The weekend has its boots and parka at the ready.
For your 85th birthday, you'll probably get a gold watch, a handsome plaque and, of course, a thought-controlled hovercraft. For its 85th, the Mayflower Hotel is getting something a bit...bubblier. The hotel commissioned its own sparkling wine from Iron Horse Vineyards in Sonoma, which has produced bubbly served at the White House since the Reagan administration. If it's good enough for Ronnie...
As you well know, the hair of the dog can be found in many wondrous places—like in beer. Starting this Sunday, all 55 taps at this brew-centric hideaway will be pouring German pilsners and cask ales as you feast on whiskey-vanilla French toast, doughnuts and toffee sticky buns. It goes until 8pm, in case there's a lot of hair on that dog.
You don't need a reason to celebrate tequila, but José Andrés is giving you one anyway. For two weeks, his Penn Quarter hot spot will host its annual Tequila and Mezcal Festival. Tuesday through Thursday, drop in for gratis happy hour tastings of hard-to-find bottlings. Feel free to bring your own maracas.
When it comes to good booze, sometimes it's not about the vessel. In that spirit, the 14th St watering hole serves up five courses of amped-up bar food (Scotch eggs, bacon-cheddar oysters) with five canned microbrews, including Belhaven Scottish Ale. Because you can't have Scotch eggs without Scotch beer.
Amidst all those bill numbers and whip counts, you do possess some info with real-life practical value—like the difference between Sid Vicious and Syd Barrett. Put it to use by competing for a $50 bar tab by navigating 50 questions about music at the H Street indie rock haven. Prize in hand, you can then settle in, along with your vanquished foes, to a rockumentary on the bar's 10-foot screen.
