What's Your Fav Old Town Restaurant?

Old Town Restaurant Week starts today! I've eaten all over DC, and Old Town is still my favorite place to go to dinner. The major dilemma: Where to eat? There are so many great restaurants here, where do you even begin? My husband and I find ourselves spending hours walking around trying to decide... until the kitchens start closing!

My favorite hang out/late night place is O'Connell's, because of their fabulous Risotto Cakes, Creme Brulee and late night food.

The best place for a lighter meal is Flying Fish. Their spicy sushi is awesome. Try the Zoom Zoom Roll.

Although it's just outside of Old Town, in Del Ray, my favorite date night place is Evening Star Cafe. Everything is consistently delicious, and has a gourmet touch without being skimpy. It's even great just for some wine, and Fried Bri with truffled honey sauce.

What's your favorite place to eat in Old Town?

Doggie Ice Cream Social

This Saturday (July 31st), The Dog Park, Pop's Ice Cream, and Banana Republic in Old Town are sponsoring a doggie ice cream social! That's right, ice cream for people and dogs.

I didn't know about this until today, when I took Charlie to The Dog Park on our way to the real dog park. It's a new, adorable store with treats and toys galore. Check out the awesome window display, reminiscent of Life Aquatic:

Movie in the Park

Last night was the first ever movie in the park at Waterfront Park in Old Town. It's the perfect place for this kind of event, and it rocked. Unfortunately, it's only happening one more time this year: July 17th (tonight) at dusk (about 8:45pm). Tonight's movie is Transformers. This is truly an awesome experience, because you're watching a movie, looking out over the Potomac. And it's free.

Thanks Comcast Outdoor Film Festival! But you know, this really should be an ongoing weekly event... hint, hint, Alexandria Parks and Rec.

Unwrap the Port-A-Potties, It's Christmas in July!

What are these port-a-potties doing at the park? Could it be... is it really... Christmas in July?! Usually the sound of bells, the heat of a warm fire, and the smell of pine mean Christmas time. But this weekend, the sound of family cheer, the heat of the sun, and the smell of sweat (and something else if you're standing too close to the port-a-potties) will ignite the joy of Christmas all around.

This weekend (July 16-18) is the first ever CHRISTMAS IN JULY CELEBRATION on Union St. There will be a ton to do for all ages, from photos with Santa, to ornament making, to food and wine tastings. Oh yeah, and don't miss the bagpipers. Well, I guess as long as you're within a 20 mile radius, you'll hear them anyway. Visit the Christmas Attic website for more details.

Fireworks, or Plane Crash?

OK. So the fireworks at Alexandria's Bday fest last week were a bit of a bust. They would havebeen great, if they didn't have to stop every 2.5 minutes and let a plane fly by. I'm surprised that doesn't happen every year. And imagine how the pilots feel when they see fireworks ahead of them on their flight path! The weirder thing is that after the finale, they let off several more rounds of fireworks, randomly until almost 11pm! I had nightmares about being woken up by explosions. Thanks, Alexandria Gov. But the kettle corn freakin ruled.

Let Them Eat Cake (For Free!)

Don't miss the Alexandria Birthday Celebration festival this Saturday (July 10th) from4pm-10pm at Oronoco Bay Park! Every year there are fun food vendors, activities, music, AND FREE CAKE.

"What? Free cake," you say?

Oh yes. The entire event is free. The Alexandria Singers perform at 6pm, civic awards at 7:30pm (that's when the cake arrives), and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra performs at 8:30pm. Plus, the event ends in fireworks over the Potomac River, with a closing cannon at 9:30pm.

Beware that the Red Cross Festival was cancelled this year, so this is your only chance to experience a true, "small" town festival this summer.

4th of July Treats

Old Town was made for hot summer evenings, ice cream, and fireflies. That's why spending the 4th of July here sends you back in time. Enjoy a plethora of new shops, sweet treats, and

outdoor fun:

Buzz Bakery is worth the trip to North Old Town, with its adorable setting, and festive baked goods. Their sugar cookies are to die for, and not just because they look like American flags.

Alexandria Cupcake always has tasty, fresh flavors. I love their vanilla bean icing, but their strawberry might hit the spot just right on the 4th.

Lavender Moon Cupcakery is a great place to find all-natural cupcakes. Lavender flavored

treats sound weird at first, but trust me, you'll love 'em. Anything chocolate-chocolate flavored from this yummy establishment is bound to be delic. But beware of their strange hours: Once the cupcakes run out, so do the shop keepers!

Bittersweet is a thirst-quencher with their GIANT, fresh, to-go lemonades. Even better, they just opened a new snack bar in the food court on the boardwalk. Stopping in at the Snack Shack is like taking a dip in a cool pool. They also make particularly tasty mango smoothies.

While you're strolling down the boardwalk, catch a dog from Waterfront Weenies, the local hot dog street vendor. Try the unique sauces! My fav is the Hawaiian Dog.

After you're full of sugar, catch National Harbor's fireworks at Founders Park. Or, make your way to one of the following points on the Mount Vernon Trail to catch a view of the fireworks

from the Mall:

-Behind 11 Canal Center Plaza, just north of Oronocco Bay Park (great spot to see Mall, -National Harbor, and random MD fireworks from across the river)

-Gravelly Point

-Beside/below the Memorial Bridge Mount Vernon trail

-Mount Vernon. Hours before the Mall's fireworks, check out Mount Vernon's daytime show.

Remember! The following weekend, Sat July 10th, is George Washington's Birthday celebration in Old Town. Keep an eye out for info on the fair, and Alexandria's home turf fireworks.