Poe fans welcome: On Monday from 5 to 8 Les Dames d’Escoffier host an Edgar Allan Poe-themed fundraiser on Monday at several participating local bars. Spots including the Gibson and Hank’s Oyster Bar will feature a different Poe-inspired cocktail and story. Tickets (starting at $20) must be purchased in advance from the event page.
Fit takeover: Graffiato hosts its monthly takeover night on Monday at 10, this time featuring Taste for Hope co-winners Will Artley (Pizzeria Orso) and Todd Thrasher (PX), alongside competitor Shannon Overmiller from the Majestic. There’s a $10 cover charge, with half going to charity.
Support slow food: Open Kitchen in Falls Church celebrates its four-year anniversary by partnering with Slow Food DC for a party benefiting garden programs at local public schools. The event runs Monday from 5 to 10.
Taste of Norway: Equinox offers a taste of Nordic life with a Norwegian seafood menu, a limited-run tasting that starts on Tuesday and lasts through the month. The four-course lineup is $68, or $110 with pairings.
Whiskey galore: We’re hosting our second annual On the Rocks whiskey and spirits festival on Thursday at the Powerhouse in Georgetown. Expect to sip fine spirits from producers such as Catoctin Creek, WhistlePig, Green Hat, and more. Tickets ($65) are available online.
Now screening: Chances are you’ve caught Meryl Streep’s foodie flick Julie and Julia, but probably not from the comfort of your car. Union Market screens the film on Friday at 8 as part of its ongoing drive-in series and in honor of “national cookbook launch day.” In addition to the onscreen dishes, you’ll find plenty of parking lot snacks and drinks.
Veggie class: Chef Anthony Lombardo leads a vegetarian cooking class at 1789 on Saturday from 10 to 2. Learn to prepare dishes based on squash and mushrooms, such as porcini salad, three-squash soup, rigatoni with mushroom ragu, and more. The course ($115 per person) includes a family-style lunch paired with wines. Call 202-965-1789 for reservations.
An apple a day: Cashion’s Eat Place launches its apple harvest menu on Saturday, running through October 19. The four-course menu ($50 per person) can also be paired with ciders for an additional $12.
Get your gyros: The Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church hosts on of the oldest and largest Greek festivals in the area, going down on Saturday and Sunday in Silver Spring. Expect a bounty of Mediterranean specialties like gyros, souvlaki, and spanakopita, plus wine, beer, and ouzo to fuel the festivities.
Taste of DC: The annual Taste of DC fete returns to Pennsylvania Avenue on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 7. Join the crowds for tastes from a variety of participating restaurants, food trucks, and Union Kitchen artisans, a beer garden, and more. We suggest getting your fill before witnessing the Ben’s Chili Bowl eating contest on Saturday or teams of burger lovers trying to devour a 15-pound BGR patty on Sunday.
Cider dinner: If you haven’t guessed, cider is the pairing for fall. Get a taste at Pizzeria Paradiso Georgetown on Sunday at 7 during a meal with Millstone, which produces handcrafted ciders and meads. The five-course menu is $65 (including tax and gratuity), and reservations are required.
Week o’ wine: DC Wine Week starts on Sunday, with a big lineup of events at wine spots across Washington through October 19. The festivities kick off with a yoga and wine event at Vida Fitness on U Street, followed by more events, such as a vino-fueled bocce party at Vinoteca. Browse the lineup for tickets (individually priced).
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.
