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By Katie Bianco Alice Levitt and Michele Kettner
Fall Festivities
Over the last few years, I have grown to love Halloween. From pumpkin patch trips to extensive costume planning, it has grown into an obsession. One thing that hasn’t changed is my love-hate relationship with haunted houses. I’m not a fan of really anything scary, but I do love the thrill and laughs that come with it. Yet, every year I always find myself at a haunted house. This year, to continue our tradition, we are heading to the Nightmare Alley at Workhouse Arts Center. Its annual haunted house has turned into a drive-through so the scarring can continue. I’m not sure staying trapped in my car while things pop out of nowhere and scare me will be better for my anxiety, but at least the tradition will live on. – Michele Kettner, editorial assistant // Workhouse Arts Center: 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton; $60 per car
Mooning Over Moon Cake
When I moved to NoVA in May from Houston, I thought I was sacrificing the culinary diversity I so appreciated there. How wrong I was. I’m excited to celebrate the lunar Mid-Autumn Festival (also known as the Moon Festival) with locally made moon cakes from Cakes by Happy Eatery in Manassas. They’re only available at the bakery through October 1, so I have to hurry and pick some up! – Alice Levitt, food editor/critic // 9685 Liberia Ave., Manassas
Taking a (virtual) field trip
In a time when we’re all looking for silver linings, I have repeatedly gone back to the fact that my children, who are still preschool age, do not have to tackle distance learning. They’re at home with us, doing crafts and other engaging, educational activities, but most of it is analog. Even so, I’m missing being able to take them to the Smithsonian and other educational venues to supplement their learning. Luckily, a number of local museums have worked hard to make their content available virtually. So while we won’t be out and about soon, I can give my kids some quality screen time as they explore everything from dinosaurs to the performing arts. – Katie Bianco, editor
