Carmello’s of Old Town Manassas, Va. recently earned Wine Spectator magazine’s 2013 Award of Excellence for the fourth consecutive year, noted for its vast Portuguese wine selections. For more information, call 703-368-5522 or go to www.carmellos.com.

Carmello’s offers more than 100 Portuguese wines from Portuguese regions, such as Alentejo, Douro, Doa, Estremadura and Vinho Verde, and presents one of the largest Portuguese wine lists in the United States.

 “We invest a lot of time and diligence in our extensive Portuguese wine list, so it’s always exciting and an honor to be named by Wine Spectator magazine,” said Miguel Pires, general manager of Carmello’s and Monza of Old Town Manassas, Va.

Gather your family — including your pets — and stop by Goose Creek Village Shopping Center on June 8 between 1 PM and 5 PM for the Summer Dollar Sidewalk Stroll. Goose Creek merchants will participate, as will other small, local businesses, and the event will benefit Loudoun Youth, Inc., a local nonprofit organization that offers youth development and leadership programs to Loudoun County teens.

Guests at the family-friendly outing will enjoy food samplings from the center’s restaurants. Passion Fin, already dubbed a top sushi restaurant in Northern Virginia, will offer free California roll samples and $3 sushi plates, while East Wind China Bistro will offer free samples and coupons.

The Presidential inauguration is just around the corner. Millions of people will be scrambling to see the President, the historical sites, and the food. Food plays a big role in any high-profile event, including the Presidential inauguration. As a result, many local restaurants will be making their Presidential picks for a feast fitting of the highest office in the land.

“Picking the Presidential meal is a fun and challenging task that we look forward to,” explains Ryan Fichter, Executive Chef of Thunder Burger. “In our pick, we wanted to incorporate a little of the President’s Hawaiian roots. We think this is a meal that the First Family would enjoy, as well as those looking for an authentic inauguration meal.”

Chef Ryan’s Presidential meal pick for the 2013 inauguration includes: