Monday, August 17
It’s DC Beer Week! Hopheads can get their fill all over the city with beer tastings, meal pairings, and more. Tonight starting at 5, Birreria Paradiso will offer a special pizza topped with endive, caramelized onions, and Chimay cheese, which will be served with a bottle of Chimay Red and Blue beer. Bonus: A Chimay representative will be on hand to open a six-liter bottle of the Chimay Blue grand vintage, one of only 20 such bottles in the US.
Tuesday, August 18
ACKC in DC’s Logan Circle will hold a two-hour class on the art of truffle making. The lesson will focus on techniques and ingredients you can use in your own kitchen, and you can take home everything you make. The class, which runs from 6:30 to 8:30, costs $35. To purchase tickets, click here.
Have a say in who makes the best fajita-paired drink in Washington at the Beacon Hotel’s Margarita Quest Party. Grab a score card and sample margaritas from restaurants such as H Street Country Club and PS 7’s, then vote on your favorite. The party runs from 7 to 10. RSVP to rsvp@ontaponline.com (subject line ‘RSVP for Margarita Quest Party) and show up early—samples are doled out on a first-come, first-served basis.
Wednesday, August 19
Have a hankering for a lambic or a triple? DC Beer Week continues at Marvin with “Hit for the Cycle,” a progressive tasting of four Belgian-style beers from American breweries. The cover, $35, buys you four 12-ounce beers and a buffet dinner. The event runs from 5:30 to 8:30. At Capitol Lounge, all Belgian and Belgian-style bottles are 25 percent off.
Thursday, August 20
Julia Child’s World War II stint as a spy for the Office of Strategic Services is the perfect excuse for the International Spy Museum to throw a reception in her honor at Zola Wine + Kitchen (505 Ninth St., NW). Join chef Bryan Moscatello for a cooking demonstration of Child’s coq au vin, then indulge in two glasses of wine and sample-sized eats inspired by her recipes. If Julia’s food isn’t enough, actress and Child impersonator Mary Ann Jung will be on hand—and in character—to regale you with tales from the kitchen queen’s life. The event, which costs $55, begins at 6. Call 202-654-0964 for tickets.
Wind down the summer with Brew at the Zoo. The $50 ticket, available here, gets you beer samplings from 40 microbreweries, a commemorative mug, and a party with live music. Food from Armand’s Pizzeria, Hard Times Café, and Rocklands Barbeque & Grilling Company will be available for purchase throughout the night. Planning on trying every drink available? Bring a friend and get home safely—sober-driver tickets can be had for $15. The event runs from 6 to 9.
UPDATE: This event is now sold out.
Friday, August 21
Cowgirl Creamery doles out free samples of Oya restaurant’s private label wines Yin Malbec Blend—created by sommelier Andrew Stover—from 4 to 6. Call 202-393-6880 for more information.
Saturday, August 22
Old Town cheese shop La Fromagerie (1222 King St., Alexandria) invites you to join Virginia cheesemaker Gail Hobbs-Page for free Caromont Farm goat-cheese samples and a conversation about sustainable farming. The event is free, and the starting time is still being determined. Check here for updates.
Sarah is the Editor-in-Chief of Washingtonian Bride & Groom, and writes about weddings, fashion, and shopping. Her work has also appeared in Refinery29, Bethesda Magazine, and Washington City Paper, among others. She is a Georgetown University graduate, lives in Columbia Heights, and you can find her on Instagram at @washbridegroom and @sarahzlot.
