Oysters on Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Landry’s)
Dive into August with a week full of food events. Highlights include the 10th annual D.C. Rickey competition and big discounts on oysters this Sunday.
Follow the tiki trail
A dozen D.C. bars are joining up in August for the second annual Tiki Trail. The month-long bar crawl encourages residents to explore the city’s bars and their variations on tiki cocktails. Pick up a treasure map at any participating location and start collecting stamps. Completed maps will grant access into a secret luau at the end of the month. Locations include Truxton Inn, Bar Charley, Archipelago, and The Good Silver. There will also be several pop-ups to support the Island People Recovery charity. Find full details online.
Yoga and breakfast
The early bird gets the mimosas at Barcelona (1622 14th St. NW) this Saturday. For $25, enjoy a 9 a.m. outdoor yoga session followed by a complimentary mimosa, fresh orange juice, and a light breakfast buffet. All experience levels are welcome and tickets should be purchased in advance.
Home-grown herbs and cocktails
Stop by District Hardware (730 Maine Ave. SW) on Saturday for a demonstration on growing your own herbs at home and on the next logical step: using them in cocktails. The event will be co-hosted by One Eight Distilling and Slow Food DC. The $17 price includes on-site instruction, a small herb plant and planter, and one cocktail. The session runs from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
A decade of rickey competitions
The DC Craft Bartenders Guild is hosting the 10th annual Rickey Competition this Sunday, August 5. Ten finalists from around the city will gather at Jack Rose Dining Saloon (2007 18th St. NW) to present their riff on the classic (not to mention D.C. favorite) gin and soda highball. Pros from The Royal, Beuchert’s Saloon, Espita Mezcaleria, and more D.C. bars are competing for title. Admission is $35 and includes tastes of all the cocktails along with classic renditions and passed bites from the Jack Rose team.
Sunday oyster specials
Sunday, August 5 is “National Oyster Day,” and a pair of D.C. seafood restaurants are marking the date with specials. Oceanaire Seafood Room (1201 F St. NW) is shucking up $1 oysters at its bar on both Saturday and Sunday. And Ocean Prime (1341 G St. NW) is serving half-priced oysters from Battle Creek, Virginia on Sunday evening.
Afternoon chai and tea
The Foggy Bottom location of Bindaas (2000 Pennsylvania Ave. NW) has launched a new mid-afternoon chai tea service. Borrowing tradition from the cafes of Mumbai, the Cutting Chai menu is stocked with an assortment of teas ($5 each) and snacks like a masala dosa, scones with a strawberry rose jam, and a masala omelet sandwich. The specials are served Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
