Live Q&As

Indeed.

First -- plug, plug -- if you're new to Cleveland Park, check out our Cleveland Park Neighborhood Guide.

I haven't heard from anywhere in Cleveland Park that's showing the debate with sound. Maybe the new Uptown Tap Room? For baseball viewing, though, I like the Cleveland Park Bar and Grill (plenty of TVs) and Nanny O'Brien's (good atmosphere).

This one depends on the kind of clubs you're generally into, and the kind of music you're hoping to dance to. And since you're hoping for 40 or 50 people to show up, you can't just turn up at Saint-Ex and exceed capacity. Can you tell us a little more about age ranges, what people might be into/what they'll be wearing?

Wow. What a question. (Readers, feel free to chime in.) I'm assuming you want everything in D.C. proper, so:

Dive bars: The Tune Inn is my favorite by a mile. Always a great mix of people (age/profession/race). Fun jukebox, afforable beer-and-a-shot combos, no pretention, classic feel, thanks to old Natty Boh signs and deer butts on the wall. Runners up would be the Raven, Dan's Cafe and the Fox and Hounds -- D.C. landmarks all. Fox and Hounds will be slightly younger and hipper, if that's what you want.

Also, don't overlook some great low-key neighborhood bars, such as Boundary Stone, DC Reynolds, Red Derby and the Pug. Not "classic" dive bars, but similar vibes.

Oldies bands: The band at the New Vegas Lounge covers all the Otis Redding/BB King/Sam & Dave classics you remember from College Parties. Keep an eye on the listings at Bayou or Mason Inn for the Winn Brothers or Jimmy Smooth and Hit Time.

Good bar food: This category has exploded in recent years, so it really depends what you like. I've had good meals and cocktails recently at Smoke and Barrel (BBQ), Kangaroo Boxing Club (sandwiches/burgers) and Room 11 (American), Boundary Road (American).

Happy hours: You'll find great cocktails (and not college crowds) at the happy hours at Fiola ($5 cocktails) and the recenly renovated Firefly ($5 classic cocktails). The latter has a killer Moscow Mule; I think there's an Old Fashioned on there but it's not in my notes. If you're hungry at happy hour, my friends and I were just loving (again) the specials at El Chucho, including half-price tacos and $5 house margaritas.

Bars with Top 40 dancing: El Centro DF on Friday and Saturday night is awesome. Little Miss Whiskey's and Rock and Roll Hotel can be fun depending on the DJ. Mason Inn has some fun Southern/country DJs on weekends and they'll always play stuff you know.

According to the Va. Department of Forestry, you should be able to see some great fall colors the first week in November. The US Forest Service's page is also worth checking out.

When it comes to beginner hiking or hiking with kids, my go to is Sugarloaf. Not only can you pretty much drive to the top, but there are miles of well-marked trails so you don't have to worry about getting lost. There are also plenty of great vistas. On the other side of the river, Shenandoah National Park is an obvious choice.

Thanks. I'd still go to CPB&G or Nanny's to watch the game first.

Within a few blocks: Tabard Inn would be my A-1 choice for date night: Great cocktails in a old-school hotel lounge, hopefully with crackling fireplace.

Other options: Science Club if you're looking for electronic music and a relatively low-key atmosphere. (The basement bar is perfect for that.) Irish Whiskey Public House for a modern take on a pub. Vidalia's bar is also an easy escape for after-dinner cocktails, though you may wish you'd dined there ....

Since she's into so many things, have you thought about maybe a theater subscription? The Kennedy Center offers a "create your own series" that allows her to put together a few shows in all of the art forms you've listed. And if she wants to explore something that's different than the big heavy hitters, I might point you to smaller theaters which are doing the edgier fare from Broadway that your mom might have read about, but isn't likely to see at the Kennedy Center.  Studio has the "[Oedipal expletive] with the Hat"   Woolly Mammoth has  "The Convert" by Danai Guirira on the books. And I believe both will let you snag a subscription  for a pretty good deal.  Call the theaters to figure out which one works for you.

I usually come up with a big list of these every year once the cold settles in. My list last year included warming up with a hot toddy next to the outdoor fire pits at Bourbon Steak and Room 11; This year, I'm curious about the firepits at A Bar, once the Foggy Bottom hotel's patio is seasonally adjusted.

I am thinking that Corn Maze in the Plains might fit your requirements. If you want something on the other side of the river, the Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Friends School is pretty unbeatable as a way to entertain two boys.

And yes, I know you said "beyond museums" but as far as indoor activities, the National Pinball Museum in Baltimore is a great destination.

Besides BlackFinn, best happy hours near DAR are Cafe Soliel, which has $5 wine, $3 bottled beers and $6 cocktails until 8 p.m.; and the discounted cocktails and Indian bites at Bombay Club (only til 6:30).

She should head for Capitol Hill. Bullfeathers and Lounge 201 are among my top picks for debate watching. Depending on her political outlook, she may want to go to Busboys and Poets, where the crowd really gets into viewing the debates.

Okay, we think with a crowd this big, you have to call ahead and ask if it's doable that you all show up and will be let in and not slam the place.  Marvin recently expanded, taking over the second floor of Blackbyrd, and that could accommodate your group. Lost Society is another option, but the people who want to talk are going to be out of luck. I think you might get a group that size into Tropicalia, if you're interested in world-music bootyshaking (no really, it's fun!).  The other option is to head a plain old megaclub like Midtown in Dupont. And maybe I'm crazy, but you could attempt this at Wonderland, right?  Some people on the patio having beers and hanging out, others upstairs dancing? (Call ahead, of course.) Then head to the Coupe for late-night food/wedding reminiscing?

This is a curious question. There are baseball/lacrosse clinics, of course, but they're almost exclusively targeted at high school age and under.

One way you could do it: Go to Penn Social, where they have corn hole games out for people to play with, and just practice. I mean, I would think your boyfriend would like the chance to spend more time with you, so just go play cornhole for an hour a week, drink beer and have fun.

International Gold Cup is a little different than the Virginia Gold Up. I've seen women in jeans there -- slim jeans tucked into high riding boots -- and it didn't look awful. More skirts/tights/boots (your heels will get stuck in the grass, I'm told). For guys, it's collared shirt, sports jacket/sweater, slacks (khakis are okay) and comfortable dress shoes. You'll want rubber bottoms, though, not slick leather soles. Trust me on this.

How about a trip to wine country, and to see the fall colors? Here's our most recent guide to wineries. I note which ones will be the prettiest in the fall, but there are a couple others not on this list, including Sunset Hills and Bluemont.  You could also plan a daytime event, like a brunch at a place such as El Centro DF, or a trip out to one of the ziplining courses. And of course, there's all sorts of unusual stuff you can get into with the Living Social events.  I'm also suggesting a daytime event, because it sounds like your birthday might be on the Oct. 26-27 weekend, and there will be a lot of Halloween events.  If that's not what you want to do, I'd think daylight hours.

Park at 14th is the king of this field -- think Republic Gardens meets 1223 on a grand scale. Bar 7 is closer to Chloe, a little more crowded, but still gets good hip-hop radio DJs. You can also try Avenue, which is a little bigger, but has a larger dance floor than either the Park or Bar 7. (It also gets a closer-to-college crowd at times.)

A wedding I attended recently did the same thing: We went back to the hotel bar and wound up staying there chatting and drinking until we got kicked out. A group that wanted to keep partying went out to a nearby bar. This really only works if you have a designated wedding hotel, though ...

I am really, really stoked for Snallygaster on Saturday. 150+ beers to taste, live reggae music, games, activities for kids -- all at Yards Park, which I think is an underated gem. And it's all for charity, too...

Sorry to hear this, but having been to some big fests myself, I recognize that the traffic is generally the worst part of the whole experience. And typical when people come not just from our area, but from Baltimore and out of state to see all these bands in one place. But I haven't heard anywhere that Free Fest was worse than is typical -- anyone but me remember the disastrous Radiohead show in Bristow back in the day? --  You may have simply been a victim of the Free Fest groupthink, that weird thing that led all concertgoers to leave the house at the exact same time.  Anyone else find the traffic situation Saturday beyond the pale?

This is a great idea, especially in the stretch between Glen Echo and Great Falls, or slightly north from there. (You could even stay the night in a C&O Canal lockhouse and make a weekend of it, which I highly recommend.)

You know, I'd forgotten about the fireplaces at Harth. (Duh.) Thanks for the reminder -- will check them out soon.

A few ideas could include Scion (American food) or its sister restaurant Crios (modern take on Mexican food)  in Dupont Circle, both of which have lots of gluten-free and vegetarian options. Masa 14 also has a mix of fare and a whole GF menu, though the vibe might be too clubby for a family. And if you're looking for a space that's attractive and warm and food that's different, you might try Agora, which marks its menu for GF offerings. All but Masa are pretty casual.

Brightest Young Things doesn't always publish set times for its shows, but I have to say, with everything that will be going on that night: Live music, champagne, snacks, DJs, French short films screening on a loop in the embassy auditorium, an art exhibit -- I think there will always be something for you to see. 

No problem. By the way, Snallygaster is featured in both this week's Nightlife Agenda and the Weekend Best Bets -- check out those columns for more great ideas.

Great idea to do wineries Sunday, when they're a little less hectic, and you can enjoy the experience (and this time of year, the colors should just be on the verge of poppin').   For Monday, a few options: A foodie progressive lunch through Penn Quarter might be fun (and not a lot of walking since you're really only doing it in a few blocks) -- you could maybe sit at the bar at Rasika and grab a quick palak chaat, then head to Jaleo for some patatas bravas and snacks at the bar, then Co Co. sala for a hot chocolate in the lounge/bar area?  And if they wanted to squeeze in culture, a stop at the Portrait Gallery would be perfect. Second thought is to take a boat ride to Alexandria, maybe the Mount Vernon cruise? (Again, colors!) And if that's still too much, how about catching Flight of the Butterflies in Imax, and taking a spin around the Museum of American History, which was only reopened a few years ago, so its possible they haven't seen much of it?