Live Q&As

Kushi has both regular and late-night happy hour deals that include bar menu items and cocktails, beer and sake. I've yet to have a bad meal there.

Try Terrapin Adventures or Go Ape.

Sure thing. Washington Improv Theatre has occasional free intro to improv workshops, which they're offering now through Saturday. You can sign up online here.

Bar Louie can easily handle that kind of crowd, and it's not loud/crazy/super young.

You don't say what day or time in your question -- really important details -- but I'd also consider the lounge at PS7's or the private "train car" room at the Passenger. The downstairs bar at Laughing Man Tavern is yet another option.

I brought a pair of brown leather oxfords that were beaten to within an inch of their life to American Valet in Tenleytown (202-364-9440); they spruced them up for a very reasonable price and now, more than a year later, they're still kicking, no pun intended. They're right off the Tenleytown Metro, across from the Best Buy.

I had a work outing for a small team at Lucky Strike once. Tons of fun, and fewer people means more chances to get a strike. Or gutterball.

I think you ladies would like Maddy's on Connecticut Ave. Awesome servers, really good food, good specials (on Sunday!). About the men: I wouldn't say this place is a magnet for hot, eligible men.  I can say the chances are good no gross men will bother you, and you'll like the spot, the food and the TVs.

Lotus is only open on Friday and Saturday nights, or that was the last I heard from their promoter. (Honestly, I haven't been by the lounge in months.)

Actually, most of the upscale lounges in D.C. are dead midweek -- Shadow Room, Current, the Park, Tattoo. Josephine's got a hip-hop party. Same with District, although that one at least has an open bar.

My choice would probably be Eden -- two DJs spinning house and dance music, with free admission via edendc.com.

Usually pretty timely. They'll be done close to 10, though maybe 10:30 if things run late. Gotta let the Nouveau Riche boys do their thing, but honestly, I'm kinda surprised Miami Horror is on so early. ("I flew halfway around the world to spin at 8 p.m.?")

Would love to know more about your parents' interests, but I'm guessing they just want to do some touristy stuff, right? In which case, they could hit up the Phillips or the Corcoran, which both have extended hours on Thursdays. There's also a promising program at the Hirshhorn tonight at 7 -- a discussion about the amazing and soon-to-close Yves Klein exhibition.

There really is a short window to do this at peak period. I was just told by folks at the National Arboretum that around here, it's looking like right around Halloween will be when you see peak colors. Here's a story from last year all about hiking, driving, etc., to see the colors close to home. If you want to head to Skyline Drive or Luray Caverns, you HAVE to check out this awesome web cam they keep up so you can monitor the leaves from afar.

If I'm looking for a bar that says, "You're in Washington, D.C." I'd go with the Old Ebbitt Grill, the Round Robin at the Willard Hotel  or Off the Record at the Hay Adams. The others are certainly trendy, though.

ChurchKey's on my list. Quill if we're looking for good cocktails somewhere a little more quiet.  Marvin if you're going early in the week. (I'm not a huge fan of the place when it's sardine-crushed on Fridays.)

My list of places to take out-of-towners for good beers and cocktails includes the Passenger, Tabard Inn, Birreria Paradiso, PS7's and probably Bourbon, even though the place has slipped ever-so-slightly since its top bartenders defected to Jose Andres's restaurants.

For a fun night out, still love Little Miss Whiskey's and Breadsoda, and am getting more impressed with Toyland if you travels takeyou out to H Street.

How about Bistro Lepic or Masa 14? They are pretty different scene-wise, but both have what you are looking for I think. Though if it tips the scales, I prefer the after-dinner drinking options in Masa's neighborhood.

Pizza and beers at Birreria Paradiso, unless this is a Friday night date. I always like Kramerbooks for this, too -- especially because you can spend time browsing a fantastic independent bookstore until he/she shows up. And Scion is nice -- pretty quiet, great beer/wine selection, fantastic burgers.

Part of me really wants to suggest Russia House, though. That could be an EPIC first date.

I know! It's a bummer! If it helps, I  would take Arts on Foot in Penn Quarter over Alexandria, because Arts on Foot offers really good food from the neighborhood's restaurants at really cheap prices ($1-$5, with most on the lower end) and because the arts preview at Harman Hall should be a blast. I think the Rosslyn Jazz Festival has a great view, and music that's a little more worldly, but man, this year, Aaron Neville is at Silver Spring, so I gotta go that way. Finally, I'd take Takoma's folk festival. Adams Morgan Day is kind of loosely structured for me. I just wander and eat -- I never stay very long.

Most of the big D.C. sports bars -- Penn Quarter Sports Tavern, Public Bar, Rhino -- will have ESPNU, especially during college football season.

If you want a guarantee, though, the Michigan State alumni group meets at Capitol Lounge, and they have a menu of food and drink specials just for Spartans fans. I'd pick that one.

If only.

I am a big fan of Roy's Place or Growlers for food in Gaithersburg. As for things to do, if you want to stay in the burbs I suggest checking out the Takoma Park Folk Festival or seeing a performance by the Victorian Lyric Opera Company in Rockville's F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater.

Just a note -- Growlers' roof blew off during the big storm a few weeks ago, and they're currently closed for repairs. Fingers crossed they'll be open by the end of the month or early October.

See my answer above. If you had to choose one, I'd say Arts on Foot. You get a wine tasting festival, performing arts, street festival, and get to sample amazing food, cheap. 

People in the office don't believe me, but there really *is*  a Skins fans-free zone on Sundays: The bar at Mezza Luna, which is packed with crowds rooting for the Cowboys. You get specials for wearing a jersey.

And as a reminder, we have this nice long list of bars that cater to college alumni and out-of-town NFL fans, which I will be even further updating this afternoon with more college picks. (Ole Miss, for example, is joining the SEC fans at Gin & Tonic on Saturdays.)

The Friendship Heights area might be your best bet: Clyde's (especially the outdoor patio), LIA's, Maggiano's and Chadwick's can all handle a crowd. Sticking in the Tenleytown area, how about Guapo's? Margaritas + Networking = Tex-Mexworking.

Advice on shoe repair and trying to hit on people during a very important football game! Our chatters are so wise...

The good people at Arena Stage tell me the show will be directed so that all sides will get their fair share of face time. The one person I spoke to, though, said she was particularly fond of the South and West tiers for that particular show.

There isn't a lot near there, but if money is really not an option, I suggest getting reservations at Cityzen. Its certainly a worthy 25th anniversary destination.

I would avoid Fogo myself, though I am very much a meat-in-balance kind of guy, and I find that place a little overwhelming. Between Proof and Tosca its really a tossup, you can't go wrong there. Lets say Tosca though for balance, since I've talked up Proof each of the last two weeks I think. I notice your steakhouse list doesn't include Bourbon Steak or J&G, have you guys hit those? Both are exceptional, and both work magic even when they aren't cooking beef.

Fogo is great for a group birthday party, but maybe not so great for a birthday date. At least one of you will overeat and feel bloated and miserable for the rest of the night, which, as we all know,  is a great way to say Happy Birthday!

Okay, so I'm not a male guru but I'm totally more qualified to answer this than Malitz (who subsists mainly on pizza bagels and popcorn). Acqua al 2 in Eastern Market has an amazing steak topped with blueberry sauce (which sounds weird, but just trust me). The nearby Montmartre also does up a delicious hanger steak.

I go because I really enjoy hanging out with the friends I go with, honestly.

I do survey bars and restaurants for our annual beach guide, which comes out every May, but I'm happier just lying around on the beach, getting drinks with friends at Dogfish Head or going out for crabs. It's lazy, and that's the best part.

Friday night is the last one for the season (I'm writing this through tears), so you do have one last shot. Bring a blanket, come early-ish (it starts at 5), because I suspect it's going to be mobbed. They do sell wine; I always get a pitcher of sangria, which rings in at a reasonable $17. They also sell beer and food in the cafe, but picnicking is the best part.

I would head to the Kettler Center in Ballston around 11 to watch the Caps rookies fight for a roster spot, then head downstairs and across the street to check out the crepes cart I can never get to because I'm always at work. My Food section pals tell me its worth the trip.

You can wait in line for the TaKorean and/or Lobster Roll trucks without your boss wondering why lunch took 75 minutes.

You can browse Edvard Munch and other exhibits at the National Gallery without having to battle weekend crowds.

And you can be one of the first people to grab a seat at the bar for half-price beer happy hours at Birreria Paradiso or Beck, so you don't have to battle the crowds that arrive at 5:30 or 6.

For steak and atmosphere, I really love Bistrot du Coin. Is the meat what you're going to get at Ray's? No. Nowhere near the cowboy cut. But the onglet with shallots and wine sauce is usually fantastic, the wine list is great and the place is just plain fun. Loud, raucous, enjoyable even when the service takes forever.

Oh, and speaking of Belgian -- Beck has pretty good steak, too.

Another chatter asked about this, so I will use the opportunity to kill two questions with one stone:

How about the Burke Festival?

Its on Saturday and SUnday from 10 to 5. There are pony rides, live music and dancing, a wildlife show and face painting. Some of that is over the head of your two-year old (or it would be over the head of mine, at any rate), but it seems like a decent mix of things for little, big and grown-up kids.

Most of the good beer bars in D.C. turn into absolute zoos on the weekends. (Ex: ChurchKey.)

R.F.D. might be able to help -- their back bar is open on weekends, and while it gets full, it usually isn't packed. Big Hunt also might be able to save you some space, maybe on the second level. (Again, call and ask, don't just show up.) I took a friend who was just back from Iraq there a few years ago. (He found a piece of broken glass in his beer, but hey, the place has gotten much better since then.)

Closer to your bro, I'd call the Tortoise and Hare in Crystal City and see if they can save you some room. Good bands, plenty of room, decent crowd.

Eh, I hear people who've never been to Delaware beaches talk trash about them, usually comparing them to something in California or the Outer Banks. Reminds me of the people who think that the streets of New York are paved with gold.

I'd head to Great Meadow. Not only will the atmosphere be better (come on, it is wine country!) but they are also going to have polo!

That's Arts on Foot. It runs through Saturday, culminating with the Arts on Foot Street Festival, which combines the art market, which you've already noticed, with a whole slew of theatrical previews at Sidney Harman Hall.

Wow. This sounds messed up from start to finish. Communication is the key. When I talked to the owner about Oktoberfest plans, they said that they were going to make people buy the 2-liter boots for the simple reason that they're expensive and breakable, and you know some people are going to walk off with them.

The plan, he said, was that customers would pay $40 or $50 for the boot, which they could take home in a box later that night, and then pay whatever the usual liter price is to fill them. (Don't forget that Biergarten beer prices range from $10 to $20 a liter.)

It sounds like you got overcharged, and that sucks, but did you really threaten to call the police? Seriously? Over a bar tab? I was with you up until I read that -- it sounds like overreaction theater to me.

As an alternate I also really like Zaytinya, and it might be more towards your tastes. Unfussy but sophisticated Mediterranean deliciousness. Happy hour menu at the bar 4:30-6:30 Sun-Fri.

This is true. I certainly wouldn't say no to dinner at the Grille.

With Caps season right around the corner I am going to go with China Town. I like to visit the American Art Museum before games and then head to Rocket Bar afterwards.

I think mine has to be 14th Street lately. It's just a place that makes me feel like I'm in a great neighborhood. Midcity is a great coffee shop; I am obsessed with old mirrors at Ruff and Ready; and Cork, Posto, Churchkey, Estadio etc., are all places I like. That almost never happens.

I'm with Lavanya (though I'll admit I'm a little biased since that's where I live), but I'm going to also have to throw in Bar Pilar, which is dishing up some amazing food recently, and Stoney's. Between the awesome grilled cheese and the friendly staff, that place is becoming my Regal Beagle.

I'm going to preface this by saying that I completely agree Lavanya and Stephanie. But just to add something slightly different, I have to say that the U Street trio of dining at Marvin, drinking at Dodge City and dancing at UHall is about as good an entertainment combo as the city has. Throw in all the other neighborhood favorites (the Gibson, Velvet, etc.) and I still think its right up there with the admittedly very nearby 14th St. hot spots.

I'm a bit late to the party but I'm a new Columbia Heights resident, so I'm currently preoccupied with the 11th Street strip. Start with dinner at Meridian Pint or Red Rocks, after-dinner cocktails at Room 11 and a tried-and-true evening of PBR-swilling merriment at -- you guessed it -- Wonderland.

I'm going to copy Justin -- I'd say beers at Dodge City, dinner at Etete (or burgers from Desperados), dancing at U Hall and late-night cocktails at the Gibson is an ideal evening. And you have cheesesteaks from JJ's, Med  combo madness from 24/7 or pizza from the D.C. Slices truck to round it all off.

Roy did die recently, but his spirit lives on in his yummy sandwiches. The last time I went was in July and I just called to confirm, they are still open.

I believe you are talking about Virtue Feed and Grain. Its still very much in the development stage, so I have nothing new to add to Tom's earlier reporting on it.

Let's see -- 50-cent pints of Natty Light at Asylum every Saturday from 5 to 6 with the price going up 50 cents an hour...  75-cent domestic drafts at My Brothers Place's every Friday from 4 to 5, with the price going up 50 cents an hour, and $15 for all-you-can-drink beers from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday...

We're out of time, but I'd like to help. Can you send me the day of the week/times you're trying to have this party? fritz dot hahn at washingtonpost dot com. Thanks.