Ham it up: Birch & Barley/ChurchKey celebrate MayHam, Tuesday through Sunday. Diners can pick between various ham boards ($22), laden with four smoked and/or cured pork products like Benton’s hams or a house prosciutto, plus pickles, mustard, and a Parker House loaf.
Sushi party: Join fellow sushi lovers at the National Museum of American History on Wednesday from 6 to 8:30. Learn how the delicacy made its way from Japan to the United States, watch demonstrations on how to craft nigiri and maki rolls, and try other Japanese dishes, sakes, and beers. Objects from the museum’s collection will also be on display. Tickets ($40) are available online.
ZooFari: Go wild at the National Zoo on Thursday from 6:30 to 9:30 during ZooFari, an annual food and drink-filled benefit that supports the zoo’s conservation programs. Over 100 Washington restaurants serve bites, washed down with beers from three “mega-bars” and wines from a global variety of wineries. A silent auction will also be held. Tickets ($200 for general public; $160 for FONZ members) are available online.
District brewing history: Author Garrett Peck speaks about his recent book, Capital Beer: A Heady History of Brewing in Washington, DC on Thursday from 7:30 to 8:30 at Cathedral Commons. The book chronicles the city’s rising craft beer revival. Take home a signed copy, and sample several brews. Admission is free.
Truckeroo: The monthly gathering of food trucks returns to the Fairgrounds outside Nationals Park on Friday from 11 to 11, offering a full day of street eats, live music, and cold beer. Some of Washingtonian’s top 25 food trucks will be in attendance, including Feelin’ Crabby, Cole’s Palette, Peruvian Brothers, and Red Hook Lobster Pound. Admission is free.
Dine out for good: Nepalese chefs from Art and Soul and the Willard InterContinental team up for a fundraising dinner at Mess Hall on Friday; 100 percent of proceeds benefit Nepal earthquake relief efforts. Guests can pick between two seatings, 6 to 8 and 8:30 to 10:30, for a family-style meal of lamb and chicken curries, vegetable dishes, and freshly-baked naan ($50 per person). Tickets are available online.
Cocktail symposium: Learn about the history of imbibing in America before colonization during a cocktail seminar lead by M. Carrie Allen on Saturday at 3. A panel of speakers, including Derek Brown and David Suro-Piñera, discuss topics like distillation before the arrival of Spanish settlers, and how sherry came to the United States. Tickets ($45) are available online.
Libation festival: The Neighborhood Restaurant Group’s talented beverage directors for beer, wine, and spirits are behind the ABV Libation Festival, going down on Saturday from 3 to 8 in Canal Park near Navy Yard. The curated list of drinks includes seven craft cocktails and rare tequilas, gins, and other spirits; 35 crafts beers, both local and global; and 20 wines, including lesser-known varietals and hard-to-find bubbles. Drink-friendly foods like smoked pork shoulder sliders, wings, and steamed buns pad the stomach. Tickets start at $20 for general admission (which includes one drink sample), and go up to $85 for VIP.
Lamb celebration: The American Lamb Jam comes to town on Saturday and Sunday, and it’s going to be a baa-last. The festivities start at the Occidental with a grilling party from 6 to 9 on Saturday. Then on Sunday, sixteen DC chefs from restaurants like Zaytinya, BLT Steak, and the Partisan whip up lamb dishes for a grand tasting at Union Market, where guests can sip beer and wines, and watch butchery demos. Tickets for both events are available online.
