(Photo by The Ritz-Carlton)
The return of the Virginia Festival of Wines, the introduction of a lunch time happy hour with a spectacular view, and a grand celebration of pan-Asian culture at the Smithsonian means booze are in the cards for this week in D.C. Here are our dining picks for the coming days.
Lunch time happy hour at POV lounge
Happy hours are not just for after work anymore. POV, the rooftop bar and restaurant at the W Hotel (515 15th St. NW), is now offering a lunchtime happy hour with $6 beers, $9 wine, and discounted bites. Munch of wild mushroom albondigas for $10 and jibarito sliders with house roasted lamb, crispy plantains, and chipotle aioli, for $11. The deal is available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The views of downtown D.C. and the National Mall can’t be beat.
Rumi at the Ritz
The Ritz-Carlton in Tyson’s Corner (1700 Tysons Blvd, McLean, VA) is hosting a series of Persian pop-up dinners on October 13 through the 14 and November 3 through 4. Each of the five courses is inspired by a different teaching of 13th Century Sufi mystic and poet Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi. “Noor,” or light, is course one, with an appetizer offering of eggplant dip, grape leaves, stuffed peppers, or lentil soup. “Esgh,” meaning love, is the final course and includes baklava and earl gray creme brulee. There are two seatings each night, between 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The event costs $85 per person, not including drinks, tax, and gratuity. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the hotel at (703) 506-4300 or by emailing RumiTysons@gmail.com.
Drink all of the Virginia wines
Virginia is for lovers and, apparently, also for lovers of wine. This weekend is the annual Virginia Wine Festival, showcasing the best fermented grape juice the state has to offer. Head out to the Orinoco State Park in Alexandria (100 Madison St.) for tastings of local wine and cider, as well as bites of classic Chesapeake food, including plenty of oysters. General admission is $35 while VIP tickets, which include access to additional tasting tents, is $75. Both types can be purchased here.
Enjoy the flavors of Asia at the Smithsonian
To celebrate the much-anticipated reopening of the Freer|Sackler Museum, the Smithsonian is throwing a grand IlluminAsia festival on Saturday October 14 and 15. In addition to dance performances, educational museum tours, and artist events, the festival features an abundance of delicious pan-Asian food. The Sri Lankan fast-casual concept Short-Eats (currently a pop-up at Ten Tigers Parlor, 3813 Georgia Ave. NW) will be cooking up hot and delicious roti while Ching Ching Cha (1063 Wisconsin Ave. NW) will be offering tea tastings and Lapis Bistro (1847 Columbia Rd. NW) will be serving their scrumptious take on modern Afghan food. A full list of the weekend’s vendors and events can be found here.
Homecoming at Howard
October 20 through 22 officially marks Howard University’s 150th homecoming. While the University itself is planning a whole host of events next weekend (a full list can be found here), the festivities are spread throughout the next week. For those who are hungry, many of the events involve food, like the #Midnightbrunch—HUHC Edition at The Gryphon (1337 Connecticut Ave. NW) on Thursday, October 19 and the all-day Bad and Boozy Trap Brunch on Sunday October 22 at XO Lounge (1426 L St. NW).
Openings
Calico (50 Blagden Alley NW), the latest concept from partners Nathan Beauchamp and Greg Algie of Tiger Fork and The Fainting Goat, is now open in D.C.’s historic Blagden Alley. The bar, restaurant, and “urban backyard” aims to throw a casual dinner party every night and serves up “Eastern Shore-inspired elevated cookout-style fare.” Think crab feasts and lobster boils alongside adult-friendly, boozy juice boxes Monday through Sunday.
The Wharf, the long-hyped complex at 690 Water St. SW, is finally opening its doors this weekend to eaters and shoppers alike. Although not every venue in the mile-long development are ready to go, establishments like Ben & Jerry’s, Shake Shack, Pearl Street Warehouse, and The Brighton are open and welcoming hungry guests. A full list of the planned restaurants can be found here.
Plan Ahead
The annual DC Curbside Cookoff is returning to 425 M St. SW this year and is bringing back plenty of delicious food, drinks, live music, games, and more. Sponsored by the DMV Food Truck Association, the event will take place between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday, October 27. All activities are free and open to the public but it is recommended that you purchase an advanced ticket for all food and drink.
