From birthday celebrations to soccer tournaments to parties in the park to a pub crawl reaching double digits, July is teeming with opportunities to celebrate with food and drink. Here are some of the month’s best bets.
Alexandria Birthday Celebration, July 8
Sundown on July 8 brings fireworks to the equation, but the city’s birthday celebration really carries on all day. Expect revelry throughout town, especially in Old Town, where the sidewalks will be jammed with people and the restaurants teeming with specials. Looking for a spot to take in the evening show? Snag a reservation at Jula’s (formerly Café 44), Barca, Vola’s or Ada’s on the River. But do it quickly – they fill up fast.
Tenth Annual Old Town Pub Crawl, July 15
Is it really the 10th annual pub crawl already? Host Port City Brewing says yes. Get ready to belly up to several bars in your quest to have your passport stamped – and earn a limited-edition pint glass. From Bugsy’s to Chadwicks, Virtue Feed and Grain to Blackwall Hitch, to many other stop-offs in between, you’ll be able to sample some Port City beer at the various locations and make some new friends along the way. 1:30-6 p.m. Free to participate (but beers, of course, will cost you).
Women’s World Cup Tournament, Beginning July 20
This year’s soccer tourney, hosted in New Zealand, is going to be hard on American viewers – with kickoffs ranging from 3 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., it’s going to be crucial to develop a critical mass of fans to watch with. Keep an eye out on your favorite pub’s social media pages for special World Cup-related deals – and special hours of operation, to boot.
Beats, Bites and Brews at John Carlyle Square, July 29
Local musicians, local food vendors and local breweries and wineries join forces on the final Saturday of the month to celebrate the best of summer. From Himalayan and Japanese cuisine to ceramics artisans and fitness leaders, this event is poised to contain multitudes. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free admission.
Hope Nelson is the author of “Classic Restaurants of Alexandria” and owns the Kitchen Recessionista blog, located at www.kitchenrecessionista.com. Email her any time at
hope@kitchenrecessionista.com.