El Centro D.F. is one of many spots offering Cinco de Mayo specials on Sunday. Photograph by Erik Uecke.
That maraca ringtone reminder that just went off on our iPhone means it’s time for our favorite holiday celebrating bartenders who can pour a tasty lime-and-tequila beverage. Okay, yes, Cinco de Mayo has more of a backstory—but let’s skip the history lecture and map out the route for the this weekend’s Tour de Margarita. Here’s where the fiesta is going full force throughout the District.
Bandolero
Happy hour lasts Friday through Sunday with specials such as $4 Tecates, PBRs, and
Espolon shots and $6 margaritas. No need to rush through lunch or dinner—all weekend
long, “crazy corn,” pork, or chicken tacos and Mexican Pizza are just $5.
The Brixton
It’s a circus over on U Street Sunday from noon to 8 as the Brixton debuts its Circus
de Mayo with $4 Coronas, $6 Hornitos sno-cones, $7 frozen Sauza margaritas, and cotton
candy. We hear there’s going to be a dunk tank on the patio, too.
Casa Oaxaca & Guajillo
Celebrations started on Wednesday and continue through Sunday with $7 margaritas—find
a passionfruit-jalapeño flavor on Thursday and a tropical guanabana flavor on Friday.
Don’t worry, the restaurant will still offer its signature drinks, such as the MargaChela—a
baby Corona inside a house margarita—and the Orangita Picate, a fresh orange juice
margarita with chile piquin. During happy hour (3 to 6 PM), house margaritas are $5
and Coronas are $4. Saturday and Sunday brunch is offered from 11 to 3; reserve a
spot through OpenTable.
Ceiba
This Latin-inspired venue offers an assortment of Mexican street food, including chicken
tamales,
mole-glazed pork ribs, Mexican hot dogs, and warm cinnamon-dusted churros, for $5 each.
As you sample your way through the menu, sip one of the $5 margaritas to cleanse your
palate. Stop by from 3 PM until close Friday through Sunday to celebrate.
Commissary
This Logan Circle spot celebrates throughout May with two special margaritas. The
Speedy, which features house-infused jalapeño tequila, is $7.50, and the Sparkling
Fiesta, topped off with sparkling wine, is $9.
Photograph by Flickr user robeposse.
With the peak of the cherry blossom season fast approaching, it’s time to start planning
your National Cherry Blossom Festival itinerary. We’ve rounded up the best events—from
parties to concerts to bike tours—to help you make the most of this year’s celebrations.
Signature Events
Wine and dine at the seventh annual Pink Tie Party, the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s signature fundraiser, on March 20 at 7 PM at the Renaissance Mayflower. Chef Lorena Garcia hosts this lively event, which features more than 35 participating restaurants throughout the metro Washington area. Enjoy cherry-blossom-inspired cocktails and dishes as you place bids at the evening’s auction to win anything from a weekend getaway to a unique theater experience. The proceeds from the silent auction benefit the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Tickets are $200 and can be purchased online.
Bring your camera to the FDR Memorial along the Tidal Basin, where Washington Photo Safari is holding clinics and tutorials on how to best shoot the iconic cherry blossoms. Photography workshops begin on March 20 and are $69 to register. For a full schedule, visit the website.
Grab the family and head to the National Building Museum, which presents Family Days on Saturday, March 23, from 10 AM to 4 PM, and Sunday, March 24, from 11 to 4. The family-oriented events include hands-on activities and inspiring youth performances. Create a cherry blossom popcorn tree, a spring-themed pinwheel, and even a wind chime. Admission is free for all ages.
The third annual Blossom Kite Festival happens on March 30 from 10 AM to 4:30 PM. Visit the Washington Monument grounds to witness the amazing creativity of kite-makers and kite-fliers from across the US and other countries. The day includes competitions and demonstrations such as the popular Hot Tricks Showdown, and Kite Ballets, in which master kite-fliers set their skills and expertise to music. The fun-filled day also features a family field area where you can learn to fly your kite, and a youth kite-makers competition. For a full schedule and weather advisements, visit the website.
The annual Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival lights up the sky on April 6 from 1 to 9 PM. This event features free music, cultural experiences, and delicious food. Be sure to visit the Very Cherry Marketplace in Kastles Stadium, featuring various arts and crafts. This event happens rain or shine. 700 Water St., SW.
Happy snow day! Here are some fun things to do. Image courtesy of Shutterstock.
A snow day is as good an excuse as any to kick back on the couch and indulge in an all-day TV marathon (and if you’re tempted to binge-watch House of Cards on Netflix, check out our review). But by no means is fun canceled in Washington today—especially given the lack of accumulation in large parts of DC. We’ve rounded up some of the best things to bundle up and do today, from snowball fights to museum exhibits to all-day drink deals.
A good number of museums are open today, offering a great chance to catch up on exhibits and new additions. All the Smithsonian museums, with the exception of the National Zoo, are keeping regular hours until further notice. Goggle at the Hope Diamond in hopefully less-packed crowds than usual at the Natural History Museum, fly in a simulator at Air and Space, or check out power players captured in a video portrait in “The Network” at the National Portrait Gallery.
Also open today: The National Geographic Museum downtown, whose current exhibit, “Birds of Paradise: Amazing Avian Evolution” reveals images of brightly colored birds in Australasia (a nice respite from the chill).
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at these events around town. Image courtesy of Shutterstock.
St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, but Washington isn’t letting that slow it down. From kid-friendly parades to weeklong celebrations at Irish pubs, you’ll have plenty of chances to see live music and drink green beer—just don’t forget you still have to show up to work the next day.
DC
McPatty’s Week
When: March 12 through 17
Where: McFadden’s Restaurant and
Saloon (2401 Pennsylvania Ave, NW)
Details: For this weeklong celebration, McFadden’s offers green beer, spring break
giveaways, and no cover for those wearing green. On St. Patrick’s Day, the festivities
start at 8 AM with a traditional Irish breakfast and an open bar and continue with
stilt walkers, a deejay, and food specials.
The Capital Club’s Shamrock Soirée
When: March 14, 10 PM to 2 AM
Where: Capitale (1301 K St., NW; 202-962-3933)
Cost: $10 for women, $20 for men; tickets are available at the door
Details: There will be an open bar for the first hour of the event, so plan on getting
there early to beat the crowds.
National ShamrockFest 2013
When: March 16, 1 to 9 PM
Where: RFK Stadium Festival Grounds (2400 E. Capitol St., SE; 202-608-1100)
Cost: Tickets ($29.99, or $79.99 for VIP) are
available online
Details: More than 40 bands and deejays will perform on nine stages at this Irish
music festival. The lineup includes the Mahones, Sublime With Rome, and more. Oh,
and there’s plenty of food and beer, of course.
Library St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
When: March 16, 3 PM
Where: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St., NW; 202-727-0321)
Details: Come to this all-ages event to learn about the history of St. Patrick’s Day
through music, stories, and crafts.
DC Official St. Paddy’s Day Bar Crawl 2013
When: March 16, 11 AM to 2 AM
Where: Various bars in Dupont, Foggy Bottom, and Midtown
Cost: $10 for
bar crawl, $20 for three-day pass (includes Friday kickoff party), $30 for VIP three-day
pass (includes Friday kickoff party and Sunday breakfast); order online
Details: Choose your start location (the Front
Page
or Cafe Asia’s downtown
location),
then make your way to as many as 13 bars to fete St. Paddy’s
Day.
St. Patrick’s Parade of Washington DC
When: March 17, noon
Where: Constitution Ave.
Cost: $15 for grandstand
ticket
Details: This year’s theme is Celebrating Service to the Stars and Stripes; the 42-year-old
parade will include more than 100 marching bands, military units, dance schools, floats,
and other groups and organizations.
Duffy’s St. Patrick’s Day
When: March 17, 11 AM to 3 AM
Where: Duffy’s Irish Pub (2106 Vermont Ave., NW; 202-265-3413)
Cost: $5 cover
Details: This Celtic pub is celebrating in style with free T-shirts, Irish music and
dancers, bagpipes, and green brew all day.
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration With FullSet
When: March 17, 7 PM
Where: National Geographic Live (1600 M St., NW; 202-857-7700)
Cost: Order tickets online,
$25
Details: The Live Ireland Music Awards recently named traditional Irish band FullSet
New Group of the Year in 2012. The six-piece band will perform songs from its debut
album,
Notes At Liberty.
St. Paddy’s PubCrawl
When: March 15 through 17
Where: Bread Brew, Capitol City Brewing Company, Penn Social, and more
Cost: $15 per day or $30 for a three-day pass; tickets
are available online
Details: This event is trying to be DC’s largest pub crawl. Things kick off Friday
with a 5 PM happy hour at Bread and Brew, where you can find $1 drafts, $2 bottled
beers, $3 wells, and $4 whiskey before 9. Saturday’s crawl begins at 11; Sunday’s
starts at noon.
See who picks up their Oscar trophy at one of these parties. Photograph courtesy of Joe Seer / Shutterstock.
You’ve recovered from the shock of Hangover star Bradley Cooper being nominated for Best Actor, and heard all about how Jessica Chastain is upset over Zero Dark Thirty’s Kathryn Bigelow being passed over for Best Director. You have your own opinions on the Oscar contenders, so we’ve rounded up a few places where you can enjoy disagreeing with the Academy’s choices over cocktails.
Learn about the mating habits of animals at Woo at the Zoo on Saturday. Photograph by Mehgan Murphy/National Zoo.
February 8 through 17, Perchance to Dream Theatre presents Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night at Fort Fringe. A traveling troupe of circus style performers use music, puppets, and magic in this adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic. Tickets ($10 to $15) are available online.
Get wild at the National Zoo’s fifth annual Woo at the Zoo. The February 9 event features presentations where you can learn about the mating habits of animals. Tickets are $30 per person ($20 for FONZ members) and include a commemorative glass, a complimentary drink, and hors d’oeuvres. There’s also a cash bar.
Check out naked women and men without your other half getting mad at a Naked at the Art Museum scavenger hunt on February 10. Search the American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery’s nude pieces for answers to various questions and take part in a little friendly competition. If you’re the lucky duo that finishes first, you’ll go home with a prize. More details and tickets ($24.50) are available online.
Disney on Ice comes to the Washington Harbour Ice Rink on Tuesday, February 12, at 4:30 PM. Children can skate with the characters from the show, sample hot chocolate, and receive a special Disney on Ice Valentine’s Day card.
To accompany the exhibition “Angels, Demons, and Savages,” the Phillips Collection presents “A Valentine’s Day Trilogy” February 13 through 17, with short vignettes inspired by Pollock, Ossorio, and Dubuffet. Head to Tryst at the Phillips before the show starts for a Prosecco-based Pretty in Pink cocktail or the spicy beer-and-sangria fusion Heart on Fire. A tour starts at 6:30 PM and the performance starts at 7; tickets are $20.
Join the Washington Ballet for L’Amour (Love, Baby . . .) at Sidney Harman Hall. Featuring three stories inspired by romance— Dangerous Liaisons, Opposites Attract, and Under Covers—the show explores all different aspects of love. Wednesday the 13th through Sunday the 17th. Tickets are available online.
On V-Day itself, catch a movie, a comedy show, and a bonus wine-tasting at the Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse for just $8. Even better: The movie is The Princess Bride. Shows start at 7 and 9:50 PM; tickets are available online.
Love is all you need, at least according to the folks of Art Soiree’s Love Power. Whether you’re single, crushing hard, or in love, head to Powerhouse on Valentine’s Day at 9 PM for a night of music, art, movies, and dancing, all inspired by the power of love. Tickets are $20 online or $30 at the door.
An alternative to an overpriced Valentine’s Day dinner is lunch—made by you. CulinAerie hosts an Intimate Valentine’s Lunch: Foods of Love cooking class, where couples can make foods known for having aphrodisiac properties. The class runs from noon to 2 and is $150 per couple.
No date? No problem. Treat yourself with a chocolate, cheese, and Champagne tasting class at Union Market. Image courtesy of Shutterstock.
Flying solo this Valentine’s Day? There’s no reason you can’t have just as much fun as your coupled-up compadres. Whether you’re in the market for a sweetheart or just looking for a good time, we’ve got you covered with these inexpensive V-Day events for singles.
Hoping to find that special someone before Valentine’s Day rolls around this year? Head to Dupont Circle with 1,500-plus eligible bachelors and bachelorettes for Cupid’s Bar Crawl on February 9. The party runs from 3 to 11 PM at participating bars including Irish Whiskey, the Front Page, Ozio, Public Bar, Sign of the Whale, the Madhatter, and the Mighty Pint. Tickets are $15 if you register online or $20 the day of the event.
If you’re not so thrilled about being single on V-Day, Mortified DC’s Doomed Valentine’s Day Show at Town is bound to make you feel better about your current situation. During this unconventional comedy show, adults share their most humiliating love-inspired childhood diary entries, letters, poems, and more. The embarrassment starts at 8 PM on February 13; tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door.
Feel like indulging? Righteous Cheese at Union Market is hosting three We Heart Cheese: Chocolate, Cheese & Baller Bubbly classes perfect for singles looking to spend the holiday in a classy fashion. Savor decadent cheeses, rich chocolates, and of course, specialty Champagnes and sparkling wines. Learn about pairing options and the story behind the cheeses. The first class is February 13 at 7 PM.
Then on February 14, kick off your Singles Awareness Day shenanigans by heading to Penn Social and joining our staff at Washingtonian’s first-ever Singles Soiree. There’ll be live music, games, a photo booth, goodie bags, and awesome people in one place from 7 to 9 PM. Your first two drinks are on us, and there will be complimentary appetizers. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
Celebrate Fat Tuesday in Washington with these great events. Image courtesy of Shutterstock.
It’s carnival season with Mardi Gras just a week away, but you don’t have to be in New Orleans to celebrate. Washington sees its fair share of Fat Tuesday feting, and as the official Louisiana-sponsored Washington Mardi Gras wraps up, the unofficial revelry begins.
Chef David Guas, a New Orleans native, hosts a full-throttle celebration at Alexandria’s Bayou Bakery on Mardi Gras day, February 12. From 5 to 11 PM, 15th Street gets roped off for a Mardi Gras block party featuring free oysters from Rappahannock River Oysters, specialty cocktails by Gina Chersevani of Buffalo & Bergen, a parade float, a costume contest, Bayou Bakery grub, and, of course, Abita beers.
Acadiana, known and praised for its New Orleans-themed fine dining, serves up a special Mardi Gras prix-fixe menu including NOLA classics such as crawfish jambalaya, buffalo frog’s legs with a cheddar cheese grit cake, and rabbit étouffée, to name a few. For dessert there’s a twist on the classic: king cake doughnuts. The dinner is from 5:30 to 10:30 PM on Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras day, February 11 and 12.
For a more elegant take on the famous holiday, the Alliance Française DC and Art Soiree are throwing a black-tie-optional masquerade ball at the Washington Club on February 9. The Blues Style Brass Band provide the entertainment, as does an open bar offering Hurricanes, Sazeracs, and more. Buy tickets ($60) online.
Here’s where you’ll want to be when the clock strikes midnight. Image courtesy of Shutterstock.
Parties and Galas
Celebrate the New Year and James Bond’s 50th anniversary at the Washington Plaza Hotel with the 11th annual Bond-themed New Year’s Eve bash. There will be mock gambling, party favors, a live band, deejays, and, of course, martinis at the open bars.
Where: Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle, NW
Doors open: 9 PM
Tickets: $129 and up
Last year’s party at the Gaylord National drew more than 7,000 revelers. This year’s features 15 themed party areas, five dance floors, party favors, food, and several fully stocked open bars.
Where: Gaylord National Hotel & Resort, 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor, MD
Doors open: 9 PM
Tickets: $130 and up
For the second year in a row the self-proclaimed largest New Year’s Eve party in DC will be at the Washington Hilton. Headlined by indie artists Grouplove and the alternative hip-hop group G. Love & Special Sauce, the party promises a full dinner buffet, one bartender for every 75 guests, a balloon drop, and party favors.
Where: Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave., NW
Doors open: 9 PM
Tickets: $109 and up
ArtJamz Glitter Ball New Year’s Eve
If you are in the mood for music, art, hors d’oeuvres, and lots of glitter, this is your spot for New Year’s. Each reveler will have an individual canvas to paint, and there will be a large group canvas for everyone. Tickets include an option for an open bar.
Where: ArtJamz Dupont Studio, 1742 Connecticut Ave., NW
Doors open: 10 PM
Tickets: $60 and up
The festivities at Dupont Circle’s Public Bar include happy hour prices from 8 to 10 PM, when the open bar begins. A buffet of heavy appetizers runs from 10 until the ball drop and Champagne toast.
Where: Public Bar, 1214 18th St., NW
Open bar begins: 10 PM
Tickets: $90
Yuletide Ball’s Black-Tie Gala
This year marks the dance competition and New Years Eve party’s 25th anniversary. The black-tie gala will feature dinner, a Champagne toast, and a performance by the American Rhythm Champions, Emmanuel Pierre-Antoine and Liana Churilova.
Where: JW Marriott, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Doors open: 7:30 PM
Tickets: $180 and up
With eight party rooms themed around ten world destinations including Times Square, Bollywood, Tokyo, and Paris, this party at the Omni Shoreham Hotel promises to be a international affair. There will be live bands and deejays, a high-flying circus performance, salsa lessons, karaoke, and an open bar.
Where: Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert St., NW
Doors open: 10:30 PM
Tickets: $105 and up
Fancy Schmancy New Year’s Eve Ball
Looking for something a little smaller? Check out Brightest Young Things’ Fancy Schmancy New Year’s Eve Ball at the former Spanish ambassador’s residence. There will be deejays, dancing, lasers, and, of course, a full open bar.
Where: former Spanish Ambassador’s Residence, 16th St., NW
Doors open: 8:30 PM
Tickets: $80 and up
Enjoy the excitement of Las Vegas in DC this New Year’s at Lucky Strike, the bowling alley/nightclub/lounge. Hit up the open bar or snag some appetizers and party favors as you watch a live feed of Times Square.
Where: Lucky Strike DC, 701 Seventh St., NW
Doors open: 8 PM
Tickets: $65
Part of Nam June Paik’s installation opening December 13. Photograph courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Museum Exhibitions
“Nam June Paik: Global Visionary,” opening at the American Art Museum December 13, pays tribute to the Korean-American multimedia artist, credited as the originator of the video-art genre. Paik who died in 2006, created “Electronic Superhighway,” the TV-and-neon-light installation in the museum’s third-floor gallery. Through August 11.
Lincoln Schatz interviews 89 of Washington’s most powerful residents for “The Network,” a single, constantly recalibrating video portrait of people like Michael Kaiser, Ted Leonsis, Grover Norquist, Karl Rove, Nancy Pelosi, and Mera Rubell. The work is unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery December 11.
It’s the last chance to see
Sandra Cinto’s “One Day, After the Rain,” the immersive, delicately beautiful ink and acrylic drawings of waves and water currently
hanging in the
Phillips Collection’s cafe. On display through December 30.
Gallery Shows
December 6 through January 20, Artisphere’s Terrace Gallery plays home to “W3FI: A Digital Experience Revealing the Connections Between Our Online and Offline Selves.” The large-scale, immersive digital installation projects information gathered from visitors in real time.
Through December 16 at the Katzen Arts Center, see “Inside the Underworld: Beetle Magic,” an exhibition of 72 fused-glass creepy-crawlies by Joan Danziger invading the Katzen’s space.
Opening at the Fridge December 1 is “Taxi Gang’s Exclamation Point,” a solo show by owner and director Alex Goldstein. The exhibition features stencil and spray-paint works inspired by city streets. Through December 30.
Studio Gallery has two shows running this month: Andrew Acquadro’s “Mindscapes” and Suzanne Goldberg’s “Meditation on the Rocks.” Acquadro paints bold, exotic images inspired by foreign cultures; Goldberg exposer the links between nature and human emotion. Through December 22.
