Halloween is slowly becoming one of my favorite holidays. I enjoy walking thru my neighborhood and looking at the spooky and fun Halloween decorations with my kids. I get excited thinking playing dress up and make believe with my kids by helping them create the characters and creatures they love. This holiday makes me feel connected to my childhood again and again. I especially enjoy attending all the fun festivals that are organized in and around our neighborhood. Here are a few of the best ways to spend your Halloween weekend with the kids:
Falloween at Market Common Clarendon, is right in the heart of Clarendon. Falloween features trick or treating, a costume parade (for people and pets), a Rocknoceros performance, a petting zoo, face painting, a kids circus, strolling entertainment, balloon creations . This Halloween event runs from 10 AM -2 PM on October 27 2012. Free admission and Open to the Public.
Potomac Overlook Halloween Party: Visit the Park from 6:30 PM to 9 PM for a ton of spooky family fun including live music, food, games, arts and crafts, storytelling, and guided hikes through the woods. People of all ages are welcome! Tickets ($10 per person) and sell out fast!
Trick or Treat with Shirlie: this organized trick or treat event is in the Shirlington neighborhood. Dress in your favorite Halloween costume and wander throughout the Village and pick up treats at your favorite restaurants and shops. Enjoy special activities and promotions from CakeLove, Le Village Marche, Café Pizzaiolo and more! Pumpkin carving contest and a chance to win $100 Gift Card to One, Two Kangaroo.
Halloween Party at Walter Reed Community Center : located at 2909 16th Street S. This event is perfect for the entire family, events include face painting, costume parade, moon bouncing, carnival games, prizes and much more. October 27th from 1-4pm.
Boo at the Zoo: Princesses, mythical creatures, kid-wizards, and other costumed guests are invited to join us at our annual Halloween event, Boo at the Zoo. There’s no safer or more exciting way for families with children ages 2 to 12 to trick or treat. Enjoy animal encounters and festive decorations along with your tasty candy and delicious snack foods from more than 30 treat stations throughout the Zoo. Take a ride around Great Cats Circle on our train the Boo Express! Tickets are $30 per child and sell out almost as fast as a Lady Gaga concert. This is a Halloween party that most parents living in and around the DC area have to take their kids to at least once.
YMCA Arlington Haunted House: this great family friendly event is organized by the YMCA and is held at 3829 N. Stafford St on October 28th 2012 at 6pm.
CLARENDON MOMS GUIDE TO THE TOP 4 PUMPKIN PATCHES, FALL FESTIVALS, CORN MAZES AND HAYRIDES FOR FAMILIES (OCTOBER 2013 EDITION)
Autumn is my favorite season! I love the chilly weather, the color of the leaves changing, the warm sweaters/Autumn Fashion, Halloween and Thanksgiving! One of my favorite ways to enjoy the season is taking my family to the Fall Festivals and Pumpkin Patches in the area to chase my little ones thru the corn mazes, look at all the decorations and of course go on a hayride. I’ve created a short list of places for you to take your little ones and enjoy everything that is to love about autumn. Enjoy!
1. Cox Farms Fall Festival: This is Northern Virginia’s and the DC Area’s LARGEST Fall Festival and my personal favorite! With over 90 acres of fun, this farm has a ton of slides, straw tunnels, rope swings, nice long and gently spooky hayrides, baby farm animals, a goat village, CORNundrum cornfield adventure, haunted houses, haunted rides, corn mazes, food and concession stands, picnic tables, lots of spots for perfect family photographs and a full day’s worth of fun! You also get a free pumpkin from the pumpkin patch on your way out. Your little one will certainly be ready to go to bed early and sleep in the next morning after a fun-filled day here! I love this place! It is a must to get in the Halloween spirit! Officially opens this weekend!
2. Burke Nursery & Garden Center: Daily activities here include: a Pirate’s ship, Pirate’s Camp, a Pumpkin Fort, Ghost Tunnel Slide, a Western Town with mechanical rides, a Money Mountain to hunt for treasure, an authentic Native American Tepee, an Enchanted Castle, Iron Horse Railroad, Swings, Farm Animals and of course Hayrides.
3. Mount Vernon Fall Harvest Family Days: Mount Vernon welcomes the autumn season with Fall Harvest Family Days, October 26 and 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The entire family enjoys autumn activities including wagon rides, wheat treading in the 16-sided barn, 18th-century dancing demonstrations, a straw bale maze, farrier (blacksmithing) demonstrations, apple-roasting, corn husk dolls demonstrations and early-American games and music. Potomac River sightseeing cruises are half-price this weekend only.
4. Butler’s Orchard: This family farm is worth the trip if you live in Maryland and just want to take your kids somewhere close to get out for an hour or so. For those of you who want more, skip this and go to Cox Farms! This is a boutique farm with a sprinkling of slides and short hayride and a small corn maze. Open every Saturday and Sunday in October including Columbus Day.
CLARENDON MOMS GUIDE TO THE TOP 4 PUMPKIN PATCHES, FALL FESTIVALS, CORN MAZES AND HAYRIDES FOR FAMILIES (OCTOBER 2012 EDITION)
Autumn is my favorite season! I love the chilly weather, the color of the leaves changing, the fall fashions, Halloween and Thanksgiving! One of my favorite ways to enjoy the season is taking my family to the Fall Festivals and Pumpkin Patches in the area to chase my little ones thru the corn mazes, look at all the decorations and of course go on a hayride. I’ve created a short list of places for you to take your little ones and enjoy everything that is to love about autumn. Enjoy!
1. Cox Farms Fall Festival: This is Northern Virginia’s and the DC Area’s LARGEST Fall Festival and my personal favorite! With over 90 acres of fun, this farm has a ton of slides, straw tunnels, rope swings, nice long and gently spooky hayrides, baby farm animals, a goat village, CORNundrum cornfield adventure, haunted houses, haunted rides, corn mazes, food and concession stands, picnic tables, lots of spots for perfect family photographs and a full day’s worth of fun! You also get a free pumpkin from the pumpkin patch on your way out. Your little one will certainly be ready to go to bed early and sleep in the next morning after a fun-filled day here! I love this place! It is a must to get in the Halloween spirit!
2. Burke Nursery & Garden Center: Daily activities here include: a Pirate’s ship, Pirate’s Camp, a Pumpkin Fort, Ghost Tunnel Slide, a Western Town with mechanical rides, a Money Mountain to hunt for treasure, an authentic Native American Tepee, an Enchanted Castle, Iron Horse Railroad, Swings, Farm Animals and of course Hayrides.
3. Mount Vernon Fall Harvest Family Days: October 27th & 28th from 9 AM to 5 PM. The entire family enjoys autumn activities including wagon rides, wheat treading in the 16-sided barn, 18th-century dancing demonstrations, a straw bale maze, farrier (blacksmithing) demonstrations, apple-roasting, corn husk dolls demonstrations and early-American games and music. Potomac River sightseeing cruises are half-price this weekend only. On Saturday, October 27 at 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., the author of Mount Vernon’s newest childrens book “Mount Vernon’s Magnificent Menagerie and the Very Mysterious Guest,” will be at The Shops for a book reading and signing. This charming book, created by a mother and daughter team, is told from the viewpoint of the animals at George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
4. Butler’s Orchard: This family farm is worth the trip if you live in Maryland and just want to take your kids somewhere close to get out for an hour or so. For those of you who want more, skip this and go to Cox Farms! This is a boutique farm with a sprinkling of slides and short hayride and a small corn maze.
Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year and interested in catering instead of slaving over a hot stove? Here is my guide to some of the best places to order an entirely pre-cooked Thanksgiving Day Feast. Wishing you and your family a very warm and fun-filled Holiday! Happy Thanksgiving!
Whole Foods Market
Offered at Clarendon/Arlington Location and many locations throughout the Washington DC Area. The organic food store offers complete Thanksgiving dinners with an organic turkey OR Vegan Turkey with the traditional trimmings stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce OR Gluten Free and Vegan Options. Orders can be placed in person at each store, over the phone, or online. And for those of you who miss the deadline to place an order, there will be plenty of pre-packaged fresh items on the shelf (while supplies last).
Boston Market Whether you need a banquet with all the fixings or a few home style sides, you can trust us with your holiday celebration. All for about the same price as your local grocery store and without the hassle of cooking.
Liberty Tavern is offering an all you can eat Thanksgiving Buffet for only $30. This is perfect for those not interested in staying home or going to someone else’s house for the traditional dinner. Get all dolled up and enjoy your holiday at a very fine establishment in Clarendon.
The cityhouse restaurants can be found in Manhattan in New York, New York; San Francisco, California; and Arlington, Virginia. Set within some fabulous hotels, city house restaurants are ideally located near each city’s most popular events and attractions, making them a favorite choice for residents and visitors to enjoy a special dining experience for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. We are very lucky to have one within the Rosslyn-Clarendon Corridor. City House/Rosslyn is offering a $29 3-Course Pre-Fixe Dinner on Thanksgiving. Call for Reservations!
Balduccis
Three locations in the DC Area: 10323 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD (301) 564-3100. 600 Franklin Street Alexandria, VA (703) 549-6611, 6655 Old Dominion Drive McLean, VA (703) 448-3828. The Thanksgiving menu showcases traditional turkey and a selection of modern side dishes and desserts.
Safeway
Offered at the Rosslyn and Lee Heights Locations and most areas in Northern Virginia. Safeway offers several different heat and serve turkey dinners with side dishes and desserts.
Monday through Friday of this week, every Rocklands will be serving Thanksgiving on a Bun as our blue-plate special. Turkey, stuffing, cranberry dressing and mayo on a potato roll, all for just $6.99. And if you need potatoes and gravy too, well, you can add french fries and gravy on top for just $1 more.
Assaggi Mozzarella Bar, 4838 Bethesda Avenue in Bethesda, MD, and its sister restaurantAssaggi Osteria,, 6641 Old Dominion Drive in McLean, VA will offer three Thanksgiving feasts “to go.” Guests can choose from three pre-cooked options: the Italian Roasted Turkey Dinner; Italian Roasted Turkey Breast (only) Dinner, and the Italian Style Turkey Dinner Three-Ways. The “to go” menus are priced at $180, $140 and $210, and serve between six and eight people. Each “to go” menu also includes a choice of dinner rolls, two condiments, three sides and one dessert. Desserts can also be ordered a la carte, and are priced between $25 and $30 each.
EPIC Smokehouse
1330 South Fern St. Arlington, VA. Located near the Pentagon City Mall, EPIC will offer a limited supply of turkey dinners for carryout that will feed up to 10 people. Pick up a 10-12lb turkey that can be either smoked or fried. Turkey dinners cost $70 and include gravy along with a choice of three homemade sides. Selections include mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing and creamed corn. An extra side can be purchased for an additional $10.
