Paella festival: Fans of the classic Spanish rice dish can head to Crystal City on Monday from 5 to 8:30 for the kickoff of Jaleo’s 13th Annual Paella Festival. Listen to live music, watch flamenco dancers, sip Spanish wines, and dine on five specialty paellas. The festival runs from July 13 to 26 at all three of the area Jaleo locations. Tickets to the opening event ($30) are available online.
Summer cocktails: Learn how to concoct Italian summer cocktails on Monday at 6:30 at G sandwich shop. Barman Adam Jarvis dives into techniques like dry barrel aging, and specialty liqueurs. Two cocktails, house wine, and family-style ears are included. Tickets ($90) are available online.
Bastille Day: Bastille Day is one of the most widely-celebrated national holidays in Washington—after July 4th, of course—and a variety of restaurants are hosting parties, whipping up special menus, and pouring Champagne on Tuesday. Check out our Bastille Day dining and drinking guide for a full lineup of activities.
Estadio anniversary: Estadio celebrates its fifth anniversary from Tuesday to Sunday. Drop in for a selection of wines from the opening year (2010), try five special gin and tonics, and sip the original strawberry-gin slushito. All special drinks are offered at 50% off from 5 to 7 during the celebration.
Cupcake giveaway: Celebrate one hundred years of commercially-harvested blueberries! The US Highbush Blueberry Council and Curbside Cupcakes have teamed up to distribute 800 complimentary blueberry cupcakes at Farragut West Metro Stop on Thursday beginning at 11am. Swing by early to grab one. Note: this event was originally scheduled for Tuesday at a different location, but changed due to inclement weather.
Pie class: Erica Skolnik, pastry chef behind Frenchie’s, teaches a pie class at the Hill Center on Thursday from 7 to 9. Perfect your pie crust and master a sweet or savory filling. The day’s course will include both a fruit pie and a savory quiche. Tickets ($50) are available online.
Luau: Nick’s Riverside Grill hosts a Hawaiian-style luau on Friday from 6 to 10. A ukulele player entertains guests with live music, while the restaurant serves Hawaiian cocktails and both small plates ($10) and larger plates ($25) . Bring a luau skirt to be in theme.
Ice cream extravaganza: DC Scoop returns to the Dock 5 space at Union Market on Saturday from 1 to 4. Fifteen creameries provide free samples, as well as ice cream for purchase. Each will compete for the title of “Best Ice Cream,” an award given last year to Nicecream Factory for their liquid nitrogen/fresh fruit combination. Admission is free.
Burger bash: The third annual DC Brgr Bash heads to Gateway Park near Key Bridge on Saturday from 12 to 6. Five bands, four breweries, and sixteen of the area’s top patty-makers come together. Eat your way through custom crafted burgers and a special veggie burger. Tickets ($19 to $45) are available online.
Chili championship: Forty chefs come together in Baltimore on Saturday from 11 to 4 for the Maryland State Championship Chili Cook-Off, benefiting the Living Classrooms Foundation. Each contestant will compete in three categories: red chili, chili verde, and salsa, with the winner chosen to represent Maryland in the World Chili Championship this October. Sample each chili and vote for your favorite. Tickets ($10) are available online.
