A good week for beer: If you haven’t explored the brews at the four restaurants/bars up for the 2015 “Beer Program of the Year” RAMMY Award, this week is good time. The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington week teams up with venues for a series of promotions, Monday through Friday. Drop by contenders like the Arsenal and Pizzeria Paradiso for happy hours, special pairings, collaborative dinners, and more. Events and prices vary by day; check the event page for specific details.
Wine-filled movie screening: Head to Sonoma on Monday from 6 to 10 for a screening of “Somm”—a documentary that follows four sommeliers in their quest to receive master certification. Indulge in a popcorn bar with flavors like classic butter or ranch while sipping wine flights and watching the film. Guests can also test their own knowledge with a blind taste test. Tickets ($30) are available online.
Pigs and Pinots: The Partisan hosts a dinner pairing pork with Pinot Noir on Monday at 7. Chef Ed Witt and Nathan Anda cook up slow-cooked pork loin with stuffed morels, wild nettle and mortadella ravioli, and caramelized pork belly among other dishes, all paired with Pinots from France, Germany, and California by Wine Director Brent Kroll. Tickets ($95 per person, excluding tax and gratuity) are available by calling 202-524-5322.
Biscuit bash: Some of the best names in the biscuit business compete for the title of Biscuit King or Queen on Wednesday at Art and Soul, which hosts the annual Biscuit Bash from 6 to 8. Chefs like Jason Gehring from Mason Dixie Biscuit Company and Doron Peterson (Sticky Fingers) are among the participants. Ice Cream Jubilee serves dessert, while mixologist Ronald Flores mixes up cocktails. Proceeds support No Kid Hungry and DC Central Kitchen. Tickets ($50) are available online.
Best of Bethesda: Bethesda Magazine hosts its Best of Bethesda party on Thursday at the Pike & Rose development from 6 to 9:30. Maryland restaurants like Aggio and Macon Bistro & Larder dish up food for guests, alongside beer, wine, and cocktails. Tickets ($70) are available online.
98 pounds of pig: Rocklands Barbecue roasts a large quantity of pork—98 pounds, to be precise—for a fundraiser at the Arlington location on Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30. Guests will sip beers, fill up on pulled pork sandwiches, and can enter a raffle, all to benefit non-profit organization Doorways. Tickets start at $25 (available online).
High cheese: Marvin hosts a grilled cheese rooftop party with Rock Creek Social Club on Saturday from 1 to 8. Jerome Baker II and DJ Impulse spin tunes, while the kitchen griddles sandwiches like The Kick (jalapeños, bacon, gouda, and cheddar) or a Buffalo chicken version. Admission is free, with drinks and food priced individually and RSVP required. Email gcs@rockcreeksocialclub.com.
Vinofest: Questlove, Black Masala, White Ford Bronco, and other musical talents gather in Noma’s Stoney Park on Saturday from 3 to 10 for Vinofest, a wine-fueled concert and tasting festival. Over 25 vineyards pour two-ounce tastes and glasses, lawn games provide active fun,
and there’re perks for VIP ticket holders like a two-hour open bar and wine classes. “Last call” tickets go on sale Wednesday ($70 to $100).
Drink to the finish: Edible DC celebrates the Triple Crown horse racing season on Saturday from 2 to 4:30 with the Cocktail Derby in Poste’s courtyard. Learn how to stir, shake, and mix spring and summer sips with whiskey, bourbon, and gin, plus snacks from the restaurant. Tickets ($50) are available online.
Beer and cider festival: Head to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday at 2 for the DC Craft Beer & Cider Festival. Over 75 breweries and cideries pour unlimited two-ounce tastings for participants, who can also participate in classes and seminars, sample beverages not ordinarily available in the District, and snack on food from Mess Hall vendors. Tickets (21+ only) for afternoon and evening sessions range from $50 to $65.
Let the crab feasts begin: Pop’s Seabar just launched a series of Sunday crab feasts for summer fun. Gather a group of six friends (ten max) for an outdoor party involving steamed and spiced Maryland blue crabs, a bucket of beer, and plenty of cracking. Reservations are available online for two seatings, 1 to 3 or 4 to 7; crabs are market price, and beer goes for $18 per bucket.
