Beer and bites: Local beer fans should make a beeline to Oyamel on Monday at 6:30 pm for a five-course dinner paired with beers from the local brewery Flying Dog. The first course (either ceviche or gazpacho) comes with the Carolina Reaper Peach IPA; the dessert course makes for a sweet finish with the Sea Salt Caramel Brown Brewhouse Rarity. Tickets cost $75 per person; purchase one here.
Christmas cocktail class: Having guests over for the holidays? Instead of serving the same old punch, you can learn how to make more creative cocktails at Via Umbria this Tuesday at 7:30 pm. The Italian market’s cocktail director, Michael Rovezzi, will demonstrate how to prepare five different drinks using seasonal ingredients like rosemary and fennel. Tickets cost $25 per person; purchase one here.
A golden opportunity: If you’re a fan of the sitcom Golden Girls, stop by 1905 Bistro & Bar on Tuesday for its “Golden Girls Moonlight Madness Party.” Memorable episodes will be shown on a projector starting at 6 pm, and Glenn Miller (with whom the character Dorothy is obsessed) will be playing on the radio all night. The $6 cover includes complimentary cheesecake bites, a limited-edition Golden Girls button, and drink specials like $5 vodka rails.
A just cause: After the election, some organizations are making a concerted effort to combat injustice and hate. Do your part by attending a grassroots event on Tuesday from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Busboys and Poets on 14th Street. Representatives from six nonprofits (including Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union) will talk about local volunteer opportunities, and attendees are encouraged to make a $60 donation here.
Cookbook celebration: This Wednesday, the Dabney is serving a special four-course dinner in recognition of chef Ashley Christensen’s first cookbook, Poole’s: Recipes and Stories From a Modern Diner. The dinner comes with a welcome cocktail, a complimentary copy of the book, and the chance to meet Christensen, who was named Best Chef Southeast by the James Beard Foundation in 2014. Guests can choose between two seatings at 6 pm and 8:30 pm; tickets cost $125 per person.
A Festivus for the rest of us: If you and your friends are looking for some Christmas revelry, you don’t want to miss the Fainting Goat’s Festivus on Thursday starting at 9 pm. Wear a tacky Christmas sweater for a chance to win prizes in categories like “ugliest all-around” and “most blinged out.” You can also enjoy food and drink specials like potato latkes and “cinnamon toast milk punch,” an alcoholic twist on milk and cookies that’s made with almond milk, amaretto, and cinnamon.
Ugly sweater party: Also on Thursday, Roofers Union is throwing its third annual “Ugly Sweater Holiday Party” featuring 18 breweries from the DMV. Each brewery will serve a different holiday beer, ranging from sours to big barrel-aged stouts. Prizes will be handed out in various categories, and a holiday carol flash mob may make an appearance. While tickets are not required, guests are strongly encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy or make a $10 cash donation to the Mary’s Center Holiday Drive.
Gingerbread extravaganza: Think gingerbread is only for kids? Think again. All day Sunday at Pizza Paradiso in Alexandria, kids can build gingerbread houses while their parents enjoy nine varieties of Hardywood Gingerbread Stout. Plus, a Hardywood representative will hand out prizes for all.
Maxine is an editorial fellow passionate about covering food, news, and politics. Her work has also been published in Forbes, Marie Claire, and Inside Higher Ed. She recently graduated from Brown University with honors in nonfiction writing.
