What's Happening In Washington, DC: August 10, 2015
District food lovers run hot and cold about Restaurant Week; they either snark about the crowds, prices, etc., or they still think it's a great way to try out a lot of new places in a short time, experience a new cuisine, or see what's on a wide range of summer menus. You be the judge and decide if it's worth the brouhaha. If not, there is still plenty to eat and drink during DC Beer Week, at museums and embassies, and across the DMV.
BEACH Pop-up at the National Building Museum
If you can't make it to the shore this summer, Port City Brewing is making it possible to celebrate DC Beer Week and do the beach thing without leaving the District. On Tuesday, August 11 from 6 to 9 p.m., head to the National Building Museum and attend their hugely popular pop-up installation called the BEACH. It's part of the Museum's annual "Summer Block Party" of exhibits and events, and this interactive, 10,000-square-foot installation fills the Great Hall with mirrors, white paint, and nearly a million translucent plastic balls to create a virtual ocean and beach. The kids have loved swimming in the ocean, but tomorrow's party is just for adults and you must be 21 to attend. Tickets are $45 per person and include beers exclusively sold during Beer Week, cheese provided by District Cheese, live music by Taylor Carson, and beach games.
Black Jack to Host DC Beer Week Event Celebrating Release of Stripping Run
If you love Green Hat Gin and Brewer's Art then you won't want to miss the party at Black Jack. It's a DC Beer Week event being held Wednesday, August 12 that's a celebration of the release of "Stripping Run," a gin saison collaboration between Baltimore's Brewer's Art and our own Green Hat Gin from New Columbia Distilling. The fun is from 6 to 8 p.m., and during those two hours Black Jack will serve Brewer's Art's Resurrection Dubbel, Beazley Strong Ale, and Bird House Pale Ale for $4 each, including the Stripping Run collaboration. Plus, you will be able to try Green Hat Gin's Hat Top Rickey for the special price of $8.
Embassy Party: The Tastes and Sounds of Barbados
Get your groove back on Saturday, August 29 and attend a tropical party at the Embassy of Barbados. Come dance to the sultry sounds of Bajan music, watch Crop Over dancers, sip a boozy rum punch, and dine on traditional Bajan cuisine; soon you'll be in a better mood. The party is from 3 to 7 p.m. and tickets are $50 per person, which includes free valet parking, your meal, and plenty of rum punch—and the money goes to a good cause: tickets sales help support the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados.
Summer Restaurant Week 2015
Summer Restaurant Week 2015 is here, and this year it runs from Monday, August 17 to Sunday, August 23. Although many of the hot spots are already booked, you can still score a seat if you hurry. As the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington's promotions say, there are "Over 200 reasons to dine out and eat up," so you know the lineup will include everything from Cajun places in the District, to French bistros in Virginia, and Neapolitan eateries in Maryland. With that many restaurants to try, and the chance to win prizes, it's no wonder people are clamoring to lunch for $22 per person or dinner for $35 per person. Get social, use #RWDMV and you could win a range of diner rewards that include a weekend getaway to New York City, Restaurant Week Diner Reward Card, ticket giveaways to Washington City Paper events, and tickets to the Old Ebbitt Grill Oyster Riot.
Summer Whitford is the D.C. City Guide Editor at The Daily Meal and the DC Wine Examiner. You can follow her on Twitter @FoodandWineDiva.