Alton Brown is bringing culinary mayhem to the D.C. region this month. He’s just hoping it won’t require a poncho.
On Monday, Oct. 26, the “Good Eats” TV series creator and host takes the stage at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda for “An Evening of Alton Brown,” blending storytelling, audience interaction and unconventional cooking.
“I like to call what I do culinary variety shows,” Brown told WTOP.
This tour’s smaller stage setup lets him visit theaters he hasn’t previously played, including Strathmore. But scaling down doesn’t necessarily mean keeping things tidy.
“When things break or go wrong, they just do so on a smaller scale,” he said.
Past productions have included a 15-foot-tall popcorn popper that “went off like a cannon.” Brown joked that some theaters still won’t let him return and that previous shows have saddled him with dry-cleaning bills.
“Nobody will need a poncho this time, I hope, because that’s happened in the past. But maybe. I don’t know,” he said.
For now, he’s keeping this show’s demonstrations largely under wraps, but promised that audiences will see food prepared in ways they probably haven’t seen before.
The unusual approach grew out of a practical problem: When Brown began touring around 2013, theater owners wouldn’t let him use fire, he said. Finding other ways to cook turned into “an obsession” with building stage-ready contraptions.
Still, he said, most of the evening will center on conversation.
“It’s a far more intimate, less presentational show,” Brown said. “It’s personal stuff, a lot of personal stuff.”
Beyond the laughs, he hopes audiences will find more joy in the cooking process.
“The actual act of cooking is in and of itself a pleasure if you do it with the right mindset,” he said.
And while the cooking on stage may be unconventional, Brown said the show is designed for the whole family. Hearing from fans who grew up watching “Good Eats” with their parents or grandparents helped shape that approach.
“So family night at the theater,” he said.
Check back every Thursday for a roundup of Things to do in the DC area.
Here’s what else is happening in the D.C. area:
Get your skate on at the Anacostia Park Skate Pavilion on Saturday. This event is free and open to the public.
Drinking-age adults can celebrate Halloween early during Night of the Living Zoo on Friday. This annual event at the Smithsonian National Zoo offers eight open bars, circus acts, aerialists and fire breathers. Guests can also expect live musical performances, spooky face painting, “Zoostrology” and tarot card readings. Tickets cost $75; parking is $30 in advance or $40 on the day of. This event is only for those ages 21 and above. Find out about more Halloween events and pop-ups in WTOP’s guide.
Fall Fun Day at Milian Park in Northwest D.C. is a free, family-friendly event this Saturday. Expect a “Little Monsters Parade” for children to show off their Halloween costumes, as well as a dog costume contest and a mini pumpkin patch.
Now in its 39th year, the 17th Street High Heel Race returns on Tuesday with local drag performers and other LGBTQ+ runners wearing vibrant costumes and high heels while sprinting in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. The free event is presented by Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs.
The classic musical “Mamma Mia!” has captivated audiences for over 25 years, and the show returns to D.C. with performances at The National Theatre starting Tuesday. The production runs through Nov. 15.
Bring your furry friend to Pike District Pop-Up Park for Barks and Brews on Saturday. This free, festive event features a costume parade and contest with a special feature movie following the festival.
For its sixth year, the Frightreads Book Festival is headed to the Howard County Fairgrounds for a scary good time, with authors, artists, indie filmmakers and musicians in attendance. Ticket prices vary. The event is on Saturday and Sunday.
The Washington International Horse Show is headed to the Prince George’s Equestrian Center and the Show Place Arena for seven days of competition, starting Monday and running through Sunday, Oct. 25. Tickets are required and can be purchased via Ticketmaster.
For both spooky and scientific fun, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, is hosting Air & Scare on Saturday. This event features trick-or-treat stations with free candy and snacks, creepy crafts, spooky experiments, story times and puppet shows. Also planned are photo ops with “Star Wars” characters. Guests are invited to dress up in costumes. The indoor portion of the event is not ticketed, but parking costs $15.
The Farm at Mount Vernon is inviting the public to enjoy the autumn season with 18th-century wheat treading, cooking and soap-making demonstrations. Saturday and Sunday’s Fall Harvest Family Days also allow George Washington to speak about his favorite topic: farming. Ticket prices vary.
Happening Saturday along Columbia Pike in Annandale, Virginia, the Annandale Parade welcomes thousands of participants. This is the 76th year for the event, which encourages children to wear their Halloween costumes and bring their goodie bags. Entry is free.
On Sunday, Reston Station is hosting Fall-A-Palooza, a seasonal celebration with live entertainment, a petting zoo, bounce house and other family-friendly activities. General admission is free.
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