March madness begins: Even if you didn’t get your bracket in for tomorrow’s March Madness kickoff, you can still take advantage of the many food specials. Starting Tuesday, Jack Rose Dining Saloon in Adams Morgan hosts rooftop “courtside happy hours” featuring pints, punch, and whiskey specials, plus half-priced bar snacks. Brookland’s Finest is partnering with Sloppy Mama’s Barbeque for a special March Madness menu—smoked whole wings, fried pickles and sandwiches, and pulled pork and beef brisket—available March 14 to 20. Station Kitchen & Cocktails at The Embassy Row Hotel is replacing teams with cocktails on its “March Cocktail Madness” bracket. Starting on Thursday, you can get the cocktail “players” for a $2 discount from 4 to 11 pm.
Turkish fare: As part of its Crossroads Dinner series, Ankara will have a four-course dinner menu on Tuesday featuring food from the Tokat and Anatolian regions of Turkey. Be sure to try the traditional Tokat kebab paired with regional wines, which a sommelier will guide you through. The meal is $65 per person.
Saisons of spring: Celebrate spring with fresh and fruity saison brews at Brabo in Alexandria on Tuesday from 6:30 to 9 pm. For $75, you’ll get bite-sized hor d’oeuvres, a four-course dinner of Shenandoah lamb (confit shoulder, sausage-stuffed loin, a slow roasted leg), plus a beer-washed cheese finale. Each course comes with a different saison pairing.
Sock burning and oysters: Setting socks on fire is one of the stranger ways to celebrate the coming of spring, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it anyway. Head to Annapolis’ Maritime Museum on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. for the annual oyster roast and sock bonfire. Along with sock burning, there will be live music and lots of raw and roasted oysters. Tickets are $25 to $65.
Ciderhouse pop-up: ANXO Cidery & Pintxos Bar recreates a traditional Basque ciderhouse at Petworth’s Colony Club on Sunday from 6:30 to 9 pm. You’ll get the Basque treatment with a steady stream of ciders flowing straight from the barrel. After you pad the stomach with a variety of small plates, you can try out the Txalaparta, a native Basque instrument similar to a xylophone. Tickets are $25 and includes unlimited cider.
Crafty history: If you can’t get enough of the craft spirit craze, head to Baltimore on Sunday for the Maryland Spirits Showcase, hosted at the Baltimore Museum of Industry from 1 to 4 pm. General admission is $55.
Greta started as an editorial fellow in January 2016 and joined as a full-time staff member that August. She now works as a web producer and writer. She was previously an intern at Slate and National Geographic and graduated from the University of Missouri’s Journalism School. She lives in Adams Morgan.
