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By Katie Bianco, Stefanie Gans, Rachael Keeney and Michael Balderston
Moon cakes for the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival
Celebrate tonight’s full moon with Chinese moon cakes. The Manassas-based Cakes by Happy Eatery sells this harvest-time special dessert of pastry dough surrounding candied, chewy centers in flavors of red bean, green tea, winter melon and sweet taro. There’s also the pineapple-filled pastry in the shape of a koi fish, which, writes the bakery’s Victoria S. Wu: “In the Chinese culture, fish symbolizes prosperity, since fish and prosperity are a homonym. Pineapple is universally associated to hospitality and other welcoming gestures. We combined the two symbolism to represent generosity.” –SG // Cakes by Happy Eatery: 9685 Liberia Ave., Suite 107, Manassas
Bring on October
How is it already the last week of September? While I’m disappointed that this past month had far more rain and warm weather than cooler temps and changing leaves, I’m focusing on the future and all the fall festivities that come with it, starting with the 25th Annual Lovettsville Oktoberfest. This Saturday from 10 a.m.-11 p.m., enjoy free admission, parking and entertainment featuring traditional Bavarian music and dancing. Kinderfest will provide free games for little ones, and for adults there will be wares from more than 100 vendors to check out, plus beer, wine and German cuisine available for purchase. Oh, and did I mention that there will be wiener dog races too? Check out other Oktoberfests here. –RK // Town of Lovettsville: 6 E. Pennsylvania Ave., Lovettsville
Checking out our future artists
While it is always exciting to see an artist or performer after they have achieved a level of notoriety, there is something special about getting a glimpse of a young artist on the verge of making it big. Just such an opportunity may happen with the annual Arts by George! event this Saturday. George Mason University students will have the chance to show their latest work—from paintings to music to film—to patrons. Just think, years from now you can say that you saw so-and-so just down the road before they made it big. –MB // George Mason Center for the Arts: 4373 Mason Pond Drive, Fairfax
Singing our hearts out
I recently let my daughter watch a childhood favorite of mine, Beauty and the Beast. Since then, it’s been wall-to-wall singing in our house. I think “Be Our Guest” is permanently stuck in my head. On Wednesday, we want to get away from the TV and see Beauty and her Beast live at the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts in Fredericksburg. The local theater is staging the beloved Disney version of the story from Sept. 26-Nov. 25. Not sure if this will make the constant loop of Belle belting out tunes in my head better or worse, but I know my little Disney fan will love it. –KB // Riverside Center for the Performing Arts: 95 Riverside Parkway, Fredericksburg
