A noodle move

A new dining spot with a familiar face is moo-ving into the lineup at Dairy Market. Basta Pasta, an original concept kitchen from Dino Hoxha (the chef behind Dairy Market’s Dino’s Wood-fired Pizza & Grill) offers homemade, artisanal pastas with many combinations of shapes, sauces, and flavors, and fully vegan options.

Basta Pasta is taking over the stall formerly occupied by GRN BRGR, but fear not—the popular plant-based fast-casual option has merged locations with the meatier Citizen Burger Stand.

Wood cookies and all

They’re back, with an ax! Devils Backbone Brewing Company pairs pints with the burley, nature-loving, flannel grace of lumberjack sports at the second annual Backbone Lumberjack Classic. Taking place on October 21 and 22 at its Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows, the weekend-long event features professional woodcutting categories such as the men’s hotsaw, the women’s underhand chop, and more. Early arrivals will be treated to meet-and-greets with the athletes on Saturday, and the first 50 guests receive a free autographed cookie (wood slice) from the previous day’s events.

The competition, created in partnership with Virginia native and lumbersports champion Scooter Cogar, will also feature food specials and beers like the Backbone Premium Lager, which is said to pair nicely with the smell of freshly cut lumber.

Pink about it

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dairy Market is partnering with the Martha Jefferson Hospital Foundation to raise money, love, and support for breast cancer treatment programs. Join the fight by enjoying special pink drinks and menu items at vendor stalls, including The Milkman’s Bar, which is donating half of all proceeds from October’s sales of its Rose Quartz cocktail. The market is also hosting Yoga 4 Life on October 24 and an October 26 cooking class that focuses on cancer-fighting foods. Details at dairymarketcville.com.

Prepare to be stuffed

Is it too early to think about Thanksgiving? No, it’s not. Get ahead of the cooking stress by pre-ordering your turkey and all the fixin’s—so you avoid your entire family crammed into one kitchen trying to mash, slice, and toss.

Many area restaurants, farms, and provisioners like Bizou, Feast!, and Farm Bell Kitchen are already ready to take your Thanksgiving pre-orders. From the bird itself to Feast!’s “Everything But The Bird” side-dish package, there’s no shortage of easy pickup options to fit your appetite this Thanksgiving.