Buzz Bakeshop locations are selling a special eclipse shortbread cookie. (Photo by Buzz Bakeshop)
The coming week in D.C. food and drink includes eclipse cocktails, tons of craft beer events, and even a summer snow globe. There are also a few more days of restaurant week left, so reserve away!
This Week’s Food Events
Drinks and a summer snow globe
Forget Christmas in July specials. How about partying inside a snow globe in the middle of August? Now that’s cool! It’s 64 degrees cool, to be exact, with periodic dustings of snow. It’s the opening weekend for Harbor Dome, a giant summer snow globe that has been installed at National Harbor. Parties in the snow globe will feature cover bands, DJs, and drinks designed by Gina Chersevani (Buffalo and Bergen) available at the bars. Tickets for this opening weekend are $10 on Friday and $25 when indie folk and cover bands are performing.
D.C. Beer Week returns
Thirst-quenching events fill the calendar for D.C. Beer Week, which gets underway on Sunday. One marquee event headlines each day of the week, starting with a Sunday afternoon party featuring the region’s 20-plus top breweries, cideries, and meaderies at Suburbia at Union Market (1309 5th St. NE). The “Solidarity Brew,” made with input from brewers across town, will be featured Monday at Right Proper Brookland (920 Girard St. NE). Tap takeovers, a BrewHaHa, and discussions on topics like ownership in the craft beer marketplace highlight the week. The full calendar lists more events than you can scroll through before your finger gets tired.
Capital Chili Cookoff
The Bullpen (1201 Half St. SE) holds a chili cookoff and beer festival on Saturday, August 19. It is sanctioned by the International Chili Society and the winner will represent D.C. at the World Championship Chili Cookoff in Reno, Nevada. Admission includes chili samples, beer, and bands. Tickets are $45 for the 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. event. VIP Entry at $65 grants access an hour earlier. Several teams are made up of D.C. area first responders and $10 from each ticket will be donated to injured D.C. firefighter Dane Smothers.
A total eclipse, and cocktails
A few bars around town are getting in on the August 21 solar eclipse action with early openings and drink specials. You’ll probably want to show up with your own protective eyewear, though (and it’s near impossible to find at this late date). Otherwise you wont be able to stare at the sun—only cry into your eclipse cocktail made from tequila, Aperol, cherry liquor, mezcal, and lemon at Evening Star Cafe (2000 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria). The DNV Rooftop at the Donovan Hotel (1155 14th St. NW) will be open starting at 1 p.m. They will be providing viewfinders and kaleidoscopes for guests “to indulge their inner child,” though they wont help you to see the eclipse. If you’d rather eat than drink, head to Buzz Bakeshop in either Ballston (818 N Quincy St.) or Alexandria (901 Slaters Ln.) for $4 shortbread cookies ($1.50 if purchased with the Shot In The Dark red eye special). Viewing parties, complete with glasses, at the Fairmont Hotel (2401 M St. NW) and Radiator (1430 Rhode Island Ave. NW) are each free to attend, while Citybar (400 E St. SW) is charging $20 at the door (it comes with a buffet).
Hill Country’s burger battle
This coming Thursday, August 24, the Hill Country Backyard at the National Building Museum (401 F St. NW) will host a big burger battle. Tickets are $25 for samples of burgers from spots including Hill Country, Due South, Bullfeathers, Blackfinn, Rebellion, and more. Guests will vote on their favorite. Budweiser and live music go along with the burgers, and a portion of the proceeds benefit So Others Might Eat.
Come learn to ceviche
Come to the vibrant Tico (1926 14th St. NW) on Wednesday, August 23 for a ceviche-making class with chef Rodrigo Perez. A glass of cava is included, and instruction is followed by a family-style dinner with many ceviches and some of Tico’s signature dishes paired with cocktails. The class runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased online.
Openings
Virginia based Sugar Shack Donuts and Coffee opens its 12th national location today, and it is in Shaw (1932 9th St. NW). Those who have come across the small chain’s shops in Arlington, Alexandria, and beyond can attest to the quality of the fluffy, sweet circles. And who said donuts were for mornings only? With the move into a nightlife hotspot, the Shaw location is featuring a Donuts After Dark program on weekends with cocktail and beer-inspired donuts. There’s one with a stout-filled glazed and one called the Right Proper after their neighboring microwbrewery. There is also talk of an intimate bar Nocturne that will serve craft cocktails at the shop in the evenings.
