Chinese New Year is coming up shortly, and 2013 is the year of the snake -- pythons in Florida take note. In the Chinese zodiac, the snake represents introspection, refinement and intuition, and those born under the sign of the snake are considered to be intelligent and motivated.
The Chinese New Year’s parade and festival will be held on Sunday, February 10th from 2 to 5 p.m. on H Street, between 6th and 8th streets. The festival includes a traditional Chinese dragon dance, live musical entertainment and Kung Fu demonstrations. Firecrackers will be set off at 3:45 p.m.
Just around the corner from the parade route, Zengo (781 7th Street, NW, 202-393-2929) will celebrate the occasion with a Chinese New Year brunch, offered during three weekends in February: February 9 and 10, 16 and 17, and 23 and 24 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.. Special dishes to be added to the regular brunch menu include scallop and bacon dumplings, crispy skinned Pekin duck, and pork and shrimp lo mein. These dishes are offered as part of Zengo’s bottomless brunch, priced at $35 per person.
Washington may not celebrate Mardi Gras the way they do in New Orleans, but New Orleans native, David Guas, is turning his Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery in Arlington (1515 N. Courthouse Rd., 703-243-2410) into Mardi Gras headquarters on the evening of February 12. Bayou will close off 15th Street from 5 to 8 p.m. on that night for a block party next to the restaurant. At 8, the party will move indoors until 11 p.m. Oysters will be shelled out by Rappahannock River Oysters; Mardi Gras Mambo Tunes will jazz up the party; and the evening’s treats include spicy crawfish tamales, muff-a-lottas, andouille and shrimp gumbo as well as special drinks.
Beginning at 8 p.m., guests -- including any by-standers who want to come along -- will sashay down Clarendon Boulevard behind the Bayou Bakery’s Boogie Float III to the Clarendon Courthouse Mardi Gras parade. The group will then circle back to the Bayou Bakery to feast on gumbo and beer.
Chef David Guas will announce the winner of the carnival costume contest later that evening. The winning King and Queen will ride on the Bayou Boogie Float IV in next year’s parade. So come in costume and enjoy the fun.
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