Alexandria Restaurant Week: The dining deals continue during Alexandria Restaurant Week, which runs through Sunday. The format is a little different than the DC version: restaurants mostly offer a three-course dinner ($35 per person), or a $35 meal for two guests. Note that a number of places are also extending the DC Summer Restaurant Week menus.
Anniversary party: Head to 2 Birds 1 Stone on Monday from 7 to midnight for a party in commemoration of the restaurant’s two year anniversary. Barman Adam Bernbach pours special punches ($5), pina coladas ($6), and dark and stormy cocktails. Reservations are not required.
Sake series: Crane & Turtle continues to partner with Bar Otsukare for summer sake classes. Certified Sake Advisor Jesse Selvagn focuses on the basics in a seminar on Monday from 6 to 7:30. The evening includes ten tastings and snacks. Purchase tickets ($75) online; 21+ only.
Coffee giveaway: Compass Coffee teams up with Galley to hand out free Nitro cold brew coffees on Tuesday beginning at 1. Anyone who wants a caffeine fix will have to download the Galley app. Neighborhoods with the most requests will receive the coffee cart and its complimentary brews.
Rockfish roast: Cashion’s Eat Place owner John Manolatos prepares a whole rockfish for up to twenty people on Wednesday at 6 as part of an ongoing family-style dinner series. Condiments and sides include a local tomato salad, house-made hot sauce, and fruit clafoutis. Jim Chambers of Prime Seafood and formerly of NOAA will be on hand to answer questions about sustainable fisheries. Tickets ($55) are available online.
Market dinner: Chef Sherry Yard of City Perch cooks up a dinner with ingredients from area farmers markets on Wednesday at 7. Her four-course tasting menu ($50) includes dishes like an heirloom tomato gazpacho, summer melon salad, and yellowtail snapper. An optional wine pairing ($30) features a number of wines from Maryland. Call 301-231-2310 for reservations.
Summer’s end: City Tap House celebrates the final days of summer on Thursday from 11:30 am to 1am with a global selection of sour beer. The bar will dedicate nine taps to pours of New Belgium La Folie, Prof. Fritz Briem 1809 Berlinerweisse, and 3 Stars Cognitive Dissonance Berliner-rye. Beers ($6 to $13) can be paired with the kitchen’s beer-friendly fare.
Summer soiree: Liaison Capitol Hill’s rooftop pool and lounge hosts a benefit for local nonprofit DC Central Kitchen on Thursday from 6 to 8. Restaurants participating include host Art and Soul, Cava Mezze, Centrolina, and more. Music, cocktails, and an auction are also a part of the event. Tickets ($35) are available online.
Spicy show: The second annual International Jerk and Arts Festival returns to the Bowie Baysox Stadium on Saturday at noon, mixing live bands with Caribbean fare. Local artists play a selection of reggae, R&B, soul, and old school tunes, fueled by Jamaican jerk chicken, pork, and more. Tickets ($30) can be purchased by calling 301-439-5288.
Katrina remembrance: Bayou Bakery in Arlington remembers the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina on Saturday from 5 to 7 with a celebration of New Orleans’ progress since the natural disaster. Laissez Foure provides live tunes, while the kitchen prepares a variety of New Orleans-style food and drinks. The event kicks off a week of giving, where $10 from each sale of Guas’s cookbook benefits a New Orleans musical charity. Call (703) 243-2410 for more information.
Beer and bacon: Indulge in an overdose of brews and pork during the Beer & Bacon Fest in Woodbridge on Saturday from 12 to 5. More than 75 international breweries will be on hand, along with eight restaurant tasting stations offering their porkiest treats. Live music plays all day, while those looking for educational activities can head to a butchery demo. Tickets ($39 to $69) are available online.
Southern affair: Bourbon Steak goes casual with an afternoon barbecue on Sunday from 11 to 2. Guests can fill up on pork shoulder, ribs, and brisket while washing the meats down with bourbon cocktails. A live blues band provides tunes. Tickets ($55 per person) are available online.
