Insider fun: Graffiato’s monthly Industry Takeover Night returns on Monday with guest chefs Jeff Black (the Black Restaurant Group) Spike Gjerde of Woodberry Kitchen, and newish Bourbon Steak toque Joe Palma, with Republic mixologist Brett Robinson behind the bar. Doors open at 10 for free food and drinks, with partial proceeds from the $10 cover charge going toward Central Union Mission.
Happy birthday, Trummer’s: Trummer’s on Main marks its fifth year in Clifton with a five-day anniversary party starting on Wednesday. Each day brings a different celebration, including Saturday’s all-you-can-eat pig roast and oyster grill-out on the patio from 1 to 3 ($35 per person) and a throwback dinner on Sunday featuring favorites from the past ($38 per person).
Anju part two: The second anju, Mandu’s late-night Korean pop-up, goes down on Friday with guest chefs Kyle Bailey and Tiffany MacIsaac. Drop by the 18th Street location between 10 and 1 for a variety of Korean snacks and entrées, as well as cocktails from Doug Atwell of Baltimore’s Rye.
Christmas party: Sit near the air conditioning and channel winter at Black Squirrel, which hosts a Christmas in July celebration on Friday. The evening starts with a Christmas cookie happy hour from 5 to 8 where the sweets are passed around for free, and you can order a variety of holiday beers like Sly Fox Christmas Ale and He’Brew Monumental Jewbelation.
Local shellfish class: Chef Tarver King of Patowmack Farm leads a Saturday cooking class centered on Virginia oysters, clams, and shrimp. The two-hour course starts at 11 and costs $85 per person.
Dog days: A Bar + Kitchen launches a series of dog-friendly happy hours on Saturday from 5 to 7. The first benefits the Beagle Freedom Project, an organization that rescues beagles from harmful testing labs. You’ll meet the four-legged members of “DC7,” a group of dogs that were taken from a DC lab a year ago and since adopted, while sipping specialty drinks like the bourbon-based Hound’s Tooth. Treats for dogs include beef-flavored water and biscuits.
Historic baking: Explore the sweet side of history during a baking class with historian/pastry chef Amanda Moniz at the Hill Center on Saturday from 11 to 1. The hands-on course centers on two types of 19th-century cakes, and includes recipes to take home ($40 per person).
Beer fest: The American Beer Classic touches down at RFK Stadium on Saturday with a bounty of brews from craft producers and ballpark-style eats. Tickets start at $65 for general admission, which includes unlimited tastes for four hours starting at 6, due to weather, (VIP entrance begins at 5).
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.
