Six Events to Add to Your Calendar this April

(Image via JKGF) Taberna del Alabardero Red Velvet Cake

The Spring is one of the best times of year in the District.  Tons of events, the cherry blossoms and warmer temps make it one of the absolute best destinations.  April, the month in the heart of Spring, has a few events we thought Washingtonians and the like could appreciate as the temps drop.  Deets below:

1. Sprinkles Cupcakes turns 10 and is offfering a free birthday cupcake in stores on April 13^th. Every customer will enjoy a free cupcake all day long at all Sprinkles locations.
2. 4 Brothers Bar Essentials will launch its inaugural line of cocktail accouterments on April 13^th (917 V St, NW, 7 to 9 PM) at American Ice Company during the First Annual District Swigs Cocktail Competition. Bartenders from across D.C. will battle it out to make the best district cocktail of 2015. Competing bartenders include Jonathan Fain of Bar Pilar and Cafe Saint-Ex, Frank Jones of The Gibson, Micah Wilder of Chaplin, Rico Wisner of Ambar Restaurant, Jack Caminos of Compass Rose, Jessica Dallesasse of Bourbon, J.D. Quioco of The Sheppard and Lukas Smith of Jack Rose and Dram & Grain.
3. industree’s popular series, Launchology, returns on April 13th from11AM to 4:30PM at Penn Social (801 E Street NW, Washington, DC, 20004).  Moderators include Jeff Black of Black Restaurant Group, Bonnie Benwick of The Washington Post and Mark Haidet of Orderly.  This multi-panel event will feature candid conversations, real stories and unfiltered advice needed to be successful in the food & beverage industry. Half day and full day tickets range from $30-75 and current students are invited to purchase tickets at a discounted rate of $15-25. A limited number of tickets will be sold at the door. For full day attendees, registration begins at 11AM. More info here:  http://theindustreegroup.com/event/dc-launchology-2015/
4. Taste of Three Cities, formerly known as Taste of Two Cities, will return to DC on Saturday, April 25 (VIP Access 11 am to 9 pm, General Admission 12 pm to 9 pm) for a day-long food truck festival in NoMa’s Storey Park (1005 First Street NE). Open to the public, Taste of Three Cities will benefit DC Central Kitchen and feature live entertainment from local bands and dozens of DC’s food trucks, as they compete in front of a panel of special guest judges for an array of cash prizes and the Mayor’s Cup – i.e., bragging rights for being named the #1 food truck in the city. Confirmed trucks include:  BonMi,Korean BBQ Taco Bus, DC Slices, Burgorilla, BBQ Bus, Midnite Confections Cupcakery, Lemongrass, Captain Cookie & The Milk Man, Sloppy Mama’s, Yankee Doodle Dandy’s, Rocksalt, Sang On Wheels, Healthy Fool, Fava Pot, Red Hook Lobster, DC Taco Truck and AZ Neats.  Tickets and more deets here:  tasteofthreecities.com.
5. On Saturday, April 11 (1:30-4:30 pm or 6 pm-9 pm), Drink the District presents Cherry Blossom Beer and Wine Festival at The Yards (1300 1st St.SE). Pre-sale tickets start at $35 online, $50 at the door. During the three hour sessions at Drink the District, participants will be able to sample over 30 craft beers and 50+ wines.  Tickets can be purchased here: http://bit.ly/1AweSVa
6. Taberna del Alabardero Lobster Weekend returns April 24-26 featuring fresh Maine Lobster.  Dishes include Taberna’s stews, salads, creamy pastas, paellas and soups.  JKGF visited recently and it is safe to say Chef Javier Romero is still the genius that we met some odd years ago when he first joined the Taberna team.  He has taken on the task of converting some of our favorite American dishes into his own with a Spanish twist.  Hands down, I could easily give up my Americanized Red Velvet cake for the one he is cooking up at Taberna.  Make your reservations here: http://www.alabardero.com/

Tags: events, festivals dc, washington dc

Category: Announcements, Food.Fun.Stuff., Washington D.C.