For Those Who Can’t Wait to Celebrate: Halloween Events before October 31st (Listed Chronologically):(10/16-10/18) Boo at The Zoo: From Friday, October 16th - Sunday, October 18th, celebrate Halloween at The National Zoo! Enjoy a family-friendly evening with trick-or-treating, after-hours animal viewing, and spooky fun. For more information, click here.(10/18) Trick-Or-Treat at The Square Rockville: It’s time to get your spook on and join for the annual Trick or Treat at The Square on Sunday, October 18th from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Enjoy free face painting, a live DJ, and the opening of the ice skating rink! Costumes and furry friends are encouraged. Guests will receive a FREE Trick or Treat at The Square bag to hold all your treats from participating businesses and vendors while supplies last. For more information, click here.(10/22) Spooking Speakeasy at Matt & Tony’s: On Thursday, October 22nd, Matt & Tony’s transforms into a one-night-only Spooking Speakeasy, inviting guests to unlock an evening of Halloween cocktails, costumes, giveaways and plenty of mischief. Beginning at 5:00 p.m., guests who arrive with the secret password, or book using the exclusive reservation code, will gain access to the Halloween pop-up, with the bar staying open an extra hour until 10:00 p.m. for the occasion. Guests who arrive in costume will receive a complimentary spooky Jell-O shot, while the bar gets a wicked makeover with Halloween-inspired cocktails and theatrical presentations, including the Type-O-Negative Blood Bag Cocktail. The evening will also feature haunting bar snacks, a special three-course Halloween tasting menu and a selection of Matt & Tony’s favorites for those looking to stick with the classics. To make a reservation, click here.(10/23) Night of The Living Zoo: On Friday, October 23rd, grab your friends and enjoy this adults only Zoo after dark Halloween Party! You can get excited for unlimited drinks from pop-up bars, flash tattoos and piercings, live music, tarot card readings, and much more. Each ticket covers admission, unlimited drinks and live entertainment. Food trucks are located throughout the Zoo. Proceeds from the event support the Zoo’s animal care and conservation programs. For more information, click here.(10/24) 3rd Annual Halloween at The Boo-ro: The Boro is welcoming little ghosts and grown-up ghouls to Boro Park for the third annual Halloween at the Boo-ro on Saturday, October 24th at 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. Spooky tunes, hands-on activities and plenty of treats will keep the Halloween spirit going all afternoon. Come dressed to impress for a frightfully festive celebration. The event is free. To register, click here.(10/24) Annual Monster Mash at Village of Leesburg: Village at Leesburg will host its annual Monster Mash on Saturday, October 24th from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m., bringing a spooky afternoon of Halloween fun to the plaza. This free, family-friendly event will feature professional pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, cookie decorating, face painting, kids and pet costume contests, and more. Loudoun County Safety Day will also take place during the event, with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office sharing trick-or-treating safety tips, public safety displays, and important child safety information. For more information, click here.(10/25) Harbor Halloween at National Harbor: Harbor Halloween returns to Waterfront Plaza on Sunday, October 25th from 12:30 - 3:00 p.m. National Harbor restaurant chefs and artists will compete in a pumpkin-carving contest at 2:30 p.m., with guests invited to watch the creative transformations and vote for their favorites. Costumed pets can join the fun during the Pet Pawrade, with prizes for best costume, most creative costume and more. Kids in costume and dogs may ride The Capital Wheel free with a paying adult, with up to two dogs permitted per ticket. The Spirit Park Carousel will also host trick-or-treating from noon to 2:00 p.m., with candy and free rides for children in costume. For more information, click here.(10/28) NoMa’s Annual PumpkinPalooza at Alethia Tanner Park: PumpkinPalooza returns to Alethia Tanner Park on Wednesday, October 28th at 4:00 p.m. Join for NoMa’s annual Halloween celebration featuring a pick-your-own pumpkin patch and costume contests for both humans and pets. Meet Minion & Gru characters, enjoy a pop-up beer by Red Bear Brewing, and end the night with a screening of Minions & Monsters. And don’t miss the petting zoo with alpacas. For more information, click here.(10/29): All Hallows Eve Wine Dinner at Cordelia Fishbar: Cordelia presents the second installment of its Fall Wine Dinner Series: All Hallows' Eve. On Thursday, October 29th, Beverage Director Miles Hunter and Cordelia’s wine team will raid the cellar for their favorite ghastly and ghoulish bottles, from inky, brooding reds to labels that go bump in the night. Each wine will be paired with a five-course tasting menu by Chef Josh Hunt, celebrating the flavors of fall and the art of charcoal cooking. The 5-course menu, including wine pairings, is $130 per person. To purchase a ticket, click here.(10/29) 15th Annual Howl-O-Ween at Fairmont DC: Fairmont Washington, D.C., invites guests to stop by with their canine companions for their 15th annual Howl-O-Ween on Thursday, October 29 in the Courtyard Bar from 6:00-  7:30pm. Prizes, awarded for best-costumed doggies with their people, including overnight stays, dinners and more. Local celebrity judges will award prizes for most creative, most adorable, funniest and honorable mentions. All dogs are treated to pawsome peanut butter doggie biscuits created by Fairmont’s pastry team; canine coolers are placed throughout the courtyard too. Humans can purchase spooky Halloween-themed cocktails and Puptails for four-legged guests. There is no charge to attend Fairmont’s 15th Annual Howl-O-Ween.  To sign up, click here.(10/30) Halloween Cookies & Cocktails at Unconventional Diner: Join Unconventional Diner at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, October 30th and sip spooky drinks while decorating pumpkin, witch and bat-shaped sugar cookies. They will supply a hot apple cider (spiked or non-spiked), four cookies, colorful icings and fun sprinkles for this spirited event. Wear your spookiest fit—the best costume among them wins a prize. To make a reservation, click here.For Those Looking to Celebrate on Halloween: Events on October 31st (Listed Alphabetically):Costume Contest at Cucina Morini: Stop by Cucina Morini on Halloween between 5:00 - 10:00 p.m. in costume, enjoy one of Cucina Morini's cocktails and enter for the chance to win a $500 Cucina Morini gift card.  Each participant will be photographed, and the Best Costume winner will be announced on Instagram the following day. For more information, click here.Spanish-Inspired Halloween at Del Mar: Halloween gets a Spanish-inspired twist at Del Mar by award-winning chef Fabio Trabocchi! Enjoy a three-course menu, cocktail or mocktail, DJ and an 8:00 p.m. costume contest. Menu highlights include Yellowfin Tuna Tartare and Paella Fideuà Negra, plus plenty of spooky-season fun on the Wharf. Tickets cost $70 per person. To make a reservation, click here.Exorcist Stairs Light Show: Georgetown’s most infamous staircase is getting a Halloween…glow up. Come in costume to The Exorcist steps for a free haunted light show on October 31 from 7:00 - 11:00 p.m., presented by EventLightsUSA and The Exorcist movie enthusiast Andrew Huff. For more information, click here.Fall from Grace Halloween Party at The Grace: Join The Grace for a late-night Halloween celebration featuring a live DJ, themed cocktails, and an alcoholic beverage included with every ticket. Come dressed in costume and they will make it two; costumed guests receive an additional complimentary beverage. Tickets start at $25 per person. To purchase a ticket, click here.Whiskey & History : Ghosts at Hard Rock Cafe: Halloween night gets a historical twist with the latest installment of Hard Rock DC’s Whiskey & History series. Whiskey & History: Ghosts will explore haunted history through an immersive evening of storytelling paired with food and beverage—a fitting way to spend Halloween in downtown DC. To purchase a ticket, click here. Halloween Spooktacular at the Mosaic District: On Halloween from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m., grab your costumes and join the Mosaic District for their Spooktacular Halloween. Stop by participating retailers and restaurants for trick-or-treating, then head to Strawberry Park for a screening of Hocus Pocus at 6:00 p.m. For more information, click here.Dog Costume Contest at Osteria Morini: Osteria Morini is inviting DC’s best-dressed dogs to its Navy Yard waterfront patio from 11:00 a.m.– 3:00 p.m.  Each participating pup will be photographed, and the Best Costume winner will receive a $500 Osteria Morini gift card. The winner will be announced on Instagram later that day. For more information, click here.After Dark - Halloween Party at SLY: From 7:00 - 11:30 p.m. on Halloween, party under the stars with spooky vibes and vinyl beats at SLY's Halloween party. At The Morrow's rooftop, enjoy an open bar, unlimited snacking and dessert stations and a $500 cash prize for the best costume. Tickets cost $100 per person and includes open bar, stationed bites, and live DJ. Purchase tickets here.Trick-Or-Treating at Tudor Place: Tudor Place is hosting its own trick-or-treat costume event (this one for humans) on October 31 from 10am – 12pm. Explore the gardens with a coffee while kids gather treats, get their faces painted, enjoy cider and goodies, play games, and do crafts. For more information, click here.Drag Bingo Halloween Party at Unconventional Diner: Unconventional Diner hosts its second annual Drag Bingo Halloween Party, complete with spooky decorations, a tarot card reader and a costume contest with prizes. Each ticket also includes an abundant buffet dinner with dessert, performances from some of the city’s most exciting drag performers—including India Larelle Houston from Perry’s iconic drag brunch!—and five bingo cards, with more available for purchase for $2 each. Cocktails, mocktails, beer, wine and soft drinks available à la carte. $60 per ticket plus tax, including service charge. To make a reservation, click here.Wisconsin Avenue Woof Walk: Bring your best-dressed pup to Georgetown on Saturday, October 31 from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and trick-or-treat along Wisconsin Avenue, stopping at participating businesses for treats and water. Don’t miss the doggy costume contest at 1pm, with prizes for Best Overall, Best Duo (human and dog combo), and Most Creative. For more information, click here.For Those Who Want To Celebrate All Month Long: Halloween Activations Throughout October (Listed Alphabetically):The Exorcist Cocktail at 1789 Restaurant: For Halloween season, 1789 Restaurant is pouring The Exorcist, a cocktail inspired by the iconic Exorcist Stairs just down the street from the restaurant. The spirit-forward cocktail combines Tanqueray London Dry Gin, Hayman’s Old Tom, Luxardo Maraschino, Green Chartreuse and Braulio. Available now through the season for $18. For more information, click here.Halloween Pairings at Little Blackbird: From October 15th – October 31st, Little Blackbird will feature five unexpected pairings that put a grown-up spin on Halloween treats. The pairings include Candy Corn + Chardonnay, Peanut Butter Cups + Lambrusco, Snickers + 10-Year Tawny Port, Skittles + Dry Rosé, and Sweet Tarts + Blanc de Blanc. Each pairing is $11–$17 and includes a piece of candy with a wine pour.  It’s a fun and unexpected way to celebrate Halloween, and a chance to see how classic candies pair with different wines. For more information, click here.Candlelight Experience at National City Christian Church: Set against a mesmerizing backdrop of thousands of candles, the Candlelight® experience comes to Washington D.C, this Halloween with a live musical program built around mystery and the supernatural. It's the perfect Halloween experience for friends, families, and coworkers looking for something different from the usual haunted house or bar crawl. Tickets cost $47 per person. Purchase tickets here.Frankenstein’s Mad Scientist Cocktail Lab Pop-Up at Puttery DC: Puttery DC will have their Frankenstein’s Mad Scientist Cocktail Lab Halloween Pop-Up all month long. Guests can enjoy themed cocktails while enjoying 2-hours of unlimited gameplay. Optional add-ons are also available. Tickets start at $20 per person. To purchase a ticket, click here.Royally Spooked Halloween Pop-Up at Royal Restaurant: This October, Royal Restaurant is transforming its patio into a Royally Spooked Halloween Pop-Up daily from 3:00 - close the entire month, featuring themed cocktails, spirited zero-proof drinks and limited-time bites. Guests can pair their drinks with a variety of playful food specials. For more information, click here.For Those Looking For Día de los Muertos Events, Check Them Out Here!

October is Pizza Month, and Nycci is doing the research to make sure you celebrate right. Check out her segment on Good Day DC, featuring Westfield Montgomery's variety of pizza spots, here.

Nycci Nellis of TheListAreYouOnIt.com joined WTOP to highlight some of the DMV’s biggest summer restaurant openings. New arrivals include The Oak Room and Bernadette’s in Georgetown, the return of The Riggsby in Dupont Circle, Caribbean rooftop concept Croix in Navy Yard, and Agora and Call Your Mother in Bethesda. Other openings include Little Birdie, Duke’s Burgers, Slice & Pie, La Merna, Wheelhouse, and The Grace, with Ellizabetta and cocktail bar The Bit continuing the wave of new dining destinations into fall.

Ereka Vetrini has four million people asking her what’s for dinner, and before any of that she was an operational auditor at Estee Lauder, a contestant on the first season of The Apprentice, and a host on NBC, TLC and HGTV. Then she walked away from all of it. What pulled her back was a dare from her daughter and one video that got three million views in three days.This is the kind of conversation that only happens when two people who have been in food and media a long time stop performing and just talk. Nycci Nellis sits down with Ereka Vetrini, the first generation Italian American recipe creator behind the gnocchi video that changed her career, and they get into the parts of the job nobody posts about. Ereka grew up inside her parents’ pizzeria in Westchester, learning to cook by tasting, by watching, and by getting yelled at, with a mother from a farm town outside Naples where lard hung from the ceiling because olive oil was not a given. She takes Nycci through the business path that came first, Boston College, GE, Estee Lauder, then the audition she almost did not do and the non-compete that nearly ended her television run before it started. She explains why she left hosting, why she says no to the word influencer, why she is putting money into a blog instead of Substack, and what it actually takes to make five recipes a week that work in a real kitchen. For anyone tracking the DC food scene or the hospitality industry more broadly, this one is about building something that outlasts an algorithm. Listen to the episode here, or watch it here.