Nine cities, nine city-themed rooms, and a couple thousand people celebrating New Year’s Eve in Washington, DC.

City themes include music and food representing:

• New York City – hip and trends DJs keep the vibe live, and enjoy one of the local food items, Manhattan Clam Chowder.
• Chicago in the Roaring 1920s – No Prohibition here, with a fun swing band and of course pizza.
• Miami and Havana – a live Salsa band and a Cuban menu fills this room.
• Spirit of the Caribbean delivers the island feel with Reggae and Calypso.
• Boston boasts a live Irish band and New England Clam Chowder.
• Become a star at the Los Angeles Karaoke stage and enjoy Asian themed consumables.
• Spirit of the Caribbean delivers the island feel with Reggae and Calypso.
• Viva Las Vegas at a casino-themed room with mock casino and a hotel style buffet.
• Move south to Big D, Dallas and enjoy some good old Texas BBQ and Texas Hold ‘Em.
• Stop by paradise in the Maui-themed room,  and enjoy the live Polynesian band and a roasted whole Hawaiian Luau pig.

Promo Video

New Year’s Eve Salute to America Gala
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
2660 Woodley Road, NW
Washington, DC (map it)

Dates and Times – Wednesday, December 31, 2008, 9:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.

Tickets – $174.00 and are available online, but prices go up as the date gets closer.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Woodley Park, Red line, then a 3-block walk.

Parking – Paid hotel parking is available, but may fill up.
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Post from: The DC Traveler

Hosted by DC101’s Elliot in the Morning radio host, partygoers get to enjoy an open bar, a heavy hors d’oeuvres buffet, karaoke, live bands (Cowboy Mouth, Pat McGee Band, Gonzo’s Nose), dancing and a comedy club.

The Downtown Countdown    
Grand Hyatt Washington
1000 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001  (map it)

Dates and Times – Wednesday, December 31, 2008, 8:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.

Tickets – $109.00 and are available online or by phone at 202-397-SEAT. This event is 21 years old and over only.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Metro Center – Red, Blue and Orange line. The station is connected to the Hyatt.

Parking – Valet - $30.00, self-parking – $20.00

Images – champagne, party favors
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Post from: The DC Traveler

Enjoy a traditional colonial plantation holiday dinner at Gunston Hall, the home of founding father, George Mason.

Dine tavern-style, by candlelight, on items such as traditional   turkey and dressing, Virginia ham, dressing, and of course, home made pie.

For more about Gunston Hall, check out my Oct. 12, 2007 post.

Plantation Christmas Yuletide Dinner at Gunston Hall
Gunston Hall Plantation
10709 Gunston Road 
Mason Neck, Virginia 22079  (map it)
703-550-9220

Dates and Times – Friday, December 12, 2008 at 6:30 and 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 13  at 4:30, 6:00 and 8:00 p.m.

Tickets – Adults – $39.95 , children 10 and under – $19.95. Beer and wine is extra. Dinner includes admission to Plantation Christmas. Call 703-550-9220 for reservations. Parties of ten may reserve a private table.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Franconia-Springfield – Blue line, then a 12 mile cab ride.

Parking – Free parking is available.

Image – from personal collection   ©2008, Jon Rochetti  _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

The "Volstead Act", which defined the rules of alcohol production and sales, also established what an “intoxicating” beverage actually was – any beverage with 0.5% of alcohol. The act did not however prohibit the purchase or use of liquor.

The law lasted 13 years and had numerous unintended consequences, including fueling the rise of organized crime.  During prohibition, alcohol consumption actually increased per capita, the exact opposite intent of the legislation.  Illegal speakeasies flourished across the country, with a reported 10,000 establishments operating in Chicago alone. 

But 75 years later, you can join the DC Craft Bartenders’ Guild and party like it’s 1933.

Join top Washington, DC mixologists and several beverage sponsors who will serve exciting cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, along with a 1930s style jazz band for dancing, all taking place at the historic City Tavern Club in Georgetown.

18th Amendment Repeal Day Cocktail Party
The City Tavern Club 
3206 M Street, NW
Washington, DC  (map it)

Date and Time – Friday, December 5, 2008, 8:00 p.m. to midnight.

Tickets – $90.00 per person and are available online (PayPal required). Cocktail attire required.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Foggy Bottom – Orange and Blue lines, then a 1¼ mile walk or cab ride or use the Georgetown Circulator, which stops just a couple blocks away.

Parking – Two paid parking lots are within a couple blocks, the closest is located at Potomac and M Streets, behind Dean and Deluca.

Images – barrels and lady with flask – both public domain, cocktail – Flickr
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Post from: The DC Traveler

All materials and refreshments are included, plus you get to take your completed gingerbread house home with you.

The class is intended for  children.

Fairmont’s Gingerbread House Class
The Fairmont Washington, DC
2401 M Street, NW
Washington, DC  20037  (map it)
202-429-2400

Dates and Times -  Thursday, December 13, 2008, at 10:30 a.m

Tickets – $45.00 per student. Reservations are required. Contact Diana Bulger at the Fairmont at diana.bulger@fairmont.com or by phone at 202-457-5019

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Foggy Bottom GWU – Blue and Orange lines, then a 5-block walk or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Paid parking at the hotel or metered street parking is available.

Image – Flickr
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Post from: The DC Traveler

The test kitchen chefs select a couple dishes to perfect, then try dozens, and sometimes over a hundred versions of the dish until its perfect, easy for the home cook and as easy as possible.

The resident chefs show step-by-step instructions making recreating their dishes simple and stress free.

The show also tests cooking equipment and gadgets, and has a food tasting segment where supermarket foods are rated after being tested by a panel of tasters.

The show’s host, Christopher Kimball is also the publisher of a great hands-on and mostly advertising-free cooking magazine, Cook’s Illustrated and recently launched a second publication, Cook’s Country Magazine.

Kimball is hitting the road to promote his new cookbooks, The America’s Test Kitchen Family Baking Book and The Cook’s Country Cookbook.

Christopher Kimball of America’s Test Kitchen
Friendship Heights Village Community Center
4433 S. Park Avenue
Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815 (map it)

Date and Time – Thursday, November 13, 2008, 7:00 p.m.

Tickets – Free, but reservations are required by calling 301-656-2797

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Friendship Heights – Red line, then a 4-block walk.

Parking – Limited free street parking, with paid parking at the mall across the street.

Image – Flickr – Kimball
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Post from: The DC Traveler

The roving party will be held at four different bars and restaurants in the heart of Washington’s political scene – Capital Hill. 

At each stop, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a highlighted drink and food specials, many with the red/blue theme, plus non-stop to-wall election coverage. Plus, there’ll be election-themed polls, games and raffles for great prizes.

Participating bars and restaurants include:

• Tortilla Coast – 400 1st Street, SE
• Bullfeathers – 410 1st Street, SE # 1
• Tune Inn Restaurant and Bar – 331 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
• Thai Roma Restaurant - 313 Pennsylvania Ave SE

Ballot 4 Beer
Capitol Hill near 1st Street, SE and Pennsylvania Ave., SE
Washington, DC  (map it)

Dates and Times – Tuesday, November 4, 2008. 5:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Tickets – $5.00 and available at any of the bars.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Capitol South – Blue and Orange lines, then a 1-block walk .

Parking – Limited street parking is available, area lots are also within walking distance.

Images – Flickr – Vote Blue, Vote Red _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

This weekend is time again for the always popular Metropolitan Cooking & Entertainment Show in Washington, DC.

Join over 40 of DC’s finest chefs and foodies, along with special cooking presentations by well-known Food TV celebrity chefs, Paula Dean, Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis. 

Enjoy cooking demonstrations and head-to-head cooking competitions, food and wine tastings, tips on entertaining and cooking, along with workshops on everything from holiday cooking to knife and plating skills. 

With over 170 food related companies displaying and selling everything from exotic weekend cooking retreats, wine storage, and kitchen gadgets, the show is not just for the home cook, but for anyone who loves great food.

Two of the celebrity chefs, Flay and De Laurentiis, will also be signing their cookbooks, but you must purchase a ticket to one of their cooking sessions ($55-$80 and includes a General Admission ticket). 

Metropolitan Cooking & Entertainment Show
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place, NW
Washington, DC 20001 (map it)

Dates and Times - Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008 – 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008 – 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Tickets – Advanced online tickets for adults are $20.00 and $10.00 for children 6-12, with kids 5 and under free.  At the door prices -adults – $25.00, kids – $13.00. Tickets are also available by phone at 888-695-0888.

Interactive cooking sessions – $35.00 to $145.00 per session.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Mt. Vernon Square – 7th St. – Convention Center – Yellow and Green lines.

Parking
Metered street parking is available but will be difficult to find near the Convention Center, try the public lots and garages within walking distance.

Images – Flickr – Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentiis

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Post from: The DC Traveler

With the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains as a back drop, enjoy a sampling of wines from one of 17 Virginia wineries along with enjoy festival foods while watching hot air balloons (and even a few lawnmower races).

In it’s 12 year, the Hot Air Balloon and Wine Festival at Historic Longbranch had lots of fun activities throughout the day, including:

• Live entertainment
• Mansion tours
• Antique cars and the ld Dominion Fire Society antique fire engine display
• Kids activities
• Monster Truck rides
• Crafts and area artisans
• Radio-controlled planes
• Lawnmower races

Hot Air Balloon and Wine Festival at Historic Longbranch 
Longbranch Historic House
1830 Longbranch Lane 
Millwood, Virginia 22646 (map it)
540-837-1856

Dates and Times – Friday, October 17 – 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, October 17 and 18, 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Tickets – $10.00 per person admission, plus $10.00 for wine. under 12 free. 

Parking – Free

Images – Flickr – drinking wine, balloons

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Post from: The DC Traveler

But my favorite place in the old neighborhood was Meyer Delicatessen. It was an old world German deli filled with countless types of German sausages, cold cuts and food products. After I moved from Chicago, every trip back would require a stop at Meyer’s to fill a cooler to bring home.  Just walking in the door and smelling the rich flavors that permeated the walls over the years, reminded me of my regular visits as a young child and walking in while holding my grandfather’s hand.  Sadly, it closed a couple years a go.

But recently, I may have found a replacement. It’s the German Gourmet, in suburban Falls Church, Virginia.

Walking in is like taking a quick trip to Germany. Not only is it a German gourmet and food store, but it sells a variety of German products that you don’t normally see outside of Germany. 

The deli counter offers a nice variety of meats, cheese, wieners, brats, and sausages.  So you can pick up some pickled herring salad, beet salad, double-smoked speck (ham), a few knackwursts, a pound of veal and pork Gelbwurst, and don’t forget a bit Head Cheese (which is not actually cheese, but made from pork snouts – yum!!).  Grab a loaf of old world brot (bread) and you’re ready for a German feast.

A hearty selection of German beers and wines are also available to complement your meal.

And to end things off, try something from their bakery counter, such as an elegant German cake (anything with chocolate should work) or one of the daily made fresh strudel. The poppy seed is my personal favorite.

Have a sweet tooth?  Bags of German candies, marzipan or liquor-filled chocolates can’t miss.

They even offer the traditional Christmas wine, Gluehwein, a spiced mulled wine.

German language music CDs and magazines, as well as many German gift items line the shelves as well.  So if you need a German doll, a unique toy, or even a small cuckoo clock, German Gourmet is the place to go. 

Want to host your own authentic Octoberfest? Check out their wide selection of German beer steins, mugs and glasses.

The family-run original store, located in suburban Falls Church for over 45 years, is a small but friendly place.  The new larger store, about 5 miles away, which opened last August, is considerably larger, has a wider range (1,500+) of products and offers much more free parking.

Add they have hot brats to go available, all the time, so when you have a hankering for Bratwurst sandwich with German potato salad, and a slice of strudel, the German Gourmet should be at the top of your list.

Click here for a slide show of some of the store’s products.

German Gourmet (original location)
7185 Lee Highway
Falls Church, VA 22046
703-534-1908   (map it)

5838 Columbia Pike (new larger location, near Baileys Crossroads)
Falls Church, VA 22041
703-379-8080   (map it)

Dates and Times – Monday & Saturday 9-6, Tuesday – Friday  9-7, closed on Sunday

Nearest Metro Subway Station – line, then a  block walk or use the

Parking – free parking

Images – Original location exterior, from personal collection © 2008 – Jon Rochetti, bread rack, cheese counter, sweets,     ___________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler