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By Katie Bianco, Stefanie Gans, Rachael Keeney and Michael Balderston
Never(more) checking out haunted houses
My mom loves checking out fake haunted houses and getting a good scare from costumed actors this time of year. This is not a trait that I inherited. So while fall is my favorite season, Halloween is my least favorite holiday. You won’t find me visiting Madhaunter’s Madhouse or Shocktober, but I will get my sort-of-scary fix by taking in a performance of Nevermore at Creative Cauldron, a musical that draws upon Edgar Allan Poe’s dark poetry, short stories and the women in his life. That should be enough to get me into the Halloween mood, and then move on to thinking about a happier time: the holidays. –RK // Creative Cauldron: 410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church; $20-$32 through Oct. 28
Middleburg movie marathon
I love catching the latest movie over the weekend, but my plans for this weekend will be taking that up a notch. I’ll be making my way to the Middleburg Film Festival for the first time this weekend, where there will be a marathon of new films slated to come out over the next few months. This includes potential award-contenders like Roma, Boy Erased, Green Book and The Favourite, as well as international films and documentaries like Capernaum, Shoplifters and They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead. Tickets for individual films, or weekend packages, are available here. –MB // Middleburg, Oct. 18-21
Dining Bar opens today at The Light Horse
The Light Horse in Alexandria unveils a new concept on the first floor, Dining Bar, with, according to the press release, “a subtle feeling of nature in-the-rough showcasing an organic and industrialized” ambiance, which means the food is chipotle crab deviled eggs, spice-rubbed grilled quail and duck breast with confit fingerlings. Though I’m probably going to hit happy hour for a $5 burger. -SG // The Light Horse: 715 King St., Alexandria
Mount Vernon Fall Harvest Family Days
When I was a kid, my mom used to take me to all manner of historic homes. She thought it was fun. I thought it was torture. But, the funny thing is, it’s true what they say: I’ve become my mother, and now I love looking at historic homes. And, locally, the best of the best is Mount Vernon. I’m going to head there this weekend for Fall Harvest Family Days. A horse-drawn carriage ride, Colonial games on the lawn and 18th-century farming demos? That’s a fun Saturday in my book. My kids may not appreciate it just yet, but one day they’ll look back fondly. –KB // 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon; Oct. 20-21, Adults, $18, Kids (6-11), $11, 5 and under, free
