Tomato and Oyster Festivals; ChiDogO's Expansion Plans

EVENT PLANNING—All three DC locations in the José Andrés Jaleo-verse launch their La Tomatina festival today. They'll be serving a special tomato-themed menu for the next two weeks, including dishes like fried green tomatoes, tomato "tartar" and lots and lots of heirlooms. Mixologist Owen Thomson also crafted a special cocktail for the occasion named the 1959 with gin, tomato water, basil and lemon. [EaterWire]

EVENT PLANNING—Also launching today is the Legal Sea Foods oyster festival, which will feature oysters on the half shell plus things like oyster, mushroom and spinach pie. Since you apparently can't have a festival without a signature cocktail, theirs is a white sangria. The festival runs through October 16. [EaterWire]

VIRGINIA—Clarendon Culture reports that Boccato Gelato is now serving empanadas from Julia's Empanadas out of their Clarendon shop. Further Twitter research shows that, yes, the empanadas will also be available at the Old Town Alexandria location. [CC via ARLnow; Twitter]

EXPANSIONWIRE—Prince of Petworth discovers that ChiDogO's will be opening up two new locations, both in Maryland. There's not too much in the way of details, but National Harbor and College Park, they're coming for you. [PoP]

ChiDogO's [Photo: Paul D./Yelp]