SOMETHING WITCHY THIS WAY COMES THE SIREN SONGS OF CAT JANICE + CATHY DITORO
10 COCKTAILS TO DIE FOR TOP SPOTS FOR SPOOKY SIPS
COOL WEATHER STYLE TIPS
CURATE THE PERFECT FALL WARDROBE
CALLING ALL CAPS FANS CONCERTS, THEME NIGHTS + MORE
FRAY FALL GUIDE
90 THINGS TO DO IN D.C.
30 AUTUMN ESCAPES
25 HAUNTED ADVENTURES
10 UNIQUE COSTUMES
7 SCARY PLAYS
4 QUICK GETAWAYS
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18 TH // 2 P.M.
Embark with us on this wine-derful tasting adventure where we sip, stroll and savor our way through the best wines in the DMV, all for a great cause.
BIT.LY/3RDFXHW
Get exclusive access to Fray parties, first dibs on ticket giveaways, discounts and other VIP offerings at events around the city, unlimited digital content and much more.
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10 COCKTAILS TO DIE FOR
39
SOMETHING WITCHY THIS WAY COMES
51
COOL WEATHER STYLE TIPS
48
7 SCARY PLAYS
ON THE COVER Subjects
Cathy DiToro + Cat Janice
Photographer
Mariah Miranda
Stylists
Lauren Gay + Saige Jackson
Location
Congressional Cemetery
EDITORIAL STAFF
Robert Kinsler Publisher + CEO
Monica Alford
Editor-in-Chief + Director of Media
M.K. Koszycki
Managing Editor
Nicole Schaller Deputy Editor
Evan Hecht
Editorial Assistant
Claire Smalley
Creative Director
CONTRIBUTORS
Designer
Nicole Bennett
Editors
Jamie McCrary, Haley McKey + Abi Newhouse
Writers
Tim Ebner, Colleen Kennedy, Keith Loria, Jamie McCrary, Haley McKey, Myles Mellor, Paige Muller, Abi Newhouse, Cornelia Poku, Colin Reed, Andrew J. Williams III
Photographers + Illustrators
Allison Bowen, Ben Droz Photography, Delaney Gibbons, Scott Suchman, Ashley Jaye Williams
UNITED FRAY
Martin Espinoza President
Brittany Rheault COO
Quentin Shank Sales Manager
Tom Roth
Key Account Manager
IGNITE YOUR IMAGINATION, DISCOVER OUR UNSEEN UNIVERSE
Developed with NASA, explore this original artistic expression of scientific discoveries, the story of how human innovation has enabled us to see beyond our imaginations and into the furthest reaches of the cosmos. GET TICKETS:
ARTECHOUSE DC 1238 MARYLAND AVE SW WASHINGTON, DC 20024
SPOOKY SEASON IN THE DISTRICT. Our team has been looking forward to our combined October // November issue all year, a deep dive into all things fall. From cool weather style tips courtesy of Knot Standard Sales Director Emily Blumberh to 150+ haunted adventures, autumn escapes, weekend getaways and more, we’ve built our readers a stacked guide to fall in the District. And with our spooky issue comes We Are The Weirdos, Mister: District Fray’s Cult Classic Halloween Party on Halloween night at Dock 5. I’ve been dreaming of throwing this party for years, a nod to some of the most iconic films and music from the ‘80s and ‘90s — all with a spooky theme. Our cover subjects, The Legwarmers frontwoman Cathy DiToro and indie artist Cat Janice , will headline the party with a full cover band. We’re collaborating with Disco Mary Collective to create Instaworthy cult classic-inspired installations, plus a spooky vendor market, tarot circle, costume contest and interactive activations, pop-up performances and photo ops from “Beetlejuice ,” “The Craft ,” “Little Shop of Horrors” and other cult classics. Register at bit.ly/wearetheweirdosmister, and in the meantime, we hope you enjoy our autumn rundown in the pages that follow. From the creepy to the cozy, we’ve got you covered.
MONICA ALFORD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
WORDS BY PAIGER MULLER
Can you feel it? That nip in the air can only mean one thing: It’s fall in D.C. This time of year is all about fun, festivals, foliage and food. It’s a jam-packed season, with everything from farms to favorite attractions serving up a ton of activities to make the most of the changing of the season. With all of the exciting happenings and flavors of the season going on against a backdrop of vivid colors, autumn is the perfect time to “fall” in love with the District. Throw on your sweater, grab a PSL and adventure your way through autumn.
From Oktoberfest to comedy showcases, wine extravaganzas and outdoor markets, ‘tis the season to get outside and enjoy a cornucopia of fun at these area festivals.
Through 10.15
9TH ANNUAL OKTOBERFEST FESTIVAL AT WUNDERGARTEN
If you can’t travel to Germany, this is the next best thing. Put on your dirndl or lederhosen for five jam-packed weekends of
fun, including tapping of the keg, Bavarian Olympics, a live Oompah band, German food and, of course, lots of beer. Times vary. Free+. 1101 1st St. NE, DC; wundergartendc.com // @wundergartendc
10.6-10.8
BECAUSE THEY’RE FUNNY COMEDY FESTIVAL AT THE WHARF
You’ll laugh ‘til you cry during this three-day comic extravaganza featuring side-splitting performances by comedic talents from the BIPOC community. Besides the “Breakout Comedian of the Year” competition, check out screenings, panels, live shows and comedy classes to try out your material. Times vary. $40+. The Wharf SW, DC; becausetheyrefunny.com // @becausetheyrefunny
FALL WINE FESTIVAL & SUNSET TOUR AT MOUNT VERNON
Raise a glass to the first president while trying unlimited samples from Virginia wineries after-hours at his estate. 6 p.m. $59+. 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy. Mount Vernon, VA; mountvernon.org // @mount_vernon
From new restaurants to local shows to everything in between, we’ve got you covered. Check out our events calendar to connect with the greater D.C. community and keep a pulse on what’s happening around the city.
10.7
HALSTEAD SQUARE FOOD, WINE AND ARTS FESTIVAL
Join for a day filled with delicious food, fine wines and live music to benefit the Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation. Check out the local artists and vendors as well as a Pet Park Party and a dedicated Kid Zone. 11 a.m. Free. 2729 Merrilee Dr, Fairfax, VA; halsteadsquare.com // @halstead_square
OKTOBERFEST AMERICAN KICKOFF: BEER & COCKTAIL FESTIVAL AT SHIPGARTEN
All the best things about fall are featured at this day-long festival featuring 50+ beers, wines and ciders, apple pie, candy apples and apple donuts. 1 p.m. Free. 7581 Colshire Dr. McLean, VA; shipgarten.com // @shipgarten
10.8
PORCHFEST DC SOUTHEAST EDITION
Head east of the river for a day-long music festival where front porches, lawns and landmarks are the stage for all types of music performed by local artists. 10 a.m. Free. Multiple locations in Southeast, DC; porchfestdc.org // @porchfestdc
10.14
ADAMS MORGAN PORCHFEST
If you didn’t get enough in the spring, the annual fall edition of Porchfest is back for more music of all genres playing on every street corner, plaza and patio. 2 p.m. Free. Multiple locations; admodc.org // @admobid
FALL FEST AT GATEWAY PARK
It’s cider season — make the most of it with hard cider tastings, food trucks and live music. Plus, don’t miss the chance to take part in the pie-eating contest. 1 p.m. Free. 1300 Langston Blvd. Arlington, VA; rosslynva.org // @rosslynva
OKTOBERFEST BEER, CIDER & SHOOTERS BEER OLYMPICS FESTIVAL AT
Join for beer, games and friendly competition. This festival promises a jam-packed day with special beer tastings, live music, food and after-hours fun. Free. 12 p.m. 7581 Colshire Dr. McLean, VA; shipgarten.com // @shipgarten
D.C.’s biggest beer festival offers over 350 craft brews, local food trucks and live music on two stages. If you were curious about the name, a Snallygaster is a mythical part-reptile, part-bird from rural Maryland that is said to prey on poultry and children — the more you know. 2 p.m. $65+. Pennsylvania Avenue NW, DC; snallygasterdc.com // @snallygasterdc 10.14-10.15
Feel the chill in the air while you enjoy sidewalk shopping, dining, live music and pumpkin and face painting against the backdrop of the historic Georgetown neighborhood. 11 a.m. Free. Multiple locations; georgetownmainstreet.com // @georgetownmainst
Enjoy Continental’s half-priced game rates until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Our beer garden is dog and family-friendly (under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian; valid ID required to purchase alcohol).
Beer Garden & Haus has been awarded the title of Best Neighborhood Bar and Best Beer Selection, showcasing their commitment to quality. They take pride in serving locally sourced, grass-fed meats from their in-house butcher shop. Being the original beer garden, they’ve laid the foundation with craft beer, live local music, and a lively neighborhood dining atmosphere, with a special focus on BBQ.
Savor the Autumn Sunshine
Go outside, work up a sweat and bask in the glory that is getting your vitamin D fix minus the heat with these seasonal outdoor must-dos.
10.1
F45 NAVY YARD SWEAT + SIP AT 12 STORIES
If the heart-pumping workout doesn’t take your breath away, sweeping views from 12 stories up definitely will. Enjoy seltzers and snacks afterward if you work up an appetite. 11 a.m. $20. 75 District Sq. SW, DC; f45training.com // @f45_training
10.3
YOGA IN THE GARDEN AT TEMPERANCE GARDEN
Go with the flow during this all-levels yoga class in U Street Corridor’s alley garden. 6:30 p.m. Free. Behind 1931 13th St. NW, DC; ustreetcommunity.org // @tempgardendc
10.7
THEODORE ROOSEVELT ISLAND TOUR
Enjoy fresh air and changing leaves on a guided walk and learn about the conservation legacy of the 26th president and the history of the island. 10:30 a.m. Free. Theodore Roosevelt Island; nps.gov
10.8
ARMY TEN-MILER AT THE PENTAGON
If nothing else, the amazing views will help power you through as you race around D.C. Also, this is your early warning to consider staying home on race day because traffic will be a nightmare. 6:20 a.m. $99. The Pentagon in Arlington, VA; armytenmiler.com // @armytenmiler
10.9
FOREST BATHING AT U.S. NATIONAL ARBORETUM
Use your senses to explore this great green space in D.C. at almost 450 acres of meadowland studded with Corinthian pillars that were once part of the Capitol building. 9 a.m. $35. 3501 New York Ave. NE, DC; fona.org // @fonarboretum
10.14
BONEYARD BOOTCAMP AT CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY
Give your old bones a spirited workout that combines cardio and strength training. 1 p.m. Free. 1801 E St. SE, DC; congressionalcemetery.org // @congcemetery
DC UNITED V. MEDEAMA SC AT AUDI FIELD
Ghanaian Men’s Premier League Team winner, Medeama SC and DC United take to the field for this inaugural game of competition and soft diplomacy. 5 p.m. $15+. 100 Potomac Ave. SW, DC; dcunited.com // @dcunited
FRI, OCT 27, 8 PM
STRATHMORE (NORTH BETHESDA, MD) Steve Hackman, conductor
Classic orchestral showpieces from The Sorcerer's Apprentice, The Planets, Danse macabre, and more are remixed with electronic beats and the music of Post Malone, Muse, Drake, and Adele to create dancehall floor-killers. Spend your Hallo-weekend at the BSO with costume contests, drink specials, dance parties, and more!
Join DC Fray + National Landing at Gateway Green on Monday nights and at Metropolitan Park on Wednesday mornings for free, instructor-led fitness classes METPARKFRAYFIT.EVENTBRITE.COM
10.15
KRAZY KRAKEN LASER TAG TOURNAMENT
Take part in an all day double elimination laser tag tournament smack down. Enjoy a complimentary drink with each ticket and while in-between rounds check out the lawn games and discounted attractions such as pickleball available. 10 a.m. $45+. 514 Rhode Island Ave. NE, DC; experiencekraken.con // @experiencekraken
TAI CHI AT KENILWORTH AQUATIC GARDENS
Find balance and discover the healing benefits of this ancient practice in a beautiful and tranquil setting. 10 a.m. Free. 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE, DC; kenaqgardens.org // @kenaqgardens
YOU ARE ENOUGH: SELF LOVE THROUGH SOUND AT EATON DC Escape the daily grind at a guided meditation and sound bath experience with a harp. 2 p.m. $30. 1201 K St. NW, DC; eatonworkshop.com // @eatonworkshop
10.27
HOWL-O-WEEN AT GATEWAY PARK
Get ready to get spooky with your pup. Come to Gateway Park for an afternoon of all things Halloween with your dog. Participate in the dog costume contest as well as raffle prizes and more. 3:30 p.m. Free. 1300 Langston blvd. Arlington, VA; rosslynva.org // @rosslynva
11.19
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS VS. NEW YORK GIANTS AT FEDEX FIELD
Pull out your finest burgundy and gold and head out to FedEx Field to cheer on the Washington Commanders as they take on the New York Giants. 1 p.m. $63+. 1600 Fedex Way, North Englewood, MD; commanders.com // @commanders
11.23
TROT FOR HUNGER
Come out on Thanksgiving morning for the 22nd annual Trot for Hunger 5k. Participate in the timed or untimed race as well as virtual options trotting the 5k across your neighborhood to raise money and spread awareness about So Others Might Eat (SOME). $15+. 7 a.m. 1455 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC; trotforhunger.com // @some_dc
Grab your PSL, but leave room for these delicious food and drink focused events this fall.
CAMP
Skip the campsite and head to District Square where you’ll find a wood-burning fire and a vintage Airstream trailer serving up everything you need for the ultimate gooey treat — whether you like it burnt to a crisp or golden brown. Times and prices vary. 101 District Sq. SW, DC; wharfdc.com // @thewharfdc
10.1-10.29
HARVEST WINE TOUR & TASTING AT DISTRICT WINERY
Get a close-up look at the winemaking process from crushing, pressing and fermenting this year’s grapes to the best part: tasting. Each tour includes a tasting of five wines. Times vary. $40. 385 Water St. SE, DC; districtwinery.com // @districtwinery
10.5
MAKE YOUR OWN SUSHI AT AKENO SUSHI BAR & THAI
Learn to make sushi like a pro alongside other budding sushi chefs at this hands on, social class. 6:30 p.m. $59. 524 8th St. SE, DC; akenosushibar.com // @akenosushibar
TACO CRAWL AT CENTRAL PLACE PLAZA
Give “dine and dash” new meaning by celebrating National Taco Day on a whirlwind, guided taco tour through Rosslyn. 5:30 p.m. $15. 1800 N Lynn St. Arlington, VA; rosslynva.org // @rosslynva
10.7
TASTE OF THE HARVEST 2023 AT THEARC
Enjoy the flavors of the season at this all-day festival with s’mores, live music and cooking demonstrations. Shop the harvest market for goods from local artists and farmers. Plus, take home samples of chef-made meals, fresh produce and recipe cards. 3 p.m. Free. 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE, DC; bbardc.org // @thearc_dc
10.8
DC TASTE OF THE NATION AT CAPITOL RIVERFRONT
Indulge in bite-size fare, craft cocktails and delectable desserts from some of the city’s top culinary talents. Proceeds benefit No Kid Hungry. 1 p.m. $50+. M Street SE + New Jersey Avenue SE, DC; nokidhungry.org // @nokidhungrydc
10.28
ADAMS MORGAN APPLE FESTIVAL & PIE BAKING CONTEST
A long-time local favorite, the apple pie baking and apple tasting contests return for more tasty fun. 10 a.m. Free. Euclid + Champlain Streets NW, DC; admodc.org // @admobid
11.3
GEORGETOWN WINE & DINE
Join Chef Michael Mina and some of the best chefs in the country for a truly unique culinary experience. Participate in tastings, intimate discussions and more all to benefit the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center at Sibley Memorial Hospital. 11 a.m. $295+. 2800 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC; fourseasons.com // @fourseasons
11.18
DC WINE WALK
Grab your glass and embark on a stroll through some of the DMV’s best wines. Explore wines from eight different neighborhoods guided by resident experts. 1 p.m. $20+. Multiple Locations in the DMV; dcfray.com // @dcfray
Pumpkins, apples and cute farm animals await you at these wholesome farm-focused events around town.
Through 10.29
PUMPKIN FESTIVAL AT BUTLER’S ORCHARD
Pick your pumpkins then stick around for the festival that offers boozy cider, corn mazes, pumpkin cannons and live music. Shop the on-site market with produce, jam and cider. Groups can reserve daytime campfire and bonfire sites, as well as hayrides. Times vary. $10+. 22222 Davis Mill Rd. Germantown, MD; butlersorchard.com // @butlersorchard
Through 10.31
FALL FUN FEST AT GAVER FARM
Hunt for the perfect pumpkin and most amazing apples, enjoy over 60 attractions, and peruse a market filled with produce, squash, gourds and corn stalks, along with free hayrides to the pumpkin patch. 10 a.m. $18+. 5501 Detrick Rd. Mt Airy, MD; gaverfarm.com // @gaverfarm
Through 11.6
FALL FUN AT ROCK HILL ORCHARD & WOODBOURNE CREAMERY
This working farm — which has nearly 30 varieties of apples — also lets you watch cows being milked, and you can pet them, too. The market sells milk from the farm’s cows, homemade ice cream and apple cider doughnuts. 10 a.m. $10+. 28600 Ridge Rd. Mt Airy, MD; rockhillorchard.com // @rockhillorchard
Through 11.11
CORN MAZE AT LIBERTY MILLS FARM
There are few activities that say fall like a corn maze. And this one is a-maize-ing. Virginia’s largest corn maze spreads across 34 acres and includes four trails of varying difficulty. For even more of a challenge, try to find your way in the dark when the maze stays open late. Times vary. $15+. 9166 Liberty Mills Rd. Somerset, VA; libertymillsfarm.com // @libertymillsfarm
Fall into the Arts
Check out these museums, plays, concerts and more to ignite your creative spark this season.
10.6
BURLESQUE TRIBUTE TO “MEAN GIRLS” AT CRAZY AUNT HELEN’S
This classic rom-com comes to life with burlesque performers. So fetch! 6 p.m. $20+. 713 8th St. SE, DC; crazyaunthelens.com // @crazyaunthelens
Through 10.8
THEATRE WEEK
Theatre lovers, lend me your ear: This is your chance to check out 25 award-winning productions at venues across the DMV, all at a steep discount. It’s anchored by free events, including an immersive exhibit that pays tribute to D.C.’s Black women playwrights and performers. Times, prices and locations vary. theatreweek.org // @theatrewash
10.12
“BEYOND THE LIGHT” DISTRICT FRAY NIGHT AT ARTECHOUSE Party under the stars with us at ARTECHOUSE’s latest exhibit, a collaboration between the digital art museum and NASA. Here’s your chance to wander the cosmos, stand inside a nebula, mingle and toast with themed cocktails. Totally far out. 7-9 p.m. Prices vary. 1238 Maryland Ave. SW, DC; artechouse.com // @artechouse
CHROMEO AT 9:30 CLUB
The electro-funk duo hits the stage for the first time in three years on their “Funk Yourself” tour. 7 p.m. $40. 815 V St. NW, DC; 930.com // @930club
KIM PETRAS AT THE ANTHEM
With a brand new album out, the Grammy-winning pop singer is done being “Alone,” hitting the road to “Feed the Beast” on her first world tour. 8 p.m. $59.50+ 901 Wharf St. SW, DC; theanthemdc.com // @theanthemdc
Through 10.15
“SOMETHING MOVING: A MEDITATION ON MAYNARD” AT FORD’S THEATRE
Marking its 50th anniversary, playwright Pearl Cleage explores the game-changing election of Maynard Jackson, the first Black mayor in Atlanta. Times vary. $31+. 511 10th St. NW, DC; fords.org // @fordstheatre
10.16
DEMOB HAPPY AT SONGBYRD
With a new album of insatiable grooves under their belt, the Newcastle-made, Brighton-based trio show off how they’ve managed to avoid the dreaded third album curse. 7 p.m. $16+. 540 Penn St. NE, DC; songbyrddc.com // @songbyrddc
Through 10.19
NOMA IN COLOR AT ALETHIA TANNER PARK
Watch art come to life as artists paint murals on the walls, fences and any other surface they can find, and take a curated walk to discover installations around the neighborhood. Plus, enjoy live music, pop-up performances, dining specials and more. Times vary. Free. 227 Harry Thomas Way, NE, DC; nomabid.org // @noma.bid
Through 10.29
GLOW AND CHILL AT OBLIVION ART HOUSE
Get your glow on as you paint a one-of-a-kind masterpiece with neon blacklight paint. 7 p.m. Free+. 8901 49th Ave. College Park, MD; oblivionarthouse.com // @oblivionarthouse
10.10-10.15
“MRS. DOUBTFIRE” AT NATIONAL THEATRE
See everyone’s favorite Scottish nanny, Euphegenia Doubtfire, as you’ve never seen her before. Based on the 1993 movie of the same name, Rob McClure reprises his Tony-nominated Broadway performance in this internationally acclaimed hit musical. Various times. $69+. 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC; thenationaldc.com // @broadwaynatdc
10.10-10.29
“MACBETH IN STRIDE” AT SHAKESPEARE THEATRE
Through a range of genres — pop, rock, gospel and R&B — this production melds a rock concert with a play in a contemporary take on the Bard’s classic tragedy that explores just what it means to be an ambitious Black woman, as told from the POV of the murderous Lady Macbeth. Times vary. $25+. 450 7th St. NW, DC; shakespearetheatre.org // @shakespeareindc
10.11-10.14
MAXWELL: A NIGHT AT THE SYMPHONY AT KENNEDY CENTER
If it’s cool, the R&B crooner is gonna do a little sumthin’ sumthin’. Songs from his hit-filled career will be reimagined with a full orchestra. 8 p.m. $59+. 2700 F St. NW, DC; kennedy-center.org // @kennedycenter
10.13-11.12
“POTUS” AT ARENA STAGE
The play has a full title “POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive,” which should give you an idea of its farcical nature as the women in a U.S. president’s inner circle try to fix his PR disaster before it becomes an international crisis. Times vary. $76+. 1101 6th St. SW, DC; arenastage.org // @arenastage
10.19
THIRD THURSDAY AT PHILLIPS COLLECTION
Explore the galleries of America’s first modern art museum after hours, and stop by for a panel discussion with experts from local museums about the creation, curation and preservation of digital art. 5 p.m. Free. 1600 21st St. NW, DC; phillipscollection.org // @phillipscollection
10.21-2.25.24
“THE SKY’S THE LIMIT” EXHIBIT AT NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS
After being closed for more than two years, NMWA re-opens in a BIG way. In celebration of women’s pioneering work in large-scale sculptures, works by 12 artists will be suspended from the ceiling, arc across walls and project outward from corners. Time and price TBD. 1250 New York Ave. NW, DC; nmwa.org // @womeninthearts
ROCKY HORROR DRAG SHOW
I see you shivering with antici… pation for Rosslyn’s Rocky Horror themed drag show. Hosted by Shi-Queeta Lee, expect to do the time warp over and over again. 6:30 p.m. $10. Langston blvrd. Arlington, VA; rosslynva.org // @rosslynva
10.22
CHOIR! CHOIR! CHOIR! AT MIRACLE THEATRE
From “Go Your Own Way,” “Landslide,” “Don’t Stop” and “Dreams,” you’re the singing star at this epic Fleetwood Mac sing-a-long. Talent is appreciated but not required. 8 p.m. $25. 535 8th St. SE, DC; unionstage.com // @themiracledc
“GOLDEN GIRLS” NIGHT + A SHOW WITH DOROTHY + SOPHIA
AT CRAZY AUNT HELEN’S
Travel down the road and back again for a nostalgic night filled with fun, music and trivia. 5 p.m. $15. 713 8th St. SE, DC; crazyaunthelens.com // @crazyaunthelens
THE WASHINGTON ROAST AT DC IMPROV
It’s SNL on steroids as the DMV area’s best comedians battle head-to-head in character as politicians in an interactive roast battle tournament. 7 p.m. $20+. 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC; dcimprov.com // @dcimprov
10.26-10.29
SUPERFINE ART FAIR AT DOCK 5
Back by popular demand, the art festival kicks off with a spooky, art-filled masquerade followed by a weekend of art installations, live murals, DJs and live music. And you can buy some art, too. Times vary. $22.50+. 1309 5th St. NE, DC; superfine.world // @superfineartfair
10.29
DC RECORD FAIR AT EATON DC
Can you quote every line from “High Fidelity”? Audiophiles, this event is for you with 40+ vendors and a special DJ lineup. 11 a.m. Free. 1201 K St. NW, DC; eatonworkshop.com // @eatonworkshop
11.3
“RECENT ACQUISITIONS” AT NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY
Curated by Robyn Asleson, “Recent Acquisitions” highlights portraits of women by women. Some portraits include Beyoncé, Madame C. J. Walker, Ruther Bader Ginsburg and more. Free. 11:30 a.m. 8th St. NW & G NW, DC; npg.si.edu // @smithsonianpg
11.9-11.12
“TORRENTS: NEW LINKS TO BLACK FUTURES”
Curated by Jamal Gray, “Torrents” is an event for black creatives to come together and unite through a series of curated experiences. Take part in panels, film screenings, live music and more. 11:30 a.m. Free+. Multiple Locations Across DC; culturaldc.org // @torrents.dc
Bringing the power of play to children experiencing housing insecurity.
11.17
“KARA WALKER: BACK OF HAND” AT DE LA CRUZ GALLERY
Come see D.C.’s first showing of Kara Walker’s latest art exhibit. Back of Hand explores themes of complicity, racism, misremembered histories and the violence that undergirds the legacy of the South. 10 a.m. Free+. 3535 Prospect St. NW, DC; delacruzgallery.org // @delacruzartgu
11.18
BUILDING STORIES AT NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM: OPENING DAY
Building Stories is an immersive experience exploring the world of architecture and design found in children’s books. Curated by Leonard Marcus, this exhibit is for all ages but made with a special focus for grades K-3. 10 a.m. Free. 401 F St. NW, DC; nbm.org // @nationalbuildingmuseum
11.24
“FORCES OF NATURE: VOICE THAT SHAPED ENVIRONMENTALISM” AT NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY
Explore some of the key voices in changing public opinion on environmentalism in the United States dating back to the 19th century. Curated by Lacy Badel, “Forces of Nature” highlights over 25 of the people who have made strides in environmental activism. 11:30 a.m. Free. 8th St. NW & G NW, DC; npg.si.edu // @smithsonianpg
Don’t miss these movie screenings, topical trivia events, dating games and other activities to tickle your fall fancy.
10.2
HARRY POTTER TRIVIA AT HI-LAWN
Are you a Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw or a Hufflepuff? Regardless of your house, gather your friends and get ready to compete for a chance to win the title of biggest potterhead as well as themed prizes. 7 p.m. Free. 1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC; hilawndc.com // @hilawndc
10.4
FALL MOVIES ON THE PLAZA WESTPOST AT NATIONAL LANDING
Grab your apple cider and favorite knit blanket for a night out watching “47 Ronin” under the stars. 7:30 p.m. Free. 1201 S Joyce St. Arlington, VA; westpostva.com // @nationallanding
BINGO AT HI-LAWN
Grab your board and your dauber and get ready for an evening full of bingo. Bingo takes place every Wednesday at the same time. 7 p.m. Free. 1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC; hilawndc.com // @hilawndc
HANDI-HOUR AT RENWICK GALLERY
D.C.’s crafty happy hour is back. Make your own earrings or necklace with leather, beads and wire. Enjoy cider from ANXO and explore the second-floor collection on an artsy scavenger hunt. 21+ only. 5:30 p.m. Free. Pennsylvania Avenue at 17th Street, NW, DC; americanart.si.edu // @americanartmuseum
Bar and Grill has great drink specials, fantastic comfort food and top notch service. Come check out our ALL-DAY Friday happy hour with $2 PBRs and High Lifes and you’ll see why we’ve been a Capitol Hill institution since 2006.
10.6
DECADES IN MUSIC TRIVIA AT HI-LAWN
From Elvis to Madonna, Beyoncé and beyond, test out your genre-spanning music knowledge. While you try and name that tune, enjoy exclusive food and drink items. 7 p.m. Free. 1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC; hilawndc.com // @hilawndc
10.10
ADULTING: STORIES ABOUT GROWING UP AT PENN SOCIAL
Let’s face it, being an adult is overrated. But you can have ice cream for dinner, so it’s not all bad. Laugh and commiserate about the highs and lows of adulthood in a night of storytelling hosted by Story District. 7:30 p.m. $28. 801 E St. NW, DC; storydistrict.org // @storydistrict
10.11
CINOMATIC OUTDOOR MOVIE SERIES AT ALETHIA TANNER PARK
Bring your blanket for a cozy night watching “The Greatest Showman” in an urban park. 6:45 p.m. Free. 227 Harry Thomas Way, NE, DC; nomabid.org // @noma.bid
10.18
BRICE & WEN PRESENT: THE DISTRICT AT DUKE’S GROCERY NAVY YARD
Survivors ready? Bring your immunity idol and gather around the fire to watch the new season of your favorite show with some of your favorite castaways and surprise guests. 6 p.m. $30+. 1201 Half St. SE, DC; dukesgrocery.com // @briceandwenpresent
10.19
LGBTQ+ SINGLES SERIES AT SHAKERS: HALLOWEEN EDITION
If your biggest fear is commitment, this is the event for you. Make new connections while through Halloween themed games and compete in the costume contest. 6 p.m. $20+ 2014 9th st. NW, DC; shakersdc.com // @shakersdc
10.21
PUMPKIN PALOOZA AT CARLYLE CROSSING
Bring the family to Carlyle Crossing for a day filled with all the Halloween festivities you can think of. From pumpkin carving to face painting to trick-or-treating, and even a selection of fall beers for the adults, Pumpkin Palooza has it all. 11 a.m. Free. 2455 Mandeville Ln., Alexandria, VA; carlylecrossingva.com // @carlylecrossing
10.22
EXTRAORDINARY CINEMA: “PSYCHO” AT KENNEDY CENTER
Maybe skip the shower after seeing Alfred Hitchcock’s genredefining thriller. 3 p.m. Free. 2700 F St. NW, DC; kennedy-center.org // @kennedycenter
10.23
THE CROSSWORD SHOW AT PLANET WORD
Comedians solve an actual crossword puzzle live onstage, with everything displayed on a big screen, while host Zach Sherwin leads everyone down a puzzling rabbit hole of comedy, music and wordplay with every clue. 7 p.m. $25. 925 13th St. NW, DC; planetwordmuseum.org // @planetworddc
SUPERHERO TRIVIA AT HI-LAWN
Whether you’re team Marvel or team DC, flex your superhero knowledge to win an assortment of prizes. 7 p.m. Free. 1309 5th St. NE, Washington, DC; hilawndc.com // @hilawndc
10.24
HIGH HEEL RACE AT DUPONT CIRCLE
Come for the race, stay for the fashion. D.C.’s beloved annual event starts with an outrageous drag costume parade that RuPaul would envy and ends with participants sprinting, strolling and strutting down 17th Street. In heels. 6:30 p.m. Free. 17th Street NW, DC; allevents.com
10.31
WE ARE THE WEIRDOS, MISTER: DISTRICT FRAY’S CULT CLASSIC HALLOWEEN PARTY AT DOCK 5
We’ve put a spell on you, and now you’re ours. This Halloween, step inside District Fray Magazine and Disco Mary Collective’s cult classic-inspired world for a five-hour party packed with endless references to iconic films and music from the ’80s and ’90s — all with a spooky theme. Indulge in drinks, Instaworthy activations, tarot readings, body piercing, flash tattoos and more. $35-$65. 7:30 p.m. 1309 5th St. NE, DC; districtfray.com // @districtfray
WORDS BY COLIN REED | ILLUSTRATION BY DELANEY GIBBONS
Whether you’re a gore-loving hardcore horror fan, self-proclaimed expert on the supernatural or a more casual consumer of scares, screams and ghoulish themes, everyone has their favorite go-to flicks. But despite Jamie Kennedy’s character in “Scream” who so adamantly defends “the rules” to horror films, picture if you will (à la any “Twilight Zone” intro) another perspective on the subject. We’ve assembled a selection of titles that may not be considered part of the traditional genre, but nevertheless contain just as much fright, thrills or terror as any classic horror film.
“Annihilation” (2018)
Screenwriter Alex Garland got his start as a novelist — penning the book that would later be adapted into the 2000 drama film “The Beach” — before moving on to write a number of impressive, critically-acclaimed scripts for both film and television. A few highlights include “28 Days Later,” “MEN” and the FX series “Devs”. His sharp sense of style and knack for building tension is omnipresent in his subsequent work as a director, including this eerie thriller based on a 2014
book series. “Annihilation,” led by Natalie Portman and Oscar Isaac, is laden with gorgeous, colorful environments and profound questions about identity, nature, evolution and the concept of being human.
“Blue Ruin” (2013)
A wandering transient is called into his local police station and informed that the man who murdered his parents has been released from prison. So begins the tale of filmmaker
Jeremy Saulnier’s atmospheric meditation on revenge. In “Blue Ruin,” Saulnier (“Green Room,” “Hold the Dark,” “True Detective”) combines an intimate character study, beautiful yet understated staged settings and grisly violence. The film’s narrative seeks to shed light on the meaning of family, the nature of trauma and desire for emotional closure — even if obtained through violent ends.
“Fatal Attraction” (1987)
Other than “Basic Instinct,” this film remains the benchmark for psychosexual thrillers, and it’s just as visceral to watch as the bloodiest modern-day slasher flick. Quite possibly the most fascinating layer is how it examines the multifaceted topic of consent, which remains as relevant today as it was upon its original release. The film has the added benefit of decades passed, allowing for perspective and cultural comparison. A recently-released companion series on Showtime, starring Joshua Jackson and Lizzy Caplan, offers a fresh opportunity for then-and-now comparison and analysis. Not to over intellectualize, but it’s still a well-crafted film with some great jump scares.
“Hard Candy” (2005)
This film’s righteously foreboding mood and subject matter only scratches the surface of the many factors at play. Directed by David Slade, who is versed in more straightforward horror like “30 Days of Night” or “Black Mirror,” the film contains a talented but strikingly sparse cast. It focuses almost entirely on two characters, played masterfully by Elliot Page and Patrick Wilson. Given its structure and storyline, it’s hard to not spoil the ultimate climax without giving too much away. What can be said is it topically follows in the vein of films like “Primal Fear” or “Sleepers,” but remains rooted in an everincreasingly claustrophobic location (think “Buried” or “Panic Room”).
Somewhat of a distant cinematic cousin of Bobcat Goldthwait’s pitch-black comedy “World’s Greatest Dad,” this tale plays out in all the cringeworthy but glorious fashion you could hope for. (Think Manti Te’o catfishing incident, but the fake girlfriend ends up being your dad.) Patton Oswalt and Lil Rel Howery deliver just the right notes of sincerity throughout the film’s rapidly-unfolding (and hilarious) nightmare scenario. Based on real-life events, the film deftly works issues involved with social media, mental health and suicide into its running subtext. It’s a fun but different way to scream, “No…? NO” at your screen.
Lead actor Christian Bale undertook an incredible physical transformation for this film, losing a staggering 62 pounds — nearly one-third of his body weight — to prepare for the role. Main character Trevor Reznik’s stark and pitch-black journey is also transformational. An industrial worker who starts to question his own sanity and perception of reality (given that he has not slept in a full year), he is haunted by an unknown sense of dread, only amplified by his relentless exhaustion and physical deterioration. As he starts to descend further
into delusion, he tries to uncover the cause behind his evergrowing madness. While an admittedly intense work, the terror of his paranoia and the film’s compelling mystery makes it both hard to look at and impossible to look away.
While not as iconic as Hannibal Lecter or Norman Bates, one of this decades’ more subtly and subversively horrific characters resides in Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance as Louis Bloom. A Los Angeles loner aimlessly in search of purpose, profit and recognition, he stumbles into the world of afterhours cameramen who hunt down and film news footage. He becomes like an animal stalking prey — the bloodier the better. With a strong supporting cast including Rene Russo, Riz Ahmed and the late, great Bill Paxton, “Nightcrawler” examines the sociopathic lengths someone will go to achieve acknowledgment and success in the unforgiving landscape of Hollywood.
“Pi” (1998)
Given a recent 25th anniversary retrospective release by distributor A24, Darren Aronofsky’s feature debut encompasses many of the visual and tonal signatures that became the director’s calling cards in future offerings, including “Requiem for a Dream” and “Black Swan.” It plays on themes of erratic obsession, inescapable paranoia and lingering dread, all viewed through the protagonist’s quest to solve a global conspiracy wrapped within the mysterious truth behind a mathematical symbol. Its standout performances and frenetic, black-and-white photography makes it an arresting and engrossing fever dream of a film.
“Sicario” (2015)
While Denis Villeneuve has gained widespread acclaim from his more recent science fiction projects (“Arrival,” “Blade Runner 2049,” “Dune”), his films remain rooted in a sense of practical realism on both sides of the camera. “Sicario” is no exception. Built on the foundation of a solid script by Taylor Sheridan (“Wind River,” “Yellowstone”) and strong performances from Benicio Del Toro and Emily Blunt, it questions how deeply people — and governments — will venture into their darkest nature to protect others, the greater good and themselves. Given the taut, skillfully executed interrogation and gunfight scenes, the answer seems to be pretty far.
“Uncut Gems” (2019)
The writer/director duo Josh and Benny Safdie and star Adam Sandler received plenty of critical praise upon the film’s initial release, and for good reason. The brothers helm a non-stop, white-knuckle thrill ride in the truest sense. The film skips the gory spectacle of “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” but is just as grimly horrific. “Uncut Gems” follows a New York diamond merchant desperately chasing “the big score” while throwing his business, family and personal safety into perilous jeopardy. Compellingly watchable, inventive and energetic, it captures the essence at the core of any great horror film: relentless tension leading to an unavoidable and gruesome climax.
WORDS BY COLIN REED ILLUSTRATION BY ALLISON BOWEN
With many people’s favorite night of merriment right around the corner, you’re well within the window to consider this year’s Halloween costume choices. But how do you stand out among the masses without falling into the all-too-common trap of picking something from well-worn or current pop culture territory — or grabbing some uninspired, prefab piece of plastic off the rack? Well, have no fear, because District Fray has you covered.
With Elon Musk’s seemingly bottomless reserve of online and IRL trolling, it seems inevitable that the (whether loved or hated) social media powerhouse that was Twitter (now X, a letter long obsessed over by Musk) is not long for the digital landscape. The battle between the embittered app and newly launched Threads (developed by Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta) proved to be an incredibly interesting slap fight of the year, so
why not turn it into a Halloween costume? Either decked out solo in grim reaper garb presiding over the funeral of the now deceased blue bird logo, or as a collaboration with a friend dressed up as the opposing Instagram-owned app, you’ll be appropriately macabre and inspired for the night. At the very least, it’ll beat Elon and Zuck in a cage match.
The problem with online buzzwords, memes or trends is that they’re hip one minute and passé the next. However, “girl dinner” appears to be here to stay. The term was coined in May by Olivia Maher in a TikTok video that has since garnered a million views and set the Internet ablaze. It’s nearly impossible to overlook or escape. The best thing about picking this conceptually original option: There are no rules. Just pick some edible favorites you would choose to eat if planted at your kitchen counter or on the couch in front of your TV, slap them on an easy-carry serving tray or cheese board with your favorite guilty pleasure foods (even if tasty candy or play set versions of them), and you’re good to go. It’s an easy, no-fuss way to pick white-hot word from the cultural lexicon, but still celebrating your favorite snacks.
There’s no shortage of complex but impactful female characters from either the entertainment landscape or in real life. So how about a way to highlight a couple at the same time? “Euphoria” remains one of HBO’s biggest hits in recent memory, and the show’s lead character, Rue (played by actress Zendaya), has gained a captive audience. To honor the anniversary of her passing and legacy of tirelessly fighting for gender equality under the law, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg remains an undeniable trailblazer and inspiration. The fact that both their names are strikingly similar doesn’t hurt either. All you’ll need is an appropriately “Notorious” judge costume paired with Rue’s signature purple hoodie and pair of Converse and you’re good to go.
Britney Spears has remained an enduring and impactful pop culture figure over the last nearly 25 years, since breaking through with her debut album “...Baby One More Time” back in 1999. To mark a significant personal event in the star singer’s life, her recent divorce from Sam Asghari, it could also be fitting to also cheekily acknowledge her whirlwind Vegas wedding to childhood friend Jason Allen Alexander (a 55-hour whirlwind courtship, subsequent nuptials and annulment), now nearly 20 years later. Unless you’ve got convenient access to four different Versace gowns she wore at her most recent ceremony, pair her unmistakable red jumpsuit from the “Oops!...I Did It Again,” music video, blonde wig and veil to complete the look.
In a movie landscape dominated by superhero flicks or established intellectual property, it was refreshing to see last year’s “Everything Everywhere All at Once” received so well by general audiences, not to mention snag Michelle Yeoh a
Best Actress Academy Award. Being that it’s a story focusing on a mother-daughter relationship, go as a solo or duo with a friend as lead characters Evelyn Quan Wong (Yeoh) and/or Joy Wang’s evil doppelganger Jobu Tupaki (Stephanie Hsu). Pick either’s toned-down, googly-eyed style (even a bit more fight-scene gory) or the villain’s more spectacular pink-haired, cowboy-booted and bedazzled Elvis jumpsuit option.
“Top Gun: Maverick” proved to be one of the bigger successes of Tom Cruise’s career, and a massively successful postCovid-19 blockbuster. While most might go with a more straight-forward look by throwing on a bomber jacket or Navy dress whites, give it a spooky take by picking a combination costume that’s a tip of the hat to the original film. Imagine Anthony Edwards’ Goose character (Cruise’s wingman who died tragically in a flight accident) managed to join the ranks of the undead as a zombie and is trying to track down Maverick for one last rendition of “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’.” Snag a zombie makeup kit, some fake blood, a fake mustache, Aviators and flight suit and you’re ready to hop back in the cockpit, for combat or chowing down on the nearest brains.
With all the films released this year, Disney’s live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid” took over the social media landscape with its new songs, casting choices and CGI scares. Another option that merges different beloved characters is to use another island adventure-based character: Tom Hank’s stranded, bearded FedEx employee from “Cast Away.” Throw in a mermaid wig and stuffed animal Flounder sidekick to create a fun hybrid option. You could even add an Ursula costume to take it all home.
A constant and comforting fall combo is wrapping yourself up in a warm blanket or cozy onesie and throwing on some good music. So, how about creating a costume inspired by the two? Get an appropriately creepy yet cute-sy skeleton onesie and platinum wig to emulate contemporary folk-pop singersongwriter Phoebe Bridgers (who herself boasts an affinity for “innocently creepy things”).
For someone who has self-identified as “franchise Viagra,” to endlessly posting their workout routines and diet regimens via Instagram, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson clearly possesses a megadose of self-confidence that many of us could only aspire to achieve. Perhaps it’s his level of bravado that lead him to post this ’90s-era look (apparently self-deprecatingly so) that has gone on to become iconic in its own right. Recreate the ensemble to help any and all to “smell what The Rock is cookin’’’ this year. It’s a great short-notice or lastminute option, with some pretty commonly attainable items you might even have lying around already (fanny pack, black turtleneck, silver chain and blue jeans).
Ghostburger emerged as one of D.C.’s first ghost kitchens at the height of the 2020 lockdown. Founded by Josh and Kelly Phillips under the umbrella of Destinations Unknown Restaurant Group, Ghostburger grew to a full-blown concept in Shaw by 2022.
The restaurant is known for proliferating an impressive menu, including build-your-own burger options, crispy fries, craft cocktails and cheesesteaks — a nod to Kelly Phillips’ Philadelphia roots. The cheesesteaks are the real deal, assembled with a secret cheese sauce blend and bread sourced from the iconic Sarcone’s Bakery in Philly.
Along with its mouth-watering menu, Ghostburger’s digs make it a perfect spooky season hang, where patrons will feel like kids again in the season of fangs and fright films.
“The vibe is colorful; there’s neon and being here reminds you of being in a punk rock, glam diner,” says Phillips, whose goth-chic style blends in seamlessly with the environment.
Inside the space, vibrant splashes of hot pink and a whimsical ghost motif are tempered by black walls and an industrial ceiling. The restaurant is tucked away behind black doors, its entrance illuminated by a single neon pink light.
“I think David Bowie would eat here,” Phillips says.
The restaurant’s punk rock proclivities and elevated comfort food are nothing if not nostalgic, where the mischievous protagonists of yesteryear’s American teen horror flicks would fit right in.
“I could see the women from ‘The Craft’ coming here after class for a burger and casting spells.”
Read on for a close-up of some of Ghostburger’s delicious dishes and libations — and Phillips’ perspective on what makes them so irresistible.
Ghostburger: 1250 9th St. NW, DC; ghostburgerdc.com // @ghostburgerdc
“ The La Carina is one of our signature cocktails. It has vodka, hibiscus and lime. It’s tart, light and refreshing, and of course fits our vibe because it’s pink.”
“ We have a special onion ring that stays crispy. We do a lot of delivery and the last thing you want is soggy onion rings. We found the perfect [recipe] and add a paprika mayo on the side.”
SHROOMSTEAK
“ The shroomsteak is our vegetarian crowd-pleaser. It has cremini mushrooms and our cheese sauce on a Sarcone’s roll. It reminds me of a cheesesteak, but it’s plant-based — and so craveable.”
“ The Mayahuel is our signature margarita with mezcal. It’s the perfect margarita. It’s not too sweet and has a bit of smoke and a nice, rich flavor.”
Located just steps from the bustling NoMa district, The Morrow Hotel was designed by a collection of award-winning architectural design firms. Our chic, brasserie-style restaurant, Le Clou, offers an exceptional dining experience from Michelin-starred chef Nicholas Stefanelli while our celebrated bar, Upstairs at The Morrow, pulses with energy and unparalleled city views. Whether you’re a D.C. local or just planning a visit, there’s always something happening at The Morrow Hotel.
Whether it’s on the table or not, ketchup is something you can find in pretty much every restaurant’s kitchen — from fine-dining to corner takeouts.
It is, after all, a go-to sauce. The salty, acidic and tomato-based condiment is perhaps most at home on a juicy burger or pile of French fries. But there are plenty of other ways D.C. chefs and restaurateurs go about using it.
From homemade ketchup brined with pickle juice to using ketchup as the base ingredient in a classic Chinese dish, it’s a red sauce with a wide reputation for being basic and ubiquitous, but it may be more complex than what meets the palate.
We ask a few chefs to explain their love for ketchup and to elaborate on their loyalty to the original ketchup brand, Heinz, invented in 1812 by Pittsburgh’s James Mease.
We also answer the question: Is ketchup the mother sauce of America?
Andrew MarkertChef + Owner of Beuchert’s Saloon + Fight Club DC
Are there specific ways you think about ketchup in your cooking? Ketchup for me has always been a nice starter when building a fun sauce for sandwiches. At Fight Club, we use ketchup in a number of sauces, including our fancy sauce for our burger. I also love ketchup as a base for making barbecue sauces.
What is your preferred dish to use ketchup as an ingredient?
Meatloaf with a ketchup glaze is my goto. I use ketchup and some brown sugar, then cover the meatloaf in the glaze before cooking it.
Do you think ketchup is the mother sauce of America?
I think that is pretty accurate. You can, much like the French mother sauces, make many things from ketchup, including mother sauce derivatives. Ketchup gives you barbecue sauces, remoulades, perhaps mumbo sauce. Making these sauces from a mother sauce is a very strong case for ketchup. Beuchert’s Saloon: 623 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, DC; beuchertssaloon.com // @beuchertssaloon
Fight Club: 633 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, DC; fightclubdc.com // @fightclubdc
Gerald ChinHead of Culinary at Mina Group, including Bourbon Steak
Why does Bourbon Steak make their ketchup in-house? How does it differ from bottled ketchups? At Bourbon Steak, we elevate the ketchup in our fry trio, creating a slightly acidic twist on the classic by adding our special blend of pickle juice, black pepper and salt. The resulting pickled ketchup complements our herbed fries so well and offers a familiar yet elevated ketchup and French fry pairing.
What is your preferred dish to use ketchup as an ingredient?
I like to use ketchup as an ingredient in cocktail sauce for sure, and also as a secret ingredient in steak tartare.
Do you think ketchup is the mother sauce of America?
The mother sauces are the unbeatable champions of tradition — iconic and untouchable. But, in America, ketchup does reign supreme over all condiments.
Bourbon Steak: 2800 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC; bourbonsteakdc.com // @bourbonsteakdc
Every month, we ask three D.C. chefs and hospitality pros for their tips and tricks on essential ingredients and unsung tools of the trade.
Will Fung
Jose Andres Group Operations Manager + Former Head Chef at China Chilcano
Can you put your love for Heinz ketchup into words?
Heinz is simply an American institution, and their ketchup is the iconic product. Heinz ketchup has the best balance of sweet, tangy and savory and has a viscosity that can be used in many different recipes. Also, I have a lot of family in Pittsburgh, so I am fairly certain they would disown me if I speak ill of Heinz.
What are some unique ways you have used ketchup as an ingredient?
Ketchup is used in a lot of Chinese dishes, since its history can be traced to Hokkien cuisine. One of my favorite things to make is flying squirrel fish, a classic Chinese dish where a whole fried fish is coated in a sticky sweet and sour sauce. I use Heinz ketchup as the base. Recently, I’ve been exploring Sai Chaan, a staple in classic Hong Kong diners that is basically our interpretation of Western cuisine back in the 1950s. A lot of the sauces in Sai Chaan also use ketchup as a base.
Do you think ketchup can be considered the mother sauce of America?
Ketchup is ubiquitous because it is such a great vessel of umami, so it acts as a flavor multiplier for whatever sauce you are making with it. This will be a hot take probably, but after consulting with my friend and colleague Sam ChappleSokol, who worked on “The World Central Kitchen Cookbook,” we’ve identified the following as America’s mother sauces: Heinz ketchup, Duke’s mayo, Worcestershire, French’s yellow mustard and Texas Pete’s hot sauce.
China Chilcano: 418 7th St. NW, DC; chinachilcano.com // @chinachilcano
As You Are exists to hold and cultivate a safe and celebratory space for the LGBTQIA+ community. Café by day, bar and dance lounge by night, As You Are welcomes LGBTQIA+ patrons, from all walks of life, and allies in a versatile haven for queer expression and connection.
asyouaredc.com | @asyouaredc
500 8th St. SE, DC | 202-506-1440
There’s nothing scarier than a hangover, but sometimes the cocktail makes it worth it. As we celebrate all things spooky this season, we like to pair our scary movies or costume parties with a nice drink. So put away your witch’s brew (or whatever concoction gets served to you at your friend’s Halloween party) and pick up one of these craft cocktails available around D.C. And because the thrill of Halloween candy never gets old, we’ve paired each local libation with a classic candy for the ultimate grown-up treat.
Autumn Leaves at House Bar
As the leaves begin to change and fall to the ground, what better way to cherish one of nature’s many wonders than with a drink? You may be asking yourself, “What is so scary about the leaves changing?” To that I say, “4 p.m. sunsets.” Throughout October, sample House Bar’s latest drink in store. If it tastes like something you’d want to hide in your water bottle as you take your kids trick-or-treating, the ingredients are available to purchase till December. The cocktail plays with fruitier flavors with ingredients like aperol, applerosemary syrup and lemon juice. To compliment the fruity nature of this drink, I’d enjoy it with Skittles. 1299 1st St. SE, Suite 101, DC; housebar.com // @livehousebar
Smoke and Mirrors currently offers three unique autumnalinspired cocktails that will get you in the spooky mood. First is their Not So Hot Chocolate, featuring a chocolate-infused mezcal. Naturally, I’d pair this drink with a classic Hershey’s bar for a double chocolate hit. If chocolate isn’t your cup of tea, try out the Harvest Moon. This rum-based drink could go well with caramel, so dig into the corners of your kid’s candy-filled pillowcase and pull out that one caramel candy you got from the old person in your neighborhood. Last, not to be missed is their Spice Up the Capital. This rum and brandy-based drink plays off fruity flavors and could best be paired with one of my personal favorite candies: gummy bears. 867 New Jersey Ave. SE, DC; smokeandmirrorsrooftop.com // @smokeandmirrorsrooftop
The Ch-EYE-ko Sour is ChiKo’s first menu change since Phil Anova transitioned from bar director at Anju to beverage
director of the Fried Rice Collective. The cocktail is just in time for spooky season, and features a float of sangria over a combination of mezcal and lychee sour mix. The drink is garnished with lychee stuffed with cherries to look like eyeballs and reminds me of the PBS show “Oobi,” which scared me as a kid, so it’s perfect for spooky season. Lychee is said to pair well with the ever controversial white chocolate, so try it with a Hershey’s cookies and cream bar. 423 8th St. SE, DC; mychiko.com // @chikofrc
When you’re taking your kid trick-or-treating and you’ve already gotten enough steps to get you off the hook for the next three days but there’s still a barrage of houses left, this cocktail is for you. Café Unido is serving up a concoction to help take the edge off, while giving you the little boost to finish the day: a mix of rum and coffee liqueur. The secret blend of coconut and spices add a unique flavor to the cocktail. This drink would go best with the bane of every trick-or-treat haul: a Mounds bar. 908 W St. NW, DC; cafeunido.com // @cafeunidousa
Kuro Tenshi at Zeppelin
Zeppelin presents their take on a Smoked Black Manhattan. When translated, the drink means “black angel” in Japanese. This may sound crazy, and depending on your taste in candy, you’ll either love or resent this pairing, but some argue candy corn works with a Manhattan due to the sugary nature of the candy and the bitter taste of the drink. I personally find Candy Corn similar to sugar wax, but I also find whiskey and bourbon drinkers to have questionable taste. 1544 9th St. NW, DC; zeppelindc.com // @zeppelindc
In homage to the art of José Guadalupe Posada and inspired by the history of Día de los Muertos, Serenta created the La Catrina. This cocktail takes a savory approach, pulling from flavors like corn and garbanzo while also incorporating the cult-classic pumpkin spice flavor. Play into the pumpkin spice of it all and pair this drink with your favorite cinnamon candy. 1280 4th St. NE, DC; serenatadc.com // @serenatadc
Mon Sherry Amour Menu at Show of Hands
Show of Hands, located in The Roost food hall, is launching their Mon Sherry Amour cocktail menu, a series of Sherry-based cocktails. Some highlights include the Fall Fruit Cobbler, a cocktail combining a brown butter sherry and pumpkin, and the Frog Autumn, a combination of apple and sherry. I would recommend pairing both cocktails with a Milky Way, as sherry works well with chocolate and caramel. 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, DC; therootssedc.com // @showofhandsdc
Persian Sazerac at Joon
Joon is offering a new perspective on the classic sazerac cocktail by incorporating Aragh Rinse, a Persian moonshine. Nougat works well with VSOP cognac, featured in the Persian Sazerac, so try a Three Musketeers with this cocktail. 8045 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA; eatjoon.com // @eat.joon
For many in the DMV, mead is the drink you get at the Maryland Renaissance Festival — a bee sting that’s sweet and mixed with cider. But zoom out a little, and you’ll find a few other meaderies in the area serving unexpected flavors, from dry and hoppy to sparking, spicy and fruity. Mead pairs perfectly with the fall weather, giving you a happy quick buzz with its surprisingly versatile honey base. We caught up with some local meaderies to learn more about our area’s most underrated drink.
Perhaps the most recognizable mead brand in the DMV, Baltimore-based Charm City Meadworks popularized mead in their easy-to-drink, lower-ABV, carbonated offerings. Lucky for us, D.C. residents can find their pastel-branded cans in many grocery stores in the area. Though they’ve taken off, Austin Haynes, Charm City’s sales manager, says the mead world still feels like a small community.
“We’re all trying to do our own thing,” he says. “And there’s enough room for everyone on the shelf.”
Once a small homebrewing operation by founder James Boicourt, Charm City has spread to Pennsylvania, Delaware and Georgia along with the DMV.
Charm City sources its honey locally and internationally, and now has a beehive inside of the taproom.
“There’s probably a thousand bees,” Haynes says. “It’s so wild. We’re trying to help educate by making a green space for pollinators. People can learn something at the same time they try our stuff.”
There’s a common misconception with mead — that it’s sweet because of its base. But Charm City ferments most
of the sugar out of the honey to give it a drier, low-calorie, low-sugar finish.
“If you look at ABV, the numbers are closer to a seltzer,” Haynes says. “There’s definitely a market for the sweet varieties, but here, it’s not overbearing.”
As for Haynes’ favorite flavor?
“I truly believe our pumpkin mead is one of the best things we make,” he says. “But we do have a new one worth trying — the Purple Reign, a little tribute to Prince. We used a little lemon, a little ginger and pea flower for a bright purple color; something cool for Ravens season.”
Yancy Bodenstein, the executive vice president of Clear Skies Meadery, has been making mead for 20 years now. But just four days after he and chief executive officer Manisha Eigner celebrated the opening of their brickand-mortar, the Covid-19 pandemic struck. Despite the setback, Clear Skies has only grown — they even expanded to a bigger space in Rockville last December.
Bodenstien and Eigner stick with mead because of its versatility. Bodenstien explained that different beer and wine styles can sometimes limit creativity as their types are set in stone, but mead is a blank slate for new ideas.
“We have the culinary world at our disposal,” he says. “For example, you know chocolate and vanilla go well together — the culinary world has created those flavor pairings, and we can go from there.”
A mead’s base can influence its flavors. For example, orange blossom honey is great for citrusy drinks, while buckwheat honey’s subtle flavors can be
built upon with stronger ones like cherry or saffron.
With mead, the flavors are very present, not just a subtle aftertaste. Some of Clear Skies’ current offerings include a gingerfocused pour, a margarita-flavored drink and an “oaky Chardonnay with a cream soda soul.”
Eigner recommends treating mead as a specialty drink — and paying attention to the flavors they will add to your meal in more obvious ways than other alcohol.
“Sip on it slowly,” she says. “Savor it like you would savor a glass of wine.”
Located right outside of D.C., Maryland Meadworks makes visitors feel like they’re not close to the city at all. The space is intimate — cozy, even — filled with a community table, converted church pews and a stage for local musical acts.
Owner and Meadmaker Ken Carter sits at the center of the community space. During our interview, he’s greeting regulars, hyping local businesses (including meadery competitors) and introducing me to guests with details only a dedicated service provider would know.
But this all started at home, where Carter experimented with different brewing techniques. He quickly fell for the versatility mead offers.
“Mead is gluten free, it’s not as filling and it gives you a super happy buzz,” he says. “You can make mead that’s 5% or 20% alcohol. It’s super diverse — it works well with fruits, fruit juices, herbs, spices.”
The mead on tap fits the bill. Drinks range from dry and fruity to spicy, citrusy or hoppy. Some are mixed with cider, some with orange juice, some with lemonade. But it’s the honey that helps the flavors blend into unexpected and interesting concoctions.
Maryland Meadworks sources its honey both locally and internationally for a wide flavor profile, and will often blend spring and fall varietals for consistency throughout the year. In that same vein, staff at Maryland Meadworks experiment by mixing different pours, like the Zanzibar’s tropical fruit notes with the Super Hy’s hibiscus and tart blueberry.
“Honey is a flex fermentable,” Carter says. “You’re talking thousands and thousands of bees creating a product — it’s really complex.”
Fall is when the meadery thrives: They celebrate their anniversary with a Halloween party, open fire pits on the
patio and break out warm fall flavors like pumpkin, fig, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Orchid Cellar started with owner Andrzej Wilk carrying on the Polish tradition of home brewing mead until the family opened their full business in 2006. Located in Frederick, Maryland on about 15 acres of land, they keep beehives on site, own a small experimental vineyard, grow wildflowers all around and boast picturesque forest views.
“Polish recipes are a little sweeter and higher in alcohol content,” general manager Andrzej Wilk Jr. says.
While many of their meads are Polish style, they still experiment with different flavors and modern approaches to meadmaking, like creating a line of six different spicy meads and adding sparkling versions that have less alcohol content.
Wilks points out that honey is not seasonally dependent — there’s not just one harvest. Honey doesn’t go bad, so they can store it indefinitely.
“It can make anything from a light drink to a long-age premium product,” Wilk says.
His favorite experiments have to do with spices, mixing fruits and peppers and seeing what works. Right now, their elderberry scotch bonnet is very popular — a flavor pairing Wilk found unexpected. Some notable meads on tap now include a sweet vanilla bean-flavored drink that pairs well with desserts, a mead that tastes similar to a classic cobbler and an award-winning red chile flavor perfect for pairing with Thai dishes.
“It’s a great beverage to get into,” he says. “Honey is just a great vessel for flavoring.”
Charm City Meadworks: 400 E Biddle St. Baltimore, MD; charmcitymeadworks.com // @charmcitymead
Clear Skies Meadery: 15201 Display Ct. Rockville, MD; clearskiesmeadery.com // @clear_skies_meadery
Maryland Meadworks: 4700 Rhode Island Ave. Hyattsville, MD; marylandmeadworks.com // @marylandmeadworks
Orchid Cellar Meadery + Winery: 8546 Pete Wiles Rd. Middletown, MD; orchidcellar.com // @orchidcellar
Interested in trying these meaderies for yourself? Visit on these specific days for special events alongside experimental pours.
10.5-10.27
OPEN MIC AND TRIVIA NIGHTS AT CHARM CITY MEADWORKS
Every Wednesday, check out Baltimore’s best for open mic nights, and every Thursday, test your knowledge at trivia nights. 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and 7 p.m. on Thursdays.
10.6
EVENING OF MEAD AT ORCHID CELLAR MEADERY + WINERY
Join for extended hours, live music and food from Yume Teriyaki Grill food truck. 12-9 p.m.
10.13 + 10.27
TRIVIA NIGHTS AT CLEAR SKIES MEADERY
Experience the magic of their “Love Potion 69” while answering Harry Potter trivia. 7 p.m.
10.27-10.29
FIFTH ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND AT MARYLAND MEADWORKS
Visit on the 27 and 28 for live music (with some Halloween selections) and baked goods from neighbor Shortcake Bakery starting at 7 p.m. each night, and on the 28 for a brunch party starting at 11 a.m. Costumes encouraged for the whole weekend.
The musicians talk balancing friendship and work, audience and artist boundaries, and all things spooky before headlining District Fray’s Cult Classic Halloween Party.
The sun has just set in Congressional Cemetery, and Cat Janice and Cathy DiToro are sitting on the ground hugging in front of a solemn row of headstones. Strobes pop as they chat with photographer Mariah Miranda and pose for District Fray’s October cover shoot. Their relaxed body language makes it easy to see they’re friends.
But when they both stand up to change their positions, a spine-chilling, shrieking bark —probably a fox — erupts from a distant corner of the cemetery.
“What the f--k was that?” Janice says.
DiToro’s eyes widen into huge saucers, and she looks around theatrically. Everyone laughs — nervously.
Even though we’re all slapping mosquitoes and sweating, and dog walkers are strolling by the shoot in shorts and tank tops, the eerie sound feels like a herald for the season to come. DiToro and Janice look like they’ve just walked off the set of “The Craft” (the original, of course), and fog is pouring out of a smoke machine and pooling at their feet. The two will be headlining District Fray’s Cult Classic Halloween Party on October 31 and will perform live with band members from local rock cover band 7 Deadlies and ’90s hit cover band So Fetch, which DiToro fronts. The soiree is a homage to all things ‘80s, ‘90s, cult and creepy, and the duo’s setlist and costume choice will reflect this.
Janice and DiToro have each made their own impression on the D.C. music scene. Janice’s intimate, playful songwriting has yielded a Washington Area Metropolitan Music (WAMMY) award and has been featured on Netflix’s hit TV show “Selling Sunset.” In July, she released her latest album “Modern Medicine.”
In addition to So Fetch, DiToro fronts the local favorite ’80s cover band The Legwarmers, who have a devoted following and are known for their raucous shows. She has also toured under her own name writing and performing original songs, and in 2017 she founded ProjectHERA, a D.C.-based initiative to support and increase opportunities for women in music.
In fact, DiToro and Janice first connected at a ProjectHERA festival in 2019.
DiToro says, “We just met and became friends —” “Instantly,” Janice jumps in, finishing her sentence. They laugh. “Afterwards, it was like, ‘Oh my gosh, we have to get involved.’”
The two started playing shows together, and last year, DiToro and Janice teamed up to form the DJ duo Step Sisters. Since their debut, they’ve been throwing dance parties at spots like Decades and Songbyrd Music House. The project has given them insight into the delicate work of collaborating creatively with your close friends.
“We both bring something really unique to the table — and that’s the only way this would work,” Janice says. “I feel like we can have real conversations about what we want and don’t want. We can set goals and hone our specific talents.”
DiToro agrees.
“As we get older, being honest is really the only way, especially in an industry like this where things are always changing,” she says, pausing. “Demand is the wrong word — I almost require the people I work with to go to that next level with me. Because I don’t just show up and clock in and clock out.”
Being a musician with any level of recognition comes with a lot of considerations. Fans want to be able to connect with the artists they love on social media and are eager for a peek into their lives, and artists have to decide how much to let their audiences see.
When Janice was diagnosed with cancer a year and a half ago, she was open with her fans throughout her treatment process.
“That vulnerability is helpful,” she says. “If I were to try to hide or not talk about going through this, I think it would make me more depressed and anxious. It’s also helped me push more about just being open and honest with who I am with the people in front of me.”
Still, she says, she draws boundaries — particularly around her son. She wants him to make his own choices about how he shares his life with others.
As for DiToro?
“I’m terrible at boundaries,” she says. “But what you see on stage is exactly who I am in person. I struggle with this a lot. I give a lot of energy all the time. It’s just who I am. However, it has affected me, too, physically and mentally. I have to build in days of rest, and it’s something I’m still learning to do.”
Having both been in D.C.’s music scene for a while, they’re looking to their futures as artists and making the most of this moment.
“I just appreciate every single show I have,” says DiToro, who continues to juggle back-to-back gigs with her two bands and solo act.
Post “Modern Medicine,” Janice is planning to focus more on producing, DJing and writing.
Their upcoming show with District Fray will feature plenty of spooky songs, some jokes and a lot of dancing, but they’re not overthinking it.
“So many times, we over-prepare and then end up changing things last minute,” Janice says. “So, it’s gonna be fine wherever the energy takes us. And we’re very high energy when we get up on stage.”
Their affection and regard for one another is clear offstage and when they’re performing, too.
“It just adds a whole element of organic, fun chemistry — whether we’re DJing or playing live together, people are drawn to it,” Janice says. “And by the end of the night, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much.”
Come to our Cult Classic Halloween Party and see Cat Janice + Cathy DiToro perform on Tuesday October 31. Spooky ’80s or ’90s themed character costumes are ecouraged. Buy tickets at bit.ly/wearetheweirdosmister. Learn more about Cat Janice at catjanicemusic.com and @cat.janice, Cathy DiToro @ditoromusic and Step Sisters @stepsistersparty.
Cat’s Nostalgia Picks
SCREEN
“An American Werewolf in London” (1981)
SOUNDS
“The Bends” album by Radiohead
“OK Computer” album by Radiohead
“Mad World” by Tears for Fears
“Where Is My Mind?” by Pixies
Cathy’s Nostalgia
Picks
SCREEN
“The Shining” (1980)
“Silver Bullet” (1985)
“Pet Sematary” (1989)
“Misery” (1990)
“Scream” (1996)
“Donnie Darko” (2001)
SOUNDS
“Black Star” by Radiohead
“Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by Eurythmics
All eyes are on Bambi when they enter a room — or in many instances, dance in a room. At District Fray’s Art Out Loud Party with Capital Pride this past June, Bambi performed on the edge of Selina Hotel’s rooftop garden wearing a gold glitter fringe coat and not much else. For four hours, Bambi was chained to a disco ball, dancing by themselves in a mesmerizing performance that left people talking throughout the party and days later.
Bambi is that gorl — just check their Instagram handle for proof — and they continue to find new ways to create spaces for queer entertainment and performance art. The next installment for the D.C.-based dancer, producer and haus of bambi founder, is an intimate salon variety show series titled “The Bambi Show,” which will premiere on October 17.
Once a month on a Tuesday, Bambi will host a special guest artist, and they will chat, perform and interact with the audience in a live show extravaganza. Expect laughs, secrets spilled and a possible stunt or two thrown into the mix.
“It’s going to be a little bit of ‘Pee-wee’s Playhouse,’ ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’ and Warhol’s Factory,” Bambi says. “The demographic is those who are looking for weeknight, queer, odd, creative entertainment.”
The location is set to change for each show, but Bambi promises each place will be Metro-accessible private venues, like localhomes and bar spaces. Every show will have a fixed itinerary starting at 7 p.m. with a social hour for mingling, followed by the performance at 8 p.m.
“The show is an excuse to get people to meet and have conversations with each other,” Bambi says. “Not as a networking thing, but rather to come to this cool thing that
is low stakes. The event will end at 9:30 p.m. each time. It’s like sitting down and watching an episode of ‘SVU.’ You can commit to this.”
While the exact dates of guest appearances are still under wraps, some of the confirmed artists for the next few months include dancer and Broadway choreographer Raja Feather Kelly; University of Maryland artist-in-residence for performance art Kate Ladenheim; and 2022 CFDA Emerging Designer nominee Bach Mai (who Bambi met in ballet class 15 years ago).
The plan is to keep the shows small, with room for only 50 or 100 attendees depending on venue. People will have to purchase tickets by signing up for haus of bambi’s free social club, Club Haus, and the location will be disclosed a week before the event to add to the mystique.
Tickets are expected to be $20 and will include free “haus” wine. Bambi is also setting up an option online for people to donate a ticket so someone facing financial barriers can attend, too.
Above all, Bambi wants people to arrive as themselves, be entertained and escape the weekday doldrums.
“It’s a night off. You can show up in your pajamas, or you can show up in a gown. This is the night you need to have on Tuesday, and I’m facilitating it. I’m happy to tap dance for you.”
“The Bambi Show” premieres on October 17 from 7-9:30 p.m. To purchase tickets and stay informed on updates about the upcoming monthly shows, sign up to be a Club Haus member at hausofbambi.com, and follow on Instagram @hausofbambi and @thatgorlbambi.
After directing the acclaimed production of James Baldwin’s domestic drama “The Amen Corner” at Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) and the healing experience of “What to Send Up When It Goes Down” at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, director, playwright, actor and singer Whitney White is returning to STC’s stages with her musical adaptation “Macbeth in Stride.” The production runs October 10 to 29 at STC’s Klein Theatre.
White, who is an associate director at STC, firmly believes “theatre, especially Shakespeare, is for everyone.”
While there is a reluctance in visiting the theater, she admits it’s easy to convince friends to attend concerts.
So, she’s deconstructed Shakespeare’s supernatural tragedy, adding metatheatrical commentary that analyzes the work
through a contemporary Black feminist lens. She’s also turned it into a rock concert with original music.
White keeps most of Lady Macbeth’s scenes intact but often interrupts to ask contemporary questions about themes of love, power, marriage and desire. In Lady M, she finds a version of today’s ultimate girlboss: the woman who wants to have it all — marriage, family, success and the Scottish throne, a parable of leaning in (with dagger in hand).
White explains that “Macbeth in Stride” is a study about desire for power and love, and how sometimes those things are at odds for women today.
“How does a woman navigate motherhood, her own personal goals and her personal life?” White says. “Shakespeare made this trope of the power-hungry woman — the woman who is ambitious — and we still live with it today.”
Lady Macbeth’s name has become shorthand for any ambitious woman: Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Vice President Kamala Harris. Basically any woman who has achieved a level of power has been compared to the homicidal queen in negative media depictions.
“Does calling any powerful woman ‘Lady Macbeth’ bring her down?” White asks. “But, also, what’s the good side of this ambitious woman — her power? These are just delicious questions.”
The Rock Roots of “Macbeth in Stride”
Initially conceived as a solo performance piece during White’s third year at Brown University Trinity Rep in 2015, White continued to spend time with Shakespeare’s vexed villainess, revising and expanding the work into a rock concert take that features a cast of five, plus a onstage band. In fall 2021, “Macbeth in Stride” was a hit when it was onstage at A.R.T. in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
“When I read ‘Macbeth,’ it sounds like rock ’n’ roll to me,” White says.
She doesn’t just mean the rhythms of iambic pentameter and the witchy rhymes, either. She finds Shakespeare’s ambitious duo is also a rock archetype.
For Lady Macbeth, she turned to icon Tina Turner’s boldness, her raw sexuality and relentless fight to claim her own name and fame separate from her husband. Her Lady Macbeth, performed by White (yes, she does it all) combines the Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll’s signature combination of rock, soul and blues.
Considering all the toxic masculinity of the play, she found inspiration for Macbeth’s voice in a different genre.
“There’s something about that landscape that sounds like industrial metal to me,” White says. “More Nine Inch Nails and Trent Reznor’s music.”
White explains the mashup between Black woman-led soul and white-man industrial sounds like the duality and psychology of their marriage.
“The surprise of ‘Macbeth’ is that this couple is in it together,” White says. “And that’s a very unique and contemporary thing.”
The witches drive the whole narrative. White called upon different times she received advice throughout her life — both good and bad — while constructing the witches’ “cacophony of voices” that advise the Macbeths as they make their fateful decisions. A trio of back-up singers portrayed as “women, queer folk, othered people,” acting alternately as sisters, enemies, friends, accomplices.
“That’s how Shakespeare wrote it; that’s how the movies show it,” White says.
The witches sing about the murderous couple — but it’s different in “Macbeth in Stride.” As the third witch says, “This time, it’s about her.”
“Macbeth in Stride” has some strong similarities to recent feminist revisions that tell old tales through modern music. The West End hit “& Juliet” (2019) envisions a version where
Shakespeare’s teen does not die, but instead discovers herself while singing Britney Spears and Katy Perry songs.
The touring musical “SIX” (2017) features Henry VIII’s tragic wives. Turning away from a fierce singing competition, the women compose their own happier endings and form a powerhouse pop group together.
Of this particular cultural moment surrounding these musicals, White says, “We’re all asking, ‘How can this old story speak to the now?’ It feels like a moment where artists have permission to look into the past and use what’s useful. I love that.”
“Macbeth in Stride” is just the first of a five-part series commissioned by A.R.T. There are four more works to be announced about Shakespearean heroines that White will be writing and directing over the next several years.
“There are certain women in Shakespeare’s canon that are particularly powerful to me,” White says. “I want to explore: What are the effects of their narratives on us today?”
“Macbeth in Stride” plays at Shakespeare Theatre Company from October 10-29. To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit shakespearetheatre.org or follow them on Instagram @shakespeareindc. To see what Whitney White is up to next, visit whitney-white.com.
Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Klein Theatre: 450 7th St. NW, DC
Happening this month:
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21
Spooky Row (Fall Fest)
One of the many old superstitions of stagecraft is that each theater is haunted by its own ghost. Whether to appease the spirit or keep it at bay, theaters often keep a “ghost light” burning onstage when the building is otherwise dark. But at several theaters in the District, ghosthunters and ghouls, serial killers and witches, decapitated teens and more are all invited onstage this season.
THROUGH 10.8
“ALCESTE” AT DUPONT UNDERGROUND, BALTIMORE THEATRE PROJECT + GALA HISPANIC THEATRE
IN Series Opera descends to the Greek underworld this season, staging the ancient tragicomedy “Alceste” at Dupont Underground. Using a score by Handel, a translation of
Euripides’ ancient play by Ted Hughes and additional poetry from Sylvia Plath, the work focuses on the heroine who offers her life in place of her husband’s.
“Last year, our first show was a version of the Orpheus myth, another Hades-set story,” says Timothy Nelson, artistic director of IN Series Opera. “That’s why we chose the Underground: We just love the space aesthetically and acoustically, and audiences love going there.”
For shows at GALA Hispanic Theatre, audiences are seated onstage. The action takes place in front of the proscenium to recreate the experience of an ancient Greek drama. Check the IN Series website for individual performances. inseries.org // @inseriesopera
THROUGH 10.29
“THE BROTHERS PARANORMAL” AT OLNEY THEATER
“We are all haunted — by family, by the past, by a sense of displacement,” says co-director Hallie Gordon about “The Brothers Paranormal” onstage at Olney Theater.
Written by Prince Gomolvilas and co-directed by Aria Velz, the play follows Thai American ghost-busting brothers Max and Visarut and their vexed relationship to a ghost haunting the home of a Hurricane Katrina evacuee.
“Like all good horror stories, ‘The Brothers Paranormal’ operates both on a visceral level — providing scary jolts that quicken the blood — and on a metaphorical level,” Gordon says. “With courage and good humor, these characters must confront the demons of guilt, sorrow and dread common to all of us in this uncertain and unsettled time.”
During the run of the production, Olney has also organized supernatural-themed community events. olneytheatre.org // @olneytheatre
“THE TELL-TALE HEART” AT SYNETIC THEATER
Edgar Allan Poe’s chilling short story is re-envisioned as a live-action nightmare, in which young and old versions of the same character converge. Synetic Theater’s Co-Founder Paata Tsikurishvili returns to the director’s chair for this thoughtprovoking and time-twisting tale of mania and murder.
“We also have a chorus of vultures who represent and symbolize the growing madness of the main character, Young Poe,” Tsikurishvili says. “They drive him on toward the murder, encouraging and supporting him along the way. [Old Poe] is not just any old man, as in the story. We’ve turned him into an artist who’s declining and suffering from dementia, with his art being part of what drives Young Poe insane.”
Told in Synetic’s signature kinetic style, “The Tell-Tale Heart” promises to be harrowing and atmospheric. synetictheater.org // @synetictheater
10.10-10.29
“MACBETH IN STRIDE” AT SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY
“The story of Lady Macbeth, who she was, who she is, who she could be is endlessly fascinating,” explains Whitney White, who wrote and stars in this response to Shakespeare’s classic “Macbeth.”
“Some of the things she wants are also what many modern women reach for in their lives: marriage, desire and power. Why is the iconography of Lady Macbeth such a sticking point for us culturally, and how does it bring women down?”
In “Macbeth in Stride,” onstage at Shakespeare Theatre Company, White rewrites her story by centering Lady Macbeth as an ambitious Black woman who challenges the inherent misogyny of a “power-hungry woman” while creating a spellbinding rock musical. The show is complete with a trio of back-up singing witches, an onstage band, choreography and a tattooed Macbeth.
shakespearetheatre.org // @shakespeareindc
10.19-10.29
“MONSTRESS” AT SILVER SPRING BLACK BOX THEATRE
Flying V Theatre invites brave souls to view a captured manananggal during her feeding time in a safe, enclosed exhibit. What could go wrong? The manananggal is a vampirelike creature from Philippine mythology, whose winged upper torso flies through the air at night searching for young lovers or happily pregnant women to feast upon. Try to get that nightmarish vision out of your head.
With “Monstress,” Flying V developed an immersive horror experience for small-batch audiences at Silver Spring Black Box Theatre that combines live and digital performance to engage with a sense of dread and horror, and the lingering question of what we deem as monstrous. Do you dare to look? For a first glance, check out Flying V’s short animated film series about this monster set free on their YouTube channel. flyingvtheatre.com // @flyingvtheatre
10.25-11.18
“KILL THE RIPPER” AT THE CAPITOL HILL ARTS WORKSHOP
“I’m thrilled to be directing the American premiere of ‘Kill the Ripper’ at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop,” shares Director Megan Behm about the feminist revisionist play tackling the topic of infamous Victorian serial killer Jack the Ripper. “This play includes kick-butt action sequences, compelling characters, feminist themes, an awkward but heartwarming love story and some delightfully dark comedy. At its core, this show is about a group of women becoming fed up with feeling powerless and deciding to take matters into their own hands. ‘Kill the Ripper’ celebrates what happens when people who are marginalized manage to wrestle power back from their oppressors — with satisfying (and bloody) results.”
For the run of “Kill the Ripper,” there are special drinks night performances during International Sherry Week and on Halloween night.
wehappyfewdc.com // @wehappyfewdc
10.27-11.26
“RIDE THE CYCLONE” AT NEXTSTOP THEATRE COMPANY
“Your lucky number is seven. You will soar to great heights. Be sure to ride The Cyclone.”
With that generic prophecy, the fates of six teenagers were sealed. If you missed this cult musical phenomenon at Arena Stage last season, or you want to spend more time with the dead, get in line for this unforgettable rollercoaster ride at NextStop Theatre Company in Herndon, Virginia.
With book, music and lyrics by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell, “Ride the Cyclone” picks up following the untimely deaths of a group of Canadian choir students after a freak amusement park ride mishap. Now, the teens — all coasting in limbo — have a chance to sing their stories and be granted another chance at life. “Ride the Cyclone” is audacious, macabre and incredibly life-affirming.
nextstoptheatre.org // @nextstoptheatre
In forthcoming issues, Blumberh will chat with District Fray on all things style. And in this month’s issue, we introduce Blumberh so you’re ready to dive into her take on D.C.’s burgeoning fashion world the next time you see her name. Read on for her ideas on shopping sustainably and curating the perfect fall wardrobe.
WORDS BY M.K. KOSZYCKI | PHOTOS BY ANDREW J. WILLIAMS IIIThe classic suit is as iconic to the District as the cherry blossoms, the gin rickey and go-go. From Capitol Hill to game day locker rooms, you can expect to find residents across the city dressed to the nines.
What’s not as common as the simple suit is one tailored just for you — both in fit and style. These pieces can work from office to outing, day to night and casual to black tie.
Below we hear from local stylist, Knot Standard Sales Director (and style icon herself) Emily Blumberh, who is redefining the suit, and fashion in D.C. Blumberh shares her fashion beginnings, the importance of investing in quality pieces, and, of course, fall fashion tips to take you into cooler weather in style.
Professionally, Blumberh got her start at D.C. tech company LivingSocial before moving to the closet curation service Trunk Club. When Nordstrom acquired Trunk Club, she craved the high-touch service she used to give clients and eventually found her new home at D.C.’s Knot Standard outpost in Logan Circle.
“The main thing I like is one-on-one relationships,” Blumberh says. “I’ve been doing this for almost 10 years now, so I really know my client base. One of my first client’s daughters was 11 [when I first met him], and he just [took] them to Georgia for college. So, I know him, I know his life. I know what he likes and what to introduce that his wife wants him to wear.”
In getting to know her clients, she adds flourishes to custom-made pieces that feel emblematic of each person’s identity. A hidden skull button, a favorite lyric inside a collar or a colorful lining to offset a solid color suit are common embellishments.
For Blumberh, who often designs her own Knot Standard pieces to wear on the job and out and about, this can also look like
embroidery reading, “It’s a beautiful day in the Dizzy,” a homage to the city she loves.
Blumberh comes from a fashionable family: her mom has always worked in designer and vintage consignment. What’s more, her dad is an avid collector of meaningful items like baseball cards and vinyl. So, the joy of the hunt — and the importance of investing in pieces that last — is something deeply ingrained that she imparts to her clientele.
“I grew up with a bunch of very beautiful, well-made things that were also acquired with a lot of love and care,” she says. “That was what inspired me to really get into this.”
The acquisition of a dream closet or collection isn’t something that happens overnight, however, and Blumberh knows this. For those wishing to line their closet with vintage and slow fashion, she suggests a similarly careful pace as you build a wardrobe that’s sustainable for you, your wallet and the world around you.
“I think the whole thing to do at first is just to start,” she says. “Say, you still have your Zara pieces that come and go pretty quickly, but you also have some staples that you’re more invested in. As you have more skin in the game by either saving for or creating pieces, you can mix that with your fast fashion. I think after a while people start to feel the difference.”
After building a wardrobe, Blumberh notes you may still need overhauls every now and then. These might be due your style selfdiscovery process, new togs needed for a trip and more. But she notes that as you go deeper into creating a closet you love, the need to shop outside of it will lessen.
“You get addicted to the hunt of finding or making something beautiful. I turn people into monsters — in a good way — who care about where things were sourced. And my job is to make people’s things all work together.”
Blumberh shared her go-to spots for vintage and fashion staples in D.C. and online this fall.
Evolve Vintage + The Disco Loft for pop-ups around the District. @evolve.vtg // @thediscoloft
Los Gitanos Vintage for styling inspiration via the vintage shop’s social media pages. etsy.com/shop/losgitanosvintage // @losgitanosvintage
The RealReal for contemporary brand name pieces and online shopping. therealreal.com // @therealreal
Rent the Runway to get to know brands and how they fit you (without the commitment). renttherunway.com // @renttherunway
According to Blumberh, it’s the denizens returning to their offices around the District.
“It’s exciting and intimidating to a lot of people,” she says. “The dress codes have gotten a little more liberal, which you think people would love. But it was way easier for people to wear a pencil skirt and a blouse, or for guys to do a navy or gray suit. So what I’m seeing right now [are people] just adapting to that.”
When it comes to tops for men or more masculine outfits, she recommends playing with what you layer underneath a jacket for a flash of style that’s more exciting than your everyday button down.
“When guys come to buy dress shirts from me, they freeze up because they haven’t put on a collared shirt for two years. So, I like to do a good turtleneck or sweater polo — something that’s a different base layer that is still respectful and luxurious enough for the office.”
And on the topic of jackets, you don’t always have to default to a suit or blazer. Blumberh (and Knot Standard, for that matter) offers up many other ways to layer that add fall flair and day-tonight ease to your outfits.
“Think different types of third pieces other than blazers, whether that is more of a deconstructed blazer, or a field jacket or a bomber jacket. Even a trench coat on a female with a boyfriend jean is gorgeous. The right third piece is, I think, playing with textures.”
Texture and pattern lend well to adding interest to outfits when you may not feel like branching out with an unfamiliar color scheme.
“I love a navy flannel suit or jacket,” she says. “You can play with textures rather than going crazy with out-of-the-box color schemes.”
Whether searching through the best vintage shops and clothing swaps in the city for the next lifelong staple, or helping her clients create a personalized suit that will carry them through their next big life event, Blumberh knows how to help you make a sustainable — and personal — statement through clothes.
Book an appointment with Blumberh at Knot Standard’s Logan Circle location by visiting knotstandard.com/emily.blumberh. Follow her on Instagram @emilinablum and @stylebyblum to keep up with her latest work.
Knot Standard DC: 2304 14th St. NW, DC; knotstandard.com/showrooms/dc // @knotstandard
12 supernatural shops + experiences to put on your radar this fall
WORDS BY JAMIE MCCRARYIt’s the perfect season to explore and embrace the mystical. From tarot and tinctures to healing sound baths, D.C. is teeming with ways you can delve into the spiritual realm.
Spirituality can also be a powerful mechanism for deep selfcare — and your own evolution. Maria Bastasch, a certified herbalist and founder of the wellness lifestyle brand Disco Mary Collective, believes that having fun and self-care should be complementary.
“We’re starting to revisit [self-care] under a new lens,” Bastasch says. “This is an opportunity to [revitalize] the history and power of organic plants and materials and their purpose for the human body.”
Bastasch’s wellness lifestyle brand promotes creative self-care through glow-up events, sustainable fashion and a plant-based, nonalcoholic drink program. She relates her many spiritual practices to author bell hooks’ theory of self-care.
“Hooks saw self-care as a way to fully self-actualize,” Bastasch says. “It isn’t an amenity you seek out, but rather what you need to have a full human experience. It’s a [very] holistic perspective.”
Below, we list our top picks — with a few of Bastasch’s favorites — of spiritual spots to visit and experience. Read on for our recs of all things magical and holistic in the DMV.
APOTHÉKARY
Apothékary’s got an herbal remedy for any qualm or ailment. Not sure which is best? Take its three-minute online assessment and receive a customized herbal regimen, or book
a 15-minute call with one of Apothékary’s educators. For the novice herbalist, the online shop also offers tons of free plant medicine resources, including a blog with recipes, details on each product’s ingredients and on-demand classes. apothekary.co; @apothekaryco
This herb and natural healthcare store is D.C.’s OG source for all things botanical. Stop by to peruse its collection of more than 300 herbs and spices, as well as oils, incense and other healthcare products. Choose from plant-based medicinals like angelica root, ashwagandha or barberry bark; anise seed and castor oil; or frankincense and copal resin for incense. 2826 Georgia Ave. NW; bluenilebotanicals.com // @bluenilebotanicals
SMILE
“Address the roots of illness, not the symptoms.” That’s a core mantra that drives this herbalist-run College Park shop. Visitors can peruse its carefully curated collection of bulk herbs and spices, medicinal teas, vitamins and supplements and immune support products. For some extra R&R, be sure to check out its aromatherapy oils and diffusers, and natural bath and beauty products, too. 4908 Berwyn Rd. College Park, MD; smileherb.com // @smileherbshop
CITY WITCHES
As a community and nonsectarian school for spiritual leaders, City Witches provides a forum for magical practitioners
to connect, convene and collaborate. The community hosts online and public meetup events in the DMV and is launching a magical leadership program for witches of all levels. For witchcraft-related wisdom, subscribe to its community blog and newsletters. citywitches.com // @city.witches
THE ENCHANTED FAE
Nourish your supernatural sense at this local shop with a tarot or astrology reading, an energy work session or a mediumship reading to connect with a passed-on loved one or spiritual guide. The Enchanted Fae also features a full inventory of spirituallyfocused items including stones and crystals, essential oils, handcrafted treasures and vintage objects. 109 University Blvd. W, Silver Spring, MD; theenchantedfae.com; @theenchantedfae
Explore the mystical arts — and pick up some elixirs and enchantments — at this Frederick, Maryland-based school of magic. Try one of its upcoming tarot, working with ancestors or practical magic workshops; or, for the spiritually devoted, join MoonHaven’s private mentorship program, which emphasizes skills like spellcraft and astral travel. The school also offers potions and virtual readings via its online shop. moonhavenmagic.com // @moonhavenmagic
CRYSTALS BY S&A BEADS
Going for more of a natural crystal or gemstone vibe? This Takoma Park store boasts a wide variety of both for your magical fashion needs. Expand your collection with one of its handcrafted artisan pieces or healing crystal gemstones. Be sure to catch one of its weekly online or pop-up shop events held on Tuesdays, Fridays or Saturdays. 235 Carroll St. NW, DC; crystalsbysabeads.com // @s.a.beads_
THE SACRED CIRCLE
Visit this spiritual wisdom center for books, magical supplies and metaphysical objects like crystals, stones, smudge sticks and ritual altars. The shop also offers 15- to 60-minute private sessions with some of the DMV’s top psychics and healers. Seeking more of a group learning experience? Sacred Circle offers multiple spiritual class series throughout the year, including Meditation and Yogic Cosmology, a Course in Miracles and Shamanism for the Awakened Heart. 919 King St. Alexandria, VA; sacredcirclebooks.com
This online jewelry and botanica shop is teeming with spiritual energy for any visiting truth seeker. Owned and operated by Ash Espíritu Libre, a D.C.-based psychic tarot reader and spiritual advisor, Tribe Called Vibe sells everything from amethyst geodes and candle snuffers to big ass dragon’s blood sage and “fast luck” incense. Our personal favorite? The Bye, Bitch Energy Cleansing Spray. Libre also offers oracle card-led vibe check readings and three-hour soul sessions. tribecalledvibe.com // @tribecalledvibe
BHAKTI YOGA DC
Named after the Sanskrit word for devotion, this D.C.-based yoga center offers specialized workshops in pranayama (breathing), yin yoga and ayurveda, the ancient Indian lifestyle system for holistic wellbeing. Seeking spiritual guidance? Bhakti also offers hour-long dharma and lifestyle mentoring sessions. For the routine yogi, the center hosts a variety of classes throughout the week, as well as a spring 2024 yoga retreat in India. 928 5th St. NW, DC; bhaktiyogadc.com // @bhaktiyogadc
THE BOUNDLESS LIFE
If you’re seeking deep restoration and transformation, the Boundless Life could be your source of spiritual prowess. Founded and led by Artis Moon Amarché, a selfdescribed rebellious way shower and holistic healing guide, this studio offers multiple healing modalities including sound baths, reiki, somatic/trauma-informed therapy and meditation. Be sure to check out her Thursday night meditation and music from 7-8:30 p.m. at Eaton Wellness. 1201 K St. NW, DC; theboundlesslife.net // @theboundlesslife
SENSE STUDIOS
Explore your personal healing journey through reiki, chiropractic services and the healing arts at Sense Studios. Hosted by Dr. Darrien Jamar, a local holistic practitioner and integrative life coach, each session is intuitively shaped to meet each visitor’s healing needs. The studio also hosts regular spiritually-focused community events and provides beauty salon services. 3111 Georgia Ave. NW, DC; sensestudios.co // @sense.dc + @_darrienjamar
Disco Mary Collective: discomary.com // @discomarycollective
“Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall
Kimmerer“The Curanderx Toolkit: Reclaiming Ancestral Latinx Plant Medicine and Rituals for Healing” by Atava Garcia Swiecicki
“The Herbal Apothecary: 100 Medicinal Herbs and How to Use Them” by JJ Pursell
“The Rebels Apothecary” by Jenny Sansouci
“The Wild Medicine Solution: Healing with Aromatic, Bitter and Tonic Plants” by Guido Mase
SUN SALUD HERBAL INFUSION
1 oz fresh orange juice
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1 oz chopped ginger, washed
0.5 tsp turmeric
Honey to taste
Dash pepper
Dash sea salt
Blend, strain, pour over ice and top with soda or enjoy as a shot.
DISCO TEA
2 oz jasmine green tea, brewed and chilled
1 tbsp frozen dragon fruit
1 tbsp strawberry preserves
1 oz lime juice
Dash sea salt
Shake and pour over ice with soda water.
If we are discussing all things spooky in the DMV this Halloween season, let’s look just a little north to Baltimore. Home of both the OG (original goth father) Edgar Allan Poe and the Ouija board, Baltimore may rival Salem, New Orleans and the spiritualist town of Lily Dale, New York as one of the U.S.’s spookiest cities. The historically haunted locale fully embraces its macabre vibe to the fullest with ghost tours and candlelit classic concerts, several spooky AF museums, Poethemed everything and bars, restaurants and boutiques all designed for maximum fear factor.
“Edgar Allan Poe persists in popular culture as both an icon and an endless source of inspiration for new generations of creators,” says Enrica Jang, executive director of the Edgar
Allan Poe House & Museum, where the famous writer of “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Black Cat” and “The Fall of the House of Usher” lived with his aunt from 1835-1839. Here, he composed some of his early literary successes and infamously wooed his 13-year-old cousin Virginia, whose death at a young age inspired many of his darkest and most romantic works.
Poe’s dark literary legacy casts a long shadow over many contemporary genres. He invented the detective story, and Jang reminds us that “any mystery novel you have ever read — any police procedural on television, even ‘Scooby Doo’ — has a direct line back to Poe.”
And while Poe didn’t invent the gothic novel or horror story, he excelled in these gloomy genres, making many storytelling innovations that define horror films and literature to this day.
The Poe House celebrates Poe’s legacy with the 2023
International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards, a free, two-day outdoor event featuring Poe-themed performances, art, vendors and food from October 7-8. Festivities include “Poe in Comics” and “Poe Death” exhibits, a costumed Poe-rade led by professional cosplayers, performances from classical ensembles, chamber choirs, rockabilly bands and ballet troupes, as well as lectures about the writer. There are also a number of ticketed events, such as a Bloody Mary brunch, a murder mystery and bus tours to other Poe-centric Baltimore sites.
“The Black Cat Ball,” a high-goth prom night, will be held at Westminster Hall & Burying Ground, offering cocktails, hor d’oeuvres, dancing to dark wave, the “Visiter” awards (given to the next generation of dark artists following in Poe’s footsteps) and a Cognac toast, all held within a Gothic Revival church with arched, stained-glass windows and a looming pipe organ built above a catacomb cemetery. Fittingly, Westminster is where Poe is buried with two different graves — a simple tombstone engraved with a raven to mark his original burial spot and a second, prominently placed, elaborate monument with a likeness of Poe where his young wife and mother-in-law are also buried.
Poe’s legacy is felt throughout all of Baltimore. There are several places to imbibe like the famously soused author. The Horse You Came In On Saloon in Fells Point is where Poe was served his last fateful drink. Considered the oldest continuously running saloon in America, it’s now known for daily live music (although some say it is a haunted site). The Annabel Lee Tavern in the Canton neighborhood is named after Poe’s famous posthumous poem and serves up elevated pub fare in a historic pub with Poe decor. The waterfront restaurant Apropoe’s at the Marriott has harbor views, a great seafood menu, Poe-inspired cocktails and a Poe quote on the ceiling in its sleek, industrial-designed space. Want a more family-friendly treat? Try a pint of TellTale Chocolate ice cream at the Charmery or a Poe-Coconut ice cream at Baltimore in a Box.
A luring statue of Poe by renowned American sculptor Moses Jacob Ezekiel is located at Gordon Plaza at the University of Baltimore campus and is bathed in a purple light during football playoffs. Because, yes, even the football team is named after the bleak and dreary poem “The Raven.” How many other NFL teams are named after a poetic avian allusion?
“Gothic art and horror are evergreen subjects, interpreted endlessly,” Jang says. “Poe set the tone. It’s a beautiful legacy and we’re thrilled that it does not seem to slow.”
But there’s so much beyond Poe in Baltimore to raise the hairs on the back of your neck…
In a city where the Ouija board was invented at the height of the American Spiritualist movement by lawyer and inventor Elijah Bond, we have to expect some creepy boo-tiques (all apologies). For those who enjoy conjuring the spirits of the dead, it may be worth a visit to Bond’s Ouija-decorated tombstone in Green Mount Cemetery or the plaque on a downtown 7-Eleven that marks the site where he invented the spirit board.
In the Hampden neighborhood, two neighborhood stores on the popular strip called “The Avenue” cater to the strange
and unusual. Bazaar has been a mainstay of the macabre for a decade, offering taxidermied critters, articulated skeletons, framed insects and funerary antiques, as well as storecrafted candles in scents such as “abandoned hospital” and “overgrown cemetery.” The owners honor the natural world by upcycling the discarded dead (such as roadkill) and teach occasional taxidermy workshops.
The family-owned Crystals, Candles, & Cauldrons offers new age spiritual items, astrology charts and readings, as well as other workshops. Sideshow at the American Visionary Art Museum in the Federal Hill neighborhood revels in oddball novelty items with library catalog drawers full of unexpected gifts. While there, take a moment to have Zoltar (the wish-granting genie from the classic Tom Hanks’ film “Big”) predict your future. Entrance to the gift shop is free, but it’s always worthwhile to visit the American Visionary Art Museum, where the works of self-taught, intuitive artists and visionaries are exhibited.
Bazaar’s co-owners Greg Hatem and Brian Henry explain why the city is such a large-scale cabinet of curiosities:
“We have a deep pool of extremely creative and talented residents, and we tend to celebrate eccentricity in our arts scene and beyond. Perhaps a lot of the more square types are drawn to D.C. or Philly, casting Baltimore as the ‘weird cousin’ of the Mid-Atlantic urban corridor. Perhaps it’s that the cost of living is less than other East Coast cities, better for emerging artists on a budget. Baltimore is a great place to live your truth, whatever it is.”
Baltimore offers a plethora of museums for the brave and un-squeamish. Maryland’s Chief Medical Examiner’s Office was established in 1939 as the nation’s first statewide medical examiner system, and it remains the largest in the nation; its early focus on forensic examinations and crime scene analysis led to some innovative (and terrifying) training tools. The Scarpetta House is a full-scale model home that stages grisly murders as examiners comb the scenes. If you prefer your macabre miniature-sized, the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office also hosts the “Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death,” a series of dollhouse dioramas of brutal crime scenes. In the 1930s-40s, pioneering forensic scientist Frances Glessner Lee crafted these to teach investigators how to search for clues and determine the cause of death, but they are also microcosms depicting different social classes, incomes and lifestyles in their deadly scenarios. The dioramas are still consulted to this day, and the answers to these horrible crime scenes remain under lock and key.
The University of Maryland was home to both the United States’ first operating theater and the first dental school, and offers some cringe-inducing medical history spaces. The Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry offers more than 40,000 objects on display that will cause dentophobes to grind their teeth, from barbaric early dentistry tools to George Washington’s infamous dentures. Davidge Hall, opened in 1812, is the founding building of the University of Maryland and was previously an anatomical theater where aspiring physicians could observe autopsies; many bodies were illegally procured by grave robbers. Davidge Hall also has its own collection of archaic medical instruments and tools, and its own mummified mascot, Hermie.
Haunted happenings
A series of candle-lit “Secret Baltimore” concerts performed by the Kennedy String Quartet will cover horrorfilm scores throughout October at Creative Alliance and the First Unitarian Church. Baltimore Ghost Tours provides walking tours and spirited pub crawls in the Fells Point through November and in Mount Vernon neighborhoods throughout October on Friday and Saturday nights.
Want to spend a sleepless night in this haunted city? The Lord Baltimore Hotel is a historic downtown hotel that has been fully renovated — but not full exorcized. From elevators that move on their own to Mollie, the ghost of a little girl that walks the 19th floor, the hotel is considered one of the most haunted in the country.
“Baltimore operates on its own frequency,” says Amy Lynwander, co-operator of Baltimore Ghost Tours and writer of a book about local hauntings. “Fells Point was home to sailors, ladies of the night and people who came to Baltimore from all over the world to start a new life. High society lived in Mount Vernon, and some felt the need to remain to watch over their holdings. Baltimore is so haunted and spooky because of its colorful history.”
Annabel Lee Tavern: 601 S Clinton St.; annabelleetavern.com // @annabelleetavern
Apropoe’s: 700 Aliceanna St.; marriott.com // @apropoes
Baltimore Ghost Tours: baltimoreghosttours.com // @baltimoreghosttours
Baltimore in a Box Ice Cream: 1004 W 36th St.; baltimoreinaboxicecream.com // @ baltimoreboxicecream
Bazaar: 3534 Chestnut Ave.; bazaarbaltimore.com // @bazaarbaltimore
Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics: secretbaltimore.com // @secretbaltimore
Crystals, Candles, & Cauldrons: 927 W 36th St.; wiccancrystal.com // @crystalscandlescauldrons
Davidge Hall: 522 W Lombard St.; umaryland.edu // @umbaltimore
Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry: 31 S Greene St.; dentalmuseum.com // @sdhnmd
Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum: 203 N Amity St.; poeinbaltimore.org // @poebaltimore
The Horse You Came in on Saloon: 1626 Thames St.; thehorsebaltimore.com // @thehorsebaltimore
International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards: poefestinternational.com // @poebaltimore
Lord Baltimore Hotel: 20 W Baltimore St.; lordbaltimorehotel.com // @lordbaltimorehotel
Sideshow at the American Visionary Museum: 800 Key Hwy.; avam.org/museum-store-sideshow // @the_avam
State of Maryland Medical Examiner’s Office: 900 W Baltimore St.; health.maryland.gov
Westminster Hall & Burial Ground: 519 W Fayette St.; westminsterhall.org
Saturday, October 21 // 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Bring the whole family to enjoy some festive fall fun, complete with a pumpkin decorating station, beer garden, live music and more.
ccxfallfest.eventbrite.com
WORDS BY TIM EBNER
With summer in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to think ahead and book your fall travel. October is full of shoulder season deals (the time between summer and the holidays when airlines and hotels typically lower their rates). From D.C., there are also several nonstop options to get you to your next vacation. Here are some of the top deals offered at this very moment. So, what are you waiting for? Start packing for your next trip!
Nonstop service from IAD and BWI to Cancún. One-way fares are as low as $77 in October — under 4-hour flight
Get swept away to tropical paradise at Rosewood Mayakoba this fall. This resort features wellness suites designed to destress and recalibrate your senses upon check-in. It’s also a five-star luxury resort well worth the splurge, especially considering the property’s extended summer indulgence package with 25% off listed rates (good through October).
Rosewood Mayakoba is also the place to celebrate Día de los Muertos, one of the most celebrated holidays in Mexico. This year, the resort is celebrating with several specialthemed events taking place from October 31 to November 2.
Celebrations include award-winning cocktails from two of The World’s 50 Best Bar winners: Brujas from Mexico City will take residence at Zapote Bar. There is also an intimate dinner planned at La Ceiba, the resort’s outdoor garden kitchen and a Día de los Muertos celebration and parade on the beach, featuring dancing catrinas, complete with beautifully painted faces and flower crowns.
Nonstop service from DCA, IAD and BWI to Jacksonville. One-way fares are as low as $60 in October — 2-hour flight
While beach season may be wrapping up for nearby destinations, Amelia Island, located about 45 minutes north of Jacksonville, Florida, stays warm through fall with average temperatures near 80 degrees through October.
For a resort that has all the beachfront amenities plus destination dining, book at the Omni Amelia Island Resort. This resort is hosting a series of farm-to-table dinners and tickets are still available for September, October and November. The Sprouting Project dinners include a tour of the resort’s aquaponic greenhouse, expansive organic gardens, barrel room and features a five-course meal using produce from the property.
Nonstop service from DCA, IAD, and BWI to Boston. One-way fares are as low as $45 in October — under 2-hour flight
New England has got you covered for leafpeeping season, and Cape Cod is an excellent excuse to enjoy the change in colors. One of the newest reasons to visit includes Greyfinch Chatham Inn, a boutique property that is family friendly and includes a suite of free amenities including a heated pool, Priority bikes and cozy fire pits.
Opened in June 2023, this property offers New England charm in a historically rooted coastal place. Chatham also plays host to Cape Cod’s most celebrated Oktoberfest taking place this year on October 21. Fall travelers will find fewer crowds and a lovely autumnal atmosphere with quiet beaches and seafood-centric restaurants, including the Wild Goose Tavern.
3-hour drive
Jimmy Buffet fans who can’t make it all the way down to Key West this fall may want to consider a quick road trip to the Delmarva peninsula. In the tiny beach town of Chincoteague, Virginia, you’ll find Key West Cottages on Chincoteague Bay, a charming pastel-hued resort that takes inspiration from Buffet’s island paradise. In fact, the entire resort is nautically themed with views of both the Chincoteague Bay and Channel.
These cottages are also group and family friendly, and located just down the road from one of the largest oyster festivals in the MidAtlantic region — the Chincoteague Oyster Festival, which is celebrating 50 years on October 7. The festival kicks off oyster shucking season and includes an array of local oyster farms and seafood purveyors from around the Virginia region. This trip guarantees happy slurping from start-to-finish.
Greyfinch Chatham Inn: 946 Main St. Chatham, MA; greyfinchchatham.com // @greyfinchchatham
Key West Cottages: 4251 Main St. Chincoteague, VA; kwcottages.com // @keywestcottages
Omni Amelia Island Resort: 39 Beach Lagoon Rd. Fernandina Beach, FL; omnihotels.com // @omnihotels
Rosewood Mayakoba: Ctra. Federal CancúnPlaya del Carmen KM 298 Solidaridad, Q. Roo, CP 77710 MX; rosewoodhotels.com // @rwmayakoba
“The Exorcist” stairs in Georgetown. Photo courtesy of Georgetown BID.
The year’s spookiest season has officially begun. From haunted houses to bone-chilling ghost tours and sinister soirees, we’ve rounded up the best festivities to get you in the Halloween spirit.
EXORCIST STAIRS IN GEORGETOWN
Scary movie fans and fitness buffs will love checking out the 75 super-steep stone stairs that rose to fame as the spot where Father Karras tumbled to his demise in the 1973 horror film “The Exorcist.” Free. 36th + Prospect Streets in NW, DC
ZOMBIE SCAVENGER HUNT AT FREEDOM PLAZA
D.C. is ground zero for the zombie apocalypse. Follow clues across the city to find supplies to help you survive. $27. 1325 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC; nps.gov
THROUGH 10.29
FRIGHT NIGHT AT SIX FLAGS
If ghosts and goblins aren’t enough of an adrenaline rush, throw in chilling rides and roller coasters in darkness, a haunted house and “scare zones” that make a simple walk through the park more terrifying than you’d think. $30+. Various times. 13710 Central Ave. Bowie, MD; sixflags.com // @sixflagsamerica
THROUGH 10.30
HAUNTED SOIREE: A MACABRE COCKTAIL PARTY AT WHITTEMORE HOUSE
You’re invited to an eerie evening at an elegant but haunted mansion, featuring mini-cocktail tastings, roaming live entertainment and some ghoulish, uninvited guests. $77+. Various times. 1526 New Hampshire Ave. NW, DC; hauntedsoiree.com // @hauntedsoiree
THROUGH 11.4
LAUREL’S HOUSE OF HORROR IN LAUREL, MD
Get ready for a spine-chilling experience and a night filled with screams and thrills. There are lots of reasons to fear things
that go bump in the night at this possessed movie theater, where you can test your bravery in a spooky haunted house or horror movie-themed escape room. If you dare. $35. Various times. 935 Fairlawn Ave. Laurel, MD; laurelhaunt.com // @laurelshouseofhorror
THROUGH 12.30
GHOSTS OF GEORGETOWN TOUR
Discover the deep, dark secrets behind the stony homes, historic streets and manicured gardens in one of D.C.’s oldest historic neighborhoods. $20+. Various times. 3051 M St. NW, DC; freetoursbyfoot.com // @freetoursbyfoot
10.6
CHILLS & CHEERS: A HALLOWEEN COCKTAIL MAKING CLASS AT URBAN ROAST
Time for a grown-up trick or treat — emphasis on the treat. Learn to make boo-zy Halloween-themed cocktails guaranteed to raise spirits at your monster mash. $65+. 7 p.m. 916 G St. NW, DC; urbanroastdc.com // @urbanroastdc
10.6-11.4
NEVERMORE HAUNT IN BALTIMORE, MD
Fittingly held in Edgar Allan Poe’s old haunt, you’ll be transported into sordid, macabre visions of Baltimore’s past when you enter a haunted house filled with monsters, demons and ghouls straight from your deepest, darkest fears. You’ll be spooked by bizarre sideshows, interactive performances and special effects. You’ve been warned. $22+. 7 p.m. 450 Mott St. Baltimore, MD; thenevermorehaunt.com // @nevermore.baltimore
10.7-10.28
ZOMBIE HAYRIDE IN BOWIE, MD
Zombies! Choose your weapon and hop on a two-tier hayride to shoot live zombies with glow-in-the-dark ammo and save mankind from the threat before it spreads. $29.95+. Various times. 13100 Central Ave. Bowie MD; marylandzombiehunt.com // @centralavenuepaintball
10.8
HALLOWEEN MURDER MYSTERY AT ATLAS BREW WORKS
Channel your inner Sherlock and see if you can figure out whodunnit in this interactive murder mystery where everyone is a suspect. Even you. $50. 2 p.m. 2052 West Virginia Ave. NE, DC; atlasbrewworks.com // @atlasbrewworks
10.10
BLACK LAGOON POP UP AT TROUBLE BIRD
Brace yourself for a mysterious and spooky, all together ooky immersive experience featuring creepy cocktails. Costumes encouraged. Times and prices TBD. 1346 4th St. SE, DC; blacklagoonpopup.com // @blacklagoonpopup
10.12
NIGHTMARE AT THE MUSEUM AT NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART
The museum comes alive for a night of ghostly fun, featuring a screening of “Ghostbusters” with a live, remixed soundtrack by DJ 2-Tone, part of SHAOLIN JAZZ’s Can I Kick It? series. Check out the dance floor to bust some bone-shaking moves. Free. 6 p.m. 4th St. + Constitution Ave. NW, DC; nga.gov // @ngadc
10.17-10.31
SPOOKY HISTORY TOUR AT NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM
It’s one thing to visit the cavernous building in the daytime, but at night … that’s another story. Multiple witnesses have confirmed spiritual beings live in the museum, so have fun with that as you learn spooky facts and anecdotes about the historic site. $15+ 8 p.m. 401 F St. NW, DC; nbm.org // @nationalbuildingmuseum
10.20-10.21 + 10.27-10.28
GRIEF AND GHOSTS TOURS AT LEE-FENDALL HOUSE MUSEUM
Skip costumes and candy. This Halloween tour looks at Victorian mourning traditions and shares stories of tragic deaths and mysterious occurrences. $15. 7 p.m. 614 Oronoco Street Alexandria, VA; leefendallhouse.org // @leefendallhousemuseum
10.20-10.22
BOO AT THE ZOO AT NATIONAL ZOO
It’s not a trick. D.C.’s favorite Halloween treat is back with more than 40 treat stations, animal demonstrations, keeper chats and decorated trails for a frightfully fun evening for all ages. $25+. 6 p.m. 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW; nationalzoo.si.edu // @smithsonianzoo
10.26
PUMPKINPALOOZA AT ALETHIA TANNER PARK
Celebrate all things pumpkin at NoMa’s annual pumpkincentered celebration where you’ll enjoy live entertainment, a scavenger hunt, food and beverage and yes, a pop-up pumpkin patch so you can take home a future jack-o-lantern. Free. 4 p.m. 227 Harry Thomas Way NE, DC; nomabid.org // @noma.bid
ROCKY HORROR DRAG SHOW AT GATEWAY PARK
Damn it, Janet. You are going to love this rendition of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” as drag queen Shi-Queeta Lee and her all-star cast put on a frighteningly fierce show. Dress up and show off your inner Transylvanian. A cash bar will be on-site, including beer and wine. $10. 6:30 p.m. 1300 Langston Blvd. Arlington, VA; rosslynva.org // @rosslynva
10.27
ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW AT METROBAR
Dress up and prepare to sing along as you do the time warp again. Free. 7 p.m. 640 Rhode Island Ave. NE, DC; metrobar.com // @metrobardc
ROOFTOP HALLOWEEN DANCE SOIREE AT THE VEN AT EMBASSY ROW
No tricks or treats, just smooth moves with dancing under the stars featuring live bands playing swing and salsa music. $25. 6:30 p.m. 2015 Massachusetts Ave. NW, DC; marriott.com // @marriotthotels
10.28
HALLOWEEN BAR CRAWL IN DUPONT CIRCLE
The freaks come out at night at this monster bar crawl and costume bash that winds its way like the walking dead through more than 10 spooky spots for drinks, dancing and spooky fun. 21+ only. $9+. 2 p.m. Dupont Circle NW, DC; merevents.com // @merevents
HALLOWEEN GLOW IN THE DARK AT TEAM TACTICS
Glow while you flow in a fun-filled evening of glow-in-thedark fitness in the forest decked out with spooky decor. At least you’ll be warmed up and ready to run if anything pops up at you. $40. 8 p.m. 3045 Golansky Blvd. Woodbridge, VA; abatewellness.com // @yogaandfitnesswithandrea
HALLOWEEN POMSQUAD FITNESS AT ASLIN BEER
You’ll get down while your heart rate gets up. Shake your pompoms in a high-energy dance fitness class with a variety of dance styles and unique choreography. It’s a workout, but it feels like a party. $12. 10 a.m. 847 South Pickett Street Alexandria, VA; aslinbeer.com // @aslinbeerco
HIP HOP HALLOWEEN BAR CRAWL AT U STREET
Grab your “boo” for a visit to some of the popular haunts on U Street, and a night of wicked fun. $10+. 2 p.m. 2100 14th St. NW, DC; regmopromo.com // @regmopromo
NIGHTMARE IN NAVY YARD AT CAPITAL TURNAROUND
Get ready to do the monster mash at D.C.’s biggest Halloween dance party with DJs, an open bar, food trucks, animatroics and haunted props. Laser lighting, strobe lighting and fog will cast a spell on you. $45+. 8:30 p.m. 700 M St. SE, DC; nightmareinnavyyard.com // @capturnaround
The Danish word “hygge” — that defines a cozy, content feeling — is technically a noun, but we’re using it as a verb this fall. From now on, the season is for hygge-ing everything, from outdoor excursions to fall festivals to crafts that help give your space that warm fall aesthetic. All the events and activities below are about one hour outside of D.C., so there’s little excuse to not hygge it up.
Crafts
10.5, 10.11 + 10.19
AUTUMN WREATH BUILDING WITH DRINKS AT UNION MARKET
There comes a time in every person’s life when they must add a wreath to their front door. In this workshop, you can add a personal touch as you design with dried materials that will last for years to come. Try cocktails on October 5 and 11, and wine on October 19. $70. 6:30 p.m. 1309 5th St. NE, DC; unionmarketdc.com // @unionmarketdc
10.7
PUMPKIN CENTERPIECE WORKSHOP AT PLANTHOUSE!
Pumpkins are everywhere in the fall, but how often are they adorned with dried florals and decorative moss? Step up your gourd game and have the cutest centerpiece at any fall hang. $35. 6:30 p.m. 921 N Asaph St. Alexandria, VA; planthouse.us // @planthousevb
10.8
AUTUMNAL CANDLE MAKING AT SHOP MADE IN DC GEORGETOWN
Using coconut wax, you can make your own scent combination to evoke any fall — or whatever — smell for your home. $60. 3 p.m. 1304 Wisconsin Ave. NW, DC; shopmadeindc.com // @shopmadeindc
10.19
PAINTING WITH PAPER: GHOST COLLAGE AT SHOP MADE IN DC WHARF
Check out modern collaging techniques while including a few spooky elements for the perfect Halloween art piece. $45. 6 p.m. 10 District Sq. SW, DC; shopmadeindc.com // @shopmadeindc
10.26
GHOULS NIGHT OUT WORKSHOP AT PLANTHOUSE!
Create your own terrarium with a spooky twist. Workshops include the bubble ball, three air plants and spooky decor. $26. 6:30 p.m. 921 N Asaph St. Alexandria, VA; planthouse.us // @planthousevb
Hikes + Fun Runs
10.9 + 11.11
FOREST BATHING WALK AT THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM
Take in all the fall colors while Friends of the National Arboretum’s forest bathing guides take you through focused meditations. Free. 9 a.m. 3501 New York Ave. NE, DC; usna.usda.gov // @fonarboretum
10.14
DEAD MAN’S RUN 5K AT CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY
Run through the cemetery and the Anacostia Trail in costume amongst spooky songs and other seasonal activities. $35. 5:30 p.m. 1801 E St. SE, DC; congressionalcemetery.org // @congcemetery
NEW MOON HIKE AT CARDEROCK RECREATION AREA
Make some new connections at this Bodhi House community hike, where you’ll learn more about the new moon’s themes. Free. 10:30 a.m. Point of Rocks, MD; bodhi-house.com // @hi.bodhihouse
Festivals
10.14
FALL FEST AT GATEWAY PARK
You might remember this festival as Cider Fest, but now it’s revamped to include cider tastings, food trucks, live music, a cash bar and a pie eating contest. $15. 1 p.m. 1300 Langston Blvd. Arlington, VA; rosslynva.org // @rosslynva
10.14 + 10.15
GEORGETOWN FALL MARKET AT GEORGETOWN MAIN STREET
Paint some pumpkins, paint your face, enjoy live music and take in the old-time feels of the Georgetown neighborhood. Free. 11 a.m. 3217 P St. NW, DC; georgetownmainstreet.com // @georgetownmainst
10.22
MID-ATLANTIC GRAIN FAIR IN ROCK CREEK PARK
Get into the cozy baking season by learning more about — and participating in — whole-grain farming, milling, baking and cooking inspired by Mid-Atlantic methods. Free. 10 a.m. 2401 Tilden St. NW, DC; nps.gov/rocr // @rockcreeknps
Pumpkin Patches + Apple Orchards
Through 10.29
BUTLER’S ORCHARD
At Butler’s Pumpkin Festival, there will be pumpkin cannons, hayrides, corn mazes and more. I don’t know what “pumpkin cannons” are, so someone should visit and report. $10. Various times. 22222 Davis Mill Rd. Germantown, MD; butlersorchard.com // @butlersorchard
MAGNOLIA MEADOW FARMS
This fest has all the fall things: corn mazes, hayrides, ziplines, farm animals, food and drinks. Plus, on October 7 and 28, stay later for moonlit maze nights. $15+. 10 a.m. 13001 Creagerstown Rd. Thurmont, MD; magnoliameadowfarms.com // @magnoliameadowfarms
Through 10.31
GAVER FARM
Pick apples and pumpkins after getting lost in a maze, jumping on giant pillows and cruising down huge slides. $13+. 10 a.m. 5501 Detrick Rd. Mt Airy, MD; gaverfarm.com // @gaverfarm
GREAT COUNTRY FARMS
Along with pumpkins and corn mazes, you can roast marshmallows by a bonfire and snack on cider donuts. Bonus: Visit Bluemont Vineyard after your time at Great Country
Farms for some great wine and fall views. $18+. 10 a.m. 18780 Foggy Bottom Rd. Bluemont, VA; greatcountryfarms.com // @greatcountryfarms
SUMMERS FARM
With more than 45 attractions including mini golf, a rightturn-only maze and other activities, this fall festival also offers pumpkin and apple picking. $15+. 1 p.m. 7503 Hollow Rd. Middletown, MD; summersfarm.com // @summersfarm
Wineries with Scenic Views
BLUEMONT VINEYARD
Ascend the mountain to relax with a flight of Bluemont’s best. You can make it a weekend trip with cottage stays, too. 18755 Foggy Bottom Rd. Bluemont, VA; bluemontvineyard.com // @bluemontvineyard
STONE TOWER WINERY
This winery sits on top of Hogback Mountain, giving you the best views of rolling hills in fall colors. 19925 Hogback Mountain Rd. Leesburg, VA; stonetowerwinery.com // @stonetowerwinery
WINDRIDGE VINEYARDS
Surround yourself with fall colors at this vineyard that also features food trucks almost every weekend. 15700 Darnestown Rd. Darnestown, MD; windridge.wine // @windridge_vineyards
The Washington Capitals season debuts with a new pregame music series, more than 20 theme nights and 16 all-fan giveaways.
WORDS BY JAMIE MCCRARY
The 2023-2024 Washington Capitals season opens October 13 and promises fresh, exciting programming for fans.
“This year, fans can expect their Caps experience to be better and even more unique than years past,” says Frank O’Brien, Washington Caps director of fan experience. “We’re hosting a new, music-focused pregame series, and offering the most all-fan giveaways we’ve ever had.”
A top highlight of this year’s season is the new pregame music series held at District E, the premier live-event theater located across from Capital One Arena. The series will feature five concerts in a variety of themes and genres, including country, a Margaritaville night and a Grateful Dead night.
Attendees can also take home a complimentary piece of merchandise that aligns with each concert’s theme, such as a cowboy hat and Hawaiian T-shirt.
Shows run November through April and are slated for the two hours before each game’s faceoff. Food and drink specials will be available, and patrons can attend without a game ticket.
“We encourage everyone in the community to attend,” O’Brien says. “We wanted to try out fresh ideas to enhance the game and overall Caps experience.”
The season, which runs through April 15, also features more traditional theme nights and giveaways. Several fall highlights include the red carpet-themed season opener, presented by GEICO on October 13; Oktoberfest, presented by Logan’s Sausage on October 27, where special ticket holders can receive an exclusive Capitals Oktoberfest beer stein; and Capsgiving on November 22, which includes a Capsgiving T-shirt all-fan giveaway.
O’Brien’s personal favorite is the Chia Milano giveaway, a Chia Planter modeled after left winger Sonny Milano who is known for “the best hair in the league.” O’Brien notes this as a nod to the Caps’ affection for and support of its players, who he aims to celebrate through the fan experience.
“We have such a great core group of guys, and we want to highlight and build them up,” O’Brien says. “This helps brand them in a fun way that gets fans excited.”
The schedule also includes several community nights, including Hockey Talks, a mental health awareness night presented by MedStar Health; Hockey Fights Cancer, presented by Leidos; and Pride night. Each event is focused on education and raising awareness of featured communities to help advocate for their needs in D.C.
“[It’s important to us to] highlight the people and organizations that are doing good work in these spaces,” O’Brien says. “We want to help build these communities more and make sure they are represented.”
The Caps offer a variety of ticketing options, including individual tickets, season memberships, flex plans with preselected games and a VIP package with premier seating and hospitality. For the partiers out there, they also offer an all-inclusive package that includes unlimited beer and wine and a meal ticket.
Channeling the sports slogan “games are more fun in groups,” the Caps also offer special group ticket packages for 10 or more people. These include a special price and a complimentary baseball hat for ticket holders. Group tickets are available to all — corporations, teams and friend groups alike — and range from $50-$225 depending on game tier.
Darren Montgomery, the Caps’ senior vice president of ticket sales and arena events, says the group ticket package is one of his favorite ticketing products.
“It incentivizes people to bring more of their friends and community to enjoy the game,” he says. “And they also get to take home a piece of merchandise to commemorate their experience.”
For the 2023-2024 season and beyond, O’Brien envisions an unforgettable fan experience, one patrons can continue savoring long after it’s ended.
“We want to make sure that every fan, existing or new, comes in and has a great time,” he says. “That includes how the game is presented, what they see on the boards, who we highlight or honor that night. We want them to take away something that’s different from every other sporting event they’ve attended.”
And that goes for every game, regardless of the competition or the outcome.
“Every game is very unique in its own right — you never know what’s going to happen,” O’Brien says. “My vision is that we provide fans with a tremendous experience to take home with them, no matter what the play is on the ice.”
For the full season schedule, visit nhl.com/ capitals/schedule. Learn more about the Caps’ theme nights and promotions and purchase tickets at washcaps.com/tickets. Keep up with the Caps throughout the season on Instagram @capitals; or check out some killer plays on their YouTube channel @capitals.
October 13 vs. Pittsburgh
Penguins: Rock the Red Carpet + schedule magnet
October 24 vs. Toronto
Maple Leafs: bucket hat
October 27 vs. Minnesota
Wild: Oktoberfest + beer stein
October 29 vs. San Jose
Sharks: Hockey Halloween
November 2 vs. New York
Islanders: ’90s night + fanny pack
November 4 vs. Columbus
Blue Jackets: Educators’
Appreciation + tumbler
November 8 vs. Florida
Panthers: Capitals soccer jersey
November 14 vs. Vegas
Golden Knights: Caps
Canines Night + dog bowl set
November 18 vs. Columbus
Blue Jackets: Hockey Talks for cancer awareness + jersey
November 22 vs. Buffalo
Sabres: Thanksgiving +
Capsgiving T-shirt
December 20 vs. New York
Islanders: Holiday party + Caps holiday party beanie
Nights at District E
November 2
‘90s night
January 2
Grateful Dead night
January 18
Country night
March 22
Margaritaville
April 13
Rock ‘n’ roll night
Bisagna Suh and Nabil Abdulkadir of 4421 Productions discuss the city’s film and creative culture, and what continues to inspire them as filmmakers in D.C.
WORDS BY CORNELIA POKUCreative pair Bisagna Suh and Nabil Abdulkadir started their D.C.-based production company 4421 Productions to highlight the region’s people and narratives that illustrate life beyond the halls of the White House.
The Maryland natives met while working at Sony Music, jobs that led them to every corner of the city and helped foster their passion for the District.
“This is our home,” Suh says. “I don’t think I would be an artist if I wasn’t from this area. It’s so important to us that [D.C. is integrated into] our work and we give back to this community.”
As leaders in the local film industry, they’ve taken the time to nourish their network in the city’s creative community.
“We [lean] into our connections,” she says. “When we meet someone in film, we grab coffee or lunch. We ask how we can invest in them.
They admit the film scene in D.C. can be a little sparse and isn’t the easiest to navigate, though. The city is brimming with poets, painters, musicians and actors but not as many filmmakers.
“Transparently, it’s hard shooting here,” Abdulkadir says. “There aren’t many studios, and it’s hard to find places to rent equipment. You can’t fly drones; you need a lot of permits. It’s cheaper to film in places like Los Angeles and New York.”
But despite these hurdles, the pair wouldn’t want to pursue film careers anywhere else.
“The community has been beautiful to us,” Suh says. “When we ask for support, people come through.”
Suh and Abdulkadir are first generation Cameroonian American and Ethiopian American, respectively. They
prioritize working with DMV natives who are fellow people of color — a value reflected in one of their latest projects, the short film “Imani,” which boasts a crew and cast that’s 95% BIPOC.
The film is what Suh describes as an “everyday story” about a young creative hustling to make ends meet in D.C. In the film, tensions boil over with the protagonist’s wealthy older brother, highlighting themes of family and gentrification.
“We wanted to tell a normal story of a Black person living in D.C.,” Suh says. “A lot of D.C. stories are about the transplant narrative or ‘House of Cards.’ We wanted to talk about people who are from here — what our friends go through.”
Suh and Abdulkadir are stewards of the city’s film scene, telling important stories about D.C. locals and cultivating community every step of the way. Keep an eye on 4421 Productions for what’s next.
Favorite place to shoot. Union Market and inside Metro stops because of the architecture. Best views of the city. Georgetown’s waterfront and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial at night. Night owl or early bird. Suh is a night owl and Abulkadir is an early bird. Hometown hero. The Trillectro Festival folks. Modi Oyewole is a long-time mentor. Go-to art gallery or museum. Glenstone and the East Building of the National Gallery of Art. Places in the DMV that feel the same despite gentrification. Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and Habesha Market & Carryout on U Street.
Learn more about 4421 Productions at 4421.co and follow @4421.co.
We are grateful for the people who make District Fray possible, so we’re highlighting them in our Members Only series.
This month, we visited with author, National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)-certified wellness coach and founder of Positive Damage, Inc. Derek Brown. A leading beverage figure in the D.C. region, Brown co-founded Mindful Drinking Fest, where he works with individuals and companies to foster mindful drinking, promote wellness and proliferate no- and low-alcohol cocktails. Brown talks about his career, favorite spirits and what goes into making the perfect cocktail.
District Fray: You have a hand in several different ventures - what are you currently working on?
Derek Brown: I’m the founder of Positive Damage, Inc. and co-founder of Mindful Drinking Fest. My goal is to help create a culture of mindful drinking and make room for everyone at the bar with no- and low-alcohol cocktails. Practically, I create content, such as working with NASM to create an online course on mindful drinking; consulting with no- and low-alcohol brands like Surely Non-Alcoholic Wines; and speaking at conferences to share why mindful drinking is so important.
I do a lot but, most importantly, I spend time thinking about the best way to approach this problem: We drink too much. I don’t want to put that weight on each person; I just mean as a society, we’re a bit heavy on the handle. And it has dire health implications. But my job isn’t to tell people what to do or be a killjoy. I want to show that by drinking mindfully, we can still enjoy ourselves, go out, have delicious drinks and be with friends and family. Because while alcohol is optional, connection is not.
How would you characterize your business philosophy?
Do one good thing. That’s the line that rings in my head. I can’t solve all the world’s problems, but I can offer a solution from my vantage point to one significant problem. You can call that a business philosophy, or you can call it a mission.
How do you define mindful drinking?
Mindful drinking is a self-led strategy to align the way you drink (or don’t drink) alcohol with your goals, health or otherwise. Put simply, it’s drinking with intention.
What makes a great cocktail?
The company you keep. People can pick up my book “Mindful Mixology: A Comprehensive Guide to No- and Low-Alcohol Cocktails” if they want to learn more about ingredients and techniques, but I’d take a bad drink with good friends over a good drink with bad people any day of the week.
What do you enjoy about living in the DMV?
It’s one of the smartest cities in the world. I’ve spent time with people from all walks of life who are so knowledgeable, whether book-learned or not. I can’t imagine having more enriching conversations anywhere else. But we also have this secret: We’re creative, too. Washingtonians have created and are creating amazing music and art, and almost no one outside of the city knows it.
What are some of your favorite places to visit?
My favorite places to visit nearby are Richmond and Baltimore. [They’re] both underrated cities. There’s some great stuff happening in each city — music, food and culture. We’re lucky they’re so close.
Any outside hobbies or interests?
I skateboard and play chess. Both of those things help me keep my mind off work, worry and stress. And skateboarding is a great way to get in movement and have fun at the same time.
Your neighborhood. Downtown Silver Spring. Favorite museum. The Hirshhorn. Go-to cuisine. Chinese — Peter Chang all day. And Middle Eastern, especially Maydan. Cocktail of choice. I was always a dry martini person, but now I prefer a nonalcoholic old fashioned when it’s well made. Goals for the rest of 2023. Continue to build my business and spend as much time with my family as possible.
Learn more about Positive Damage, Inc., buy Brown’s book at positivedamageinc.com and follow him on Instagram @positivedamageinc.
FRAYLIFE MEMBER PERK. Become a member today for discounted tickets to District Fray’s Cult Classic Halloween Party on October 31 at Dock 5, plus discounts to other events around the city and more.
We love our DC Fray players, so we’re highlighting them in our Players’ Club series.
Kayla Marsh is a Virginia girl through and through. She grew up in Falls Church, vacations in Virginia Beach and even attended James Madison University. She’s also known to her friends and fellow players as a model teammate and the ultimate hype girl. An athlete in her youth, Marsh merges her love of sports with her social life, as she now participates in travel sports all year long around the DMV — including with DC Fray.
One of her first jobs out of college was working for On Tap Magazine (which is now District Fray). She spent her time at the magazine writing, leading events and furthering her appreciation for all the DMV area has to offer. Between sitting down for amazing meals at new D.C. restaurants, taking in shows at the city’s best venues and interviewing athletes, chefs, creatives and other local celebs, Marsh fell even more in love with the city.
Today, Marsh channels that passion through her work managing private events at The Wharf, where she executes a variety of activations and shares what the District has to offer with her clients.
District Fray: Tell me about your responsibilities running events at The Wharf.
Kayla Marsh: I feel super fortunate to have a hand in shaping people’s experiences at a place as beautiful and unique as The Wharf. While I assist with producing and executing our public programming, I also focus heavily on managing private event rentals of our spaces such as District Pier, Transit Pier and The Wharf’s Dockmaster Building that sits at the end of our largest pier, District Pier. The most satisfying part of the job is seeing a client event’s success all the way through from beginning to end, whether it’s corporate or social. Plus, as someone who thrives in the East Coast weather, it’s not a bad gig to be outside by the water every day. The views and the fresh air are just some
perks among many, including that I get to bring my darling pup Winnie to work with me daily.
What social sports do you play with DC Fray?
Too many! Just kidding. My first league was flag football on the Mall. I then got back to my softball roots and slowly started joining leagues in different areas of D.C. and Virginia.
I play softball at Randall Rec Center on Sunday mornings (sometimes against DC Fray’s own Mitchell Kenigsberg), Quincy Park in Arlington on Sunday afternoons, and most recently, I played in Fray’s huge summer tournament at The Fields at RFK Campus. I had [so much] fun and my team ended up taking second place in the whole tournament. I was so exhausted by the last game, but I truly didn’t want it to end. I am now on the prowl for a new weekday Fray softball league. Ball is life!
What do you enjoy about participating?
I mentioned playing sports year-round growing up. I don’t think I truly appreciated it when I was younger because between the complaining parents and stressed out coaches, it always felt so competitive. I love being able to pick up a sport I’m good at, and enjoy it in a different way now [because] there’s no pressure from anyone. I’m able to enjoy winning much more as a grown adult, probably because it’s always followed by a round of drinks somewhere with teammates who become your core friend group.
As a friend of DC Fray, and someone who has worked there, what do you appreciate most about the magazine and organization?
I appreciate the organization’s continual efforts to expand its audience among several demographics. It’s so refreshing to see Fray host leagues, create content and put on events that can be enjoyed by so many different kinds of people. Also, you’ve got to love the friendliness of league hosts, event staff and the magazine team. Such a fun bunch.
What’s your favorite thing about living in the D.C. area?
I love that our city is dog friendly and that hot spots are so accessible. In my experience, people aren’t gatekeeping their favorite things in the area. Instead, it feels like there’s always something new to check out.
What’s something about you people would be surprised to learn?
I’ve only been out of the country one time — and it was this year for a trip to Italy. Definitely the best first international experience a girl can have.
Your neighborhood: South Arlington. Favorite museum: Nothing will top the Newseum. RIP. Go-to cuisine: Mexican. 2023 goal: Learn how to properly salsa dance.
LATE FALL REGISTRATION IS OPEN. Join one of DC Fray’s social sports leagues this season to make friends and have fun. Late fall registration runs through October 10.
brighton-dc.com
949 Wharf St. SW, DC | 202-735-5398 1900 Connecticut Ave NW, DC | 202-448-1575 hojataqueria.com | @hojataqueria
Have you ever been scared by a crossword? Our puzzle this month flits in and out of some of D.C.’s haunted spaces, includes some of Halloween’s spookiest elements and, of course, a few monsters pop out of nowhere — just like in the movies.
NOTE: Check districtfray.com for the answer key.
1 Spooky creature said to haunt the U.S. Capitol building,
3 words
8 Need to pay
9 Like haunted houses
10 Loch with a monster
13 Broomstick flier
15 You can meet icons of horror at Madame in NYC
18 Eat
19 You and I
20 Aspiration
22 It shows location
24 Wine color
25 Anne Rice’s Lestat, for one
27 Request fervently
28 U.S. car maker, abbr.
29 1973 horror film which has some D.C. steps named after it, 2 words
33 “ tu, Brute” (Shakespeare)
34 Rowing equipment
35 Trick or !
38 Baseball stat, abbr.
40 Gala
41 Hill position, abbr.
42 Not fully trusting
43 “The Walking Dead” creatures
Down
1 D.C. House of a former U.S. navy Commodore, said to be haunted by his grieving widow
2 Events
3 Siesta
4 Consider, with on
5 Halloween wear
6 , shucks!
7 Computer support person, informally
11 Family girl, informally
12 “Beetlejuice star,” Maitland
14 Accountant, abbr.
16 Avail oneself of
17 Check out a cocktail, say
21 Daring skirt
23 Carved fruits for jack-o’-lanterns
25 Trouble
26 “It was twenty years today ...”
27 Speculate
29 Monster in “The Lord of the Rings”
30 Uncanny, and a bit spooky
31 Regret
32 Upper bodies
35 Poodle, maybe
36 “Much About Nothing”
37 Male turkey
39 Stinging insect
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Tuesday, October 31 from 7:30 p.m. to midnight
Dock 5: 1309 5th St. NE, DC
bit.ly/wearetheweirdosmister
