Most minds turn to St. Patrick’s Day and college basketball this weekend, with plenty of bars offering Irish food and drink specials and preparing March Madness deals. The coming days will also see the launch of a new brunch in Ivy City, happy hour deals on Italian snacks, and wine and the birthday of a Capitol Hill favorite.

Get some Gravitas brunch

Ivy City’s Gravitas will pause its tasting-menu format during new weekend brunch service. Chef Matt Baker has created seasonal appetizers and entrees that will satisfy purists and adventurous eaters alike. Try braised beef short rib with whipped polenta and a poached egg or go sweet an order up sourdough pancakes with glazed blueberries and maple syrup. Seafood is a feature too, with dishes like a hearty Italian cioppino stew and cobia tartare. (Gravitas, Saturdays and Sundays, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., $14 and up)

Aperitivo hour at RPM

New weekday happy hour specials at the Mt. Vernon Square pasta spot RPM include discounted snacks, cocktails, and wines by the glass. Munch on $5 cicchetti (snacks) including grilled oysters, tuna bruschetta, small pizzas, and fried mozzarella. Cocktails and wine by the glass are $7. (RPM Italian, Mondays through Fridays, 3 p.m.-7 p.m.)

Pi Day discounts

Math geeks and fans of cheap eats have a number of specials to choose from this Thursday for Pi Day. Specials run from pizzas to sweets. Score $3.14 pints of house IPA at area Matchbox locations, a $10 individual apple pie with bourbon ice cream at The Smith and a $31.40 three-course menu (including a glass of wine) at Dyllan’s Raw Bar. And that’s just a smattering of what’ll be offered. (Various locations, Thursday)

Six years of Beuchert’s Saloon

Time goes by fast when there’s pub food and cocktails on the menu. Head over to Capitol Hill on Friday to mark a half-dozen years of business for Beuchert’s Saloon. The bar and kitchen are embracing the six-year anniversary with the traditional candy and iron. Expect to see cast iron dishes like cornbread and fried chicken and wash them down with candy-themed drinks using everything from Pop Rocks to Dum Dums. (Beuchert’s Saloon, Friday, 5:30 p.m., a la carte).

Brioche in Brookland

Home bakers can roll up of their sleeves on Saturday for an afternoon getting hands-on with all things brioche. This Tastemakers workshop will be taught by Jeanette Warne of Homeshed Kitchens in Bethesda. Participants will build their dough and gain insight into how to properly finish it in their home ovens. (Tastemakers, Saturday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m., $98).

All-you-can-eat oysters

Spend Saturday slurping bottomless bivalves during Brasserie Beck’s Spring Oysterfest. The $38 deal keeps the raw oysters coming all afternoon. The bar will be pouring a special $5 beer and a $25 bottle of wine. Reservations can be made by calling the restaurant directly or by booking on OpenTable. (Brasserie Beck, Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., $38)

A Puerto Rican feast and fundraiser

Hostelling International and travel and food blogger Jessica van Dop DeJesus are organizing a dinner this Saturday to benefit HI’s Explore the World scholarship program as well as World Central Kitchen. The evening includes a Puerto Rican buffet spread, live bomba music, and raffle prizes. (Hostelling International DC, Saturday, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., $50)

Sip Italian wines along The Wharf

Nicholas Stefanelli is introducing a series of three Italian wine dinners at Officina, his bustling trattoria and market. The first meal centers around wines of Veneto, in the country’s northeast region. Guests can expect a series of wines curated by beverage director John Filkins along with dishes from the kitchen. Discounted rates are available for anyone who buys tickets to the entire series. (Officina, Wednesday March 20, $150)