Food

Weekend Food Events: DC Brau Crawl, Oktoberfest Dachshund Dash

Get your fill of beer--and little dogs in little costumes!--at the Oktoberfest Dachshund Dash. Photograph by Ryan Weisser.

Pop-up happy hour: Bayou Bakery teams up with Abita Beer at Ivy City’s Big Chief  on Friday for a pop-up happy hour. Food and drinks specials run from 5 to 8 pm, and thanks to chef David Guas, guests can get a free chicken & andouille jambalaya with their first beer purchase. Hang around after happy hour to hear live music from the Brass Connection Band.

BrewHaHA: Old Ebbitt Grill throws its 4th Annual Craft BrewHaHa on Saturday. Attendees can sample up to 20 different craft beers from local breweries, accompanied by bites from 20 different area restaurants (plus live tunes from two bands). The event is from 7:30 to 10:30 pm, and tickets are $75.

Wine festival: Wine lovers are in for a good time: Uncorked Wine Festival comes to DC for the first time, and offers participants the chance to taste vino from more than 75 wineries. The event is on Saturday at DC Armory from 5 to 9 pm, and will be packed with food trucks, a Champagne bar, food vendors, a photo booth, and an international wine market. Tickets prices range from $65 to $75, and include all wine tastings.

Dogs in Halloween costumes: The cutest race of the season is back this Saturday: the Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash, held from 1 to 5 pm at Yards Park (proceeds benefit the Washington Humane Society). Non-wiener dogs are also welcome, as guests or in a costume contest. The family-friendly Oktoberfest celebration is free, and includes an afternoon of music, food trucks, and beer (priced individually).

Vegetarians and Vegans rejoice: This Saturday, Compassion over Killing hosts the annual DC VegFest at the Yards Park. Fest-goers can indulge in meatless fare from vendors like 3 Twisted Vegans, Busboys & Poets, and Vegan Treats. The event is family-friendly, and also includes a beer garden, kids activity area, and “barking lot” for furry friends. The event runs from 11 am to 6pm, and is free to the public.

Drink more whiskey: In celebration of National Bourbon Heritage Month, American Eats Tavern  is featuring a special menu paired with local spirits. The menu includes butternut squash soup, grilled rainbow trout. and braised beef short ribs paired with specialty whiskey cocktails. The tavern is also hosting Catoctin whiskey flight tastings on Thursday and Saturday.

First-ever “Brau” crawl: Love DC Brau? Head to Georgetown on Sunday and kick off DC Beer Week with a “Brau Crawl.” The Sovereign, Thunder Burger, Clyde’s, Pinstripes, and Pizzeria Paradiso are all participating in the all daytime crawl from 1 to 5 pm. All pour $3 to $5 pints of DC Brau beers. The crawl is free, but if you want to qualify for prizes and giveaways, be sure to collect a wristband and scorecard at The Sovereign.

New Kids on the block: Ten new local breweries will show they “have the right stuff” at the Black Squirrel  on Sunday. Starting at 2 pm, the gastropub kicks off DC Beer Week with beers from the latest area breweries featuring different styles and flavors. Some of the presented breweries are 7 Locks, Suspended Brewing Company, and Belly Love.

Briana A. Thomas is a local journalist, historian, and tour guide who specializes in the research of D.C. history and culture. She is the author of the Black history book, Black Broadway in Washington, D.C., a story that was first published in Washingtonian in 2016.