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By Katie Bianco, Holly Gambrell and Stefanie Gans
Fried, hot and maybe just a little bothered
Before driving a couple hours south to Pulaksi, Tennessee for our friends’ wedding, we wanted to check out Nashville. I was desperate to try the city’s famous fried chicken at the source. So, on a sweaty September afternoon, we drove right from the airport (with a pit stop in between for a nitro cold brew) to Hattie B’s. It was a Friday at about 4 p.m., and there was already a very long line out the door. Our two kids were passed out in the back and my husband isn’t a fan of hot chicken (he’s had it before), so we kept driving and ate yuppie Brooklyn-style barbecue instead. That’s all to say you better believe I’m checking out the grand opening of Wooboi Hot Chicken in Herndon when it celebrates its grand opening on Tuesday, Feb. 5. -SG // Wooboi Hot Chicken: 139 Spring St., Herndon
The sweet life
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, which gives us all an excuse to eat our hearts out with sweets. I’ll be satisfying my sugar craving on Feb. 10, with a cake decorating class at Fran’s Cake & Candy Supplies. I’ll learn how to decorate a Valentine’s-themed cake (shown in the photo above) with ombre-colored icing and festive candy toppings. Only question is, do I get to lick the bowl? -HG // Fran’s Cake & Candy Supplies: 10927 Main St., Fairfax; $95
A new kind of play space
Buzzy Ballston Quarter isn’t just about catering to millennials and their need to Instagram everything (seriously, there’s an entire “Instagram Alley” at the new shopping and dining mecca). It’s got a few things for families, too. Last week, I took my daughter to the grand opening of Nook, an indoor playground that aims to create a space that both kids and parents will want to spend time in. What does that mean? For starters, it looks more like a Swedish-inspired living room than romper room. My daughter loved all the old-fashioned, neutral-colored toys, especially the dollhouse and kitchen, complete with toy colander. It’s for the kids, but it turns out it’s pretty Instagram-worthy also. We’re already plotting a return trip for this week! -KB // Nook: 4238 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1295; for ages 0-5, open play passes $20