October 18 through 24

SPOTLIGHT:

A Taste of Fair Trade
October 22, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Join us as we celebrate Fair Trade month with weekly tastings of locally available fairly traded food and drink, from chocolate and coffee to olive oil, fruit, and wine. Recurring weekly on Saturday. This week: Olive Oil from Palestine. Ten Thousand Villages, 915 King Street, Alexandria; (703)684.3415; alexandria.tenthousandvillages.com; free

3 Hosts 3nd Annual “Week of Bacon”
October 13 – 22. The Clarendon Neighborhood Restaurant pays homage to bacon with a week of curing, cooking, tasting and bacon themed happy hours. The Week of Bacon kicks off with a Patio Pig Roast on 10/13 and continues all week with more bacon themed food and events than you could ever imagine! Call or go online for complete schedule and details! 3, 2950 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington; (703)524.4440; www.restaurantthree.com

Dine Out For Farms™ Week
October 16 – 22. Diners can show their support for America’s farms and ranches by patronizing local restaurants that are participating in American Farmland Trust’s second annual Dine Out for Farms™ week October 16-22. The weeklong event raises money to save farms and farmland. This year, restaurants in 22 states and the District of Columbia are participating by contributing a percentage of sales during the Dine Out for Farms™ week or by making a straight donation to help save farms. www.farmland.org/dineout-locate

Bell’s Beer Dinner at Magnolias at the Mill
October 20, 7 p.m. We are excited and proud to welcome Kalamazoo, Michigan’s Bell’s Brewery to Magnolias and see what Chef Mark has in store for these thoughtful, creative and unique brews. 5 courses of food paired with beer. Magnolias at the Mill, 198 North 21st Street, Purcellville; (540)338.9800; www.magnoliasmill.com;  $80 inclusive

Thursday, October 20th: Brooklyn Beer Dinner at Clyde’s, Broadlands
October 20, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Clyde’s, the classic Washington DC saloon, is partnering with some of America’s best breweries for a series of beer dinners throughout the year. Each dinner will feature a four course meal and each course will be paired with a delicious brew selected by our chefs and the brewmaster. Clyde’s, 8332 Leesburg Pike, Vienna; (703)734.1901; http://clydesbeerdinners.com;  $40pp

Robert Mondavi Wine Dinner
October 20, 6:30 p.m. Join us for a special wine dinner featuring the ever popular Robert Mondavi Winery. Robert Mondavi built the first major winery in Napa Valley after prohibition- come taste what makes this winery one of the most visited in all of Napa. Trummer’s on Main, 7134 Main Street, Clifton; (703)266.1623; www.trummersonmain.com;  $96 pp (excluding tax and gratuity)

Virginia Wine Cruises on the Potomac
Fridays, October 7, 14, 21 & 28, 6:30 p.m. October is Virginia Wine Month and to celebrate, we are cruising the Potomac every Friday in October. Join us for a leisurely cruise down the Potomac while you sample 15 different wines from some of the areas best wineries. Snacks included. Waterfront at SW 700 Street, DC; (703)971.1525; http://www.washingtonwineacademy.org/public-events.htm#VAWineCruise;  $55 pp

Kid’s Pumpkin Carving Class at Wildfire
October 22, 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Get ready for Halloween! Parents and children will enjoy a hands-on pumpkin carving session led by Wildfire Executive Chef Eddie Ishaq and NBC4 Weekend Anchor Angie Goff. All participants will take home their creations along with a goody bag. Wildfire Tysons Galleria, 3rd Floor, McLean; (703)442.9110; www.wildfirerestaurant.com;  $20 for a parent and up to two children

Fields of Athenry Farm to Table dinner
October 22, 6 p.m.  Taste an array of Fields of Athenry Farm’s local, pasture-raised and hormone and antibiotic-free meats and raw milk cheeses at this 4-course Farm to Fork dinner paired with Sunset Hills wine. Meet Elaine Boland, owner of Fields of Athenry Farm, and hear her explain how she raises her animals and why the meat they produce is so healthy and flavorful. A donation will be made to Farmers Legal Defense Fund. Lansdowne Resort, 44050 Woodridge Parkway, Leesburg; (703)729.4073; www.lansdowneresort.com;  $55/person (wine, tax and gratuity additional)

A Taste of Fall with FACETS
October 22, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. FACETS opens doors by helping parents, their children and individuals who suffer the effects of poverty – so often unnoticed – in Fairfax County. We hope you’ll join us for a fun-filled night of delicious food and drink, entertainment, and exciting live and silent auction prizes and raffle drawings at the newly opened Sherwood Community Center. Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center, 3740 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax; (703)352.3268; http://facetscares.org/events/a-taste-of-fall-with-facets/; $35 pp

Taste of the Alpines Oktoberfest
October 22-23. Join us in celebrating Octoberfest with a tasting of Alpine wines paired with light food fares. Wines from Germany, Switzerland, and Austria will be featured. Come see why Willowcroft’s personal attention to detail, both in the vineyard and the winery, has resulted in national award-winning wines, time after time. Willowcroft Farm Vineyards38906 Mt Gilead Road, Leesburg; (703)777.8161; http://www.visitloudoun.org/Events/Taste-of-the-Alpines-Octoberfest-Weekend-at-Willowcroft; $15

Northern Virginia Brewfest
October 22-23, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. The World Beer Experience will feature more than 40 of the world’s best breweries, plenty of delicious food to complement the craft beers and outstanding local and regional bands providing entertainment. Bus trips and shuttle options available. Bull Run Regional Park, 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville. (888)695.0888. www.novabrewfest.com/fall;  $20/$25 in advance/day of, $15/$20 for dd