By JODI WESTRICK
Observer Staff
Oct. 25, 2007

Best Costume Wins $100

Celebrate Halloween a few days early at La Tasca’s 4th annual Masquerade Ball on Saturday, Oct. 27.

Located just off the green or yellow line at Chinatown-Gallery Place, La Tasca is a Spanish tapas bar and restaurant. There is no cover for the event, and if you wear a costume you get in on the $3 drink specials. Whoever wears the best costume wins $100. DJ Edward Daniels will be spinning all night, so there is sure to be plenty of dancing.

La Tasca is located at 722 7 St., NW.

Arabian Sights Film Fest

Starting Friday Oct. 26 and running through Nov. 4, the Arabian Sights Film Festival will celebrate its 12th year of screening “inspiring films from today’s Arab world.”

The opening film, Caramel by Nadine Labaki, will be screened at the Avalon Theatre at 5612 Connecticut Ave., NW, on Friday at 6:30 p.m. All other films will be shown at the AMC Loews Dupont Circle 5 at 1350 19th St., NW.

Movie descriptions, filmmaker bios and ticket information can be found on the festival’s Web site.

Shaken, not stirred

Relax Sunday afternoon at the H Street Martini Lounge’s Champagne, Cosmo & Cognac Sundays.

The lounge, rated one of D.C.’s best date spots by AOL City Guide, offers a variety of drink specials and complimentary appetizers for those venturing to the H Street Corridor. While the restaurant is best known for its “lounge-y” feel, they encourage football fans to come in and watch their favorite teams play.

Can’t make it on Sunday? Check out the lounge on Fridays, with happy hour extended to 8 p.m. and a live band on hand to relax you after a long week. There’s a $10 admittance fee if you show up after 9 p.m., but you get a complimentary drink. Saturday offers happy hour specials on drinks and food from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Get full details on the Web site.

The H Street Martini Lounge is located at 1236 H Street NE.