I think it’s mostly just a DC thing, but a lot of neighborhoods seem to enjoy having these Taste of festivals every fall. It’s kinda like getting to go to two dozen restaurants at once, only you need tickets and have to eat standing up in the street…

Taste of Bethesda is this Saturday, Oct. 7 from 11 am-4 pm with 50 restaurants and four stages of entertainment. The festival will be on Norfolk , St. Elmo, Cordell , Del Ray and Auburn Avenues in Bethesda ‘s Woodmont Triangle. The last time I went, I even met Mr. Smoothie!

The following week is Taste of Georgetown, Saturday, Oct. 14 from 11 am-4 pm. This festival will feature more than 25 restaurants, a wine tasting, and three different jazz and blues bands by Blues Alley. The festival will be on Wisconsin Ave between M Street and South Street and at the Grace Episcopal Church at 1041 Wisconsin Ave . This festival may be a small consolation to those who miss Taste of DC which traditionally had been on Columbus Day weekend until last year’s debacle and is no more.

Taste of Arlington is held in May so Arlingtonians will have to wait until May 20, 2007 for your festival in Ballston. But, in the meantime, you can go to Clarendon Day on Saturday, Oct. 21, which bills itself as Arlington ‘s biggest party.