From 4:00-6:00 p.m., The Watergate Hotel will host a one-day interactive activation inspired by the scandal that made the property a part of American history. Guests visiting the hotel lobby can participate in "Unlock Your Secret Message," an immersive experience featuring a vintage typewriter poet stationed at a newsroom-inspired desk complete with a classic typewriter, rotary phone and 1970s-era details. You will select a word tied to the Watergate story – such as "secret," "investigate," "tapes" or "scandal" – and receive a personalized poem typed on the spot. Each poem will be sealed inside a "Top Secret" envelope and given to you as a keepsake. The activation builds upon The Watergate Hotel's longstanding connection to the historic event, including its famed Scandal Suite, located in the building's original Room 214. The property is also hosting a happy hour to coincide with the activation

Celebrate Juneteenth in style with an elevated BBQ feast and party vibes from live DJ entertainment. Kick off the long holiday weekend at DŌGON! Theyinvite you to experience Chef Kwame’s Afro-Caribbean love letter to DC through a thoughtfully curated 3-course feast. Their menu will feature signature flavors of Corn Bread, BBQ Greens, and Grilled Chicken, plus summer favorites of Chesapeake Oysters and Whiting Fish Fry, with sides like Truffle Mac Pie, and Crab Potato Salad. A welcome Ten to One Rum Punch is included to set the mood and a full a la carte bar will be available sponsored by Uncle Nearest Whiskey with featured wines by La Fete and McBride Sisters.

Celebrate National Bourbon Day with The Fountain Inn for an afternoon dedicated to exceptional whiskey, and the spirit of bourbon culture. Explore selections from Provenance and The Reveries as we open the doors for a special open house experience featuring exclusive pours, limited bottles available for purchase, curated merchandise, and unique finds for bourbon enthusiasts and collectors alike. Admission is free! 

Spice Routes at The Spice Suite is inspired by founder Angel Gregorio’s travels and her passion for connecting people through flavor. The gathering will bring together James Beard Award-winning pastry chef and Bar Providencia chef-owner Paola Velez, James Beard Award-nominated Chef Anthony Jones of Marcus DC, and acclaimed restaurateur, Lucky Danger founder, culinary director of Laoban Dumplings, and Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate co-founder Tim Ma for a celebration exploring spices, migration, memory, entrepreneurship, and the stories that travel with us.

Few foods have traveled the world quite like pizza. Owner Antonio Matarazzo and chef Matteo Venini of Stellina join Chef Elias Taddesse of Doro Soul Food for a collaborative dinner exploring the connections between Italian and Ethiopian food cultures. While separated by geography, the two nations share a unique and complicated history that continues to echo through food. From pasta dishes found across Ethiopia to shared rituals of hospitality, coffee, bread, and communal dining, the evening explores how cultures influence one another over generations.

Maître Artisan and President of Disciples Escoffier USA Chef Sébastien Giannini of L’Avant-Garde and Chef Andrew Ho of CUT by Wolfgang Puck will present Ode to Escoffier, an elegant dinner celebrating the French culinary traditions that shaped generations of American chefs and continue to influence hospitality around the world. This dinner includes the presence of special guest, Her Excellency the Ambassador of Monaco. 

Three-time James Beard Award nominee Erik Bruner-Yang will welcome James Beard Award-winning chef Tom Cunanan, of the late Bad Saint, to Maketto for The New American Table, a collaboration exploring the immigrant experience and the evolution of American cuisine through Taiwanese, Filipino, and the broader Asian-American culinary influences. 

Chef Marcus Samuelsson will host Diaspora of Flavor at Marcus DC. Born in Ethiopia, raised in Sweden, and celebrated as one of the world’s most influential culinary voices, Samuelsson and Executive Chef Anthony Jones will explore the movement of ingredients, traditions, and culinary memory across the African diaspora and their enduring influence on American cuisine.

James Beard Foundation Cookbook Hall of Fame inductee Chef Pierre Thiam and world traveler, author, and cultural storyteller Jessica Nabongo will join Chef Rock Harper, Hell’s Kitchen winner and James Beard Award semifinalist for Around the World at the American Table. Through food, travel, and conversation, the evening will explore the global influences that continue to shape American food culture and the ways people, traditions, and ideas move across borders to influence how we eat today.

Award-winning Chef Rubén García of Casa Teresa welcomes acclaimed chef, restaurateur and TV personality Bryan Voltaggio for an evening celebrating the enduring connection between regional Spanish and American cuisine. Born in Catalonia and shaped by some of Spain’s most celebrated kitchens, including the legendary El Bulli, García joins Voltaggio, one of the Mid-Atlantic’s most influential culinary voices, for a collaboration rooted in place, tradition, and craftsmanship. Drawing inspiration from Catalonia to the Chesapeake Bay, the chefs will create a menu that explores how regional ingredients, local foodways, and generations of culinary heritage continue to shape the American table.