Artist-inspired menu: Oyamel celebrates Mexican artist Frida Kahlo’s birthday through Monday with a special menu of dishes inspired by the artist and her work. You’ll find à-la-carte dishes such as ancho-braised pork tamales, guajillo shrimp, and pork in an avocado leaf.
Happy birthday, Dino: Fan favorite Dino commemorates its eighth birthday with a monthlong celebration. Currently underway: a Venetian-style birthday menu ($44 per person), which includes gratis tastes of a few special wines—full pairings are $19 extra. The Venice menu runs through July 1, when the theme switches over to Montalcino for the rest of the month.
Extended Bastille Day: Mintwood Place isn’t waiting until the official Bastille Day on Sunday to celebrate. Head over starting on Tuesday to find a special Provençal menu from chef Cedric Maupillier’s native Toulon, which runs through the actual holiday. In addition to à-la-carte dishes, a five-course tasting menu is available for $65; wine pairings are an additional $35.
Chesapeake dinner: Author John Shields of Chesapeake Bay Cooking and owner of Getrude’s restaurant in Baltimore cohosts a crab-centric dinner on Tuesday at Wildfire, beginning at 6:30. In addition to the three-course meal, Shields offers tips on cracking and cooking crabs. The meal and drink pairings are $80 per person.
Cocoa fun: Join the chocolatiers behind Fleurir Chocolates for the first in a series of chocolate-making classes on Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Alexandria location. The inaugural lesson focuses on chocolate bars and how to use chocolate molds and create top-notch soft caramels. Call 202-465-4368 for reservations, which are $65 per person or $120 per couple, and include a 10 percent discount on purchases made day-of in the store.
Tiki time: Get in the island spirit at Farmers Fishers Bakers during Mai Tai July, a monthlong celebration of the tiki classics that starts Thursday with a kickoff party on the patio from 5 to 7. You’ll find a selection of ten renditions of the recipe, which will also be available the rest of the month.
Sculpt ice (for free): Channel your inner-mixologist at the newly opened DNV Rooftop on Thursday at 7 with a complimentary ice-carving class centered on the hotel bar’s summer special, the Tenzan Punch. The drink—served with a hand-carved ice sphere, which you’ll learn how to shape—is made with Japanese whiskey, yuzu, and cucumber juice.
Wine finale: Fiola hosts its final wine class in the 2013 series on Thursday from 5:30 to 7, where sommelier John Toigo leads a course centered on Maria Trabocchi’s favorite wines ($85 per person). The restaurant co-owner is a native of Spain. Call 202-628-2888 for reservations.
Food truck benefit: The first in a series of Curbside Cookoff festivals heads to the Capitol Riverfront on Saturday from noon to 7, with partial proceeds going to Miriam’s Kitchen. You’ll find 20 trucks, a cash bar with $20 all-you-can-drink wristbands for the thirsty, kid-friendly activities, and more.
Saturday supper: Chef Wes Morton dishes up Southern comfort classics during Art and Soul’s Saturday Suppers series. The menu this month focuses on barbecue and pies, and there’s a cocktail reception and live music. Tickets ($65) are available online.