Hey gang, Matt here! Who else is enjoying the spring-like weather we’ve had this week? It’s a great setup for the nearly 60 degree temps expected this weekend, which makes for excellent weather to head Out & About.

This week, we have details about the 30+ restaurants participating in Fairfax City Restaurant Week. Plus, Mardi Gras fun and special events around the region ahead of the big day next week. And, two “big” events are “tea-d” up at the Dulles Expo Center. More information and events are in today’s edition.

If you missed it last week, Out & About Fairfax is now Instagram! Give us a follow and check out more fun content throughout the week. Soon, we will be starting a “Photo of the Week” highlighting fun around Fairfax County. Keep an eye on the Instagram page for more details about how you can get involved.

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In this week’s newsletter:

• True Honey Teas Festival, Legacy on Ice

• Fairfax City Restaurant Week, Fair Winds Brewing Co. Turns 10

• Virginia National Ballet, Grammy winner each to perform

• National Read Across America Day events for kids, families

• The Capitals play two at home, GMU women’s basketball hosts Duquesne

Let’s dive in!

Cheers,
Matt

A message from us

Things To Do

New Orleans 🤝 Fairfax County this weekend with several fun Mardi Gras events around the area this weekend. Let’s hit the road! 🚗

• True Honey Teas Festival

  • A festival for tea lovers! The first-ever True Honey Teas Festival at the Dulles Expo Center offers unlimited sampling of all 20+ tea blends made by the Lorton-based company, plus a new mystery flavor. Enjoy seminars, shop local businesses, and more. The festival runs Saturday, March 1 from 9:00a.m.-6:00p.m. Tickets start at $14.99.

    • 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly

• The D.C. Big Flea Market & Antiques Event

  • Billed as the “mid-Atlantic’s largest indoor antiques and collectibles flea market,” the DC Big Flea Market & Antiques Event at the Dulles Expo Center offers fine antiques, vintage clothing and handbags, jewelry, and more. The event is Saturday, March 1 from 9:00a.m.-6:00p.m. and Sunday, March 2 from 11:00a.m.-5:00p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, children 12-under are free.

    • 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly

• Mardi Gras Festival at Shipgarten

  • Beads, masks, food, and fun at Shipgarten in McLean on Saturday, March 1 from 1:00p.m.-6:00p.m. Enjoy dancing, live music, a bead tossing competition, and plenty of drinks (responsibly) for this Mardi Gras festival. Admission is free.

    • 7581 Colshire Dr., McLean

• Legacy on Ice at Capital One Arena

  • Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Entertainment Gang, and U.S. Figure Skating will join together on Sunday, March 2 to present “Legacy on Ice,” a live figure skating tribute to the 67 lives lost in the tragic mid-air crash at Reagan National Airport last month, including members of the U.S. Figure Skating community. The event will raise money for victims’ families and first responders. Tickets start at $25. The event starts at 3:00p.m.

    • Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.

• Reston Association’s Appraisal Roadshow

  • Antiques Roadshow meets a treasure hunt of sorts with this event hosted by the Reston Association on Saturday, March 1. Bring an item of value, such as a family heirloom or jewelry, and an appraisal expert will provide insights on its value while educating the group. The event, scheduled for 10:45a.m.-12:00p.m., is free for RA members and $22 for non-members.

    • 12001 Sunrise Valley Dr., Reston

• 62nd Annual Woodlawn Needlework Show

  • The legendary Woodlawn Needlework Show begins Saturday, March 1 for the month. Plus, tours of Frank Lloyd Wright’s historic Pope-Leighey House open for the season this weekend, as well. You can purchase tickets for either or both events. (Details on timing and tickets are in the link above.)

    • 9000 Richmond Highway, Alexandria

• Year-Round Farmers Markets

  • Miss last week’s newsletter? We detailed where to find year-round farmers markets across Fairfax County if you’re on the hunt for fresh, affordable eggs. Check it out here. (Jump to the “Things To Do” section.)

Food & Drink

Fairfax City Restaurant Week continues through Sunday, and breweries around the region are featuring exclusive beer releases. Cheers! 🍕🍻

• Fairfax City Restaurant Week

  • More than 30 restaurants have specials on tap for Fairfax City Restaurant Week, which runs through Sunday, March 2. Enjoy cuisines of all kinds, from Italian, Indian, steak and seafood, and much more. The full list of participating restaurants can be found in the link above.

• Aslin Beer Company’s Mardi Gras Party

  • Aslin’s Herndon and Alexandria breweries will be hosting Mardi Gras parties on Saturday, March 1 from 1:00p.m.-4:00p.m. Enjoy New Orleans-inspired food specials and live music. Plus, the release of, “King Baby,” a new King Cake-inspired barrel-aged imperial stout conditioned on cinnamon and vanilla.

    • 767 Elden St., Herndon

    • 847 S. Pickett St., Alexandria

• Fair Winds Brewing Company Celebrates 10th Anniversary

  • The Lorton brewery celebrates their 10th anniversary with a big party on Saturday, March 1. Enjoy exclusive releases, live music, food trucks, games, and more. The event runs 12:00p.m.-10:00p.m. and admission is free.

    • 7000 Newington Rd., Suites K & L, Lorton

• Books ‘n Brews at Caboose Tavern

  • Together with Bards Alley Bookshop in Vienna, Caboose Tavern is hosting “Books ‘n Brews” on Sunday, March 2 from 4:00p.m.-6:00p.m. Billed as a “boozy book fair,” customers are invited to shop for their new favorite reads and enjoy food and drink specials.

    • 520 Mill St. NW, Vienna

• The Winery at Bull Run’s Barrel Tastings

  • The Winery at Bull Run will host its 6th Annual Barrel Tastings, an exclusive opportunity to taste wine pulled right from the barrels during the production process. Experience the behind-the-scenes winemaking process, enjoy hors d’oeuvres paired with wines. The event runs Friday, Feb. 28-Sunday, March 2 with multiple times each day. Tickets: $70 for the general public, $63 for wine club members.

    • 15950 Lee Highway, Centreville

Go Out & About Together

Music, Arts, & Entertainment

Let’s see what’s happening on stages across Fairfax County this weekend! 🎶

• Virginia National Ballet Performs Snow White

  • The Virginia National Ballet is bringing its popular rendition of “Snow White” back to Capital One Hall on Saturday, March 1. Showtime is 6:00p.m. Tickets start at $45.

    • 7750 Capital One Tower Rd., Tysons

• Alessio Bax & Lucille Chung at Wolf Trap

  • The talented pianists bring their performance to Wolf Trap on Sunday, March 2 at 3:00p.m. This show features their take on music by Poulenc, Schumann, and others. Tickets start at $51.

    • 1645 Trap Rd., Vienna

• Angelique Kidjo Performs at GMU’s Center for the Arts

  • Five-time GRAMMY winner Angelique Kidjo brings her joyous music to George Mason University on Sunday, March 2 at 7:00p.m. An icon of international music, Kidjo blends West African rhythms with jazz, pop, funk, R&B, and other musical styles. Tickets start at $36.

    • 4373 Mason Pond Dr., Fairfax

• Steel Magnolias at Creative Cauldron

  • The famous play and movie continues at Falls Church’s Creative Cauldron with shows scheduled Thursday, Feb. 27-Sunday, March 2. Tickets start at $20 for students and $35 for adults. A list of show times can be found in the link above.

    • 127 E. Broad St., Falls Church

Families & Kids

National Read Across America Day provides some fun events in our local schools and libraries this weekend. Let’s hit the road (and the books)! 📚

• Fair Oaks Mall Summer Camp & Fitness Fair

  • Parents can check out all of the best summer camp options in one place at the Fair Oaks Mall on Saturday, March 1 from 11:00a.m.-4:00p.m. Representatives from camps and fitness groups will be on-hand to help answers questions.

    • 11750 Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax

• Mini Masonettes at GMU

  • Young George Mason Patriots fans can learn to dance and show off their school spirit on Saturday, March 1. Later, they will perform at halftime of the GMU women’s basketball at EagleBank Arena. The mini-camp starts runs 9:00a.m.-11:00a.m. at GMU Field House. Open to ages 6-12. Tickets are $35, and discounted game tickets will be available for family.

    • 4501 University Dr., Fairfax

• National Read Across America Day

  • In honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday and National Read Across America Day on March 2, we’ve outlined some fun local reading-friendly events geared towards kids and families.

    • Award-winning Author Kwame Alexander in Reston

      • The National Education Association’s signature Read Across America event this year features Kwame Alexander, winner of the Newbury Award and Coretta Scott King Award Honor, to bring his book “The Crossover” to life in Reston. Alexander will be joined by jazz bassist Amy Shook for a performance at Langston Hughes Middle School on Sunday, March 2 at 2:30p.m.

        • 11401 Ridge Heights Rd., Reston

    • Saturday Family Story Time in Oakton

      • Enjoy stories, songs, and action rhymes at the Oakton Library for Saturday Family Story Time on March 1. Kids up to age 5 may participate with a caregiver. This event, scheduled from 10:30a.m.-11:15a.m., is free.

        • 10304 Lynnhaven Pl., Oakton

    • Family Story Time in Annandale

      • All ages are welcome for this family story time at the George Mason Regional Library in Annandale on Sunday, March 2. Registration is required (and can be found in the link above). The event runs from 10:30a.m.-11:30a.m.

        • 7001 Little River Turnpike, Annandale

Sports & Recreation

Each weekend, we run down the schedule as our local pro and college sports teams take the field (or court, ice, etc.) if you’re interested in hitting the big game.

News & Notes

• ⚽️MLS: After a 2-2 tie vs. Toronto at Audi Field last weekend, D.C. United visits the Windy City to take on Chicago this weekend.

• 🏀NBA: The Washington Wizards visit the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday.

• ⚾️MLB: The Washington Nationals continue Spring Training in Florida with five games from Thursday-Sunday.

• 🏀NCAAM: George Mason Men’s Basketball travels to Pittsburgh to play Duquesne.

• Go Out & About Outdoors with the Fairfax County Park Authority’s archery classes at Burke Lake Park. Registration is now open for both children and adults.

Home Games

• 🏒NHL: St. Louis Blues at Washington Capitals

  • Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7:00p.m., Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.

• 🏒NHL: Tampa Bay Lightning at Washington Capitals

  • Saturday, March 1 at 12:30p.m., Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.

• 🏀NCAAW: Duquesne at George Mason

  • Saturday, March 1 at 3:00p.m., EagleBank Arena, Fairfax

Fairfax County Fun Fact of the Week

Did you know: Actor and comedian Jason Sudeikis, famous for Ted Lasso and Saturday Night Live, was born in Fairfax.

We Want to Hear from You!

Want to get your neighbors Out & About?

If you have an event you would like to feature in the newsletter, or if you’re a business looking to advertise with us, send us an email! —> [email protected].

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Thanks for reading! See you next week.

Matt Knoedler
Publisher, Out & About Fairfax