‘Black Thai’
courtesy of ‘Samer Farha’

Spring has sprung, and with it a plethora of green-focused events — all involving drinks. So check out this list, and plan to attend a happy hour, or two or three. And make a toast to spring, and Mother Earth!

Have a Good, Clean Drink
Bartending For Change – World Water Day

Wednesday, March 24
6 – 9 p.m.
Downtown/U Street
Ulah Bistro, 1214 U St., NW

To celebrate World Water Day, Salim Bhabhrawala, an experienced bartender and one of the founders of Bartending4Change, will serve as guest bartender. Sam’s tips, as well as 10 percent of Ulah Bistro’s proceeds, will be donated to Water For People, which supports sustainable drinking water, sanitation and hygiene projects for impoverished people worldwide. Drink up!

Beer for the Common Good
Drink Beer and Save the World

Thursday, March 25
6:30 – 8 p.m.
Downtown
District Chophouse, The Vault Room, 509 7th St., NW

Brewer Barrett Lauer presents seven hand-crafted ales with appetizers as beer activist Chris O’Brien discusses how drinking slow beer builds community and a more sustainable world. O’Brien, co-owner of the Seven Bridges Organic Brewing Supply Cooperative and Director of Sustainability at American University, will sign copies of his award-winning book Fermenting Revolution: How to Drink Beer and Save the World and answer all your questions about beer. This sounds so selfless, doesn’t it?

‘Panama’
courtesy of ‘Marc Veraart’

Drink to Trees
Happy Hour for Planting Empowerment

Thursday, March 25
6 – 8 p.m.
Downtown/U Street
ChiCha Lounge, 1624 U St., NW

Donations from this Planting Empowerment happy hour go to partner communities in Panama who benefit from small-scale forestry projects. Donations also get you free drinks and chances to win a $50 Forest Savings Bond. Come share drinks and ideas on development, reforestation, and responsible investing.

The Anacostia - Copyright Douglas F. Williamson

Movies and Drinks
Skip a Bag, Save the River: Meet the Anacostia!

Saturday, March 27
2:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Dupont / Logan Circle
Carnegie Institute for Science Auditorium, 1530 P St., NW; Logan Tavern, 1423 P St. NW

You’ve heard about DC’s new 5 cent fee on disposable bags. How is it working? And why is the Anacostia River worth saving? Find out at this double feature event–Two short films on the Anacostia, presented by the Environmental Film Festival, and a happy hour with drink specials at eco-friendly Logan Tavern. Special guests from the District Department of Environment (DDOE), Anacostia Watershed Society (invited) will share the scoop, courtesy of The DC Green Connection. Yours truly is a host.

‘No work tomorrow!’
courtesy of ‘volcanojw’

Raise a Glass of Wine
Organic Wine Tasting

Wednesday, April 7
6:30 – 8 p.m.
DC / Cleveland Park
Weygandt Wines, 3519 Connecticut Avenue, NW

Think that organic wines get a bad rap? Well not anymore! Sample six delicious organic and/or biodynamic French vintages. In addition to wine discounts and the chance to win fun prizes, you’ll get complimentary local fare from Dino, award-winning artisan cheese from Firefly Farms, and fair trade chocolate samples from Divine Chocolate. A portion of the proceeds will go to The DC Farm to Schools Network. The Eco Luxe Life, Grassfed Media, and GoingGreenDC are hosts.

An area resident since 1997, Donna C. is a DC outsider. When she’s not running her writing and Web business, she’s running around the city, exploring the great outdoors, or trying to figure out how best to go green. See why she loves DC.