• 19Mar

    From Rakuya’s HH last Fall.

    This topic reminds me of my recurring column from many years ago about eating in Arlington when nearly broke. Here are some Dupont Circle specials:

    Dawson’s Market free beer tastings on Thursdays (City State are DC Brau are the next two events). Photos of some previous tastings and their event calendar were covered in a previous article. They also have one Friday wine tasting a month at the DuPont location.

    Ala has an online discount code for online orders, “ALA30” and they also have a 25% off (entire menu, food and drinks) HH Mon-Friday 2-5pm. Keep in mind that they are a bit pricy to start with, and are also on the Too Good To Go app (café stuff).

    Duffy’s Irish pub (which opened on P Street during the pandemic) has dine in 1/2 price burgers Mondays with the purchase of a beverage all night and dine in all day/night 1/2 price wings Wednesdays with purchase of a beverage. Every Thursday from 4pm-7pm kids eat free from the kids menu with the purchase of an adult entrée and drink.

    Rakuya has Happy Hour (HH) food and drink specials including $3 shishito peppers or edamame, $5 yakitori, $5.50 gyoza, green beans tempura, shumai, crunchy spice salmon rolls, or spicy tuna rolls. They also have $4-8 beer, $7 glasses of wine, and a few $8-9 cocktails on HH.

    Firehook Bakery has Buy One Get One pastries M-F 5-6pm, but not cookies, or cupcakes; it’s items like scones and cinnamon rolls.

    Across the Pond has a special on Mondays 4-8pm: $6 hamburger and fries ($1 additional per topping).

    The Admiral HH features 3 cheeseburger siders for $10.

    Specials from our neighbors:

    Chef Geoff’s West end (a few blocks from DuPont) has a number of food on their HH menu like $4 mahi tacos, $6 white truffle popcorn, $12 pasta Bolognese, $5 off of burgers, etc. And, a few $8 cocktails and $10 supermug drafts.

    Ted’s Bulletin in Logan Circle during their HH Monday – Friday 3 PM – 6:30 PM has $3 drafts, $5 wines, $7 cocktails, and food specials like $6 fried pickles, $6 French onion dip with truffle potato chips, and $7 chicken parm sliders, $7 bacon cheeseburger empanadas, or Rueben tacos.

    -JAY

  • 08Apr

    What better time than during the DMV’s most famous season – cherry blossoms! – than to celebrate the Best of the District of Columbia? Washington City Paper took over the cavernous DC Armory in Southeast to fete the 2016 winners, announced to the public during the event. WCP is decidedly nonpartisan, making sure everyone gets a voice in the system. Plus, proceeds from the event went to two great charities: Brainfood and World Beats & Life.

    Spraypainting DC pride

    Spraypainting DC pride

    Voting winners were divided between Staff Picks and the Reader Poll. Readers were able to choose faves in standard categories like Best Brewery (Right Proper), Sports Bar (Nellie’s), Movie Theater (E Street), and Lifestyle Blog (Popville), as well as some unique options: Tea Shop (Calabash Tea & Tonic), Local Instagram (Taylor Gourmet), and Place to Take a Tinder Date (McClellan’s Retreat). The Staff Picks are more eclectic: Best Bar and Restaurant for Punk-Rock Parents (Slash Run); Best Old Reliable Gay Bar (Number Nine), Best New (Old) Museum (National Museum of Women in the Arts), and Best Place to Catch a Glimpse of FLOTUS (SoulCycle).

    At a cocktail-attire party, it’s tough to get on a bike, but there was certainly plenty of food and drink to be had to help celebrate. In homage to what has been the opposite of a media darling of late, the DC Metro, each grouping of restaurants was set up around Metro station signs (“let’s go to Ballston!” was probably something said for the very first time by many partygoers).

    Tons of Tunes were enjoyed all evening long

    Tons of tasteful tunes were enjoyed all evening long.

    Mixologists played with lots of whiskeys, coming off winter, but also plenty of gin, hopeful for spring soon. And as would be appropriate, restaurants made efforts to source specifically from DC breweries and distilleries. Highlights included a tropical rum negroni from Don Ciccio & Figli, The Royal’s fruity sling using Catoctin Creek liquor, and a wistful whiskey cocktail by The Gibson called Memories. Waking up the palate was the thoughtful Gina Chersevani of Buffalo & Bergen, serving Bloody Marys overstuffed with pickled veggies as well as to mini-bagels topped with caviar and crème fraiche.

    On the main stage, The Dupont Brass Band gave the crowd some serious funk. Later in the evening, Batala Washington broke it down on drums, celebrating Afro-Brazilian culture, playing sensual samba and reggae music on a chilly early-April evening. Other entertainment came in the form of cornhole and life-sized Jenga courtesy of United Social Sports, making sure that the crowd stayed lively and athletic while throwing back craft cocktails and finely plated small bites.

    Dessert came in the form of heavenly doughnuts, cookies, and Harper Macaw’s sea-salt-and-coconut chocolate bark – but also another kind of bark: Wagtime enthralled the crowd with an absolutely adorable doggie playspace. Never has celebrated all the greatest in DC ever been so “ruff.”

    -ESC

  • 20Aug

    Editor’s Note (9-16-11): This has been rescheduled to 9-24.

    In my inbox.

    -JAY

    ————————–

    Biagio Fine Chocolate‘s next Sample Day will be Saturday, September 17, from 3pm-6pm.

    Complimentary – no R.S.V.P. needed. What is Sample Day? It is a monthly event that has been wildly successful with our customers. We will have over a dozen varieties of some of the world’s best chocolate available for tasting. Sample day is held in Studio B, the tasting room/gallery behind Biagio Fine Chocolate.

    Biagio Fine Chocolate and Studio B are located at:

    1904 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009

  • 23Jul

    Biagio Fine Chocolate‘s next Sample Day will be Saturday, August 20, from 3pm-6pm.

    Complimentary – no R.S.V.P. needed. What is Sample Day? It is a monthly event that has been wildly successful with our customers. We will have over a dozen varieties of some of the world’s best chocolate available for tasting. Sample day is held in Studio B, the tasting room/gallery behind Biagio Fine Chocolate.

    Biagio Fine Chocolate and Studio B are located at:

    1904 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009

  • 25Jun

    Biagio Fine Chocolate‘s next Sample Day will be Saturday, July 23, from 3pm-6pm.

    Complimentary – no R.S.V.P. needed. What is Sample Day? It is a monthly event that has been wildly successful with our customers. We will have over a dozen varieties of some of the world’s best chocolate available for tasting. Sample day is held in Studio B, the tasting room/gallery behind Biagio Fine Chocolate.

    Biagio Fine Chocolate and Studio B are located at:

    1904 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009

  • 10Jun

    Biagio Fine Chocolate‘s next Sample Day will be Saturday, June 25, from 3pm-6pm.

    Complimentary – no R.S.V.P. needed. What is Sample Day? It is a monthly event that has been wildly successful with our customers. We will have over a dozen varieties of some of the world’s best chocolate available for tasting. Sample day is held in Studio B, the tasting room/gallery behind Biagio Fine Chocolate.

    Biagio Fine Chocolate and Studio B are located at:

    1904 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009

  • 07Mar

    In my Inbox. Much of this is local and only $10. Boxwood Winery itself is in Middleburg, Va.

    -JAY
    ——————–
    Boxwood Winery and The Tasting Room Wine Bars are pleased to announce our upcoming schedule of events.

    Please RSVP to cat@boxwoodwinery.com. Event links follow each listing:

    Tuesday, March 8, 2011, 8 pm, Reston, Mardi Gras!
    All welcome to our Mardi Gras Party with live jazz and complimentary Creole snacks by award winning chef and author, David Guas of Bayou Bakery. Boxwood 2007 (out of vintage) will make an appearance – don’t miss its encore or the party!
    http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=165709883477667&index=1

    Saturday, March 12, 2011, 4 pm, Chevy Chase, The Mardi Gras Super Tasting
    The Mardi Gras Tasting: Join us in our Wisconsin Place location for a tasting of
    5 delicious wines for $10 per person (plus tax and gratuity) and Kings Cake also by Chef David Guas. Please RSVP.
    http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=205231379492297&index=1

    Saturday, March 12, 2011, 4 pm, Reston, Trefethen Tasting
    The Trefethen Family Winery Tasting: John Harrington of Napa Valley winery, Trefethen will be on hand to present and discuss Trefethen’s wines including special vintages. $20 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Please RSVP.
    http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=202493056433096&index=1

    Sunday, March 20, 2011, 2 pm, Middleburg, Super Tasting
    Middleburg Super Tasting Event: Join us for a worldy tasting and discussion of 5 wines for $10 per person (plus tax and gratuity) in our charming hometown of Middleburg. Please RSVP.
    http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=197551666930660&index=1

    Monday, March 21, 2011, 6 pm, Chevy Chase, Networking and Wine
    The Networking Wine Tasting at Wisconsin Place: Bring your business cards and introduce yourself to other professionals while tasting two glasses of delicious wines. $10 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Please RSVP.
    http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=193284500703022&index=1

    Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 7 pm, Chevy Chase, Paraiso Tasting
    The Paraiso Vineyard Tasting at Wisconsin Place: David Fleming, Wine Maker of the acclaimed Paraiso Vineyard in Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey, California is welcomed for a tasting and discussion of Paraiso wines. $10 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Please RSVP.
    http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=116022795141309&index=1

    Wednesday, March 30, 2011, 7 pm, Reston, Kamen Tasting
    The Kamen Estate Wine Tasting: Katy Wilson of Kamen Estate Wines in the Mayacamas Range of Sonoma County, California is welcomed to present and discuss Kamen’s highly acclaimed Cabernets and Syrahs. $10 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Please RSVP.
    http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=131028946969202&index=1

    Event attendees receive $10 off menu prices on bottle purchases and 10% off cases.

    News from the Winery:

    It is almost time for Rose! Last year’s vintage sold out in only weeks and we expect both of our awaited 2010’s to do the same. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for news on the release, then beat a path to The Tasting Rooms for your cases!
    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boxwood-Winery/227231687567

    Boxwood’s on-hand vintages are moving quickly: Time to consider cellaring your favorites. You can purchase bottles and cases on-line at the Boxwood store:
    http://stores.floridakeys.com/boxwood/

    Schedule your visit to tour and taste at Boxwood Estate Winery now for the warm seasons ahead! Tours can be booked online here:
    https://secure.floridakeys.com/boxwoodwinery/

    Keep tabs on us:

    Follow Boxwood Estate Winery on Facebook:
    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boxwood-Winery/227231687567

    Follow Boxwood’s Tasting Room Wine Bars on Facebook:
    http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30378393212&v=wall

    We look forward to seeing you in March!
    The Boxwood Winery and Tasting Room Teams
    This message was sent by: The Boxwood Winery, P.O. Box 1887, Middleburg, Virginia 20118

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  • 24Aug

    In My Inbox from a usual suspect. 🙂

    -JAY

    ——————

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Bunny Polmer (202) 966-8271 bpolmer@comcast.net RSVP CATERING HOLDS COMPLIMENTARY BRIDAL TASTING Fairfax, VA…August 2010…

    RSVP Catering invites all future brides and a guest to take part in a complimentary tasting on:

    Tuesday, September 14, 2010 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

    The event will be held at:

     RSVP Catering
    2930 Prosperity Avenue
    Fairfax, VA 22031

    Call (703) 573-8700 or register by email: weddings@rsvpcatering.com.

    The tasting offers prospective brides an opportunity to sample RSVP Catering’s creative cuisine, including selections from Organix by RSVP, a seasonal selection of local, organic and sustainable foods. Guests will also have the chance to meet RSVP Catering’s team of wedding professionals and to check out the latest wedding trends.

    RSVP Catering is the Washington area’s sixth largest caterer, setting the standard for elegant, innovative social and corporate entertaining.

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