10 and $25 food towers.Mission Navy YardEvery college and NFL game plays across 23 TVs on two levels, sound on, with DJs taking over after the big ones. Happy hour runs daily and the kitchen stays open late (midnight daily, 1 AM Thursday–Saturday). Official teams: Texas A&M, Iowa, Carolina Panthers, and Atlanta Falcons.ProstProst kicks off NFL Sundays from 1 PM to 10 PM with $12 1L Spaten Drafts and $30 NÜTRL Buckets (5 per bucket) — plenty to go around before kickoff. All Commanders games are shown with sound on.Shaw's TavernFootball specials run during every NFL game: Hushpuppies $10, Pomme Frites $8, Fried Green Tomatoes $10, Red Pizza $12, White Pizza $12, Miller Lite and Yuengling Lager Pitchers $20 each, and a Flight of Deep Eddy Shooters for $18.The AdmiralA top spot to watch football in Dupont Circle, with sound on at every TV — 15 in total, including outdoor screens, covering every college and NFL game. Daily happy hour and a kitchen open late (midnight daily, 1 AM Thursday–Saturday). Official teams: Alabama, TCU, Miami Dolphins.The FallsThe Falls is offering NFL Tailgate specials for takeout, featuring smoked wings, cornbread, deviled eggs, sliders by the dozen, and bundles and sandwich kits packed with appetizers and smoked meats. They also serve happy hour daily from 3–6 PM with games streaming, and BBQ favorites like smoked brisket chili, pulled pork sandwiches, and smoked chicken wings make it a solid game-day stop either way.Whitlow's at the WharfWE ARE! Whitlow's is an official Penn State bar for the 2026 football season, with specials running during every Penn State game and on Sundays from 12:30 PM until midnight — pitchers, cocktails, and bar bites like Cheese Fries, Nachos, Fried Pickles, Popcorn Chicken, and Pretzel Bites.More Places to Watch the GameNot every bar needs a press release to pull a crowd on Sunday, these are the other reliable spots around the DMV to grab a stool and settle in:As You Are – Capitol Hill's queer-owned bar and the Washington Mystics' official home, with women's sports on right alongside NFL SundaysBuena Vida Gastrolounge – Rooftop views and Mexican small plates in ClarendonFranklin Hall – A cavernous U Street beer hall with a 60-foot bar and plenty of room to sprawlHard Rock Cafe – Rock memorabilia and screens galore, steps from the National MallIvy & Coney – Chicago dogs and Detroit coneys in Shaw, with a following among transplanted Bears and Lions fansJake's Tavern – A neighborhood tavern doubling as home base for New England faithful far from FoxboroughJohnny's All American Cafe and Bar – Ohio State-themed game-day energy in Columbia HeightsNellie's Sports Bar – U Street's LGBTQ+ institution, TVs across two floors and a rooftopNick's Riverside Grill – Georgetown waterfront views with the game on and the Potomac right thereOver Under Sports Book Rooftop Lounge – A climate-controlled Mount Vernon Triangle rooftop with 20+ TVs and sound on for the big gamesPenn Social – A massive Penn Quarter hangout with a 22-foot projector screen, arcade games, and pitcher specialsPublic Bar Live – A Dupont Circle Commanders rally spot with 40+ screens and a rooftop that turns up post-gameRustico – Roughly 30 rotating craft taps in Alexandria and Ballston, built for grazing through a full Sunday slateTallboy – Laid-back Shaw bar, cheap beer, no frills, just footballTAP Sports Bar – MGM National Harbor's sportsbook-adjacent bar with dozens of screens and Potomac viewsThe Game Sports Pub – Adams Morgan's late-night option, with drafts, bottles, and whiskeys to spare for West Coast gamesThe Point – A Buzzard Point waterfront spot with a massive patio near Audi Field and Nationals ParkTom's Watch Bar – 120+ screens and three "stadium" screens steps from Capital One Arena in ChinatownUnion Pub – A Capitol Hill go-to and longtime favorite for catching out-of-market NFL gamesUpstate FTW – U Street wings and garbage plates from the Fried Rice Collective, doubling as the neighborhood's Commanders barWalter's Sports Bar – Nearly 40 years in Navy Yard, 30+ TVs inside and out, 24 self-pour tapsWhitlows – See the Wharf write-up aboveYard House – Over 100 taps and wall-to-wall TVs in Chinatown/Penn Quarter, a favorite for out-of-town transplantsHowever you spend your Sundays this fall, beer bucket in hand at a rooftop bar, camped out on your own couch with a Little Engine spread, or elbow-to-elbow at your team's official DC bar, the DMV's got a seat for you. Are you ready for some football? We sure are.

We don't need an excuse to eat pizza, but October gives us one anyway, and we're calling it research. DC has become a legit pizza town, not just a place where you settle for a slice between meetings ... in the last few years there's been a real explosion of offerings, from old-school Italian trattorias to weekend pop-ups slinging pies out of a fryer stand.Whether you like yours by the slice or super soupy, wood-oven fired or peeled into a deck, there's so many ways to get it and get it good in the DC area. Here's where we're getting our 'za fix during National Pizza Month:2 Amys — 3715 Macomb Street NW; Chef-owner Peter Pastan has been running this Cleveland Park mainstay for over two decades, and it's still one of the most beloved Neapolitan-style pizzerias in the DMV, the kind of place regulars have been loyal to since before "Neapolitan" was a buzzword.Alfreda — 2016 P St NW; Chef Russell Blue Smith traded fine dining (he worked his way up to executive chef at The Source by Wolfgang Puck) for New York-style pizza, landing on a sourdough starter crust that gives it a little sweetness and complexity before it hits the brick oven. The restaurant's named for his late grandmother, and even the gluten-free pizza has a personal story — his daughter was diagnosed with celiac. Happy Hour is buy-one-pie-get-one-free with $8 spritzes.All Purpose — Locations vary; Chef Michael Friedman (also behind Red Hen and Aventino) built All Purpose around pizza-focused Italian-American cooking. Worth noting: the Capitol Riverfront location has closed, so Shaw and Bethesda are your spots now.Bar Del Monte — 3054 Mt Pleasant St NW; From the same owners as 2 Amys, headed up by Oliver Pastan, this Mt. Pleasant spot was recently added to the Michelin Guide and serves Neapolitan pizza made with freshly milled flour alongside simple, seasonal Italian plates. AND, no tipping. Boogy & Peel — 1 Dupont Circle NW; Chef Rachael Jennings is behind the "guilty pleasure" pizzas here, the kind that take nostalgic, junk-food-adjacent flavor combos and zhuzh them up into something you'd actually order at a sit-down restaurant.Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana — Alexandria, Bethesda; The New Haven original, dating back to 1925. Known for coal-fired "apizza" and the legendary white clam pie, now with outposts close enough that you don't need a trip up I-95 to get it.Frankly…Pizza! — 10417 Armory Avenue, Kensington, MD; Chef Frank Linn started this as a mobile wood-fired pizza stand before it grew into a real restaurant, and the wood-fired pies still carry that same chef-driven, one-guy-obsessed-with-getting-it-right energy.Fryer's Roadside — (Friday–Sunday pop-up) 12830 New Hampshire Avenue; Owners Ed Reavis and Jennifer Meltzer (also of Money Muscle BBQ) run this fried chicken spot, and their wood-fired pizza leans hard into their barbecue roots, think smoked meats and a house-made sausage topping instead of standard toppings.Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana — 12207 Darnestown Rd; Chef Tony Conte walked away from fine dining to make Neapolitan pizza in Darnestown, and it paid off, he's been a James Beard Award finalist for his work here. Get there early, when they run out of dough the doors close. Il Canale — 1065 31st Street NW; Chef-owner Giuseppe "Joe" Farruggio, a Sicily native, has made this Georgetown spot one of the few in the country accredited by Italy's top pizza-making authority.J&J Pizza — 550 Morse Street NE; Co-founders Julian Addison (pizza) and Jake Endres (wings) split duties, and it shows: 48-hour cold-fermented NYC-style dough with Grande mozzarella and Ezzo pepperoni, plus jumbo wings, inside Crooked Run Fermentation's Union Market taproom.L'Ardente — 200 Massachusetts Avenue NW; Chef David Deshaies, a James Beard semifinalist, cooks glam wood-fired Italian here, and yes, the pizza oven is genuinely gold-plated.La Merna — 2153 P Street NW; Co-founders G. Bradley Shorten (a Chicago native) and Meg Schmitt brought real Chicago tavern-style pizza to Dupont. This is not deep-dish. Ready for a cracker-thin crust, cut into squares, in a wood-paneled, red-vinyl-booth room built to feel like a supper club.Lucy Bar — 1350 Florida Avenue NW; Giulio Adriani, the same 5-time World Champion pizzaiolo behind Slice & Pie, mans the oven here too, turning out authentic Neapolitan pizzas (the Hawaiian's a surprise standout) alongside daily homemade pasta, in the old Pizzeria Vetri space at 14th and Florida.Martha Dear — 3110 Mt Pleasant Street NW; Chef-owner Demetri Mechelis, a Tail Up Goat alum, brings Greek influences to sourdough-crusted pizza that's become one of Mt. Pleasant's hardest reservations to snag.Nick's Riverside Grill — 3050 K Street NW; Less chef-story, more vibe-story,  a casual Georgetown waterfront bar and grill where pizza is just one more reason to stay for the water views and the happy hour crowd.Nighthawk Pizza — 1201 S Joyce Street, Arlington, VA; Launched by Michelin-starred chef Johnny Spero, who's since decamped for a new project out west, but the pizza he set in motion is still going strong, now leaning into hand-tossed pies and thick Detroit-style squares alongside Nighthawk's own house-brewed beer. Piccolina — 963 Palmer Alley NW; Chef Amy Brandwein (of Centrolina) brings her wood-fired, all-day Italian café concept to CityCenterDC and it’s delicious.Pizzeria Paradiso — Dupont, Georgetown, Hyattsville, Spring Valley; Founder Ruth Gresser opened the original Dupont location over 30 years ago and basically helped put gourmet pizza on DC's map before selling the business in 2024 to a longtime employee who worked her way up from dishwasher to co-owner.Pupatella — 1801 18th Street NW; Founder Enzo started this as a food cart in Arlington and grew it into a regional group without cutting a single corner. Pupatella holds actual Verace Pizza Napoletana certification, with dough hand-stretched using the traditional slap technique and cooked in a wood-fired oven built from Vesuvius volcanic brick. $5 Happy Hour at every location except North Arlington.Slice & Pie —Multiple locations, Founder Giulio Adriani, a master pizzaiolo, has built this into a NY-and-Detroit-style slice shop good enough to be ranked the country's #2 slice shop by Italian pizza authority 50 Top Pizza.Slice Joint — 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue SE; Chef-owner Rachael Marie earned her "Pizza Regina" stripes during four years at Roberta's in Brooklyn, and now she's slinging NY and square slices at The Roost food hall on Barracks Row.Stellina Pizzeria — Multiple locations, Chef and co-owner Matteo Venini, alongside partner Antonio Matarazzo, developed a signature "Neo-Neapolitan" dough — lighter and crispier than the classic — inspired by southern Italy's street food culture.Timber Pizza Co. — 809 Upshur Street NW; Started out of a pickup truck back in 2014; today owner Luke Watson and head chef Dani Moreira keep the wood-fired pies going strong in Petworth, plus mobile ovens that show up at farmers markets and breweries around the DMV.But Wait There’s More:Coming Soon: Bizzeria — Georgetown; opening this fall; Albi chef Michael Rafidi is spinning off Yellow's cult-favorite "(not) pizza" into its own restaurant. A 48-hour fermented sourdough crust and housemade cheese from pastry chef Alicia Wang, topped with Levantine flavors like spiced lamb and peppers or burnt eggplant with urfa chili crisp.That's the whole spread — from a $5 happy hour slice to a gold-plated oven, DC's not lacking for ways to celebrate Pizza Month. Want me to turn this into a doc so it's easy to edit and hand off?

Still feeling that last weekend of Summer? The DMV certainly is. Farmers’ markets are still overflowing, chefs are loading menus with peak-season produce, grills are firing up, and suddenly every meal feels like a good excuse to stay out a little longer. This is the season!  Tomato salads that actually taste like tomatoes, sweet corn in everything, berries on the menu and long lunches that somehow turn into dinner. No judgement. Honestly, this is one of the best times of year to eat around the region.Here at TheListAreYouOnIt.com, we’ve rounded up the can’t-miss bites, menu changes and dining experiences to help you eat your way through summer in the DMV.- Make a night of it with a show + a great pre or post-theatre meal with our theatre + dining guide here- This week’s list of The List’s favorite beverages is right here- From festivals and pop-ups to patio parties, restaurant events, and summer food happenings around the region, we’ve got those covered here- Looking for outdoor dining? Check out our Patio Pleasures + Up On The Roof roundups featuring patios, rooftops, courtyards & outdoor dining spots all across the DMV.So much more summer deliciousness below:MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Bastille 20th Anniversary: Bastille is marking its 20th anniversary throughout September with a series of food and wine specials celebrating two decades in Alexandria. Highlights the monthlong 20.06 List featuring rotating bottles of wine for $20.06; and Cake + Bubbles on September 19, when dinner guests will receive a celebratory treat and bubbles. Guests who purchase $100 in gift certificates during September will also receive a $20 anniversary bonus; bastillerestaurant.comNepali Flood Relief: U Street’s Kathmandu is supporting Nepal flood relief throughout September, donating 20% of net proceeds through September 30 to the Prime Minister Flood Relief Fund, with a minimum commitment of $5,000.00. The restaurant will also join the Nepal Flood Relief Fundraising Masterclass Dinner on September 13 at Masti Restaurant in Reston Town Center, serving cocktails alongside a lineup of DMV Nepali chefs and restaurants. The benefit dinner will showcase regional Nepali dishes inspired by areas affected by the floods, with 100% of dinner proceeds donated to Nepal flood relief; kathmandu-dc.sitePro-Choice & Pro-Carbs: Baker Jill Nguyen is bringing together some of D.C.’s beloved bakers for a day-long bake sale at Maketto on September 20, with 100% of proceeds benefiting the DC Abortion Fund (DCAF). Split into morning and afternoon sessions, the fundraiser will feature baked goods from local cookbook authors, recipe developers, and bakery veterans, along with music, coffee, drinks, raffle prizes, silent auctions, family-friendly activities, and exclusive merchandise. Ticket and bake sale proceeds will support DCAF’s work providing financial assistance to people seeking abortion care; dcabortionfund.orgMallard Southern Truffle Dinner: Mallard’s Supper Series returns September 24 at 7:00 p.m. with a communal Southern Truffle Dinner from Chef Hamilton Johnson. The 4-course menu incorporates black truffles throughout, from an Awendaw Soufflé with Maryland crab hollandaise and potato-crusted scallops to spiced duck breast and Sour Cream Apple Pie with black truffle ice cream. The evening begins with a Barolo Black Manhattan from Spirits Director Nick Farrell and is priced at $135.00 per guest, with optional wine pairings available for $55.00; mallarddc.comTaste America: The James Beard Foundation’s Taste America series returns on October 5 at 7:00 p.m. at The LINE DC for an intimate multi-course dinner celebrating the city’s culinary community. The evening brings together TasteTwenty chef Christian Irabién of Amparo Fondita, Julie Cortes of Kayu, and James Beard Award nominees Danny Lee and Scott Drewno of The LINE DC and Fried Rice Collective, with wine pairings accompanying the collaborative menu. Tickets are $200.00 per person, and the event is open to guests 21 and older; jamesbeard.org/events/taste-america-washington-dc9th Annual Bambathon: Taco Bamba’s 9th Annual Bambathon returns October 6, challenging all 16 locations to race to sell 1,000 tacos while supporting Smile on the World. Taco Bamba will donate $1.00 from every taco sold, up to $1,000.00 per location, to the nonprofit co-founded by Chef Victor Albisu, which provides aid and medical care to underserved communities. Bambanation members who purchase a taco that day will also receive a reward for a free taco, redeemable within the following week; tacobamba.com Yottem Ottolenghi at Sixth & I: Celebrated chef and author Yotam Ottolenghi will appear at Sixth & I on October 8 at 7:00 p.m., discussing his latest cookbook Simple Too. In conversation, Ottolenghi will explore his philosophy of bold, approachable cooking and share recipes designed to make flavorful meals feel effortless; sixthandi.orgSnallygaster: The District's beloved craft beer festival returns October 10, taking over 4 blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue NW with 450+ beers from 175 breweries around the world. Along with rare pours and appearances by renowned brewers, guests can enjoy cider, wine, cocktails, live music, food from 25+ vendors, a Shop Made in DC makers market, games, and family-friendly activities. Tickets go on sale July 7 at 10:00 a.m., with proceeds supporting Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture and its mission to build a more equitable regional food system; snallygasterdc.comOyster Wars: Oyster Wars returns Sunday, October 11, bringing together oyster farmers, acclaimed chefs, and seafood lovers for an afternoon celebrating East Coast oyster culture. Guests can taste freshly shucked oysters from 10 farms spanning Maryland, Virginia, Rhode Island, and Maine, alongside dishes from chefs including Kyle Bailey, Gabe Erales, Manuel Perez, Seng Luangrath, Reid Shilling, and more. VIP entry begins at 2:00 p.m., with general admission from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., and a portion of ticket proceeds will benefit the Oyster Recovery Partnership and its Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. Early Bird tickets are $90.00 for VIP and $70.00 for general admission; thesaltline.comSHUCK IT! Oyster Festival: The 13th Annual Georgetown Shuck It! Oyster & Beer Festival returns on Saturday, October 17, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Tony & Joe's Seafood Place in Georgetown. Guests 21+ can enjoy all the local oysters and local beer they can handle, plus live music from Johnny Spanninato & The Value Leaders and The Yachtsmen, all while supporting the Oyster Recovery Partnership and its efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay's native oyster population; georgetowndc.com/event/shuck-it-beer-and-oyster-festival/Chefs for Equality: One of DC's premier culinary fundraisers returns October 19 with this year's "United Plates of America" theme, bringing together top local chefs, mixologists, and restaurateurs for collaborative dinners benefiting the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Hosted across six venues, the event features chef-driven dinners, cocktail pairings, and a new dedicated cocktail experience at Silver Lyan. Tickets are on sale now; chefsforequality.org NEW & NOTEWORTHY: (Yom Kipppur Alert) SABABA: SABABA will celebrate Yom Kippur with menu specials for guests who dine in on Monday, September 21st and Tuesday, September 22nd. Highlights include Hummus Sabich Salad, Heirloom Carrots Al’ Haesh, Braised Brisket, and more. For reservations call 202.244.6750.Doughnuts x Fried Chicken & Now, Burritos: Astro’s downtown DC location has launched a new lineup of hand-rolled, griddled-to-order burritos inspired by Chef Gerardo Castillo’s hometown of Guerrero, Mexico, and his family. Breakfast options include the Breakfast Burrito and Sunrise Burrito, while lunch and dinner bring the Super Burrito and Taco Salad, with burritos also available as bowls. The Shirlington location is set to add the offerings later this month; astrodoughnuts.com Late-Night Burger Crave: Chefs Matt Conroy and Jason Chavenson have added a new late-night burger, inspired by a BLT and made with 2 dry-aged Roseda beef patties, smoked bacon, jalapeño relish, heirloom tomato, and a Manifest Bakery bun. Only 10 burgers are available each night, served Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 10:00 to 11:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 p.m. to midnight; maisondc.com(Hispanic Heritage Month Alert) Upside on Moore: From September 15 through October 15, guests can celebrate with limited-time dishes highlighting Mexican and Salvadoran flavors. La Michoacana will offer Huitlacoche Quesadillas with queso fresco, sour cream, pumpkin seeds, pico de gallo, and guacamole, while Lili’s will serve handmade Pupusas filled with refried beans and cheese and accompanied by curtido and tomato sauce. Both are available for dine-in and takeout; upsideonmoore.comFlower to Flour: Bluepoint Hospitality has opened The Flour Shop in a restored former flower shop in downtown Easton, bringing fresh-baked breads, pastries, cakes, and artisanal provisions to the historic space. Led by Executive Pastry Chef and Chocolatier Sarah Deale and Head Baker John Aversa, the bakery produces sourdough, focaccia, ciabatta, baguettes, rye, pumpernickel, Friday challah, and rotating bread specials daily using organic flours. Pastries and sweets include canelé, maritozzi, galettes, tea and bundt cakes, and pistachio cake, alongside packaged butter and other provisions; bluepointhospitality.com  (Collab Alert) Astro Doughnuts x Cane: Astro is teaming up with local restaurants Cane, Purple Patch, and Caruso’s Grocery for a fall doughnut collaboration series benefiting local charities. First up is Cane’s Rum Cake Doughnut ($5.50), available throughout September and inspired by owner Jeanine Prime’s Trinidadian heritage with dark rum, coconut, nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove. A portion of proceeds will benefit Sister Mentors, with the doughnut available at Astro and at Cane on weekends throughout the month.; astrodoughnuts.com(Chef-Made) Freezer-to-Oven Dinners: Chef Jenn Crovato is launching Sunday Suppers, a new freezer-to-oven family dinner series available for pickup during Sunday brunch beginning September 13. An extension of her Jenn’s Homemade prepared entrée line, the rotating weekly menu will feature meals serving four, starting with Norwegian Salmon and Grilled Corn Salad ($104.00), followed by Wagyu Flat Iron with sides ($340.00) and Roasted Chicken Breast with Broccolini and Pesto Pasta ($96.00). Orders must be placed at least 24 hours in advance and picked up by 4:00 p.m. on Sundays.; 1310kitchendc.comBrunch, Italian Style (Brunch Alert): Saturday brunch is back at Sfoglina Rosslyn, the neighborhood pasta house rooted in Italian tradition and dedicated to the art and soul of handmade pasta. From 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., guests can enjoy $25.00 bottomless Bellinis or Roman Mary cocktails alongside a 3-course menu featuring Sfoglina Deviled Eggs, Cacio e Pepe Omelet, and Neapolitan Shakshuka. The day continues with happy hour starting at 3:00 p.m., featuring $7.00 glasses of wine, $8.00 spritzes, and $9.00 martinis; In addition, the downtown location of the pasta house has reopened following a brief summer closure for extensive renovations.  sfoglinapasta.com  Oysters Raise Funds: Clyde’s Restaurant Group is partnering with Pangea Shellfish Company to support the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, with $4.00 from every bag of oysters sold donated to pediatric cancer research. Participating restaurants include Cordelia Fishbar, Rye Street Tavern, Old Ebbitt Grill, and all Clyde’s locations; clydes.com NOT NEW, BUT NOTEWORTHY:Wellness Arrived: Miami-born wellness café Pura Vida Miami has opened its first location in DC in Logan Circle, marking the brand’s 3rd DMV location and 55th nationwide. The café offers Pura Vida’s full all-day menu of breakfast, wraps, bowls, salads, sandwiches, high-protein plates, smoothies, coffee, matcha, and seasonal specialties, with both indoor and outdoor seating. Designed as a neighborhood gathering space with the brand’s signature airy, greenery-filled aesthetic, the Logan Circle outpost is open Monday through Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; puravidamiami.comKareem’s Kitchen Lands: Kareem’s Lebanese Kitchen will open its 1st Maryland location at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg on August 24, bringing the Eido family’s generations-old Lebanese cooking traditions to the area. Led by 3rd-generation Chef Rachid Eido, whose background includes the Four Seasons and restaurants throughout the Washington region, the menu features handmade mezze, shawarma, fresh-baked pita, Farrouj, slow-cooked Lamb Mouzat, and other family recipes, plus a Maryland-inspired crab hummus created for the new location. Kareem’s first opened in Naples, Florida, in 2018, and its Maryland debut brings Eido back to a region where he built much of his culinary career. An official ribbon cutting with tastings, restaurant tours, and a chance to meet the family will take place September 1 at 11:00 a.m.; kareemskitchen.comNew from Elli Benchimol: Restaurateur and Advanced Sommelier Elli Benchimol, owner of Georgetown’s Apéro and La Bohème, will open Ellizabetta La Strega on September 9 in the former Marcel’s space in Foggy Bottom-West End. Led by Chef Jennifer Castaneda-Jones and Chef de Cuisine Stephen Jones, both Marcel’s alumni, the Italian restaurant will feature shareable plates, house-made pastas like Meyer Lemon Tagliatelle with caviar, and larger dishes including Crispy Berkshire Porchetta, Whole-Roasted Branzino, and Ribeye for Two. The 170-seat restaurant will shift throughout the day from lunch to The Witching Hour, an Italian-inspired aperitivo featuring spritzes, seasonal cocktails, and cicchetti, before transitioning to dinner. An Italian-forward wine program, mystical design touches, patio, and private dining room round out the new concept; ellizabetta.comWalter Reed Gets a Slice: Pizza master Giulio Adriani has opened Slice & Pie’s 4th and largest location at The Parks at Walter Reed, serving the shop’s full menu of New York and Detroit-style pizzas alongside meatballs, garlic knots, and specialty sandwiches. The new location officially celebrates its grand opening September 8 at 3:00 p.m., when the first 100 guests will receive a free cheese or pepperoni slice. Slice & Pie has been ranked the #2 slice shop in the U.S. by 50 Top Pizza for 3 consecutive years, with favorites including the Burrata Pie and Classic Detroit-Style Pie; sliceandpie.comNew in the Palisades: Hospitality veterans Prady Rana and Bhakti More will open N.H. 48 Indian Kitchen in DC’s Palisades neighborhood on September 3, bringing the regional flavors of India to MacArthur Boulevard. Named for National Highway 48, the route connecting Delhi and Mumbai, the restaurant draws inspiration from the home cooking, regional cuisines, and roadside dishes found along the journey; nh48restaurant.comThe Ice Cream Flavors of Fall: Jeni’s is leaning into fall with a new collection of seasonal flavors, available at scoop shops across the DMV. The lineup includes Hazelnut Stracciatella, Miso Butterscotch Brownie, Pumpkin with Brown Sugar Blondies, and the scoop shop-exclusive Pear Frangipane, featuring crisp pear and almond ice cream; jenis.comManagement Update: One Washington Circle has appointed Stacy Smith as General Manager, bringing more than 30 years of hospitality leadership experience to the newly rebranded West End hotel. A longtime leader in DC’s hospitality community, Smith has served on the executive boards of the Hotel Association of Washington, DC and Destination DC, including as Chair of the Destination DC Board, and founded the City Partner Pathways Apprenticeship Program. In her new role, she will oversee the hotel’s next chapter, including its refreshed guest experience and signature restaurant and bar, Ten Ten West End; hilton.com/en/hotels/wasnwup-one-washington-circle-dcSweet Smell of Success: Chef de Cuisine Bruno Enciso has introduced sweet vernal grass to Lutèce following an intensive program at Maison Sota in Paris. The team hangs the grass in the dining room to dry before using it as a smoking tool for the tomato consommé in its Melon & Sungold dish with anise hyssop. According to the restaurant, Lutèce is currently the only DC restaurant using the plant in its cooking; lutecedc.comSpicy Schmears: H&H Bagels is adding 2 limited-time Jalapeño Popper offerings for football season, including a cream cheese with pickled jalapeños, bacon, and cheddar and an egg sandwich layered with the same flavors, available September 10 through 30. For the High Holidays, H&H is also offering discounted Bagel Bundles September 10 through 21, pairing a dozen bagels with options like spreads, house-made salads, or nova smoked salmon at a 10% savings; hhbagels.comWorth the Trip: America's longest-running soda fountain has officially reopened following a 4-year restoration of its historic Fredericksburg home. Dating back to 1869, the beloved landmark returns with its restored lunch counter, classic soda fountain favorites, nostalgic sandwiches, hand-mixed sodas, and milkshakes, while Executive Chef D'Andre Sykes brings a fresh perspective to the kitchen. The revitalized space also features local artisan goods, with a new downstairs concept, Section 7, set to open later this year; goolricksfxbg.comA Little Birdie Told Me (Brunch Alert): Weekend brunch is on at Little Birdie every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with playful twists on brunch classics. Highlights include Cacio e Pepe Biscuits ’N’ Gravy, Honey Butter Chicken with johnny cakes, lemon custard-filled Sourdough French Toast, the brisket-topped Birds Nest, and a BLT Benny with dill hollandaise; littlebirdieva.comIt’s a Bargain?: Chef Ryan Ratino and Hive Hospitality’s new steakhouse is now DC’s only certified Kobe Beef restaurant and one of a select number in the country. To celebrate, guests can experience premium Kobe Beef from Japan for $35.00 per ounce, a significant drop from the $100.00+ price often seen elsewhere; oxandolive.comPower Lunch (Lunch Alert): Restaurateur Ashok Bajaj and Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Cardona have introduced weekday lunch at Rosselli, bringing a refined Italian midday menu to downtown DC. Served Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the new offering features house-made pastas, antipasti, panini, and seasonal entrées, with highlights including the Tenderloin & Caramelized Onion Panino, Linguine alle Vongole, Rigatoni al Forno, and Burrata Pugliese. Paired with Italian wines by the glass, the new lunch service is designed for everything from business meetings to leisurely afternoons; rossellidc.com

Behind the Counter is where Nycci Nellis sits down with the chefs, sommeliers, bartenders, and hospitality leaders who make this town's food and drink scene what it is, the people doing the real work long before you ever pull up a chair. This time, we're talking fire, family, and the untold stories of Argentine cuisine with Chef Manuela Carbone.I met Manuela when Alex Resnik and Renato "Tato" Giovannoni were getting ready to open Brasero Atlántico in Georgetown, and I was immediately impressed by the way she took command of live fire cooking. There's a particular kind of confidence it takes to stand in front of an open flame and make it do exactly what you want it to, and Manuela has it in spades.also if you haven’t had her black bread … well … I don’t know what to say other than it is my kryptonite.Born in Buenos Aires, Chef Manuela Carbone is a globally trained culinary leader now serving as Executive Chef at Brasero Atlántico in Georgetown. She trained at Gato Dumas Colegio de Gastronomía and El Obrador Culinary School, then honed her craft in some of the best kitchens in the world —> COI in San Francisco, Chila in Buenos Aires, and Ekstedt in Stockholm and rising to Senior Sous Chef and representing Argentina on its 2019 Bocuse d'Or team, where she earned Best Commis Chef of the Americas. Fluent in English, Swedish, and Italian, she's since held executive chef roles at Canta Lola, SushiClub Brickell, Hideaway, and Fisher's, blending Nordic, Mexican, and global influences into bold, seasonally driven menus. She brings a rare mix of technical precision, creative vision, sustainability-minded thinking, and multicultural fluency to every kitchen she leads  and at Brasero, it all comes together over the fire.More Than Steak: Brasero's Executive Chef on the Untold Stories of Argentine Cuisine NN: What is something people underestimate about Argentine cuisine that you'd like to challenge through your leadership at Brasero? MC: I think people often see Argentine cuisine as only steak and asado, when in reality there is so much more to it, and so much more culture involved in the everyday food. Beef and parrilla are, of course, a big part of the country's identity, but Argentine cooking has developed so much further because of our history and our connections to other countries and cultures. At Brasero, I try to challenge this perception by always showing something more. We work with a lot of fire at the restaurant, but there are many more stories to tell through other products, not just beef, but pasta, vegetables, empanadas, sauces, and desserts (and not only dulce de leche, I promise). My goal is always for guests to understand the whole culture, not just think of us as a steakhouse.Waves of Spanish, Italian, and other Latin American immigration shaped Buenos Aires itself.  NN: How consciously are you tracing that lineage on the menu, versus just cooking the food you grew up with? How much does that specific, layered urban identity, versus a more general "Argentine" idea, inform how you think about the menu? MC: I think it's more natural than conscious. Buenos Aires is a city where all cultures meet and live together, generation after generation, and that influence is everywhere: in how people cook and eat, and in how they work and live. Some influences are stronger, like the Italian and Spanish, but I think they simply became part of the Argentine way. All those layers of culture and history mix together, and that's how we think about Brasero. It's not about recreating dishes, but about using history as a foundation to cook from, respecting the techniques and products they came from while evolving them into our own way. NN: Dishes like tortilla de papas or flan speak to the communities that shaped Argentina over generations. How do you decide which immigrant traditions to spotlight, and which to leave out? MC: For me it isn't about choosing what to spotlight and what to leave out, but about showing what we feel most represented by, and what surrounds us in everyday life. We've absorbed so much from different cultures and influences that it would be nearly impossible to capture everything in one menu. Instead, we focus on the traditions that show our identity and have stayed with us from earlier influences. Tortilla, flan, pasta, empanadas: all of these have roots elsewhere, but Argentines have made them their own. That transformation is what interests me most, and it's what we highlight at Brasero: everything that becomes a part of who we are.  NN: The king crab empanadas are described as a nod to a time when the ingredient was an everyday staple in coastal communities, not a luxury item. How much of your menu is built around reclaiming foods that were once humble, working-class, or regional, now told through a different lens? MC: A lot of our menu is built this way. Many ingredients we now consider luxurious or rare have very humble origins, and there's something beautiful in highlighting that. The king crab empanada is the perfect example. It's a wonderful representation of Argentina's coastal region, and we simply adapt it here to our needs and tastes. It also takes extra work on our end to bring out the finesse in these ingredients, elevating something everyday and giving it new meaning. NN: As executive chef, how do you balance honoring the specific culinary history behind a dish with adapting it for a Washington, D.C. audience that may not know that history at all? MC: Here in Washington, D.C., we try to find the soul of each product, represent where it comes from, and make it meaningful for our guests. Even if they don't know our history, they can still taste the storytelling behind it. DC has so much culinary diversity, so we try to make our food approachable. We refine our presentation and work with ingredients available here, while staying true to our flavors and techniques. NN: Is there a dish you'd consider the clearest expression of Argentina as a country built by immigrants, and what does it mean to you personally to put it on this menu? MC: It’s very difficult to choose just one dish or product, but I think empanadas are probably the clearest expression of this idea. The influences behind empanadas came from many different countries, and almost every country has its own version, but Argentina developed its own regional styles, fillings, and techniques. Every family, every house, every region and province has its own way of making them, right down to how they're folded. I think that's what makes them so meaningful. For me, this represents the idea of taking on influences and making them truly your own. That's what I want Brasero to represent: a cuisine that respects its roots but continues to evolve. We don't recreate the past. We give it the importance it deserves. Talking to Manuela, it's easy to see why Brasero Atlántico has become one of the restaurants everyone in this town is talking about. She's not interested in cooking asado and calling it a day, she wants every plate to carry a piece of Argentina's story forward, and that kind of intention is rare. Next time you're at Brasero, skip past the steakhouse assumptions. Order the empanadas. Ask about the fire. And say hello to the chef who's clearly still just getting started.

Summer drinking season in the DMV looks a little different than the rest of the year - and no matter what the calendar says, we are still here for it all. Wine lists get lighter and colder, spritzes return to every cocktail menu in town, frozen drinks make their comeback, and bartenders start leaning into seasonal ingredients like berries and herbs and tomatoes from local farms. Even beer gardens and breweries shift into warm-weather mode with seasonal pours and outdoor events.Here at TheListAreYouOnIt.com, we’ve rounded up all the can’t-miss cocktails, happy hours and summer sipping events happening around the DMV right now.- Make a night of it with a show + a great pre or post-theatre cocktail or dinner with our theatre + dining guide (here)- This week’s list of The List’s favorite food finds is right here- From cocktail pop-ups and wine tastings to brewery events + summer beverage happenings around the region, we’ve got those covered here- Looking for outdoor sipping season? Check out our Patio Pleasures + Up On The Roof roundups featuring patios, rooftops, courtyards & outdoor cocktail spots all across the DMV.So much more glass-raising goodness below:MARK YOUR CALENDAR Rustico Oktoberfest: Rustico is transforming its bar and patio into a Bavarian-inspired beer hall and garden for Oktoberfest on September 19 from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. The free celebration will feature 8 rare and seasonal Märzens, Festbiers, and other German-style brews, plus live Oompah music from The Alpine Players from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and the annual stein-hoisting contest. Bavarian-inspired food specials include beer bratwurst, pork schnitzel, jumbo pretzels with beer cheese, käsespätzle, sauerbraten, and Black Forest cake, with more available à la carte; rusticorestaurant.com2nd Annual Café Diem: The second annual Annapolis Coffee Crawl returns September 27 through October 4, bringing together more than 30 cafés, bakeries, restaurants, and bars for 8 days of coffee-themed offerings around National Coffee Day. Atlas Restaurant Group spots The Admirals Cup, Marmo, and The Choptank will join the citywide celebration with nighttime coffee cocktails, while guests can use a free digital pass to explore participating locations throughout the crawl; visitannapolis.orgSnallygaster: The District's beloved craft beer festival returns October 10, taking over 4 blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue NW with 450+ beers from 175 breweries around the world. Along with rare pours and appearances by renowned brewers, guests can enjoy cider, wine, cocktails, live music, food from 25+ vendors, a Shop Made in DC makers market, games, and family-friendly activities. Tickets go on sale July 7 at 10:00 a.m., with proceeds supporting Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture and its mission to build a more equitable regional food system; snallygasterdc.comOyster Wars: Oyster Wars returns Sunday, October 11, bringing together oyster farmers, acclaimed chefs, and seafood lovers for an afternoon celebrating East Coast oyster culture. Guests can taste freshly shucked oysters from 10 farms spanning Maryland, Virginia, Rhode Island, and Maine, alongside dishes from chefs including Kyle Bailey, Gabe Erales, Manuel Perez, Seng Luangrath, Reid Shilling, and more. VIP entry begins at 2:00 p.m., with general admission from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., and a portion of ticket proceeds will benefit the Oyster Recovery Partnership and its Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. Early Bird tickets are $90.00 for VIP and $70.00 for general admission; thesaltline.comChefs for Equality: One of DC's premier culinary fundraisers returns October 19 with this year's "United Plates of America" theme, bringing together top local chefs, mixologists, and restaurateurs for collaborative dinners benefiting the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Hosted across six venues, the event features chef-driven dinners, cocktail pairings, and a new dedicated cocktail experience at Silver Lyan. Tickets are on sale now; chefsforequality.org NEW & NOTEWORTHY: Yes, We Like Coladas: Fall Edition: Colada Shop is welcoming fall with a limited-time menu blending Cuban flavors with seasonal favorites. New sips include the Plantain Spiced Latte, Churro Café con Leche, Banana Espresso Martini, and playful Cuban Sandwich Martini, while the food lineup features Mushroom Croquetas, Plantain Soup, Pastelón “Cuban Lasagna,” Calabaza Muffin, and Flan de Coco. The fall menu is available now at all Colada Shop locations while supplies last; coladashop.com Benjamin Leroux Volnay 2017, Anyone?: Advanced Sommelier Chris Ray is making rare, high-level wines more accessible at the Georgetown neo-bistro by opening special cellar selections typically offered only by the bottle. Recent pours have included Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé from magnum for $35.00 a glass and Benjamin Leroux Volnay 2017 for $45.00 a glass, with additional cellar selections pulled semi-weekly on weekdays; lutecedc.com 2026 Is Going To Be An Exceptional Year for Champagne: Following the earliest harvest ever recorded in Champagne, the Comité Champagne is reporting an encouraging outlook for the 2026 vintage. Despite historic spring frosts, drought, and 5 summer heatwaves, grapes arrived healthy, ripe, and well-balanced, with notable freshness, concentration, fruit intensity, and finesse. While it is still too early to assess the finished wines, the organization says the harvest has the potential to produce great, and potentially very great, Champagnes, with the raw material’s balance recalling historic vintages including 1921, 1947, and 1959; champagne.fr Arak Lovers, Take Note: NAJA is celebrating its 1st anniversary on September 22 with a new beverage program inspired by founder Tariq Alaeddin’s family, childhood, and Middle Eastern heritage. New cocktails include the Banana Habibi with aged rum, banana, date syrup, and tahini orgeat and the Beirut to Manhattan with rye, fig leaf vermouth, walnut liqueur, and baharat bitters. The menu also introduces Sifr, a zero-proof program with an equal number of non-alcoholic and alcoholic cocktails, plus a new tableside arak service featuring selections from Lebanon alongside Turkish raki; najamediterranean.com Penn State Class on Wine: Penn State Extension is offering “Winemaking Basics: The Art and Science Behind Quality Production,” a new self-paced online course for beginning winemakers, grape growers, and winery staff. The approximately 8-hour course covers fermentation, wine chemistry, red and white wine processing, filtration, sanitation, bottling, sensory evaluation, and preventing common wine faults, with a certificate available upon successful completion. Registration is $314.25, with a 25% discount for those who register before January 2027, and the course can also count toward Penn State’s Food Science Certificate Program; extension.psu.eduA Beautiful Australian Wine Passport: Beauty is bringing 6 weeks of Austrian wine, tastings, travel stories, and interactive programming to National Landing from September 4 through October 16. Inspired by owner Zena Polin’s recent wine trip to Austria, the celebration kicks off with a tasting featuring Austrian wine importer and expert Klaus Wittauer, along with the launch of the Beauty Austrian Wine Passport. Throughout the promotion, guests can earn entries toward a magnum of Weingut Steininger sparkling wine by tasting and purchasing Austrian wines, attending events, listening to Austrian-focused episodes of Beauty’s When You Just Want a Glass of Wine podcast, and more. September’s Bellezza Wine Club will also spotlight bottles selected during Polin’s trip, giving guests a deeper look at Austrian grapes, winemakers, and regions; beautychampagneandsugar.comNo PSL Here: The Fountain Inn is welcoming fall with a new cocktail menu pairing classic techniques with stories inspired by Washington, D.C. Highlights include the Rebellious Old Fashioned infused with baking spices and a choice of whiskey, the Vanilla Beane Highball with vodka cream soda and strawberry coconut foam, and the Sam “The Man” Burns Grasshopper Ramos with crème de cacao, crème de menthe, whipping cream, and egg white; fountaininndc.comSounds Disgusting: La Merna’s smoky Coffee & Cigarettes cocktail offers a playful finish to dinner, combining smoked amaro, espresso, and nutmeg. Inspired by nights spent in Chicago taverns and Roman terrazze, the drink is even served with a cigarette to enjoy on the walk home; lamernadc.comNational Bourbon Heritage Month at Jack Rose Dining Saloon: Jack Rose is celebrating National Bourbon Heritage Month throughout September with a month of tastings, cocktail specials, bourbon-infused dishes, and special events. Guests can sip rotating $12.00 bourbon cocktails, including an Old Fashioned, Bourbon Espresso Martini, and Milk Punch, alongside complimentary Monday tastings and dishes like Whiskey Wings and Bourbon Glazed Pork Belly. Special events include a September 13 summer releases tasting, Brunch with Jim Beam Master Distiller Fred Noe on September 20, and a Vintage Bourbon Tasting on September 27 featuring bottles from the 1970s and ’80s; jackrosediningsaloon.comA Little Bit Will Do Ya: A new subterranean cocktail den has opened beneath Barrel on Capitol Hill, bringing an intimate 32-seat bar and cocktail program from lead bartender Decker Beasley, formerly of Service Bar and Bresca. The menu pairs personal, inventive drinks like the Garden Girls with gin, honeydew, lime, and chamomile ash salt and Skipping School with aged rum, mezcal, cornbread honey, and citrus-milk punch, alongside classics and a customizable tableside Martini Service. Guests can also order from Barrel’s extensive whiskey collection and snack on Charcuterie and Biscuits, Grilled Cheese, Tinned Fish, and Shrimp Ceviche; thebitdc.comProst! Oktoberfest Alert: Prost kicks off more than 2 weeks of Oktoberfest festivities on September 19 with a traditional wooden keg tapping, complimentary beer while the keg lasts, Bundesliga Brunch, and plenty of lederhosen and dirndls. Celebrations continue through October 4 with Oktoberfest trivia, Puptoberfest, stein-hoisting competitions, German beer and cocktail takeovers, live music, weekend brunches, giveaways, and more. Guests can also catch special pours from Paulaner, Weihenstephaner, Hacker-Pschorr, and B. United throughout the celebration; prostdc.com; Click here to view our calendar for more information on specific events.Winetoberfest: Lulu’s Winegarden is welcoming fall with the return of Winetoberfest from September 18 through November 8, transforming its indoor and outdoor spaces with grape vines, gourds, harvest baskets, and amber-hued foliage. The seasonal pop-up pairs the décor with German, Austrian, and Alsatian wines, cowboy boots filled with Festbier, and fall cocktails like pumpkin pie Negronis, apple cider margaritas, and Concord grape spritzes. The festivities also include a CRUSH walkaround tasting on September 20, featuring unlimited tastes of 25+ fall wines, all-you-can-eat breakfast tacos, and discounted take-home bottles for $55.00 per person, with sessions at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m.; luluswinegarden.comOktoberfest Starts in September: Atlas Brew Works is celebrating the release of its seasonal Festbier with 3 days of Oktoberfest festivities across its DMV taprooms September 10–12. The celebrations kick off at Atlas Navy Yard on September 10, followed by Atlas Alexandria on September 11 and Atlas Bridge District on September 12, with $5.00 Festbier pints, $9.99 6-packs, discounted beer, live Oompah bands, and limited-edition Festbier steins. Bridge District will also serve a special Oktoberfest menu featuring brats, sauerkraut, and giant pretzels. The 6.1% ABV Festbier, a lighter and hoppier take on a traditional Oktoberfest beer, is also available at all three taprooms; atlasbrewworks.comNOT NEW, BUT NOTEWORTHY: Raise a Glass of Bourbon: The Fountain Inn is celebrating National Bourbon Heritage Month throughout September with special bourbon-focused offerings. Sip the Dirty Bourbon Pumpkin Spice Latte ($19.00) or bring the celebration home with Provenance at Home ($150.00), featuring 2 Fountain Inn single-barrel bourbon selections and a Glencairn glass.; fountaininndc.comA Manhattan with a Pittsburgh Twist: Pittsburgh-based Wigle Whiskey has released a ready-to-serve Manhattan that brings Pennsylvania rye back to the classic cocktail historically built around the regional whiskey style. The bottled cocktail combines Wigle’s Pennsylvania rye with Little City Sweet Vermouth, a New York-made vermouth crafted with 53 botanicals, and can be served simply over ice with a cherry. At 34% ABV, the 750 ml bottle is priced at $35.00 and features notes of cherry, bitters, and charred orange. It is available at Wigle’s Pittsburgh locations and online for shipping within Pennsylvania and DC; wiglewhiskey.comScene and Be Seen: Chef Michael Mina’s flagship restaurant inside the Four Seasons Hotel Washington DC has unveiled its newly redesigned Bourbon Lounge, marking the restaurant’s first major renovation since opening in 2008. Inspired by Georgetown’s historic residential salons, the new standalone lounge pairs an intimate setting with inventive cocktails like the Bourbon Steak Rob Roy and Capital City Margarita and elevated bar fare including Mina’s signature Bone Marrow Burger, truffle popcorn, Wagyu skewers, and lamb kafta “pops”; fourseasons.comBarrel of Fun: Capitol Hill’s longtime whiskey bar has refreshed its cocktail and food menus, putting a new spin on classics while staying rooted in its whiskey and bourbon expertise. New drinks include the Brown Butter Old Fashioned, Black Manhattan, Freezer Martini, and tiki-inspired Port Light, alongside updated food offerings like Biscuits and Charcuterie, a Fried Cod Sandwich, and new bar snacks. Happy hour runs Monday through Thursday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Friday beginning at 2:00 p.m., with discounted Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, whiskey, beer, wine, and bites. The weeknight lineup also brings $10.00 Mystery Happy Meals every Monday, featuring a surprise beer, shot, and toy, plus rotating cocktail specials throughout the week; barreldc.comGet a Clue: McClellan’s Retreat is leaning into nostalgia with a limited-time Clue-inspired cocktail menu available throughout September and October, with drinks referencing characters and game pieces from the classic mystery. On October 18, the bar will host a free Clue movie watch party, with doors at 3:00 p.m. and the film beginning at 4:00 p.m. The menu also features the savory Wadsworth, made with tequila, mezcal, dry vermouth, house-made tomato cheong, and house brine, with $1.00 from every Wadsworth sold donated to PBS in honor of Tim Curry; mcclellansretreat.comSake Club at Perry’s: Perry’s latest Sake Club release explores “Effervescent, Unfiltered, & Unpasteurized: The Dynamic Side of Ginjo.” Curated by James Beard Award-winning Chef Masako Morishita and sake expert Devin Sparks, the $98.00 collection includes two 720ml bottles showcasing distinctive ginjo styles, with a premium sparkling nigori available as a $72.00 add-on. Members also receive 10% off their Perry’s check on pickup day, with boxes available September 2 from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m.; perrysam.com

Photo: Lyndon LiAs summer does the slow fade, the trees begin to turn and autumn makes its grand entrance. The DC Area’s summer activations are, too, packing it up and now preparing for the seasonal shift. So. Much. To. See. And. Do:Blink and You'll Miss It! The Last Few Drops of Summer: Tunes in the Triangle: Pack a picnic and get ready for another iteration of Tunes in the Triangle. Mt Vernon Triangle will break their free music series into A-Side/B-Side June and September segments to maximize optimal weather conditions. The June portion will be held in Milian Park, while the September session will be in Cobb Park. Wednesdays in June and September from 6:00 to 7:30pm. Free. RSVP here. City Ridge Summer Concert Series: Enjoy intimate outdoor concerts while dining and sipping from your favorite neighborhood spots—grab tacos, cocktails, or settle into a patio seat and take in the vibes. Every Friday through September; 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.; The Great Lawn by Taco Bamba - weather permitting. September 4 – Trio Caliente & DC Casineros: DC Casineros will be teaching a step-by-step class from 6:00 – 6:30 p.m., sharing moves from their world-renowned dance company. Trio Caliente brings the heat with fiery flamenco guitar, soulful vocals, and Latin dance grooves that will keep you moving all night. Expect salsa, rumba, bossa nova, pop, and more.September 11 – Jamie Moynihan performing an acoustic set, bringing locally written music along with some favorites live to the front lawn.September 18 – David Byass, a local Saxophonist and pianist, bringing an intimate evening of jazz fusion to City Ridge.September 25 – Karen Harris Band: Karen Harris is the City Ridge Music Coordinator who books all of the talent in each series. She opened the series and will be closing out this season with all of your favorite hits. Dance, sing along, and enjoy one last show with us to close out the summer.Snooze, You Lose:  Dive-In Movies at Hotel Zena: Float in the rooftop pool and catch a movie at Hotel Zena. Movies will be shown every Wednesday starting at 9:00 p.m. (weather permitting). Free for registered hotel guests. For attendees not staying at the hotel, passes can be purchased on Eventbrite for $30 per person, and include a bag of popcorn and a complimentary mocktail, or signature cocktail. Through September 9th. For movie line up and to book a pass, click here.Snooze, You Lose:  The Square Rockville Summer Concert Series: Longer days, warm nights, and live music under the open sky—summer is officially sounding better. The Square Rockville has announced the 2026 Summer Concert Series, bringing a lineup of live performances to The Square all season long. Grab your lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and dancing shoes. Whether you’re planning a night out with friends, date night, or a family-friendly evening, these concerts are the perfect way to enjoy summer at The Square. Fridays, through September 11. For a full calendar, click here.  Snooze, You Lose: Bethesda Summer Concert Series: Every Friday this summer, from 6:00-8:00 p.m., head to the corner of Norfolk & St. Elmo Avenues to enjoy a free outdoor concert, and food and drinks from downtown Bethesda restaurants. Just like in previous years, adult beverages will be available for purchase from local restaurants, and can be enjoyed within the concert site. Want to know who else to expect this summer? See the full line-up here. Through September 18, 2026.Let's All Go To The Movies:The Drive-In at Union Market: The Drive-In at Union Market is back for the 14th season. It’s the perfect blend of movies and munchies with amazing concessions. From street food to Michelin-starred fine dining, experience it all at Union Market District. Get tickets to watch from the comfort of your car or bring chairs and blankets for a cozy picnic-style setup in front of The Market. No tickets are needed to watch on Neal Place. Once a month through October. See full schedule and purchase tickets here.Family Movie Night at Tysons Corner Center: On September 18, families are invited to PenFed Plaza for a free outdoor screening of Disney’s Encanto, the animated favorite inspired by the culture, music and landscapes of Colombia. Bring a folding chair or blanket, grab dinner to-go from nearby favorites including Barrel & Bushel, Shake Shack or Earls, and settle in for the movie on PenFed Plaza’s big screen beginning at 5:30 p.m. The season concludes with The Nightmare Before Christmas on October 16. Free and open to the public.Met Park Movie Nights: Grab some friends, a blanket and popcorn as Met Park’s central green comes alive with a family-friendly movie series every other Friday. Settle in from 6 to 8 p.m. as favorites like Back to the Future, The Princess Diaries, Encanto and Coco play on the big screen. Every Other Friday, September 4 – October 16 from 6 to 8 p.m.; 1330 S Fair St, Arlington, VA; This event is free and open to the public. No registration necessary. More information here.Snooze, You Lose:  Island Cinema at The Yards: Enjoy three tropical-inspired movie nights on The Yards Sundeck featuring big-screen favorites, island-themed décor, activations and food and beverage specials from participating restaurants. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, grab dinner or drinks and settle in for a movie under the stars. “Soul Surfer” on September 11, “50 First Dates” on September 9 and “Blue Crush” on September 17. 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Movies begin at sundown. 355 Water Street SE; The event is free to attend, but registration is encouraged. Register here.What A Show!:Fall Back Concert Series at The Yards: The Yards waterfront transforms into an outdoor music destination for a three-part concert series featuring local bands and sing-along favorites. Grab dinner from neighborhood restaurants, enjoy food and beverage offerings to accompany live music overlooking the river. Thursdays, September 24, October 1 and 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. 355 Water Street SE; The event is free to attend, but registration is encouraged. Registration details coming soon.Folger Fall Lineup: From plays to concerts to exhibits, and everything in between, the Folger has what you need for the cooler weather. The Folger's fall programming also includes Folger Salons, Folger Book Club, Family Workshops, Printing Press Demonstrations, and so much more. Highlights include Folger Consort's Monteverdi's Legacy (Sept. 11-13); Folger Theatre's Measure For Measure (Sept. 22-Nov. 1); Exhibition: To Hear Her Speak: Black women and Shakespeare (Oct. 16-May 2); Folger Poetry's O.B. Hardison Reading with Cornelius Eady (Oct. 20, 7:30pm). See all details here. NaLa Noches: Spice up your Thursday evenings with NaLa Noches, a celebration of Latin music and culture at Metropolitan Park in the heart of National Landing. New this year, get on your feet for a short, beginner-friendly dance lesson hosted by Inspira Dance during the set break. Enjoy food onsite from favorite Peruvian Brothers and participate in art activities lead by the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington. Every Thursday, September 17 – October 15 from 5 to 7 p.m.; 1330 S Fair St, Arlington; This event is free and open to the public. Register via Eventbrite. See all the shows coming to town in our Theater Roundup, here. Museum Visits:National Gallery Nights: The East Building comes to life in this popular after-hours program. Join the National Gallery of Art for themed evenings with music, live performances, artmaking, pop-up talks, and more. Registration available via lottery system, opening the Monday prior to the event date. For more information and to register, click here. Through November 12.Hillwood Museum - Interwoven: A Tradition of Textiles: Richly woven, meticulously stitched, and deeply symbolic, textiles have shaped societies for centuries, serving as both functional objects and extraordinary works of art. Hillwood founder Marjorie Merriweather Post maintained a reverence for textiles throughout her life, preserving antique lace samples, apparel from her girlhood, and examples of textile work created by the women in her family. Interwoven: A Tradition of Textiles is the first exhibition at Hillwood to focus on this essential yet unexplored aspect of the collection, showcasing the remarkable artistry, technical mastery, and cultural importance of textiles across centuries. 4155 Linnean Avenue NW; Click here for more information. Through January 2027.  Where Else You'll Find Us:Coming Soon! Bluey x CAMP: Bluey’s House: Every toddler in the DMV is currently obsessed with Bluey, and this fall you can walk straight into her world. Opening September 4 at CAMP in Tysons Corner Center, this life-sized, immersive walk-through of Bluey’s house lets families explore every room, play games from the show, dance in the playroom, climb a two-story pillow fort and cardboard castle, hunt for hidden details, and catch exclusive animations, before finishing with a meet-and-greet and photo op with Bluey and Bingo. Bluey-themed merch is available for purchase, and timed entry tickets go every 15 minutes.PLUS: Don't miss the FREE Play the Bluey Way activation at Tysons Corner Center, on September 18, 19 and 20, with a program designed for families as part of the Play the Bluey Way global campaign, inspired by the beloved animated series Bluey. Launching this month by BBC Studios, the campaign is inviting families everywhere to embrace more play, connection and fun in their everyday lives. At the heart of the campaign is a series of murals designed by Ludo Studio artists and inspired by iconic Bluey moments of play.The activation includes:Community Art Project: Large-scale sticker-by-number mural (20 feet x 8 feet).Interactive Dance Mode with Bluey and Bingo: On-stage costume character appearances by Bluey and Bingo, family dance sessions, and live DJ entertainment.Crafting Station: Bluey-themed crafts and activities.Play the Bluey Way Games: CAMP counselors from the CAMP store will lead activities including Keepy Uppy, Magic Asparagus, and Musical Statues.Scavenger Hunt: Bluey-themed objects hidden throughout the event space.Activation is open each day from 10:00 am-5:00 pm – starting with a Sensory Friendly hour from 10-11:00 am.MoCA on the Move, Fall Fun Family Series: The Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington will host a fall family series each Sunday in Met Park with live music, lawn games, bubbles and hands-on art-making activities guided by local artists. Sundays 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 1330 S Fair Street, Arlington. Free; register via Eventbrite. Art-making activities change each week and include Abstract Painting, Fall Charm Bar, Stained Glass Dreamcatchers, and Calavera Masks. Through October 25. Ghost Tours: For families with kids old enough to enjoy a good spooky story, Ghost City Tours — the world’s largest ghost tour company, runs haunted history walks, paranormal storytelling, and haunted pub crawls across DC and surrounding cities, led by local guides who know the city’s legends best. A different way to learn DC history, with a chill down your spine.Old Post Office Clock Tower: The historic Clocktower at Waldorf Astoria DC once again welcomes the public, reopening one of the city's most unique—and free—observation experiences. Get the chance to take in panoramic views of the nation's capital from atop the landmark Old Post Office building, a hidden gem that has long been a favorite among locals and visitors alike. The Clocktower offers sweeping views of Washington, DC from more than 300 feet above the city, along with exhibits that explore the history of one of the capital's most recognizable buildings. Open to the public Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Storytime Studio at the Hirshhorn: Kids ages 0–6 and their caregivers are welcome for an hourlong blend of educator-led read-alouds, play, and art exploration at the Hirshhorn’s Storytime Studio. Sessions run Wednesdays at 10 and 11 AM on an ongoing basis. It’s free, no registration required, though capacity is limited and entry is first-come, first-served, so arrive early. It’s a genuinely lovely way to introduce the youngest kids to art and storytelling right on the National Mall. For more information, click here.Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience: This virtual reality experience places you in Outer Space. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, the experience takes you on a seamless journey through the cosmos, from dazzling galaxies to the edge of a black hole. Climb aboard powerful telescopes and uncover the universe’s greatest mysteries in immersive 3D. Ages 10+; ticket prices start at $29; 926 F Street NW; for more information, click here. Sloomoo Institute: A new slime experience will open its doors at Tysons Corner this summer. Spanning 17,000 square feet over two levels, this sensory, ASMR-driven wonderland invites all ages to walk on slime at Lake Sloomoo, slingshot, and play with never-ending textures. The new Sloomoo features slime-making classes where guests can learn how to make Sloomoo Slime from scratch, host private birthday parties, experience the expanded DIY Design Bar with over 4 million combinations, smell exclusive new floral scents, and play in the interactive installations. Tysons Corner Center.

Summer was busy. Like, blink-and-you-missed-it busy. Steakhouses, supper clubs, rooftop rum bars, the DMV did not slow down just because it was 95+ degrees outside. Summer in the DMV moves fast,  one minute you're grabbing patio drinks, and the next there are ninety new places to eat and you haven't been to a single one. So here it is: everything that opened its doors across DC, Maryland, and Virginia in June, July, and August, pulled from TheListAreYouOnIt.com's openings coverage. Grab a pen (or just bookmark this), because you've got some catching up to do. What did you miss? We got you: Agora Bethesda: Betul and Ismail Uslu opened their third and largest Agora yet inside the Hyatt Regency Bethesda, with a private room for 50, semi-private space for up to 120, and patio seating for 100 of Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese mezze.One Bethesda Metro Center, Bethesda, MD Bernadette’s  Upstairs from the Oak Room, this champagne-soaked supper club from chef Timothy Hollingsworth and beverage director Julian Cox (the same Ten Five Hospitality team) pours roughly 40 grower Champagnes alongside live piano and jazz most nights — think a Parisian nightclub that never got the memo it's 2026.1218 Wisconsin Avenue NW Bourbon Steak's Lounge: Michael Mina's 18-year-old lounge at the Four Seasons Georgetown relaunched August 15 after a $1.5 million renovation, with head bartender Engidawork "Engi" Alebachew and head sommelier Winn Roberton pouring a truffle-brined dirty martini and a wagyu-fat-washed smoked Manhattan.2800 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Call Your Mother: Founders Andrew Dana and Daniela Moreira's beloved bagel shop (formerly mobile-trolley-only in Bethesda) opened its first permanent Bethesda storefront in the old Hardwood Artisans space.4828 St. Elmo Ave, Bethesda, MD Croix: Atop the Cambria Hotel in Navy Yard, Corporate Director of Culinary and Concept Design Keem Hughley and Chef de Cuisine Malika King built a rooftop Caribbean concept rooted in St. Croix heritage — breadfruit, callaloo, sorrel — with a "Botanic Bar" anchored by a backlit wall of ten house-infused Caribbean botanicals and a deep rum list, plus an outdoor extension called Croix Veranda.69 Q Street SW Duke's Burgers: Daniel Kramer's Duke's Grocery brought its fast-casual burger offshoot, with Wagyu and Impossible patties, to National Landing, kiosk-ordering style.1621 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA The Grace: Sanjay Mandhaiya (Pappe, Karavaan) pivoted hard into American saloon territory, taking over the old Passenger space and keeping the taxidermy antelope, "Gary," as a mascot. Chef Courtney Evans (a Next Gen Chef alum and former Rose's Luxury sous chef) works Afro-Southern-leaning pub food, while director of beverage Stefan Sokic pours house-pressed-sugarcane daiquiris and a reworked Passenger classic.1539 7th Street NW La Merna: Husband-and-wife team G. Bradley Shorten and Meg Schmitt opened a Chicago tavern-style pizza spot in Dupont Circle, scratch-making their own cheese and pouring classics-rooted cocktails in a room dressed in vintage Chicago and DC finds.2153 P St NW, Washington, DC Little Birdie: Matt Sloan and Eric Brannon's crew (Matt & Tony's All Day Kitchen + Bar) opened a chicken sandwich spot in Alexandria's Del Ray, working with local bakers for Japanese milk buns.Address: 1504B Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA The Oak Room: James Beard-winning chef Timothy Hollingsworth (former chef de cuisine at The French Laundry) brought a Gilded Age steakhouse to Georgetown, all koji-rubbed prime rib, Dover sole, and raw bar plateaus under Ten Five Hospitality. Beverage director Julian Cox runs the cocktail program around five old-fashioned variations and classic martinis, while wine director Taylor Parsons curates the 400-bottle cellar leaning Burgundy and Napa Cab.1218 Wisconsin Avenue NW Oribu: Grand Hyatt Washington's new flagship restaurant chases the Silk Road, blending Japanese precision with Mediterranean warmth under Executive Chef Gerard Spezio and Chef de Cuisine Joevel Magpantay — think jet-fresh sushi under a curved rattan chandelier, with a sake- and Japanese-spirit-driven bar program to match.1000 H St NW Public Interest: Inside the new Tempo by Hilton downtown, this modern American brasserie blends French brasserie tradition with American comfort, with a bar program described as reimagined classics with "a distinct DC edge."1776 K Street NW The Riggsby: Michael Schlow's beloved Riggsby is back after a roughly seven-year hiatus, reopened inside the Royal Sonesta Dupont Circle following a $6 million redesign by Edit Lab by Streetsense. Chopped salad, schnitzel alla Holstein, and Swedish meatballs anchor the menu, with a bar built around Manhattans, martinis, and an off-menu bar burger locals are already whispering about.2121 P Street NW Slice & Pie: Parks at Walter Reed: Giulio Adriani expanded his 14th Street pizzeria with a second, larger location serving pizza, paninis, and smash burgers, seating 26.1155 Dahlia St NW, Washington, DC Sushi Masato: Husband-and-wife team Raymond and Amy Yu opened a family-run Japanese spot with three tiers of omakase ($58/$78/$98) and a sake, beer, and wine list.4914 Hampden Ln, Bethesda, MD The Sweet District: Frost & Flourish's Audrey Angeles and Just Ron Chocolate's Aaron Salvador teamed up on a dessert and gourmet chocolate shop with a Filipino-inspired Halo-Halo, inside Arlington's UPSIDE on Moore food hall.Address: 1700 N Moore St, Arlington, VA Sweetlane by Sweetgreen: The DC area's first Sweetgreen drive-thru — order-ahead salads and grain bowls, no lingering required.6220 Old Dominion Dr, McLean, VA (Chesterbrook Shopping Center) Tam Tam Brunch and Dinner: Thao Tran and Tin Truong elevated Eden Center dining beyond casual pho, serving Southern and Central Vietnamese hot pots and crudo alongside house-made fish sauce from a family recipe — Vietnamese cocktails are "coming soon," but the tea program (kumquat rock sugar, passionfruit honey) is already running.6767 Wilson Blvd, Falls Church, VA (Eden Center) Tenley Provisions: Three concepts! Sofie's (crêpes/breakfast), Bistro Metzger (chef Colin Graham, a Wolfgang Puck alum), and El Jefe Woodfired Pizza (chef/founder Edwin Garcia) all share one roof in the old Steak 'n Egg space, a platform built for independent chef-operators.4700 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC Wheelhouse: Bo Blair's Georgetown Events Hospitality Group (Millie's, Surfside, Jetties) opened a vintage-yacht-club seafood spot on upper Connecticut Avenue under Executive Chef David Scribner, complete with a 33-foot bar slinging yacht-rock-themed cocktails and a Gifford's (Maine) ice-cream takeout window for the boardwalk crowd who never left Chevy Chase. 5714 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC  Xi'an Famous Foods: The NYC noodle chain opened its first full-service DC-area storefront (Rockville to follow in October), pulling hand-pulled noodles and dumplings under a no-tipping policy.2800 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA And Just Like That, September's Already MovingDon't get too comfortable, the DMV didn't take a breath between seasons. We're only a few days into September and several new restaurants have already thrown open their doors across the region. Keep tabs on all of it over at TheListAreYouOnIt.com's openings page, updated constantly with everything new to eat and drink around town, so you're never the last one to know.

Okay, fall, we see you. A chandelier the size of a compact car, a beer hall rising from the dead, and DC's first-ever Haitian fine dining spot, all before Halloween. This town does not do a quiet season.  Good thing, neither do we. Here's what has us the most excited this fall, in alphabetical order (because ranking my favorites would start a fight). and toum: Tariq Alaeddin, founder of NAJA Mediterranean, is launching and toum, a broasted chicken concept built around his lifelong love of toum, the whipped Lebanese garlic sauce. Operating out of NAJA Mediterranean as a takeout- and delivery-only concept, the menu is deliberately tiny: halal broasted chicken and four takes on toum (classic, extra-garlicky Ezbicy, a toum-Zhoug hybrid called Zoum, and a rotating limited-edition flavor). The sauce itself will also be sold for guests to take home.2911 District Avenue, Fairfax, VAOpening: Early Fall Bajo: Husband-and-wife chefs Max Rivera and Sarah Montell of Hambre Hospitality are bringing a moody Spanish-Japanese restaurant and listening bar to Blagden Alley in Shaw, taking over the subterranean space left behind by Never Looked Better. Expect tapas, yakitori, and crudo built at the intersection of Iberian and Japanese technique, backed by a Spanish and Catalan wine program, a sake list, and vinyl spun by DJs. Rivera's resume spans six countries and Michelin-starred kitchens, including a stint as opening executive chef at Cana and, most recently, José Andrés's minibar.130 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, DCOpening: Late October Bar Nuestro: Colada Shop founder Daniella Senior's newest venture is a Latin-rooted, European-inspired bistro landing in Navy Yard, reimagining classic European dishes through a Latin American lens inside a sleek, tiled, design-forward space. It's the first opening under her newly formed 5C Hospitality group, which also includes Union Market's cocktail bar Elegancia.1331 Yards Place SE, Washington, DCOpening: Targeting October 20 The Berliner: Popal Group (Lapis, Lapop, Maison Bar à Vins) revives its dearly missed German beer hall, which closed in Georgetown back in 2022, with a new home in Adams Morgan inside the former Mellow Mushroom space. Expect the same hearty sausages, soft pretzels, and long rotating tap list that made the original a neighborhood fixture.2436 18th Street NW, Washington, DCOpening: October Bizzeria: Chef Michael Rafidi, the James Beard-nominated force behind Albi and La'Shukran, finally gives his wood-fired pizzas a permanent home. The pies — currently only a part-time offering at his Georgetown Levantine cafe Yellow — come from pastry chef Alicia Wang, whose dough gets a 48-hour fermentation, alongside a lineup of meze, charcuterie, and natural wine.3246 Prospect Street NW, Washington, DCOpening: Fall Botiwalla by Chai Pani: The James Beard Award-winning team behind Union Market's Chai Pani DC brings its casual, fast-following sister concept to Tenleytown: charcoal-grilled kababs of chicken tikka, lamb, masala fish, and paneer, wrapped in buttered naan or piled onto rice bowls, plus the chaats that made Chai Pani famous (Masala Smashed Potatoes, Okra Fries) and the iconic Vada Pav. Chef-owner Meherwan Irani is having a big fall all around — his debut cookbook comes out September 22.4000 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DCOpening: Fall Brisa: Carlos Delgado, the in-demand Peruvian chef behind Michelin-starred Causa and hand-roll bar Maru San — brings a breezy coastal Latin showpiece to Buzzard Point near Audi Field, from Eaternity Hospitality (the Wharf's La Vie and Kinfolk). Expect ceviche, barbacoa ribs, and lomo saltado, with cocktails from Bolivian bar director Paola Salinas.2121 1st Street SW, Washington, DCOpening: Late October Capellini's: Chef Mike Cordero opens a sister restaurant to his beloved Arlington spot Carbonara in Ashburn's Brambleton Town Center, bringing Northern Italian cooking, thick cream sauces, house pastas, a serious wine list — out to Loudoun County.Address: 22850 Brambleton Plaza, Ashburn, VAOpening: September  Chandelier: The long-dormant Del Frisco's space on Pennsylvania Avenue transforms into a super-luxe American steakhouse from Keystone Hospitality Group (Promod Sharma, Jyoti Mahajan, Kamal Azzouz, Joseph Azzouz, and Anthony Azzouz — the trio of brothers behind Urban Roast). The design leans hard into spectacle: a 30-foot custom chandelier over the dining room, a waterfall with fire elements, and seating for 40 at the bar, 180 inside, 77 on the patio, plus a 30-seat private room with its own entrance. Premium cuts, seafood, and a curated wine list round out the menu.1201 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DCOpening: October Charcuteria: Eugene Beckley and Katie Catalano bring a Mediterranean market, wine bar, and gathering place to Shaw, inspired by their travels through Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, and Porto. Expect charcuterie and cheese boards, small plates, conservas, and schiacciata sandwiches, paired with a wine list built around natural, organic, and biodynamic bottles — heavy on women-owned and women-led wineries — plus a serious vermouth and aperitivo program, a wine club, tastings and classes, and an outdoor spritz garden.Address: 2104 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DCOpening: October  Ebbitt House: Old Ebbitt Grill — the marquee moneymaker inside Clyde's Restaurant Group, sitting across from the White House for generations — gets its first-ever offshoot, out in Reston. Expect the same American classics and famous raw bar in a 260-seat dining room with two bars, plus a 125-seat patio with a bar of its own. GM Ajay Bhatia and executive chef Diego Ramirez both previously ran the former Clyde's of Reston, which closed in 2022 after a 30-year run.1860 Reston Row Plaza, Reston, VAOpening: Mid-October Electric Bull: Chef Victor Albisu  of fast-casual chain Taco Bamba, and formerly of BLT Steak and his own Del Campo  returns to sit-down steakhouse roots with an Argentinian grill and butcher shop in his hometown of Vienna. Look for hanger, flank, and flat iron steaks, South American-style short ribs, sweetbreads, a family chorizo recipe, and the rolled skirt steak that beat Bobby Flay on his own show. Albisu tapped James Beard-nominated master butcher Justin Severino (Morcilla) as a partner and Adam Hoffa (formerly of Arlington's Pirouette) as executive chef.176 Maple Avenue West, Vienna, VAOpening: September Itiyah: A 20-seat tasting room in Shaw claims the title of DC's first-ever Haitian fine dining restaurant. Chef Sebastien Salomon, who previously cooked at the White House and the Haitian Embassy, builds prix-fixe courses around dishes like coconut-milk brioche and grilled pigeon with caramelized leeks and breadfruit puree, leaning on epis, the herby paste at the heart of Haitian cooking.1416 11th Street NW, Washington, DCOpening: Fall Kneads Bakeshop: The acclaimed Baltimore bakery and cafe takes over the high-profile space at the foot of the Thompson Hotel, previously home to Danny Meyer's Maialino Mare. The 5,500-square-foot buildout includes a pastry counter, full-service bar, a dedicated remote-work area, and a sprawling patio, with all-day service from breakfast through dinner. Expect the Baltimore favorites to make the trip south — creme brulee doughnuts, pistachio baklava croissants, Basque cheesecakes.221 Tingey Street SE, Washington, DCOpening: October Major Yum: DC chef Scott Chung takes over the storied space that formerly housed Filipino standout Bad Saint with an Asian fast-casual concept built on his Chinese and Korean cooking, honed at Bun'd Up, Sparrow Room, and Rice Crook. The signature dish, "Chung's Chicken," mashes up General Tso's with Korean fried chicken, and every dish arrives with house-made banchan-style pickled vegetables. Preview pop-ups are already running this fall at Kuya Ja, Morena Cafe, Timber Pizza, and Little Engine.3226 11th Street NW, Washington, DCOpening: Fall Maurizio’s: Ted Xenohristos, co-founder of fast-casual Mediterranean chain Cava, brings a modern Italian restaurant to Potomac Village, in the former home of Renato's. Executive chef Aris Tsekouras runs a menu of starters, pastas, and mains — rosemary focaccia, fritto misto, linguine and clams, grilled branzino — plus a dedicated Negroni bar menu. The design, from HapstakDemetriou+ and CedarHouse Creative, leans into greens, florals, terracotta floors, and reclaimed wood.Address: 10120 River Road, Potomac, MDOpening: September/October Prato: One of Florida's most acclaimed restaurants makes its first expansion out of Winter Park, landing at Bethesda Row. Prato's 14-year run in Florida built a reputation on creative riffs on Italian tradition inside a vibrant, communal dining room, with a long bar, window-paned doors, and year-round patio seating.Bethesda Row, Bethesda, MDOpening: Fall Skillette: Founder Kelly Singer opens her first permanent studio for Skillette, a DC-based cooking school and culinary lifestyle house, in a Georgetown space inspired by Parisian culinary culture — and sharing a building with Bizzeria, above. The 1,525-square-foot space houses a cooking school, an atelier, and a gathering room, offering a core technique curriculum, a five-day Mid-Atlantic Culinary Program, seasonal classes, chef residencies, kids' programs, and private events.3246 Prospect Street NW, Washington, DCOpening: September/October Spicewalla: The Asheville-based spice brand known for its colorful tins opens its second retail outpost in Georgetown, right next to fellow Asheville transplant East Fork Pottery. Expect an immersive sensory experience stocking 250-plus individual spices and 60-plus exclusive blends, all roasted, ground, and packed by hand. A sibling opening to Botiwalla by Chai Pani, above, from the same team.1317 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DCOpening: Fall Taki Taki & Rumba Rumba: Restaurateur Rajiv Chopra debuts two concepts under one roof in Capitol Hill's former Crazy Aunt Helen's space: Taki Taki, a modern South Asian restaurant on the first floor, and Rumba Rumba, a global tapas and cocktail lounge upstairs. Taki Taki leans into vibrant spices and refined technique; Rumba Rumba is built for sharing and socializing with an eclectic, globally inspired menu.713 8th Street SE, Washington, DCOpening: Fall Twosome Place: South Korea's leading premium dessert cafe brand makes its U.S. debut in Old Town Alexandria. The 2,600-square-foot cafe centers on Twosome Place's pairing of specialty coffee and cake — including its trademark-registered Strawberry Chocolate Cream Cake and bestselling Ice Box Cake — alongside Korean-inspired drinks (Dalgona Cream Top, Black Sesame Latte, Misugaru Frappe) and an all-day menu of K-Toast, K-Chicken Panini, and Bibimbowl.404 King Street, Alexandria, VAOpening: Mid-October And That's Just What We Know So FarFall openings have a habit of sneaking up on us!  A soft open here, a quiet ribbon-cutting there, so consider this a starting point, not the whole story. Keep checking TheListAreYouOnIt.com's Coming Soon page as dates firm up and new names get added to the list. See you at the bar.

TheListAreYouOnIt’s latest Theatre Guide rounds up what’s on stage across the region. Broadway favorites, touring productions, and bold originals — and you know we have smart pre-theatre dining picks near each venue. From black box gems to big-house blockbusters, the talent here is the real deal.Pro tip: Chasing post-show bites? Old Ebbitt Grill’s kitchen serves until 1 AM. Curtain down, forks up, people! Arena StageNew show info coming soon  Where to EatDel Mar by Fabio TrabocchiLimaniMoonraker at the PendryPhilippe Chow Capital One HallNew show info coming soon Where to EatFlore Cafe ModanOmeteo Starr Hill BiergartenStellina PizzeriaWren   Dupont UndergroundNew show info coming soon  Where to EatCasamaraChikoIrongatePizzeria Paradiso The Pembroke Folger TheatreMonteverdi's Legacy - September 11 through 13Measure for Measure - September 22–November 1, 2026Hamlet - March 2–April 11, 2027The Comedy of Errors - May 18–June 27, 2027 Where to EatChikoThe Duck and the PeachParaisoQuill and Crumb Ford’s TheatreNew show info coming soon  Where to EatJaleoMoon RabbitSuccotash PrimeThe Riggs Hotel National TheatreNew show info coming soonWhere to EatCafé du ParcOld Ebbitt GrillThe OccidentalVue Rooftop at Hotel Washington Olney TheatreSome Like It Hot - September 18 through November 8, 2026The Synetic Theater production of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - October 7 through November 1, 2026Kimberly Akimbo - March 18 through April 25, 2027Doubt: A Parable - June 2 through July 11, 2027  Where to EatBrew BellyOlney StationSalt and VineScratch Kitchen Round House TheatreNew show info coming soon  Where to EatAventinoBlack’s Bar and KitchenCubano’sThe Salt Line Signature TheatreNew show info coming soon  Where to EatCarlyleCorso ItalianOur Mom EugeniaStellina Pizzeria Shirlington Studio TheatreNew show info coming soon Where to EatCork Wine Bar & MarketJane JaneLe DiplomateMallard Pearl Dive Oyster Palace Shakespeare Theatre Co.The Score - September 11 through October 18, 2026Frida…A Self Portrait - October 8 through November 8, 2026A Midsummer Night's Dream - December 4, 2026 through January 10, 2027A Raisin in the Sun - January 23 through February 28, 2027Romeo and Juliet - April 23 through May 16, 2027Follies - Spring 2027  Where to EatOyamelTonariRasikaZaytinya Synetic TheaterNew show info coming soon  Where to EatBar CollineBeauty Champagne and Sugar BoutiqueNi HaoWater Bar Theatre JNew show info coming soon  Where to EatEttoIron GateHank’s Oyster BarMallard Warner TheatreNew show info coming soon  Where to EatCentral Michel RichardOlio e PiùThe HamiltonThe Henri Woolly MammothVenus - September 9 -through October 4Yasmin Elhady: Not Exactly a Nun - September 25 through October 4Hanukkah Spectacular - November 14 through December 13Ten Grand - February 1 through 28, 2027Bobby Robotowitz - March 29 through April 25, 2027Love I Awethu Further - June 1 through 27, 2027 Where to EatCentrolinaLucky DangerRasika