Taco takeover: Shaw’s new Espita Mezcaleria is kicking off its monthly “taco takeover” series on Monday at 5 p.m., bringing in Top Chef star Kwame Onwuachi from upcoming restaurant the Shaw Bijou. He’s making a smoked-ham-hock taco with avocado and black lime crema and chicharrón, which will be served until it runs out.
Philly wing fry pop-up: Kwame Onwuachi is also previewing his fast-casual concept—serving Wagyu-beef Philly cheesesteaks and tamarind-glazed chicken wings with waffle fries—at Union Market Saturday and Sunday starting at 11 a.m. You can get a combo with a boxed drink for $15—all proceeds go to No Kid Hungry. (Note: This event was supposed to take place Friday as well but was canceled that day due to weather.)
Clowning around town: The traveling circus group Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is coming to the Verizon Center this week, so Penn Quarter bars and restaurants are welcoming them with a “Red Nose Happy Hour” on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. Carmine’s specials include meatballs, an antipasto platter, fried zucchini, and an “elephant punch.” At Zengo, kids under 10 (“lion cubs”) eat free. Ella’s Wood Fired Pizza will have $5 house wines and sangria, $1 off pints of beer, $6.50 mixed rail drinks, $7 select appetizers, and $7 select 7” pizzas. Wear a red nose at Rosa Mexicano and get a free margarita, glass of sangria or churros dessert with the purchase of an entrée. Lastly, kids eat for half off at Poste Brasserie.
Mead and greet: You don’t see mead, a fermented honey wine, on many menus these days. Baltimore’s Charm City Meadworks is trying to remedy that, hosting a Friday happy hour at Bayou Bakery on Capitol Hill from 6 to 8 p.m. You can taste the “champagne of meads”—in flavors like rosemary, sweet blossom, basil/lemongrass, or wildflower— with free snacks such as grilled sausage, local cheese, pork rinds, and grilled-veggie toast.
Beer, bourbon, and BBQ: The 10th anniversary of the touring Beer, Bourbon & BBQ festival comes to the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium on Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. Admission is $35 (for a “designated driver” ticket) to $50, which gets you unlimited tastings of 60 craft beers and 75 bourbons. Pad the stomach with pulled pork, brisket, ribs and more. There’s also live bluegrass music, cornhole, and something called “the shrine of swine.”
Peep-eating competition: Easter is over, but there are plenty of leftover peeps to go around. Head to the National Harbor, the location of the country’s first Peeps & Company store, on Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. to watch professional eaters scarf down the colorful marshmallow candies and try to beat the world record—200 Peeps in 14 minutes. That’s a lot of sugar (1360 grams, that is).
Feast of the Chupacabra: Clarendon’s Fuego Cocina y Tequileria is hosting its annual Sunday feast honoring the legendary “goat sucker” of Mexican folklore with locally raised goat and handmade corn tortillas with rice and beans. The family-style $130 supper serves four to six people and must be pre-ordered by 5 p.m. on Friday. Call 571-970-2180 for reservations.
Go-Go brunch: On the first Sunday of every month, Compass Rose puts its internationalism aside to pay tribute to one of DC’s homegrown music scenes. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., DJ Smudge will play go-go favorites while guests sip bottomless mimosas and snack on brunchable food specials.
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.
