To have food and dining items happening in Fairfax and Loudoun listed free, mail to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102 or fax to 703-917-0991 or e-mail maweber@connectionnewspapers.com
<lst>Colvin Run Tavern in Tysons Corner is offering new lunch and dinner specials. The lunch special, available from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, lets diners choose any two courses from the regular lunch menu for $20.02 or any three courses for $29. During "Drive-Time Dinner" served from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, a selection of any three courses from a special dinner menu is available for $39. For additional information and to make reservations call 703-356-9500.
<lst> Break out your derby hat and enjoy a delicious mint julep at the First Kentucky Derby Party at Lansdowne Resort Saturday, May 4, at 4:30 p.m. Celia Sandys, granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill, will be the featured guest speaker of the evening. Sandys is an acknowledged expert on Churchill's early life. Her books include “Churchill: Wanted Dead or Alive” and “From Winston with Love and Kisses: The Young Churchill.”
The event, a fund-raiser for The Churchill Center, will include a presentation by Sandys about her grandfather's love of horses and horse racing, live broadcast of the 128th Run for the Roses, Derby Dinner and book-signing. The $100 per person price includes a $25 tax-deductible contribution to The Churchill Center and an autographed copy of Sandys' book.
The event will be held in the Pavilion at Lansdowne Resort, starting at 4:30 p.m., with the live broadcast of the Kentucky Derby at 6 p.m. For reservations, call (703) 729-4015.
A night of mystery and intrigue will be offered at McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant in Reston, Sunday, May 19, and Sunday, June 2. The Sterling Playmakers will serve up the murder mystery, and the audience will decide who did it by dessert. Cocktails are at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and an arrest by 8 p.m. The price per person is $58.50. For reservations, call Christina J. Park at 703-467-0821 or e-mail msbanqtscj@aol.com
<lst>The Mount Vernon Wine Festival and Sunset Tour celebrates the history of wine in Virginia with evening tours of the mansion and wine cellar and an appearance by George Washington himself. Visitors may bring a blanket and relax on the lawn as they listen to jazz and sample wines from 16 Virginia wineries; Friday, Saturday and Sunday; May 17-19, from 6-9 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person, and party platters to serve six are available for $45. There is also a Sunday-only cruise package aboard the Miss Christin tour boat. which will travel round-trip from Old Town Alexandria to the Mount Vernon estate.
Tickets may be purchased through TicketMaster at 703-573-7328 or 202-432-7328, or at the Mount Vernon main gate ticket window, which is open seven days a week. For more information, call 703-780-2000
<lst>Chef Curtis Ross, who once cooked for movie actor Will Smith and now serves customers throughout Northern Virginia, is offering a series of demonstrations and cooking classes at Whole Foods Markets in Northern Virginia.
His demonstrations will feature the regional cuisines of Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa, where he has traveled, collecting recipes and local ingredients from chefs, cooks and villagers
The demonstrations are as follows:
Whole Foods Market
143 Maple Avenue E., Vienna
Mondays, May 13 and 20, from 7-8:30 p.m.
Wednesdays, May 1 and 8, from 7-8:30 p.m.
Register at 703-319-2000. Fee, $10 per class.
Whole Foods Market
11660 Plaza America Drive, Reston
Saturdays, April 27, May 11 and 25, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Register at 703-736-0600. Fee, $10 per class.
Whole Foods Market
7511 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church
Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m.-noon.
Thursday, May 23, 7-8 p.m.
Register at 703-448-1600. Fee, $10 per class