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By Katie Bianco, Stefanie Gans and Michael Balderston
Thanksgiving planning mode
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, as it is for most of the food-obsessed out there. It happens to coincide with the big fall push of cookbook season, so I’ll be happily flipping through a few titles—Season, Soul, Cravings: Hungry for More, Cooking with Scraps—and, of course, checking out the mags mailed to my house—Bon Appetit, Saveur and Food & Wine—and everything on the internet, and obviously, what Snoop Dogg has to say (like mayo in mashed potatoes)—I need to get my hands on From Crook to Cook ASAP. And dad, if you’re reading this, figure out how to use Google docs so we can better coordinate the menu. -SG
Trying to embrace cider
As I’ve shared a couple of times here before, I’m a fan of beer. However, many of my friends have really gotten into ciders over the last couple of years while I’ve missed the boat a little bit, with the ones I’ve tried proving a little too sugary for me. I’m going to give cider another go, this time with mass immersion at the Alexandria Cider Festival. Part of Cider Week VA, 12 Virginia cideries will come to Old Town and it’s going to be my goal to give them all a try and see if I’ll have to start considering the ciders on tap when I hang out with friends. -MB // Saturday; Lloyd House: 220 N. Washington St., Alexandria; $45
Bring on the holiday cheer
I love Christmas. I’ve always joked that I’m a marketer’s dream. The Christmas music playing in department stores a little too early? A Charlie Brown Christmas on TV? Eating my body weight in Honey Baked Ham? I am here for all of it. The last few years have been even more magical since I had two babies in a two-year time span (and yes, I’m exhausted). I can’t wait to take them all over NoVA for the various light displays and events. This week, I’m going to kickoff our holiday happenings with a new one: LightUp Fest at Loudoun One. It promises more than 70 twinkling exhibits that combine state-of-the-art lighting technology and traditional Chinese lanterns, plus all manner of themed performances, crafts and food and drink. It sounds magical and I can’t wait to see if I’ll add it to our annual holiday traditions. -KB // LightUp Fest, Loudoun County, through Jan. 2, adults $29.99, kids 3-12, $19.99
