Show Us How You Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Northern Virginia

Show us your best Cinco de Mayo party pictures.

Cinco de Mayo is Sunday, and many Northern Virginians are stocking up on tacos, tequila, and Coronas. Why do we drink all these margaritas, anyway? Cinco de Mayo is a holiday commemorating the Mexican army's victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War in 1862. The holiday has evolved into a celebration of Mexican-American culture, complete with parades and parties. How will you be celebrating Cinco de Mayo this weekend? Share your party ideas and events in the comments below, and be sure to upload your best Cinco de Mayo party photos to our gallery by clicking "Upload Photos and Video" above.

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)

Ask Dr. Mike

Ask Dr. Mike: Christmas Version

The doctor answers questions that often come up at the holidays.

Debating the Santa ‘Lie’ Dr. Mike, My husband feels that we should not lie to our 3-year-old child about Santa Claus. He is concerned that our child will resent us for it later and that it will compromise her trust in us as parents. He says he “wants to prepare her for life” as soon as possible. I, however, can’t stand the idea of raising our child in a Santa free environment. He and I grew up with childhoods that included Santa at Christmas, so his over the top pragmatism just doesn’t make any sense to me. I also have such fond memories of Christmas and want the same for our children. Thoughts? S in Loudoun County S, I do not think your husband is seeing the forest for the trees, as the old saying goes. I suppose Santa is “a lie,” and for…

• Photos (1)

What's After Cyber Monday? Giving Tuesday

United Way, SCAN of Northern Virginia among nonprofits encouraging people to pause their shopping, find a way to help others.

Will donating to charity ever be as popular as shopping during the holiday season? A partnership of nonprofits hopes so. As a follow-up to Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, national and local organizations are asking residents to give back on Tuesday. Several Northern Virginia nonprofits are among those using their websites and social media to kick off the first ever Giving Tuesday. See the full list of participating nonprofits in Loudoun County and Virginia here. The Giving Tuesday website says the effort, coming on the heels of several days devoted to consumerism, is designed "to create a national day of giving at the start of the annual holiday season. It celebrates and encourages charitable activities that support…

• Photos (1)
• Videos (1)

The 2012 Holiday Book List

Books make great holiday gifts. Give your loved ones these books as stocking stuffers this holiday season.

When you give a child or a teen a book, you are creating a memory that will last a lifetime. What’s more, reading offers so many options. Are you trying to find a book for an early reader? Choose a picture book or a Great Beginner Read from the list below. Does your grandchild love nonfiction? Take a look at the Great Family Reads section. Has your niece read every book known to man? There are some brand new books on this list that she may not have seen yet. Do you struggle to find just the right book to entice your child to read? These selections are sure kid-pleasers that will meet any interest. The ReadKiddoRead holiday gift list has something for everyone: realistic fiction, science fiction, and nonfiction; animal stories, mythology …

• Photos (1)

Extreme Thanksgiving Makeover: How to Make Your Leftovers Amazing

Eight recipes to make Turkey Day leftovers into something special!

I love Thanksgiving, the reminder to stop and give thanks, the gathering of friends and family, the changing seasons and fall foliage, but mainly, the food. I love Thanksgiving so much that occasionally, come March or April, I have to bust out some of my favorite Turkey Day recipes, just to get my fix halfway through the year. While I don't intend to eat my Thanksgiving leftovers for days after, I do like to both find new ways to experience my favorite flavors, and use up all the leftovers I have from the big day. Here are some great recipes using Thanksgiving ingredients that will tantalize your taste buds, and make you a leftover genius! "The Bobbie"—I never thought that the old fashioned sub shop that I worked at as a teen in Wilmington…

• Photos (1)

Mutts Matter Rescue

Make A Difference This Holiday Season: Help A Pup In Need

Do you love dogs and want to make a difference? Consider becoming a foster family for a rescue dog during the holidays.

I’ve written a few articles over the past two years about fostering dogs, and multiple readers from the Patch community have stepped up to become foster families. It’s great to see more and more people becoming aware of dog rescue, getting involved, and understanding the importance and vital need of fostering. Fostering is the backbone of rescue, and we can only save as many dogs as we have foster families available to welcome them into their homes. It was only a few years ago that I learned about fostering and how it works. Fostering involves opening your heart and home to a pup in need, giving them a safe place to land and some TLC until they’ve found their new home. Some foster pups are easier than others, but all bring great joy and …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (5)

Free Holiday Parking in Downtown Leesburg

Free parking will begin at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 21 and will continue until 8 a.m. on Thursday, January 3, 2013.

The Town of Leesburg will be offering free parking throughout the holiday season in the Town Hall parking garage and at on-street parking meters in the historic downtown.  The two-hour limit at on-street meters will remain in effect during the free holiday parking promotion. Free parking will begin at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 21 and will continue until 8 a.m. on Thursday, January 3, 2013. The tradition of providing free holiday parking in downtown Leesburg began in 2005. The annual holiday parking program is intended to support the Leesburg Downtown Business Association’s (LDBA) holiday shopping promotions. For more information visit the LDBA’s website or their Facebook page.

• Photos (1)

Holiday Open House Scheduled at Morven Park

The former Westmoreland Davis' mansion has been decorated for the holidays. Guests are invited to tour the property now through the beginning of the year.

  A holiday open house will be held at Morven Park on Saturday, Dec. 3 where the public will be invited to tour former Governor Westmoreland Davis’ mansion in its finest holiday attire.   Guest will have the opportunity to learn about wintertime activities that would have taken place in the 1920 era including social events, farm planning, and the household’s holiday chores. “Basically the theme is winter activities in Morven Park,” said Director of Public Programming Abby Pfisterer. "Governor and Mrs. Davis were never here at Christmas time so what we’re interpreting is what would have happened had they been here, and what happened regardless, such as what nature was doing at this time, what farmers would be doing and what women in …

• Photos (4)