This week, Northern Virginia Magazine editors are looking forward to the season two premiere of NBC’s This Is Us, a closet clean-out and wardrobe refresh, Burke Nursery’s Pumpkin Playground, a poetry open mic night at Bards Alley and a barre class made more bearable by a brunch buffet.
By Eliza Berkon, Winn Duvall, Stefanie Gans, Rachael Keeney and Lynn Norusis
Season two premiere of This is Us
Tuesday, Sept. 26, 9 p.m.
What I’m looking forward to this week is something that I’ve been looking forward to since the last episode of NBC’s This is Us season one aired in mid-March. The Pearson family returns to our TV screens Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 9 p.m., and while I’m looking forward to *hopefully* getting some questions answered this season, I don’t think that I’m quite ready to say goodbye to Milo Ventimiglia’s character, Jack. I hope my roommates are ready for the TV takeover and potential waterworks. –RK
Fall-la-la-la-la
One of my fave kid pics is the two of my cuties grinning on an Adirondack chair at a pumpkin patch last fall. I intend to relive the magic this weekend with a visit to the Burke Nursery Pumpkin Playground. There’s no better way to throw oneself into the season than with a ghoulish tunnel slide, hayrides and mountains of pumpkins. I may even get my face painted with a burnt-orange leaf for full immersion. –EB
Pre-fall closet clean-out
I suddenly hate everything in my wardrobe, which is the usual sign that it’s been too long since I’ve added some new items into the rotation. So in order to justify a little shopping in my near future, this week I’ll be tackling my closet and my dresser: getting rid of everything I don’t wear, tossing the shoes I’ve worn to death and forming a plan of attack to fill in the gaps and make getting dressed in the morning a little more enjoyable. –WD
Spoken stories
Working with the written word for more than 15 years, I definitely have an appreciation for storytelling. While I know firsthand the anxiety that comes with writing a story and putting it out there for the masses to critique, I am very aware that standing in front of an audience and baring your craft on stage only to have the immediate judgment begin is a task I don’t think I would ever be able to do. But I sure will be there to show my support for the local storytellers who do so. Wednesday night Bards Alley is hosting a poetry open mic night where storytellers can share their original pieces or recite their favorites. –LN
Barre and Brunch at Kapnos Taverna
Sept. 30, 10 a.m.
With the allure of an all-you-can-eat buffet at Ballston’s Kapnos Taverna (coffee waffles with cinnamon butter, baklava French toast, bagel and lox with taramasalata, scrambles, omelets, potato hash …), a pre-brunch barre class by Chauna Bryant seems semi-tolerable. –SG // Register online: $40 for class and buffet at Kapnos Taverna: 4000 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
