Vermouth tasting: The Royal serve tasty house-made vermouth on tap, and they’re telling guests how it’s made during the monthly “Royal Knights” series on Monday from 9 pm to 1 am. You’ll taste the bar’s new spring vermouth, along with an array of vermouth-centric cocktails, vermouth porrons, and just for fun, vermouth shots set aflame.
Happy Sawasdee Pee Mai: Kick of the week-long celebration for the Thai New Year, Songkran, at iThai Georgetown starting on Wednesday. The restaurant will have a special New Year menu of Thai sausage, salted fish fried rice, and cantaloupe sago made with tapioca and coconut milk. From April 13 through 16, traditional Thai dancers will perform the four ritual New Year dances starting at 5 pm each night.
Mini restaurant week: Rockville Town Square’s new monthly wine and craft beer dinner series is happening on Wednesday night. It’s like a condensed restaurant week, featuring pre-set menus from restaurants such as American Tap Room, Bar Louie, Bon Chon Chicken and Sushi Damo. Local breweries Flying Dog & Barley and Hops and 7 Locks Brewery are offering beer pairings.
Chef reunion: The many talented chef-alums of Todd Gray’s Equinox restaurant reunite for a dinner at Iron Gate on Thursday at 6:30. A cocktail hour and five-course collaborative menu with wine pairings includes dishes from host chef Tony Chittum, Barry Koslow (Pinea), Ethan McKee (Urbana), and others. Reservations are $175, and can be made by calling 202-524-5202.
Historical bar crawl: Trace the President Abraham Lincoln’s route on the night of his assassination while stopping at historic pubs on Thursday starting at 6:30 pm. Called “Lincoln’s Last Ride,” the historical drinking crawl starts in Lafayette Square at the Andrew Jackson statue, and will move from the White House to Ford’s Theater. The tour is free; drinks are priced individually. Register here.
DIY bitters class: Local Stir Bartending Company offers a hands-on class for making bitters at home on Thursday from 7 to 8:30 pm. Held at the Petworth DIY space The Lemon Bowl, you’ll taste three classic bitters in cocktails, and learn about their medicinal origins. Tickets are $50 per person, and $90 for a pair.
Thomas Jefferson’s birthday party: Toast the founding father’s 273rd birthday at Masseria on Wednesday night. The 5-course menu ($95 per person) includes dishes like maccheroni cacio e pepe, a cheese and pepper pasta dish reminiscent of what Jefferson encountered in Paris and northern Italy, as well as seasonal items like soft shell crab with artichoke. The chief sommelier at Virginia’s Barboursville Vineyards will be on hand to present complimentary pairings. You can also head to Masseria for the the opening of its outdoor courtyard from 2 to 5 pm on Saturday to lounge on the low-slung couches near stone fire pits while you sip their new menu on seasonal cocktails.
Prelude to the pork party: The biggest swine-fest of the year, Cochon 555, goes down on Sunday (see below). But first, past winners will host charity events to benefit Piggy Bank. First up, The Source throws a late-night Asian speakeasy dinner on Friday at 9 pm for 40 guests, featuring family-style dishes from a host of visiting chefs ($125 per person). Then on Saturday at 7, chef Mike Isabella holds the chef’s course dinner at G with visiting toques ($125 per person). Online reservations are required for both meals.
Cochon 555: The porkiest party of the year happens on Sunday at 5 pm at the Loews Madison Hotel, where five of DC’s top chefs prepare swine-tastic treats for guests alongside free-flowing wine, cocktails, and other good eats. The chef who makes the best dish from the locally-raised heritage pigs will go on to the finals in Aspen, Colorado, and compete for the title of Prince or Princess of Porc. Tickets are all-inclusive for food and drink, and can be ordered as VIP ($200 with 4 pm entry) or regular admission ($125 with 5 pm entry).
DC Brau anniversary festival: Celebrate the local brewery’s fifth anniversary with live music from five rock bands, local food, and plenty of beer on Saturday starting at 1 pm. Headlined by Austin-based band The Sword, the all-day event will be held in the brewery’s parking lot, where you can snack on BBQ from Sloppy Mama’s, pizza by DC Slices, and dessert from Dangerously Delicious Pies. Tickets are $45 in advance, and $60 at the door, and includes the concert admission only. You can buy beer tickets on site for $5. And if you’d rather not drive, take a free shuttle from Reston Limousine running between the Rhode Island Metro station and the brewery throughout the afternoon starting at 1 pm.
Pig roast block party: The Bethesda community center Pike & Rose hosts a spring block party with a whole pig roast and bourbon tasting on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Along with indulging in the pork, you can try dishes from neighborhood restaurants Summer House Santa Monica, Stella Barra Pizzeria, Del Frisco’s Grille, Roti, and more. For kids, they’ll have face-painting and balloon animals. Tickets are $20 to $25.
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.
