With Valentine’s Day just days away, Nycci shares a variety of last-minute ways to enjoy the long holiday weekend in and around Washington, DC. From classic dinner-and-a-show plans to creative, experience-driven outings, she emphasizes that there’s still plenty of time to plan something meaningful. Options include live performances, theater, rooftop cocktails, museum exhibits, and interactive activities that pair culture with dining. For those looking to stay active, Nycci highlights outdoor adventures like scenic hikes followed by cozy spots to unwind, as well as unique indoor experiences perfect for groups or couples. For anyone hoping to truly go all out, she notes that hotels and spas across the city are offering special Valentine’s packages that combine relaxation, dining, and entertainment. Nycci has rounded up all of these ideas and more on TheListAreYouOnIt.com, making it easy to plan a memorable weekend.

This segment features Nycci Nellis of TheListAreYouOnIt.com sharing a relaxed, inclusive approach to Valentine’s Day. Rather than a high pressure holiday for couples only, she frames it as a celebration of connection with partners, friends, family, or even yourself. With Valentine’s Day falling on a Saturday and stretching into a long weekend, she encourages people to focus on meaningful experiences like interactive activities, shared classes, and cozy outings that create lasting memories. Her message is simple Valentine’s Day does not have to be elaborate to feel special.

As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, Nycci Nellis from TheListAreYouOnIt.com shares top spots around DC for game-day food and viewing. For those staying home, she highlights restaurants offering pre-order packages like barbecue spreads, fried chicken feasts, taco bars, and plenty of wings—reminding everyone to order early before they sell out. If you’re heading out, she suggests lively sports bars with projector screens, rooftop parties, beer specials, and ticketed events. For a more elevated vibe, she recommends chic rooftops and hotel lounges offering cocktails and oysters while watching the game. Nycci wraps up by sharing her own indulgent favorites and admits she’s just as excited for the commercials and halftime show as the game itself.

January may traditionally be a slower month for restaurants, but Winter DC Restaurant Week turns it into an opportunity for both diners and the hospitality industry. This year, more than 385 restaurants across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia are participating, offering three-course brunch, lunch, and dinner menus at accessible price points. Brunch and lunch menus range from $25 to $35, while dinner options are priced at $40, $55, or $65, with optional beverage pairings including cocktails, wine, and zero-proof selections. Nycci Nellis of The List Are You On It highlights Restaurant Week as a true win-win: diners get the chance to explore new spots or revisit longtime favorites, while restaurants benefit from increased traffic during an otherwise quiet season. This year also brings an exciting mix of new participants—such as Acqua Bistecca, Barbouzard, Bully, and Marcus - whose chef Anthony Jones was recently named a James Beard Award semifinalist—alongside beloved staples like Iron Gate, Kyojin, Osteria Al Volo, Rasika, The Point, and Vagabond. Nycci also shared important tips for making the most of Restaurant Week: review menus and pricing ahead of time, book reservations early, tip generously, and lead with kindness, especially as staffing challenges remain a reality. For those feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of options, there’s good news—many restaurants are extending their Restaurant Week menus beyond the official dates, with some carrying offerings into February, making it easier to plan and enjoy at your own pace. Winter DC Restaurant Week serves as both a celebration of the region’s vibrant dining scene and a reminder of how meaningful dining out can be for the local restaurant community.

Area families looking to celebrate New Year’s Eve without staying up until midnight have plenty of kid-friendly options across the region. Nycci Nellis from TheListAreYouOnIt.com shared a lineup of daytime and early-evening festivities including The Yards DC’s noon balloon drop with DJ, bounce houses and train rides, West Falls Church’s bubble-filled celebration, Cracking Courts & Skates’ daytime balloon drop, and LEGO Discovery Center’s popular noon LEGO ball drop with sparkling cider. Families can also enjoy the full-evening experience at First Night Alexandria with live music, dance parties, and performances throughout Old Town. On New Year’s Day, families can kick off 2026 with festive brunches across the area. Highlights include Matt & Tony’s in Del Ray offering brunch, dinner and at-home kits, IAGU on Capitol Hill serving traditional “lucky” dishes like hoppin’ John and deviled eggs with caviar, and Medium Rare’s legendary pajama brunch complete with prizes. Timber Pizza is welcoming kids in pajamas with free pizza, while Pastis at Union Market features a New Orleans-style Cajun brunch. For classic Southern good-luck fare, By You Bakery offers black-eyed peas, collards and cornbread. For those wanting to celebrate in style, Caravan is hosting a bottomless Moët three-course brunch, and jazz fans can head to Dolphin for a New Year’s Day jazz brunch.

As Washington, D.C. gets ready to welcome 2026, Nycci Nellis of TheListAreYouOnIt.com shares her top New Year’s Eve picks, noting that nearly every restaurant is offering something special this year. Highlights include Aqua Bisteca’s indulgent multi-course dinner with truffles and caviar, Blue Duck Tavern’s jazz-filled lounge with champagne, Aperó’s cozy champagne and caviar experience, and Cheesesteak’s Alpine fondue night. Caillou in Dupont Circle will host a seven-course Filipino tasting menu, while Selva’s late seating includes access to its upstairs nightclub. Staying in? Amparo Fondita offers tamales by the dozen, Makoto has festive sushi boxes with lucky soba noodles, and Perry’s is serving a reimagined Japanese New Year’s menu. For dancing, options include RDC’s rooftop party, Bar Bizarre with live music, Barrel House Café’s Cirque du Luxor, ChurchKey’s all-inclusive beer bash, the Green Zone’s Arab reggaeton night, Hyland’s heated rooftop dome at Union Market, and Le Pop’s underground vinyl lounge. Nycci reminds guests to book fast—many of these celebrations are already filling up.

As many people embrace a fresh start in the new year, Dry January continues to gain popularity as a way to reset habits and refocus on wellness. Nycci Nellis of TheListAreYouOnIt.com explains that the movement isn’t about deprivation, but rather intention—highlighting benefits like improved sleep, increased energy, and clearer mornings. She emphasizes that cutting back doesn’t have to mean cutting out social life, as bars and restaurants across the DMV are stepping up their zero-proof offerings. From Bresca’s buzz-free cocktail pairings and Primrose’s creative green tea and cherry blossom mocktails, to Tiffany’s Bar & Bistro’s Mediterranean-inspired “Rosetta Stone” and Silver Lyan’s alcohol-free house classics, local spots are crafting layered, thoughtful drinks that mirror the full cocktail experience. Wellness destinations like Balian Springs and Vietnamese favorite NUE are also offering functional, flavor-forward mocktails using CBD, adaptogens, and Southeast Asian fruits and spices—proving that Dry January can still be just as festive and flavorful as any other month.

Hanukkah begins this Sunday at sundown and runs for eight nights, and there’s no shortage of family-friendly ways to celebrate across the DMV. Nycci Nellis of TheListAreYouOnIt.com shares highlights including the National Menorah Lighting at the Ellipse on December 14, Westfield Montgomery Mall’s menorah lighting and festival on December 15, Old Town Alexandria’s six-foot menorah lighting the same day, and the Mosaic District’s glow-and-dance menorah lighting on December 17. Favorites throughout the week include Hanukkah in the Dark at Theater J, a kid-friendly musical, Hanukkah Story Time at the Capital Jewish Museum, the festive “Fried & Festive” party at Sixth & I, and the beloved Hanukkah Story Trail with a Giant Gelt Drop in Lincoln Park, where chocolate coins rain down from a fire truck.

WTOP’s Mark Lewis welcomed listeners into a festive Friday morning as the region gears up for Hanukkah, beginning at sunset this Sunday and running through December 22, with Nycci Nellis of TheListAreYouOnIt.com sharing a delicious roundup of what’s cooking across DC. From latkes at Baked by Yael and menorah cake pops to mini sufganiyot at All Day by Capitol Hill, DIY holiday kits from Vanessa Shabbat, creative dishes and even a sufganiyot cocktail at Baba, and Silver & Sons’ elevated Hanukkah menu, the city is full of flavor. Add in pop-up bar fun like Ivy & Coney’s life-size “Shot-nora,” Hanukkah happy hours at Hook Hall, and plenty of food-and-drink traditions, and there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate.

DC Cocktail Week is back, celebrating the anniversary of the end of Prohibition with a weeklong showcase of the region’s top bartenders, chefs, and beverage teams. Featuring more than 130 participating bars and restaurants across the DMV, the event offers exclusive cocktail and bite pairings at a set price through Sunday. Highlights this year range from decadent wagyu-infused cocktails to nostalgic mini martini pairings, along with special events like tastings, classes, pairing dinners, rooftop parties, and the grand finale—the DC Bartenders Guild’s 16th Annual Repeal Day Ball. Full details and participating locations can be found at dccocktailweek.com.