Photo by Caroline on Crack.

Drink of the Week: Mint julep

Where: Round Robin Bar, Jack Rose

For those of us who grew up in other regions of the country, the Southern love of horse racing can seem rather strange if not quaintly anachronistic. This is epitomized at tomorrow’s Kentucky Derby, where you can watch a bunch of horses run around for two whole minutes, cheered on by people wearing funny hats and a preponderance of pastels. But silly fashion aside, there is one Derby tradition always worth following, and that is a nice cold mint julep on a warm day.

Mint juleps, those refreshing marriages of bourbon, mint leaves, sugar, water, and a whole lot of crushed ice, have a bit of a storied history in D.C. While the cocktail that Derek Brown once described as a “soulful expression of our culture” has been around for hundreds of years, it only—apocryphally, at least—made its way to D.C. in the mid-19th century thanks to Sen. Henry Clay (W-Ky.). Clay is thought to have introduced the drink to the Willard Hotel’s Round Robin Bar, where it is still served today.

If you want to toss back some mint juleps this weekend, The Willard (1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW) will be celebrating all things Kentucky Derby on Saturday at its annual Bonnets and Bow Ties party ($75), or you can head over to Jack Rose (2007 18th Street NW) for a Big Hats and Bow Ties party (no cover) between 4 and 7 p.m. Either way, bow ties, absurd headgear, and plenty of mint juleps are inevitable. And post time is 6:24 p.m.

Small Bites

Barbecue all summer long
Hill Country and the National Building Museum are teaming up to offer an outdoor barbecue on the museum’s west lawn through the end of the summer. The kick-off starts at 4 p.m. today and will run Wednesdays through Fridays from 4 to 11 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 11 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 9 p.m. Be on the lookout for live music on the weekend in addition to plenty of Texas barbecue and Shiner Bock.

How to eat everything (vegan before 6 p.m.)
Mark Bittman, New York Times food columnist and author of How to Cook Everything, will be in town to to discuss his newest book, VB6: Eat Vegan Before 6:00 to Lose Weight and Restore Your Health . . . for Good. Bittman will speak at at Sixth and I Historic Synagogue (600 I Street NW) on Saturday at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased online.

Cinco de Drinko

• Sunday is Cinco de Mayo, also known as America’s excuse to drink margaritas before noon under the pretense of celebrating a Mexican holiday. For those so inclined, a number of local restaurants are offering Cinco de Mayo specials. Here are our picks for some politically incorrect imbibing:
• Start the day off at Rosa Mexicano (575 Seventh St NW) for boozy brunch specials (mezcal Bloody Marys, tequila passion fruit punch), egg and carnitas hash, cinnamon French toast with caramelized plantains, and a mariachi band.
• Or head to the Brixton (901 U Street NW) for their Circus de Mayo featuring frozen margaritas and, uh, circus-like activities such as funnel cake, face painting, and a dunk tank.
• For something a bit more authentic, H Street’s Impala Cantina (1358 H Street NE) will have roast pig, $5 beers, and $7 margaritas in its new courtyard from noon to 6 p.m.
• Finally, you can close out the day with tacos and $5 margaritas on El Centro’s (1819 14th Street, NW) rooftop.

Shakin’ it up for charity
Want a free shake? Stop in at Shake Shake (1216 18th Street NW) during the month of May for its Great American Shake Sale. Just make a charitable donation of $2 or more to Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign and you’ll receive a gift card for a free shake.