Chef party: Graffiato hosts its monthly industry takeover night (a.k.a. Monday rager) from 10 to 1. Contributing chefs and barkeeps include Boqueria chef Greg Basalla, Top Chef season six competitor Eli Kirshtein, the crew from Level in Annapolis, and more. There’s a $10 cash cover at the door, with partial proceeds going towards Martha’s Table.
Ugly sweater party: Let the holiday festivities begin. The Loews Madison Hotel hosts an ugly sweater party in its PostScript Lounge on Monday from 4:30 to 7:30. Come for happy hour prices; stay to post Instagram photos of guests in their unattractive attire—$1 will be donated to the Capital Area Food Bank for every pic.
Scotch tasting: Get a taste of the peaty stuff during a Scotch tasting at Cordial in Union Market on Tuesday from 7:30 to 9. Keepers of the Quaich member Ed Kohl leads the seminar, which includes tastings of whisky and snacks from neighboring vendor Neopol Savory Smokery. Another perk: Bottles will be offered at a 10 percent discount. Reservations are $45.
Snack for good: The annual Celebration of Hope fundraiser for RAINN, an anti-sexual violence organization, is on Wednesday at the Long View Gallery between 6:30 and 8:30. Participating restaurants serving cocktails and hors d’oeuvres include Corduroy, Restaurant Nora, and more. Tickets start at $75 for young professionals and $150 for general admission.
Repeal Day party: What better way to celebrate the end of prohibition than by drinking? Jack Rose hosts its annual Repeal Day party on Thursday, and the g̶o̶o̶d̶ even better news: There’s no fixed price. Just dress in your old-timey best and prepare for classic cocktails, burlesque dancers, 1930s-inspired bar snacks, and specially priced cigars.
Remember Movember: Celebrate the end of Movember and freshly shaven faces at Del Frisco’s Grille on Thursday from 5 to 8. The restaurant marks the conclusion of yet another successful campaign with drink specials, complimentary snacks (mini shaved-steak sandwiches! “mo-shroom” flatbreads!), and a raffle.
Virginia is for wine lovers: Sample Virginian vino on Saturday during a tasting hosted by the Washington Wine Academy at Studio Jade Crystal City from 6 to 10. You’ll find varietals from ten vineyards, including Barboursville Winery, Chrysalis Vineyards, Pearmund Cellars, and more. Tickets ($55) are available online.
Calling aspiring food writers: The Smithsonian Associates hosts a seminar called Food Writing: A Practical Introduction on Saturday from 9:30 to 4:30 ($130 general admission). You’ll learn about different forms of food writing—from formal reviews to daily blogs—from a number of experts, including cookbook author Monica Bhide.
Holiday cookies: Get baking on Sunday at the Hill Center from 2 to 4, where Washington Post writers and recipe testers lead a course on holiday cookie making. On the menu: fennel macarons, pear-gingerbread s’mores, and more. Tickets are $65, and available online.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
