By Eliza Berkon, Winn Duvall, Stefanie Gans, Beth Kellmurray and Lynn Norusis
In the week ahead, Northern Virginia Magazine‘s editors are looking forward to three returning TV shows, Crab Meat Day at Old Bust Head Brewing Co. and crafting DIY home decor.
Indulging in The Bachelor
March 6, 7 p.m.
Is there a better way to wind down after a long Monday than with some low-brow entertainment? The past few weeks, The Bachelor has been just that for me: absolutely ridiculous, fantastic television with plenty of accompanying snark to follow along with on Twitter. Tonight brings three (!) hours of manufactured drama, including the reunion of all the rejected potential spouses at the Women Tell All special—perfect for turning my brain off for the night. –WD
Reality and TV
March 7, 10 p.m.
Does TV reflect reality or reality reflect TV? Either way, could there possibly be a better time for the return of a Russian espionage drama to come back into our lives? The Americans returns this Tuesday, and critics are saying it is living up to the accolades it continuously received for the past four seasons. As this is one of only a few shows I watch in real time, my Tuesday nights are getting a lot more exciting starting this week. –LN
Old Bust Head Brewing Co.: Game Night and Crab Meat Day
March 8, 3-8 p.m.
We don’t usually acknowledge made-up holidays, but Crab Meat Day, celebrated very much out of season, is so insane that a mention is needed. Two Smooth Dudes provide the food for the brewery on Wednesday, and everything is placed over tots. Because of course. It’s also game night. –SG // 7134 Farm Station Road, Warrenton
Watching Love Season Two
March 10
Love was one of those Netflix original series that appeared out of nowhere that I thought I would never watch. But then, during one of my fits of refusing to leave the house, I watched the first season and was pleasantly surprised by a really funny and not-always-tropey show about a couple finding each other and falling out in LA. So I will tune in when season two returns this week. –BK
Listening to the Magnetic Fields’ New Album
March 10
The Magnetic Fields (helmed by mastermind Stephin Merritt) is one of my favorite bands, and their 1999 concept album 69 Love Songs (which is exactly how it sounds, including the tongue-in-cheekness) is one of my all-time favorite albums. So I’m excited that Merritt is returning with another high-flying concept album, 50 Song Memoir, bearing a song for every year the singer-songwriter has been alive. –BK
Crafting DIY Home Decor
Wood planks, stencils, acrylic paint, a few friends and some cab sav equals the ideal Thursday evening. For the fourth installment of our neighborhood Annie Get Your Glue Gun club, we’ll make personalized welcome signs for our home entryways. And if they don’t look IG-worthy, we’ll keep in mind that it’s not the destination that counts—it’s the journey. (A possible sign slogan right there?) –EB
Now open: Hatch Grill
A trend not on the radar: New Mexican food. Will this be a thing? Hatch Grill, named after the green chili, opened at the end of last month in Chantilly with a green chili burger, breakfast sopapilla and a pay-it-forward program. I’m into it because if there is one more ramen shop … oh wait, hi, Hanabi. –SG // 4500 Daly Drive, Chantilly
Find out more of what’s going on in NoVA this week at our things to do page.