Monday, December 1
Leesburg’s Tuscarora Mill (203 Harrison St.), located in a 19th-century grain mill, is hosting a dinner and Bell’s Brewery tasting tonight at 7. The Michigan-based Bell’s Brewery, formerly the Kalamazoo Brewing Company, started in 1983 as a homebrewing-supply shop. The dinner costs $75 per person; call 703-771-9300 for reservations.
Tuesday, December 2
Vinoteca (1940 11th St., NW) hosts a winetasting class on Sauvignon Blancs from around the world. Participants will taste five to six wines and a cheese board chosen to complement the selections. Beginners and seasoned veterans are welcome to the tasting, which costs $35 per person; 7 to 8 PM. Call 202-332-9463 for reservations.
Wednesday, December 3
Like some whiskey with your steak? Smith and Wollensky (1112 19th St., NW) hosts a Scotch dinner with “master of whiskey” John Heffernan at 6:30. The four-course meal includes pairings with seven Scotches. Heffernan will introduce each whiskey with a brief history and instructions on how to best enjoy it. The meal will conclude with a toast of Johnnie Walker Blue Label. The cost is $100 per person; call 202-966-4400 for reservations.
Thursday, December 4
Does your nose need some fine tuning? The French Wine Society hosts a Wine Aroma Lecture and Workshop with guest speaker Alexandre Martin of L’École du Nez (the School of the Nose) at 2:30. Martin will lecture on wine aromas and barrel scents and present the Nez du Vin master kit. After the lecture, guests will participate in a tasting and training exercise designed to help identify the primary, secondary, and tertiary aromas in four wines. They will then match wines to written descriptions and write their own tasting notes. The event costs $85 for members and $99 for nonmembers and will be held at Sofitel Lafayette Square (806 15th St., NW).
Friday, December 5
Party like it’s 1933 and commemorate the end of Prohibition with the DC Craft Bartenders’ Guild at the City Tavern Club (3206 M St., NW) from 8 to midnight. Top mixologists including Owen Thompson (Bourbon), Gina Chersevani (EatBar), and Derek Brown (the Gibson) will be making cocktails for the Repeal Day party. Hors d’oeuvres will be served throughout the night, and a 1930s-style jazz band will set the mood. Tony Abou-Ganim, host of Fine Living Network’s Raising the Bar, will also be in attendance. The event costs $90 per person, with proceeds benefiting the club’s preservation fund and the Museum of the American Cocktail. To purchase tickets, visit dccraftbartendersguild.org.
Saturday, December 6
Rock Creek at Mazza (5300 Wisconsin Ave., NW) is hosting Baking for the Holidays the Rock Creek Way at 10 AM. Pastry chef Yasmine Sandhu will lead participants though several health-conscious holiday desserts, including cookies and gingerbreads. The class, which includes lunch and take-home goodie bags, costs $65 per person. Bring your kids—Santa will be on the first floor of the mall from 9:30 to 10:30. If you’re not interested in cooking, Rock Creek chef Ethan McKee will be on hand with fresh and free breakfast foods, including muffins, scones, and fruit. Call 202-966-7625 or visitrockcreekrestaurant.com for more information.
Sunday, December 7
Georgetown’s Hook (3241 M St., NW) may excel in preparing sustainable seafood, but this Sunday it’s all about the cookie. Join award-winning pastry chef Heather Chittum for an afternoon of cookie making from 2:30 to 4. Each participant will have the opportunity to make five cookies, from trees to snowmen, topped with icing and jimmies. The event will culminate with Chittum’s unveiling of her own gingerbread creation, which will be on display at Hook for the holiday season. The event costs $5 per person, with proceeds to benefit Share Our Strength. The children of Walter Reed hospital patients will also be in attendance as special guests. For more information, call 202-625-4488.
