Local Briefing: Rodham Rye Release, Blue Collar Cats, & Cooking with Toli Moli

It's a little too early for local blooms like these, but they'll be here before we know it

Ivy City based Republic Restoratives (1369 New York Ave.) will launch their new whiskey Rodham Rye on Saturday, and they plan to celebrate the occasion. March is Women's History Month, so the female distilling team behind Republic Restoratives will partner with female-led food makers to serve delicious snacks and cocktails all afternoon.



The festivities start at 1:30 p.m. with a community conversation on How to Support women in the Age of Trump with panelists:

• Jess O'Connell, Executive Director, EMILY's List
• Dionna Dorsey, Founder, District of Clothing

Pia Carusone, Founder of Republic Restoratives Distillery, will moderate the discussion.

From 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. the Republic Restoratives team will pour Rodham Rye, give tours, and celebrate. The event is free, but you will need a ticket.

Republic Restorative will donate a portion of the proceeds of Rodham Rye to EMILY's List because they believe that "if more women were at the tables and in the rooms where decisions are made, our world would be a markedly better place."

Have you heard about Humane Rescue Alliance's new program Blue Collar Cats? The cats in the program are those that HRA says "have shown no characteristics typical of what our adopters expect in a companion animal and are not adoptable." But they even if they wouldn't make great house cats, they can still play an important role by deterring and controlling rodents without the problems associated with pesticides. All participating cats have been "spayed/neutered, microchipped, eartipped, and vaccinated against rabies and feline distemper." Businesses and homeowners in the program must pledge to provide their cats with food, water, shelter, and basic care (including medical) during the cat's life. HRA Community Cat specialists will help both parties get settled in the new arrangement. The Washington Business Journal has more details in their story on the program.

Toli Moli, the Union Market (1309 Fifth St.) stand that dishes out faloodas and noodle dishes
will hold an upcoming class in which Rangoon-born Chef JoJo will teach attendees how to make Shwe Yin Aye, a creamy coconut treat perfect for cooling down during the District's hot summer days. One of the key ingredients in Shwe Yin Aye, cendol is an emerald colored rice flour jelly made from pandan leaves, and those who take the class will also take home a jar of cendol they'll make during the lesson.

Tickets for the course are $45, and it will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 30 at Union Market.