Happy National Margarita Day! It may not be blissfully warm, but you can still celebrate on Thursday with discount margs and specials throughout the city. Taqueria del Barrio in Petworth serves cherry and blackberry margaritas made with fresh juice ($9). MXDC Cocina Mexicana will have a discount on its drinks, too, with cocktails like blackberry-cilantro margaritas going for $7 per glass and $38 per pitcher. Agua 301 in Navy Yard serves $5 house margaritas, on the rocks and frozen. Head to bartaco in Reston for a chai-chicha-rita, made with chai tea and chicha, or check out the Living Room at the Georgetown Ritz-Carlton for a lavender or chili-mango marg. Â
Get a taste of Germany at Penn Quarter’s German-American Heritage Museum during a beer tasting event on Thursday. Each brew will be accompanied by a backstory on its history, and you can pair the beers with German food such as pretzels, sausages, and potato salad. Thereâll be traditional Alpine music, so take a spin on the dance floor post-dinner. Prost!
If youâre a DIY-er, this fermentation workshop is for you. Come Friday, head to the U.S. Botanic Garden to learn the basics from James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Sarah Owens, who wrote Sourdough and Toast + Jam. Sheâll teach you how to make your own sourdough starter, and from there you can make bread, pickled vegetables, your own sauerkraut, and more.
Multi-task on Friday by drinking wine and learning about history at the same time. Yes, the Winery at Bull Run is known for its blends, but it also has a rich history, too (it’s located next to Manassas National Battlefield Park). A guided walking tour will cover the spotâs Civil War past and its winemaking present, with stops for tasting along the way.
Itâs the 518th birthday of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, whom the Belgian brewery Gouden Carolus (âGolden Charlesâ) is named after. To celebrate, the brewery will be at The Sovereign on Saturday pouring its CuvĂŠe Van de Keizer Blauw and Rood beers. The beers are only produced once a year to celebrate the emperorâs birthday, so try them while you can.
Things will be jazzy at the Roaring 20s-themed D.C. Distillers Festival at Long View Gallery on Saturday. A ticket ($85 to $140) gets you unlimited samples from 20 local distillers such as Joseph A. Magnus and Cirrus Vodka, and live jazz bands will play throughout. Stick around for a performance by burlesque performer Cherie Sweetbottom.
Get ready to take some nood pics at Ramen World. Itâs pretty much as it sounds â on Sunday, Mess Hall turns into a venue for all things ramen for two sessions: noon to 2 PM, and 3 to 5 PM. A ticket ($70 to $110) gets you unlimited samples from local favorites like Himitsu, Daikaya, and Chaplinâs. There will be some up-and-coming noodle-makers there, too, and Japanese beer Kirin Ichiban will be providing the brews.
This monthâs Sunday School cocktail class at Church and State will teach you all the ins-and-outs behind bourbon, whiskey, and making a really good Old Fashioned. Not only will you learn the history behind the drink and how to make one, youâll also try three complimentary cocktails. No Sunday scaries here.
And heading into the weekâŚ
The Source celebrates Chinese New Year on Tuesday. Head to the lounge, where chef Michael Rafidi (Arroz and Requin), Joe Neuman (Sloppy Mamaâs BBQ) and Kevin Then (Himitsu) take over for a night of creative Chinese dishes, plus brews from 3 Stars (tickets are $50). Upstairs in the main dining room, chef Russell Smith creates a three-course menu ($85 per person; $35 wine pairings) with dishes like whole steamed branzino, plus dishes from stations such as whole roasted lamb with bao buns.
Union Market‘s Burmese bodega Toli Moli and bookseller Duende District have partnered to host Cook + Book, a cooking class for book lovers. This Wednesday, learn to make Laotian food from Thip Khao chef Seng Luangrath. Afterwards, check out the book Hawker Fare, which will be available for purchase. Written by Chef James Syhabout, it follows the refugee chef’s story of reconnecting with his Thai and Laotian roots via cooking.
Leave the lactose intolerant at home: itâs Fondue Fest this Wednesday. Head to Via Umbria for all things cheese, with four tasting stations throughout the Georgetown market and restaurant. Pick from traditional fondue, homemade queso, Italian fonduta, and more while sipping beer and wine samples. The best part of all? Each guest gets a 10 percent discount on all cheese purchases throughout the night.
Mimi Montgomery joined Washingtonian in 2018. She’s written for The Washington Post, Garden & Gun, Outside Magazine, Washington City Paper, DCist, and PoPVille. Originally from North Carolina, she now lives in Del Ray.
