BLT Steak gives its fresh-watermelon margarita a spicy jalapeño kick. By Tyler Wilson.

Bourbon, long neglected as a mixer, is seeing new life at the hands of local mixologists. Todd Thrasher has created a special bourbon drink at PX, his Old Town Alexandria speakeasy, to honor the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown. The Smoker’s Delight is made with Old Virginia tobacco, honey syrup, lemon juice, and bourbon.

Firefly, near DC’s Dupont Circle, is serving a version of bourbon sangría—bourbon on the rocks with cantaloupe, honeydew, and green-apple slices.

Macallan, known for its smooth Scotch, is expanding its repertoire with Amber, a new liqueur available so far only in Washington and five other cities that blends ten-year-old Macallan Scotch with maple syrup and pecan syrup. Mixed with crushed ice, mint, and a splash of Scotch, Amber makes for a sweet and tasty alternative to the traditional bourbon julep. You can pick up a bottle at Pearson’s Wine & Spirits in DC’s Glover Park.

Want something lighter? Try a sparkling glass of Prosecco and white-grape juice at 2 Amys in Glover Park or a spicy fresh-watermelon jalapeño margarita at BLT Steak.

Or grab a bottle of the old classic Lillet Blanc, a fortified wine from Bordeaux, which is perfect for summer evenings. Serve on the rocks with a splash of soda and top with a slice of orange. A bottle of the aperitif, which also comes in a rouge variety, runs about $14 at most good liquor stores.

Two Cirque du Soleil members rehearse for the Delirium show.

Cirque du Soleil: Delirium played at the Verizon Center last week, transforming the arena into a mystical world with colorful characters and powerful music. The show takes awe-inspiring aerial gymnastics and feats of strength set to classic songs from past Cirque shows and remixes them with urban tribal beats and English lyrics. Delirium’s story is set in the hypnotic dreams of a man who watches the scenes play out as he dangles from a hot air balloon above the stage.

Delirium is different from other Cirque shows—its focus is more on the music. Singer Jennifer Hamady calls it a Cirque show “with a rock-concert vibe.” The music is loud and pulsing, and the singers and band members are front and center in most of the numbers. Several of the classic Cirque performance acts are there as well. Highlights include two Chinese men in a dramatic aerial rope act, and strongmen who can balance each other on top of their bald heads.

The costumes were spectacular, especially when the lights hit the fabric as the dancers moved around the stage. Particularly impressive were the ancient Greek helmets painted like a sunset and the 80-foot gown worn by one of the singers as she rose from beneath the stage. During the song, the gown was pulled out to create a huge tent for the other dancers and performers.

The performers had the day off last Thursday, and several of them explored Washington. Hamady, a Bethesda native, visited with family and friends in the area. The University of Maryland graduate said she felt nostalgic returning to the Verizon Center, where she sang the National Anthem at many Capitals and Wizards games before she relocated to New York City.

Photograph courtesy the Smithsonian Institution.

Wednesday, June 27: The 41st annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival kicks off today, running through July 1 and July 4 through 8. This year’s themes are “Mekong River: Connecting Cultures,” “Northern Ireland at the Smithsonian,” and “Roots of Virginia Culture.” The festival will focus on the food, music, art, and much more from these parts of the world. 11 am to 5:30 pm, with evening events beginning at 6 pm. The festival is located on the Mall between the US Capitol and Lincoln Memorial. Free. For more on the Folklife Festival, read below. 

Lots more going on this week. If you're not finding a great happy hour with our new Happy Hour Finder, then you can check out an author reading, a free sci-fi film, or an outdoor concert at the zoo. Details and more in our Where & When Weekly column.

It’s officially summertime, and time for you to get out there and start taking advantage of all the great stuff the Washington area has to offer. And we’re here to help you do just that! Pick up the July 2007 issue of The Washingtonian, on stands now, and read about...

The Ultimate Museum Guide:Why Washington can claim to be the museum capital of the world. We have the scoop on great exhibits at 150 museums, 10 must-see treasures, hot spots for kids, top shops, best places to eat, and much more.

The Best Summer Book Ever: Reading you can’t put down—mysteries, adventures, and novels about families, friendship and a summertime fling.

2007’s Best & Worst: Readers like DC mayor Adrian Fenty and brunch at Georgia Brown’s. They’d like to muzzle Ann Coulter. Here are this year’s winners and losers from our annual poll.

Deals: Half-priced facials, bargain makeup secrets, and more.

Cool Beauty Tips: Summer haircare and makeup, the latest on hair removal and cellulite treatments, easy tans, swimsuits that hide flaws, and more.

Not Black and White: Video art offers a vivid look at race relations.

Plus tons more! Pick the issue up on stands, or go ahead and subscribe right here.

Patrons enjoy happy hour at Cafe Citron in Dupont Circle.

Are you always wanting to hit up a good happy hour, but tired of not knowing exactly where or when to go? We were, too. That's why we created Washingtonian.com's new Happy Hour Finder, our easy-to-use listing of area drink specials. From a bar with outdoor seating in Dupont Circle or Arlington, to an upscale lounge on the Hill or a low-key bar in Bethesda, it's all there.

To get started, just click here. You can search for a bar by name, scene, day of the week and neighborhood. With the new Happy Hour Finder, it's never been easier to find the perfect spot for drinks.

We'll be adding more bars every week, so check back regularly. And if you have information to add, or questions for us, please email happyhour@washingtonian.com. 

Saturday, June 23: The DC Caribbean Festival is a feast for the eyes—as well as the other senses. A parade of performers, floats, and fantastic and colorful Caribbean costumes kicks off at 11 am at Georgia and Missouri avenues, NW. Check out this photo set to get a sense of the sights. The parade ends at Barry Place near Banneker Field, where the festival takes place with concerts, food, and more. $10 for the festival; the parade is free.

The DC Caribbean Festival is just one of lots of great activities going on this weekend. For more recommendations on things to do over the weekend, including a French music party, an '80s movie under the stars, and a great night of cover bands, check out Where & When Weekend, our column about the must-dos in entertainment and nightlife.

Who says Washington isn’t a chicdom? Hundreds of local women, many armed to the teeth with Fendi and Chanel bags and tottering on stilettos worthy of the runway, turned out for the Nordstrom Fall Fashion Preview to benefit Knock Out Abuse Against Women.

The National Building Museum was set up with designer “boutiques,” dressing rooms, and buffet stations with lightly-smoked salmon, lentil salad with shrimp, roasted veggies, chicken montrachet and peppercorn grilled beef with rosemary-fig chutney to help shoppers keep up their strength.

Nordstrom’s runway show featured fall collections of Versace, Jil Sander, Michael Kors, Donna Karan, Dolce & Gabana, Ralph Lauren, Christian Dior, Badgely Mischka, Missoni, Lanvin, and Valentino.

The overall message? Black is the new black, belts are big, skirts are short, and it’s okay to sparkle and shimmer before cocktail hour.

After the show, women were welcome to indulge at a dessert buffet—unless they wanted to fit into the oh-so-body-conscious clothes on display. Forget the Baby Doll dresses of summer. The fall looks are for grown-ups watching their diets.

For a photo slideshow of the evening, look below. Simply click on a photograph to see the next one. All photographs by Tyler Wilson.