Welcome to Hello, Weekend, our new guide to the best things to do, see, and pack for the best weekend every weekend.
We’re going where the hills have wines, but first…
What’s Going On
At Home…
In case you weren’t able to make it to the big shows during New York Fashion Week, you will no doubt be able to get your fill of luxuriant frocks and dazzling couture during DC Fashion Week. The U.S. capital might not be as well known for its style as the metropolis to its north, but this more under-the-radar event will give you the opportunity to discover unique looks and discover emerging designers so that when they hit the big time you’ll have the satisfaction of being able to say you’ve been a fan since day one.
And Abroad…
The world’s biggest party—Carnival—is going to be in full, spectacular swing in Brazil and Rio de Janeiro, in particular, this weekend. Whether you’ve got tickets to the Sambadromes, hobnobbing with the affluent set at the Magic Ball at the Copacabana Palace, or dancing your way from street party to street party it’s virtually impossible to have a bad time at what is the ultimate festival.
Where We Want to Go This Weekend
You may not expect a relatively small town in Texas Hill Country to be the sort of place where you could fill a weekend wine tasting across 50-plus wineries and tasting rooms, but Fredericksburg, Texas delivers just that. With its low-key, unpretentious atmosphere, Fredericksburg is exactly the kind of place for anyone looking for the sort of weekend that demands nothing more strenuous than sampling a variety of wines in an unexpected environment and popping into some charming boutiques along the way.
Recommended Fodor’s Video
Stay: Just a short walk from the restaurants and shopping of Main Street, but with plenty of cozy charm (complimentary breakfast delivered to your room in a picnic basket), Hoffman Haus will have you feeling like you’ve checked into a secluded, rural retreat.
Do: Visit Enchanted Rock, a pink granite dome that earned its mystical name from centuries’ worth of legends. Though you may not encounter any ghosts or portals to another world, a hike to the top is guaranteed to be rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding landscape. (It’s a good idea to make reservations ahead of time and keep an eye on the park’s Twitter for updates about trail closures during inclement weather.)
Eat: For farm-to-table German food (that takes inspiration from Alsace to Texas Hill Country), stop by Otto’s.
What We’re Reading
There’s a scene in Lara Williams’ novel Supper Club during which the narrator is waiting in line at a busy coffee shop and rehearses her order over and over again in her head until she’s whittled it down to maximum levels of efficiency—only for the guy ahead of her to hem and haw over various milks and accouterments with the barista for a metric eternity. If this sort of scenario rings as frustratingly relatable, consider picking up this novel about a group of young women who turn (literally) indulging their appetites into a form of rebellion and liberation.
What We’re Downloading
Sometimes the American remake of a foreign-language film turns out to be a worthy interpretation of the original, like when Martin Scorsese remade Andrew Lau’s and Alan Mak’s Infernal Affairs as The Departed. And then there are remakes like the recently released (and poorly reviewed) Downhill, the American version of the 2014 Swedish film Force Majeure, which—no one can argue—certainly does exist. While you’re probably okay not heading to the theaters for Downhill, why not exercise your subtitle-reading muscles with the original that kicks off with father and husband Tomas (Johannes Kuhnke) leaving his family behind as he flees (what turns out to be a controlled) avalanche. Tension, examinations of masculinity and gender roles within relationships, and darkly comic moments ensue.
What’s In Our Weekend Bag
Whether you need a relaxing setting after a hectic day of air travel or something to give your hotel room that ended up not quite matching the pictures you saw online more atmosphere, Campo’s Ultrasonic Travel Essential Oil Diffuser can help you out. Add water, a few drops of the essential oil of your choice, and suddenly any space becomes a calming haven at the end of a long day.