Or at least, how I’m hoping to do Memorial Day Weekend if the weather cooperates. I mean, given this forecast, everybody should absolutely double check before heading out because Mother Nature seems determined to keep us guessing.Still, if the rain holds off, here’s how I’d happily spend the long weekend around the DMV:FRIDAY | LET THE LONG WEEKEND BEGINFirst stop? Jazz in the Garden at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden on Constitution Avenue NW in DC for the return of one of the city’s favorite summer traditions. This year’s theme is “American Sounds,” celebrating everything from Americana and Appalachian music to Creole jazz and contemporary sounds. If you scored lottery passes, amazing. If not, day-of passes are often available beginning at 5pm.From there, I’d head to Hi-Lawn atop Union Market in Northeast DC where their annual four-day Memorial Day Grill-Out Party kicks off Friday and runs through Monday. Think rooftop hot dogs, frozen cocktails, lawn games, DJs, music, retro coolers. Summer has arrived.If you’re looking for something more intimate and culinary driven, Chef Amy Brandwein’s Stela dinner inside the Chef’s Salon at Centrolina in CityCenterDC sounds extraordinary. This month’s concept, “Under the Blossoms,” is an Italian interpretation of Hanami with dishes like Mochi Gnocchi with Miso & Guanciale and Chazuke with Green Tea and Lacquered Salmon. It is exactly the kind of dinner that lingers in your brain long after the meal ends.SATURDAY | MARKETS, MUSIC & STREET FESTSSaturday morning I’m leaning fully into strawberry season at Moon Valley Farm in Woodsboro, Maryland. Their organic strawberry festival includes pick-your-own berries, local vendors, food trucks, and family-friendly activities. There's strawberry muffins and strawberry jam, just so you knowBack closer to home, the 2nd Annual Saint Owen’s Feast at Owen’s Tavern & Garden at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda sounds like exactly the kind of neighborhood party I love. Italian street food, spritzes, craft beer, music, outdoor games, and proceeds benefiting Manna Food Center.If the weather turns messy? I may pivot toward brunch and jazz at Oasis Sushi & The Listening Bar in Clarendon. Their new brunch menu debuts Memorial Day Weekend and, Japanese fried chicken and waffles alongside live jazz and espresso martinis sounds like an excellent rainy day backup plan..SUNDAY | BRUNCH, CRABS & A LITTLE INDULGENCEIt's Sunday but it feels like a Saturday, cause we have an extra day! I am deeply tempted by the Coffee Omakase at Jônt on 14th Street NW because if Chef Ryan Ratino wants to guide me through rare coffees paired with bites, I’m listening.After that? Maybe steamed crabs and Orange Crushes at Cowbell Seafood & Oyster in Northeast DC because Memorial Day Weekend without Maryland crab feels incorrect.And if I somehow still have energy left, I would absolutely end the evening at Little Blackbird in Chevy Chase DC, which is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the historic Judgment of Paris with special Napa wine pairings featuring Chateau Montelena and Stag’s Leap.MONDAY | ONE LAST LONG WEEKEND HURRAHBy Monday I’m fully embracing holiday mode.Lunch at Taquería Xochi in Navy Yard or National Landing for all-day Xochi Hour margaritas and tacos.I also love the idea of grabbing Little Engine’s Family Van takeout package in DC and heading to a park somewhere with friends and absolutely no agenda whatsoever.And if you are looking to end the long weekend with something special, Canton Disco is hosting a one-night-only collaboration dinner featuring Executive Chef Timothy Yu alongside Chef Khan Bataa of Fish Shop DC. The tasting menu includes optional wine pairings curated by Brent Kroll and sounds like the kind of dinner hospitality people will be talking about long after the holiday weekend ends. Very limited seating. Very worth looking into.And for those honoring the meaning behind the holiday, Roots Cafe and Timber Pizza in McLean are offering 50% off for veterans throughout the weekend, a thoughtful reminder of what Memorial Day is ultimately about.The beauty of Memorial Day Weekend in this area is that you can make it whatever you want it to be. A rooftop party. A jazz night. A wine dinner. A crab feast. A picnic. A slow brunch. A road trip for strawberries. Or simply a few days to gather around a table with people you love.Just maybe keep an umbrella nearby.

Carla Hall, is at the top of her game. But getting there was no picnic. In this theatrical one-woman show, Carla Hall invites you to “strap in” for a wild, hilarious, and emotional ride as she reveals how she learned to embrace her own authenticity, “work her quirk” and finally step into her power. From her Tennessee roots as an awkward theater camp kid, to Howard University, to a stint on the runways of Paris, to her irreverent takes on the confusing expectations of Black excellence, crushing sexism, and the many attempts to erase her uniqueness, Carla has had to battle every step of the way to find her true voice – and wait till you hear it. In this insightful and inspiring World Premiere, Carla reveals the secret ingredients to her greatest creation: herself. This intimate exchange will leave audiences laughing, thinking, feeling and… maybe even discovering a little of their own power in simply being themselves.Carla Hall: Please Underestimate Me runs June 3 – July 12 in the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab at Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd, Olney, MD. Tickets are $47-$101 and available online or by calling the box office at 301.924.3400. Discounts are available for groups, seniors, teachers, active military, first responders, and students. Visit olneytheatre.org/discounts for details.Bridging the food and theatre worlds, Honorary Producers for the production include Chef Eric Adjepong of Food Network’s “Wildcard Kitchen,” author, restaurateur, and TV personality Chef Spike Mendelsohn, food and wine publisher Nycci Nellis, Emmy-nominated journalist and producer Erin Como, and Nina Oduro, Co-founder of Black Women in Food. 

Nycci Nellis joined WTOP to share a variety of last-minute Mother’s Day ideas around the DMV, encouraging families to focus on memorable experiences rather than just brunch reservations. As a mother of five herself, Nycci suggested everything from exploring the Bethesda Fine Arts Festival and shopping in Georgetown to enjoying wine country outings in Virginia and relaxing spa experiences. She highlighted local favorites including The Salt Line, Aventino, Dolcezza, Osteria Mozza, and La Bonne Vache, along with wineries like Barrel Oak Winery and Three Fox Vineyards. Nycci also recommended a luxurious spa day at Balian Springs, calling it the perfect way for moms to unwind and celebrate the holiday weekend.

On this episode of Industry Night, host Nycci Nellis sits down with Ari Sussman — 2024 Whiskey Maker of the Year — for a wide-ranging conversation about the science, culture, and future of distilled spirits. From winemaking in France to founding Michigan State's artisan distilling program, Ari brings a rare blend of academic rigor and bartender instincts to one of the most fascinating conversations in the drinks world right now. The result is a show notes episode that moves from grain to glass, from tradition to experimentation, and from old assumptions to a very different future for whiskey.Ari's path into spirits is anything but conventional. He began as a policy analyst, took a one-way ticket to France, and found himself immersed in winemaking before eventually building distilleries across the United States. That winding trajectory gives him a perspective that feels both deeply technical and refreshingly practical. In this conversation, he explains how those early experiences shaped the way he thinks about flavor, process, and what makes a spirit truly memorable.Much of the episode turns on the science behind grain and flavor. Ari talks about how American whiskey has long leaned wood-forward, and why more expressive grain varietals can open the door to a more layered, nuanced drinking experience. He also discusses how Prohibition disrupted grain diversity and how distillers today are working to bring those flavors back into the conversation. It is part history lesson, part sensory deep dive, and part argument for why the category still has room to evolve.The episode also gets at one of the most interesting tensions in spirits: the transparency gap between producer and consumer. Ari argues that the usual questions wine drinkers ask do not always translate to whiskey, because the industry has historically placed a marketing curtain between the maker and the drinker. That idea runs through the whole conversation, especially as the hosts consider how younger consumers are discovering spirits today — often on their phones, through influencers, and with different expectations about access and authenticity.That broader shift raises bigger questions about the future of American whiskey. Ari makes the case that longevity in the category depends on more than just technical quality; it also depends on whether a brand connects with people and stands for something meaningful. He shares how he approaches that balance through his work with Whiskey Gypsy, including the Explorer expression and the importance of Appalachian oak in shaping the final product. The conversation makes clear that innovation in whiskey is not just about novelty — it is about building something that can last. Listen to the episode here, or watch it here.