IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL.

Toast to Valentine’s Day Over Italian Fare at Olazzo, Located Just Moments From Central

For some reason when we think about celebrating special occasions, Italian comfort food always seems like the best option. That’s why for Valentine’s Day you should get cozy and celebrate with Olazzo! This local Italian eatery is owned by second-generation Italian brothers whose parents taught them everything they needed to know about making fresh, authentic Italian cuisine. You taste the love in every dish! 

The menu is extensive with plenty of apps and entrees to share for the perfect date night. Favorite apps are the bruschetta and the stuffed dates with goat cheese and mint. Entree favorites are tough to decide because everything is so good but the shrimp and crab rosé pasta dish earns rave reviews and is a little pink in color which screams Valentine’s Day treat!

If you don’t want to dine in quite yet, you’re in luck! Their family takeout meals are pretty delicious, too. You can grab freshly baked ciabatta, a salad, your choice of entree, and cannoli or tiramisu for dessert. Throw in a bottle of wine with your order and you’ll get it 50% off. A perfect deal for Valentine’s Day!

This Valentine’s Day, Celebrate With Gourmet Italian Fare at Pacci’s Trattoria

Sitting beside your date, you peruse the menu for a moment, then look into each others’ eyes as the waiter heads into the kitchen to place your order. The most delicious plate of spaghetti, topped with more than half a dozen meatballs and coated in tomato sauce and parmesan cheese. As you dig in, you and your Valentine find yourselves sharing a single spaghetti strand. You’re a street dog, sharing your supper with a show-quality spaniel. 

That might a scene out of a Disney classic but, with Pacci’s Trattoria, you can recreate your very own Lady & the Tramp moment this Valentine’s Day. And, better yet, spaghetti and meatballs isn’t the only classic dish you can enjoy. Pasta, pizza, calzones, salads, antipasti, and more make up their traditional Italian menu. Pollo alla marsala or penne alla vodka, bruchetta al pomodoro or shrimp al limone, and margherita or quattro formaggi pies, you can customize your canine recreation with endless combinations of il buon cibo. 

Of course, there’s no need for a holiday to enjoy your favorite sorts of Italian food. Enjoy brunch, lunch, or dinner at Pacci’s any time of year, or order online for delivery to enjoy your favorite pizza, pasta, or other dishes from your favorite spot on the couch. 

How to Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Home

A lot has changed in the past year. For one thing, staying home became the new going out. That theme is going to hold through this month, at least, which is why you should start planning for an at-home Valentine’s Day. Begin with these creative ideas.

• Plan a picnic in the living room. It may be too cold to head outside for a picnic, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the romantic experience indoors. Lay out your picnic blanket on the living room floor, light a few candles, and serve up a beautiful charcuterie platter and some other simple finger foods.
• Make a meal together. In the mood for something more gourmet? Make the date about the process of cooking instead of just enjoying the meal. Pick a new recipe, gather the ingredients, and set up your cook station with everything you need to get going (and maybe a glass of wine or two).
• Have a movie marathon. Do you and your significant other love romcoms? Pick your faves and set up the living room for a romantic movie marathon! Make sure you have plenty of cozy throw pillows and blankets, your favorite snacks and drinks, and your top films all queued up and ready to go.
• Set up a spa night. One way to show that you care is by pampering that special someone. If you’re not comfortable going to the spa for a couples’ massage, bring the spa to you! Diffuse a calming scent, like lavender, and dote on your significant other with a neck or foot massage.

16 Stay-at-Home Valentine’s Day Date Ideas [The Spruce]
Celebrate Valentine’s Day With a Stay-at-home Date Night [HGTV]
Stay-at-Home Date Ideas for Valentine’s Day [Organized Mom]

Burnt Mills East Special Park: Explore the Outdoors Near Central

Let’s not sugar coat it. Burnt Mills East Special Park is a parking lot. But it’s an important parking lot, especially if you love to hike, bike, or take in the unique beauty of the Northwest Branch Trail. Time is ticking before the Maryland winter is here, so make plans to visit this natural oasis in Wheaton one more time in 2020. From Central, just jump on US-29 and head north. The quick 10-minute drive will take you straight to the Burnt Mills Reservoir. Leave your car at Burnt Mills East Special Park, and then take the day to enjoy the 12.9-mile trail studded with interesting flora and fauna, plus the gorgeous colors of autumnal leaves. 

Check out photos on alltrails.com for a preview of the wooded trails, but do it quick. In the blink of an eye, winter will be upon us, and everything will be snow covered. Be sure to use the Burnt Mills East Special Park for at least one more outdoor excursion this year.

Ooh La La Bakery Brings a Taste of Europe to Silver Spring

Just when you think you can’t look at another cookie after a holiday season of indulgence, you catch a whiff of the buttery delights at Ooh La La Bakery and suddenly you’re in the mood for dessert again. Ooh La La Bakery is an authentic French specialty shop, and creates classic desserts, fresh breads, and custom coffee drinks in one tidy café space along University Boulevard in Silver Spring. Choose from fresh fruit tarts, croissants, cinnamon rolls, and apple danishes, or get stocked up on crusty loaves of sourdough, demi baguettes, or super seed bread. While you’re there, you can grab a hand crafted coffee, or pick-up something savory for lunch or dinner tonight. A hot, pressed panini, chicken pot pie, or spinach quiche taste so comforting and delicious on a cold winter day. 

Ooh La La Bakery is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Make a stop the next time you need a coffee and pastry for breakfast, a dessert for a special occasion, or something fresh and handmade to eat.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Winter Workouts

Working out in the warm months was pretty easy, even with gym closures and other restrictions. The great outdoors always beckoned with sunshine and balmy breezes, inviting you to go for a run or maybe join an outdoor fitness class. But with the colder temperatures moving in, staying active has become more challenging. Here are a few ways you can do it anyway—and keep those resolutions.

1. Head outside (just bundle up first). Fresh-air workouts are still an option, you’ll just have to spend a little extra time getting ready. Bundle up in weather-appropriate, reflective gear before you head out, like these top-rated items. Don’t forget sweat-wicking pants and layered tops in synthetic or wool materials, a warm hat, and gloves, and sunscreen!
2. Stay hydrated. Just because it's winter doesn't mean you don't need to stay hydrated. In fact, dehydration is harder to notice when it's colder out. Be sure to drink water or a sports drink before, during, and after your workout, even if you're not particularly sweaty or thirsty.
3. Try online workouts. Online fitness routines are having a real moment right now, and for good reason. With everyone staying at home more, virtual workouts provide a convenient alternative to in-person sweat sessions. Pay a monthly fee to access a large library of workout videos, like BeachBody On Demand, or see if any of your local fitness studios are streaming classes. YouTube also has lots of options for free.
4. Get into at-home cycling. By now, you’ve probably heard of Peloton and its pricey in-home spin bikes. But did you know that you don’t need to splurge on one in order to access its library of pre-recorded and live-streaming classes? Snag one of these more affordable spin bikes and then subscribe to Peloton’s classes ($39/month) for a full-fledged fitness studio at home.

Mangú Delight: A New Food Truck Serving Up Authentic Dominican Fare

A warm staff, efficient service, and authentic Dominican cuisine all await at Mangú Delight, according to its early fans. The new food truck made its debut a couple of months ago—an undeniably difficult time for the restaurant industry. But this food truck seems to have staying power!

That’s thanks, in large part, to signature bites like the empanadas. Customers say they’re massive, and they come stuffed with ingredients like pork and cheese, shrimp, or beef. Head to the eatery’s Instagram page to see what types of meat the chef is serving up that day! It usually includes Dominican-style ribs and steak, plus a few other options, with sides like white rice, beans, and plantains. Make sure you save room for bread pudding or pan de yuca for dessert! The food truck has some first-come, first-serve outdoor seating, and face masks are required to order and retrieve your food.

Set Yourself Up for Holiday Cookie Success With These Kitchen Organizing Tips

Getting into the holiday spirit in your home? Perhaps your annual traditions include baking! Before you whip up the first batch of cookies, you might want to rearrange the kitchen to make the process a bit easier. These expert tips can help.

1. Stow spices on a turntable. Turntable, Lazy Susan, whatever you call it, these contraptions make it simple to quickly locate the spice you’re looking for! You can also use them for go-to baking supplies like flour and sugar. A mini turntable should fit neatly and easily into any spare cabinet.
2. Quickly boost your storage space. There’s probably some spare space in your cabinets that you don’t even realize is there! That’s the dead air above your canned goods and spices. Double your storage space instantly by adding wire shelving, which sits right on top of your permanent shelves. Similarly, small drawers under the sink or in other underused spots can work wonders.
3. Stash your cookie sheets differently. Instead of keeping your cookie sheets in a haphazard pile, use tension rods to get them in order. Line up tension rods from one side of a cabinet to the other and store your cookie sheets vertically.
4. Use the back of your kitchen cabinets. Did you know that parchment paper tubes are super easy to hack? Stick a wooden dowel through the hole in the center of the tube, and you can hang it instead of trying to stuff it in a drawer alongside cling wrap and aluminum foil. Just affix two temporary hooks to the back of a cabinet door, thread the dowel through them, and voila! Parchment paper at your fingertips.

The 52 Best Kitchen Cabinet Organization Ideas of All Time [Apartment Therapy]
The 35 Most Brilliant Organizing Ideas of All Time [The Kitchn]
22 Smart Storage Tricks for a Small Kitchen [Good Housekeeping]

Glow in the Park at The Adventure Park: Take Holiday Cheer to New Heights

If you thought the ziplines and climbing at The Adventure Park was fun in the summer, just wait until Glow in the Park! Now that the holiday season is here, The Adventure Park has transformed their exciting mid-air obstacle course to include neon lights and cool themes. Add a little music, and you have Glow in the Park. This event is so popular, that the park only releases tickets one month prior to the availability date, and it often sells out. Reserve your tickets today by visiting the website so that you don’t miss a moment of the fun. Glow in the Park includes two full hours of climbing and ziplining, plus an additional 40 minutes for the orientation. 

This event is a perfect way to get introduced to climbing, or to bring the kids for a new yearly winter tradition. The Adventure Park is a short 30 minute drive away from Central, much closer than any good ski slope or outdoor adventure option in the area.

Shop Unique Holiday Gifts at Tabletop

“How they managed to cram so much personality into one adorable little shop, I'll never know,” writes one Yelp reviewer of Tabletop, a unique store in Takoma Park. “The shop is chock-full of wonderful, fantastic, hilarious things for your home that you never knew you needed, but shouldn't ever have to live without.” You might not have realized you needed a tabletop bowling game in your life, but you’ll feel the need soon enough, once you’ve set foot in Tabletop. 

The same goes for a cookbook showcasing beans (“the world’s most versatile plant-based protein), a self-infusing cup coated in sakura blossoms, and an ice mold shaped like the Death Star. With so many options available, you’ll be sure to find something to buy (and plenty more to add to your wishlist). 

Shopping for gifts? Look no further. You’ll be ready for every birthday, holiday, housewarming, and baby shower from now on, with little to no risk of bringing the same gift as another guest. And, because so many of their items are eco-friendly and/or locally-made, you can feel good about the gift you give after a purchase from Tabletop’s Takoma Park location.