Spend this week sipping through hundreds of whiskeys or catching a drink inspired by the flavors of Norway. When hunger kicks in, mosey along Pennsylvania avenue for a Japanese street festival or head to a grilled cheese-inspired afternoon of dancing and eating.
Cocktails from Norway
Acclaimed cocktail bar Columbia Room will host one of Oslo’s top bartenders for a guest shift, turning the space into a Nordic cocktail garden. Maroš Dzurus is visiting D.C. from Himkok, which draws inspiration from Norwegian flavors and has been named one of the world’s best bars. Dzurus plans to mix up five specialty drinks, including the Norwegian Garibaldi with Rinomato aperitivo, Mancino secco, sea buckthorn orange Sherbet, and water. (Columbia Room, Wednesday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m.)
So. Much. Whiskey
Rev up that liver for tonight’s WhiskyFest at the Marriott Marquis. The gathering features brown spirits from around the world, including selections from the U.S., Scotland, and Japan. Guests can sample from nearly 300 pours in a variety of styles and fill up on a generous and filling buffet. The evening includes educational seminars from whisky experts and distillers. Tickets are for sale online. (Marriott Marquis, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m., $225+)
Japanese street festival
Keep the cherry blossom vibes going with Saturday’s Sakura Matsuri street festival along Pennsylvania Avenue. The event, put on by the Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C., includes four stages for live performances along with lots of food vendors and children’s activities. There’s a sake tasting pavilion, bars serving Kirin Ichiban on tap, and tents serving up sushi, Japanese street food, and other Asian fare including bun and banh mi. Advanced tickets are available and will allow skipping the line for entry. (Pennsylvania Ave between 3rd and 7th St. NW, Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m., $10+).
An early Easter egg hunt
Area locations of Matchbox—including one recently-opened in Silver Spring—are getting a jump on Easter. Children can hunt for some colorful eggs during Saturday brunch, more than a week before the spring holiday. Eggs will be filled with prizes, including a kids pizza party for six, brunch for two, and candy. Adults can pass the time with brunch pizzas and cocktails, egg dishes, and more. (Multiple locations, Saturday, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m., a la carte).
A grilled cheese afternoon
Head to Marvin this Saturday for the next installment of Rock Creek Social Club’s grilled cheese party, an afternoon of music and food that takes over the entire 14th Street bar. With their ticket, attendees can get a free classic sandwich with or without bacon. Fancier options will be available for purchase along with snacks like fries or mac and cheese croquettes. (Marvin, Saturday, 3 p.m.-9 p.m., $10)
Lamb Jam Sunday
Feast in seasonal style at this Sunday’s Lamb Jam, a culinary competition featuring 16 area chefs putting their spin on lamb. Spend the afternoon eating, drinking, and voting on the best lamb dish of the afternoon. Participating chefs include KN Vinod of Indique, Russell Smith of The Source, Anna Bran-Leis of Taqueria del Barrio, and others. Mount Gay rum, Bluecoat gin, and Allagash beer and others are among the beverage sponsors on hand. A portion of sales will benefit DC Central Kitchen. (Dock 5 at Union Market, Sunday, 3 p.m.-6 p.m., $75-$125)
Compass Rose turns five
Monday is a milestone birthday for the internationally-minded Compass Rose. It’ll mark the occasion with a special dinner inspired by the team’s recent trip to Mexico City. The a la carte menu will feature items including sea urchin and hamachi ceviches, short rib and duck tacos, and plates of mole poblano and squash blossom quesadillas. (Compass Rose, Monday, 6 p.m.-9:30 p.m., a la carte with a $40 deposit per table required)
