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By Michael Balderston, Katie Bianco, Holly Gambrell and Stefanie Gans
Back to the beer basics
We live in an IPA world, but before America took over beer with raging, bitter hops, Belgian brews ruled. Delirium Cafe hosts a Belgian Beer 101 class with food and beer pairings, and lessons on bottle conditioning and various styles, this Thursday, Jan. 31. -SG // Small Bites & Flights: Belgian Beer 101 at Delirium Cafe: 101 S King St., Leesburg; $18.99
In search of a golden ticket
The 2019 edition of Fairfax’s Chocolate Lovers Festival kicks off this weekend. I have quite the sweet tooth, so I’m excited to taste all the different chocolate concoctions that will be on hand, but part of my time will definitely be devoted to a real-life Charlie and the Chocolate Factory situation. The festival has hidden three golden tickets in chocolate bars throughout Old Town Fairfax, and while the prize isn’t a lifetime supply of chocolate, the thrill of unwrapping a golden ticket is too much to pass up. -MB // Old Town Fairfax; some events have fees
Professor Snape would be into this
Maybe it’s because I grew up in the peak era of Harry Potter, or maybe it’s the fact that I’m a nerd for the history of medicine, but the Apothecary Museum in Alexandria has been on my local bucket list for a while now. Admit it, the idea of potions (whether wizard or muggle) is pretty intriguing. The museum’s regular tours only last about 25 minutes, but this Saturday it will host an extended tour that’s twice as long. I’ll be attending, possibly with a Felix Felicis recipe up my sleeve. -HG // Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum: 105-107 S. Fairfax St., Alexandria; $10
Fun in a barrel
The winter months don’t normally scream winery road trip, but this Saturday the wineries in Loudoun County are collectively hosting an event that will get me out of my fuzzy socks and off the couch: the Loudoun County Winter Barrel Tasting. That’s exactly as it sounds. A bunch of the county’s wineries are opening their tasting rooms and letting patrons sample their latest vintage directly from, you guessed it, the barrels. You can find me in my winter coat, cozy hat, wine glass in hand, trying out all the reds. -KB // $40 in advance, $55 at the door; participating wineries include Breaux Vineyards, Fabbioli Cellars and Stone Tower Winery. See the full list here.
