Live Q&As

Why not hit up a screening at the DC Shorts Filmfest? There's a 7 p.m. show at E Street that should get out just in time to make your reservation. Here are more events tomorrow to consider as well.

Believe me, I know from experience that it's pretty hard to convince someone living in gorgeous California that D.C. is awesome, haha. I think we best Cali any day with our diversity and amazing free museums. And also:  San Fran may have Alice Waters, but do they have The Luther? I don't think so.

So, I know this sounds like a cop-out, but I want to toss this one out to the readers, to hear what you we have in D.C. that you can't get in New York, L.A., Chicago or anywhere else in the world. Readers, where should they go to remind him how awesome D.C. is?

This has to be a record for Earliest New Year's Eve question. Baltimore's fireworks are at the Inner Harbor (and have been for decades), which is the most hotel-heavy part of town. No word on specific activities yet, but I'd probably stay at the Hotel Monaco, which is a short walk from the Inner Harbor but not quite in the center of the (very loud) action.

How many people are you expecting, and do think it's a situation where people will come and go, or are you looking for somewhere where you can show up/drink/dance together?

I vote La Chaumiere or Montmarte. Both wonderful. Chatters, any more suggestions?

I checked around, and it looks like you can get a big old slice of German chocolate cake (or the whole cake) from Cafe Mozart. Not a cupcake - a slice.

So, side note: Non baked-goods historian that I am, I called Cafe Berlin to see about finding your your cake. Well, the kind woman at the restaurant explained to me that German chocolate cake is not on the menu because it's not actually German - the fellow that created it was named Sam German.

You don't say when (or where) you're doing date night, but there are plenty of things you could try after work in Montgomery County, even if you want to avoid hitting the same-old happy hours.

VisArts in Rockville has happy hours and performances on its rooftop, and a full slate of art exhibitions (and, occasionally, classes in that time). Strathmore also has a cafe, a gallery and a number of special events dotting the calendar. For example, when Pat McGee plays at the end of the month, there's a pre-concert tailgate (beginning at 5:30) with beer, barbecue and music.

And, to go with our summer's-almost-over theme, you could always just meet at the Bethesda Crab House and crack a dozen local crabs. (That's my idea of the perfect date.)

Would be lovely, especially if it cooled down a bit this weekend...

You wouldn't be too far from Loving Hut in Falls Church, which we just reviewed, and which I like a lot (mostly for the Southeast Asian food, including pho). Another option in Warrenton is Black Bear Bistro, which has a cool mixed menu of meat dishes and vegan takes on classic American food. Like a fried green tomato sandwich, or vegan shepherd's pie.

I'll toss this one out to the crowd. 30-something guys? Where are you hiding?

Great idea! Love the Lincoln Memorial and MLK Memorial after dark. And now is a fabulous time to visit: The Reflecting Pool just opened this week (anyone who tried to camp out there for fireworks the past couple of years knows the construction site was a serious eyesore).

I'll see Le Refuge and raise L'Auberge Chez Francois.

I've done cooking and mixology classes at Culinaerie, and would recommend it. (They offer everything from knife skills to French cooking for couples. Check the schedule.) Living Social has been coming hard with wine tastings, pop-up dinners and other events at its F Street headquarters, so I'd also look into that.

I haven't had dessert at Hill Country -- usually too stuffed on barbecue, Shiner and whiskey to think about cake.

Speaking of Hill Country, though, did anyone go watch the Cowboys there last night? Curious how it went.

The best sports bar in Montgomery County for the all-around experience you're looking for is Caddie's on Cordell in Bethesda -- tons of TVs, decent bar food, cheap beer. Union Jack's is a close second, I think. Silver Spring could use a good sports bar -- something better than Galaxy.

But you can also "make do" with fewer screens at Rock Bottom Brewery, which has good beer and a couple of projection screens, or Barking Dog.

Congratulations! I love the idea of a small wedding, and looking for lunch, rather than dinner means you'll have a intimate experience, and not have to worry as much about how you'll fit 12. We were thinking Blue Duck Tavern (which has at least one communal-style table and gets nothing but raves from the folks we know); if your crowd might be amenable to Indian food (and I get it, not all are),   Rasika West End does a cool lunch scene and has space in their library area for bigger groups. And finally, Sou'wester, because, come on, that view. Good luck and best wishes to you!

I talked about this a bit in a blog post yesterday -- most of your Capitol Hill bars (Capitol Lounge, Union Pub, Lounge 201, Bullfeathers) will have the president's speech on with sound. Bullfeathers also has a happy hour that begins at 10.

Off the Hill, you'll find the convention on TVs at every Busboys and Poets, a watch party at Star and Shamrock on H Street NE, Ventnor in Adams Morgan, etc...

I've actually done the 11th Street Bar Crawl on dates before: Happy hour tacos and margaritas at El Chucho, up to Meridian Pint for beer and wings, then nightcap with wine or cocktails at Room 11, especially if you can get a seat on the patio. So much fun.

Oops! Here are a couple more options.  Rockville has Matchbox, and I've been hearing it's as good, if not better than, the one in the city; I had a good time at the Italian small plates restaurant Sugo Cicchetti, which has a busy little scene and is just off 270, so it's really accessible from Rockville.

Amy Orndorff, who wrote about the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs for our big Minor League Baseball guide this summer, says there's not much around the stadium, but there is a Hard Times Cafe on Route 301 a few miles away, so you can get your football/Frito Pie fix there.

Any other Waldorf suggestions?

Another option.

Noted. Thanks!

I haven't done this, but it sounds pretty awesome.

I think any shoe-obsessed woman would tell you that one major secret is the shoe department at a good Nordstrom (like Tyson's). They have lots of boutique and indie brands, and the best part might be the return policy, which is fantastic, particularly when the shoes that were amazing in the store fall apart the first time you wear them. Personally, I have figured out which brands I like, and so I stalk my shoes online - Solestruck, Piper Lime and Revolve Clothing are favorites for me. You can often dig out a better price or use a discount code, which you can't do in a store. 

Thank you. Proof in general is stellar, and in the vicinity of Metro Center.

Thanks. You might try calling Whole Foods as well, since they have a pretty extensive bakery.

Two more suggestions for the happy couple.

People popping in and out on a weekend is the hard part. I'd love to say, "Oh, do it at Black Jack or on the roof at El Centro D.F.," but you don't want to have people waiting in line to get in to see the birthday boy.

Upstairs at Stoney's would be one suggestion. The basement level Cantina at Darlington House would work, too. Or Crios, the next taco bar on P Street next to Scion.

Maybe upstairs at the Bier Baron, formerly known as the Brickskeller? I was there for Ukrainian Independence Day recently and they were good about pushing tables together for a group. Also, they were out of far fewer beers than you might have expected.

I definitely think you might put "War Horse" at the Kennedy Center on your calendar -- that should be a fantastic show (it opens in late October), and the KenCen is such a impressive place to take a family member.  For tours, I have long liked the Open Top buses, because they will drive you directly to the tourist sights (including the Mall and the National Cathedral), so there's very little walking; or if you want to just stay on the bus, you can see all of D.C. and a little bit of Arlington without having to ever get up. (You can read our take here.)  I believe it's a two-day pass, too, so you can break up the sightseeing over two days. Torpedo Factory Arts Center in Alexandria is doing a fall Dia de los Muertos festival that is quite cool.

Thanks -- another option for our cake-seeking chatter!

This sounds like glamping. You might want to find a place with cabins instead of having to pitch tents. Lavanya recommends Berkley Springs, W. Va.. which has hikes and falls nearby. Amy recommends Deep Creek Lake, where there's a lot to look at, hikes to take, kayaking, and all kinds of shops and antiquing nearby.

Chez Billy is a beautiful space. Just stunning. But I'm pretty sure most of the Hilton restaurants don't open till 5, so lunch for wedding folks is probably out.

Russia House -- this is true. I was there the other weekend on the early side, sipping vodka and drinking Obolon, and you could definitely have a conversation. (By the end of the night is something else entirely, when the Russian techno and house gets banging.)

If you're not wedded to camping, you might want to look at renting a house somewhere in the Charlottesville/Staunton axis. Plenty to do:  wineries and breweries, pumpkin picking, hikes in the Shenandoah, antique hunting, etc. 

First show that comes to mind is the George Bellows retrospective at the National Gallery of Art, which is where I'd send you anyway, because it always nicely walks the line between traditional and contemporary art, diving the aesthetics between two buildings. See images from the Bellows show here. As a former art major, I think he'll love the breadth of the place. Over at the Hirshhorn, a major Ai Weiwei show will open on Oct. 7 - not traditional, but it looks fascinating.