This week, D.C. gets in the Valentine’s Day spirit with a love song-themed pop up. Plus, if you’re looking for a place to watch the Super Bowl, there are plenty of bars and restaurants with solid watch parties and specials.
A dumpling destination
Local purveyor Laoban Dumplings will ring in the Lunar New Year this weekend with a special pop up at Destination Wedding in the former subterranean home of 2 Birds 1 Stone on 14th St. Stop by beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday for pork and chive dumplings or the vegan smoked tofu, beets and red cabbage “Fakin’ Bacon” variety. Dumplings will be sold four for $6 until they’re gone. Barman Lukas B. Smith will have cocktails to match, using lycee lemon-lime soda and five spice cola. (Destination Wedding, February 8-9 from 7 p.m. while supplies last, $6 and up)
Enter the tunnel of love
Get a jump on the Valentine’s Day season with Iron Gate’s Tunnel of Love pop-up bar, featuring cocktails and dishes named after favorite love songs. Sip on the What I Want, You’ve Got, And It Might Be Hard To Handle, a boozy hot chocolate with oat milk. Or try the Virginia whiskey-based Nothing I Can See But You When We Dance, served in a Bird Box-inspired blindfolded tiki glass. Food includes a bison heart tartare, grilled white stone oysters, gemelli pasta fritters, and more. (Iron Gate, Friday-February 14, a la carte)
Colossal birthday brew
It’s been eight years in the game for Alexandria’s Port City Brewing Company. This weekend, it’ll release its 2019 anniversary beer, Colossal 8, a brooding Dopplebock lager that weighs in at a hearty 8 percent ABV. Grab a pint while listening to live music and feasting from area food trucks including Borinquen Lunch Box and Rocklands barbecue. (Port City Brewing Company, Friday and Saturday, 12 p.m.-11 p.m.)
Cloth and community workshop
Join the Lemon Collective at its new Petworth location above the flower shop She Loves Me this Friday for a workshop and dinner designed to appeal to all the senses. Guests will enjoy a three-course meal from local chef Rachel Robey featuring seasonal ingredients. Throughout the evening, ingredients from the meal will be used to as dye plants to make a silk bandana. Dietary restrictions, including vegan options, can be accommodated. (The Lemon Collective, Friday, 7 p.m., $70)
Indulge with a brunch throwback
If there are two things millennials love, it’s boozy brunch and reminiscing about the 90’s. Bar Deco has brought those two things together for a new weekend meal set to ’90s hits. The menu features twists on traditional brunch items, including a French toast sandwich and a hot brown Benedict. Add on bottomless drinks for a flat fee with the purchase of any brunch entree. (Bar Deco, Saturdays 11 a.m.-3 p.m., a la carte or $40 for an entree and bottomless drinks)
The Smith does happy hour
Swing by The Smith’s U Street location for new weekday happy hour specials, including late-night deals. Grab a Manhattan, a barrel-aged negroni, or a French 75 slushie, one of their build-your-own mule cocktails, or wines on tap for $8. Draft beers will run $5. Snack on $1 oysters or a selection of $6 bar snacks and $10 pizzas. (The Smith, Monday-Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. to close, a la carte)
Feel the flower power
The Arizona-based restaurant chain Flower Child arrives in D.C. next week, grain bowls and kombucha in tow. The restaurant—one of the brands coming to D.C. from Arizona-based restaurateur Sam Fox—specializes in salads, wraps, and grain bowls, plus small vegetable plates. Plenty of items are vegan or gluten free, and protein additions for dishes come with clean-sounding adjectives, including all-natural chicken, sustainable salmon, grass-fed steak, and organic non-GMO tofu. Kombucha, juice, lemonade, tea, and cold-brew coffee are available, along with a menu of beer and wine. (2112 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 101, Opens Monday. Open for breakfast 8 a.m.-10:30 a.m., lunch and dinner 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.)
A Royal Chinese new year
Celebrate the year of the pig with discounted cocktails and guest bartenders Monday night at The Royal in Ledroit Park. The all-day cafe and bar will welcome Kevin Tien (Himitsu), Tim Ma (American Son), and Ian Fletcher (Tiger Fork) for a late-night party of Chinese-inspired drinks and snacks. Concoctions will include the gin- and bitters-based Bird Market and Tiger Bone Wine, made with rice wine, mezcal, and pickled ginger. Food options will range from sweet and sour pork belly steamed buns to crispy beef chow mein. (The Royal, Monday, 8:30 p.m.-12 a.m., a la carte)
This post has been updated to reflect that ’90s Brunch is being served on Saturdays only, and with the correct date for the Destination Wedding Lunar New Year event.
