What's Happening In Washington, DC: September 14, 2015

Is it autumn yet? Harvest time, sweater weather, and the turning of the leaves signal it's time for savory stews and robust beer, wine, and cocktails. The autumnal equinox may still be a week away on the calendar, but D.C. eateries and bars are happy to oblige with seasonal cheese appreciation seminars, bourbon bashes, beer dinners, and parties that give a nod to cool companies in our nation's Capital. So get out there, experience it all, and enjoy the cooler temps to come.

DC Fest 2015 at The Fairgrounds
It's time for D.C.'s young professionals to step out and celebrate who and what's cool in our city, so set your GPS for The Fairgrounds on Tuesday, September 15 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Hosted by DCInno, DC Fest requires a reservation and ticket, but for $18 per person you get one drink ticket and entry to the grounds to enjoy local music, meet employers that offer great places to work, learn about popular brands, and nosh on snacks from favorite local food trucks. Find out which company wins first place in the Coolest Companies Competition.

Hardywood Beer Dinner at Art and Soul
On Friday, September 18, at 7 p.m., Art and Soul will host a tasting dinner on the patio featuring the craft beer of Hardywood Park Craft Brewery from Richmond, Virginia. Executive chef Douglas Alexander has put together an eclectic menu that celebrates all things porcine and rich with flavor. Appetizers include chicken liver mousse profiteroles, deviled eggs with bacon, and General Tso's pig's head. For the four-course dinner, you will enjoy an heirloom tomato and bacon salad, roasted pork loin, smoked sausage, bacon boudin blanc, and not one, but two desserts. Tickets are $70 per person, inclusive of tax and gratuity. 

It's National Bourbon Heritage Month at The Royal
We can't think of a better way to toast National Bourbon Heritage Month than with a bar collaboration/takeover and industry night tonight, September 14, at The Royal from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday, September 15, you can sample beautiful Kentucky bourbons — Willett anyone? Ledroit Brands reps will be on hand to man the bar and you can have your bourbon any way you like, neat, with branch water, or in a cocktail, for just $8 dollars! In addition, they will be pouring a special distillery-only, 22-year cask strength, 133.6 proof bourbon, normally only available at Willett's gift shop in Bardstown, Kentucky. The first 25 people lucky enough to get a one ounce pour can do so for $16, and then it's gone forever. To keep your strength up, the kitchen will be open until 1 a.m. Get social and use the hashtag #bourbonporn.

Park Hyatt Washington To Host Cheese Tasting for Masters of Food & Wine Event
Each year, Park Hyatt, and Blue Duck Tavern host incredible food and drink seminars as part of the ground-breaking Masters of Food & Wine program. On Saturday, September 26, they will host the event at Chapel's Country Creamery in historic Easton, Maryland and cheese connoisseurs can join Blue Duck Tavern's chef de cuisine Brad Deboy and cheese specialist Sophie Slesinger as they guide you through a culinary experience. The day will include a tour of the creamery followed by a cheese and wine pairing session. Afterward, guests may relax and enjoy a seasonal harvest lunch prepared by chef Deboy. The day's events run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and cost $150 per person, which includes round-trip transportation and the Masters of Food & Wine cookbook

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.