Thursday, Aug. 9
Brew for the River Event. 5-7:30 p.m. Wolverine State Brewing Co., 2019 West Stadium, Ann Arbor. Back by popular demand, five Ann Arbor microbreweries are teaming up with Huron River Watershed Council to sponsor a night dedicated to water, beer, and the people who love both. Wolverine, Jolly Pumpkin, Grizzly Peak, Arbor Brewing and Blue Tractor are hosting the second annual BREW FOR THE RIVER event every Thursday night from Aug. 9 to Sept. 6. All of the events are free and open to the public. The brewers are donating a portion of proceeds from sales to the Huron River Watershed Council. The only cost is to participate in the optional passport activity: Get a BREW PASSPORT at the first event at Wolverine on Aug. 9 for $5. Attend all five events and get five stamps on the passport to be eligible for a grand prize drawing at the Blue Tractor on Sept. 6. (The Grand Prize is a growler a month for 10 months, from the participating microbreweries). Aug. 9: Wolverine State Brewing Co. Brewer Duncan Williams is kicking off the event with a bang, premiering a new beer, Honey Creek. Also, don’t forget to pick up your Brew for the River Passport. No cover charge; price of purchases. $5 for (optional) passport. http://www.hrwc.org/events/brew-for-the-river.

The Baker’s Pantry: Spices. 7-8:30 p.m. Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tearoom, 114 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Spices - variety in life and baking with People’s Food Co-op Head Baker Keegan Rodgers. Explore the world of spices and their relationship to baking with a professional baker. Free. 734-665-2757.

Micro Madness. 7-9 p.m. Arbor Brewing Co., 114 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor. A chance to sample and learn about a wide variety of beers from microbreweries around the country. Also, a drawing for beer-related prizes. The price of admission includes unlimited beer sampling and a German appetizer buffet. Tickets $25 in advance, $30 (if available) at the door. 734-213-1393.

Thursday Night Rush Hour Relief at the Wine Bar. 5-8:30 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor, at the wine bar. Each Thursday evening, experts lead an exploration of wine, cheese and appetizers. This week’s topic: French reds. 734-997-7500.

Friday
Taste of Michigan Dinner & Game Night. 4:30 p.m. Saline Area Senior Center, 7190 N. Maple, Saline. All seniors invited for Michigan-made foods, including Koegel hot dogs, Guernsey ice cream, and more. Followed by cards, Wii games, and board games. $5. Reservations required; call 734-429-9274.

Date Night. 6:30-10 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Bring your special someone and have some fun in the kitchen cooking up this entire menu. And please feel free to bring a bottle of wine to enjoy with your meal. Menu: Sugar snap and snow pea salad with orange sesame vinaigrette; miso-glazed halibut; pineapple mango salsa; shiitake mushroom quinoa; pineapple, ginger and banana sorbet. $150 per pair. Register online at www.annarborcooks.com.

Spaghetti dinner. 5-8 p.m. American Legion Post #419, 9807 Whitewood Road, Pinckney. $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for children 9 and under. 734-878-9522 or 734-341-4249.

Saturday
Health Starts Here: Back To School Snacks That Make the Grade. 1-4 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Bring in the kids and let them sample our healthy back to school snacks to see if they make the grade! Every student will get a “report card” to grade six snacks at our Health Starts Here sampling station. Bring your completed report card up to the Mezzanine Art Gallery where there will be a prize for everyone. Relax at one of our tables and enjoy coloring and puzzle activities. Enjoy the music of “Generations”, a local musical duo from Dexter. Generations will play music for all ages and offer percussion instruments for you to use to play along with them if you choose. Free. 734-975-4500.

Purple Rose Theatre Company Backyard BBQ Fundraiser. 5 p.m. The Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park St., Chelsea. The Purple Rose Theatre Company will hold a Backyard BBQ Fundraiser in the parking lot behind The Purple Rose Theatre. The barbecue will feature a catered meal with vegetarian options, beer and wine, live music from Rhythm on a Stick Steel Drum Band, and a silent auction. Various actors from the 2012/2013 season will attend the barbecue and will be available for questions and conversations about their upcoming performances. Updated listings and more information can be found at www.purplerosetheatre.org/bbq. Ticket prices are $60 for the barbecue and silent auction. For $100, guests can attend the barbecue, silent auction, and also receive a ticket for the 8 p.m. performance of “On Golden Pond,” followed by a dessert and coffee reception. Proceeds from the event will support Purple Rose Theatre operating expenses. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit www.purplerosetheatre.org/bbq; call 734-433-7782 ext.15, or email ReachUs@purplerosetheatre.org.

Detroit Brew Tour: Golden Limousine International. Noon-5:30 p.m. Wolverine State Brewery, 2019 West Stadium Blvd. Ale, lager, porter, stout, pilsner… Come discover the distinct flavors of Michigan made beer. Tours begin at Wolverine State Brewery; spend the day visiting various breweries and festivals throughout the greater Detroit region. $150. 1-800-300-5151 or www.goldenlimo.com/brewtours.

Saline Farmers Market. 8 a.m.-noon. On Ann Arbor Street just south of Michigan Avenue in Saline. Fresh local produce and fruit are on offer, as well as local cheese, butter, honey, maple syrup, jams, eggs, meat, coffee and baked goods. Also available are flowers, plants, hanging baskets, planters, annuals, perennials, and vegetable and herb plants. There are a variety of hand-crafted items such as wood bowls and pens, jewelry, garden art, soap and more, all created by local artisans. Master Gardeners from the Michigan State University Master Gardener program are available to answer questions at the market during May, June and September. Bridge Cards, Senior Project Fresh and WIC (Women with Infant Children) Project Fresh coupons can be redeemed to buy fresh produce and fruit at our Market. Patrons can visit the Bridge Card booth at the Saturday Saline Farmers Market and obtain wooden tokens in $1 increments for the amount requested to be added to their Bridge Card. Tokens can be redeemed at the Tuesday Saline Farmers Market but can only be purchased at the Saturday Market. For more information, call Nancy Crisp at 734 429-3518, email salinefarmersmarket@comcast.net or visit cityofsaline.org/farmersmarket.

Monday
Cocktail Class - Farm-to-Glass Cocktails. 7:30 p.m. Ravens Club, 207 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. By August the farmer's market will be overflowing with goodness. This class, hosted by Tammy's Tastings, is about incorporating all of our wonderful local produce - herbs, cucumbers, berries, tomatoes - into cocktails. We'll learn all about muddling, infusing, and even "shrubs." Classes are hands on, with lots of tasting opportunities. $35 in advance, $45 at the door. http://www.tammystastings.com/shop or 734-276-3215.

Milan Senior Nutrition Program. 11:45 a.m. Milan Senior & Community Activity Center, 45 Neckel Court, Milan. In partnership with the Washtenaw County Senior Nutrition Program, they offer a nutritionally balanced meal three afternoons a week: Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. There is a suggested donation of $2.50 for anyone who is 60 years or older and a fee of $5 for anyone under the age of 60. They do ask for 48 hour advanced reservations. Call or stop by the office. 734-439-1549.

Tuesday
You Say Tomato, I Say Tomato! 6:30-9:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Join us for an evening celebrating the humble, yet amazing tomato. In August, we gladly find ourselves with an over-abundance of tomatoes. This class is designed to give you some new ideas for what to do with your harvest. We will explore both the cooked and the uncooked. Menu: Fresh tomato sauce paired with basil pesto over smoked mozzarella ravioli; individual tomato tarte tatin; cherry tomato-vanilla compote (amazing condiment for various cheeses!); heirloom tomato salad with anchovy-red wine vinaigrette; watermelon-tomato-feta salad. $65. 734-645-1030 or www.AnnArborCooks.com.

Ferragosto Festival. 6:30 p.m. Paesano's Italian Restaurant, 3411 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. “Ferragosto Festival” is and ancient-old celebration of Italian art, music, entertainment, games and food. The holiday often coincides with peak activity of the Perseid meteor shower, leaving Italians at a particular advantage to view the astral event seen best at pre-dawn hours. The holiday is also known as Assumption Day, Aug. 15, when all of Italy, or so it seems, stops work to celebrate. Paesano is joining in on the celebration with their version. The evening party will include a casual appetizer buffet featuring grilled Italian favorites from Chef David paired with a variety of summer wines. Entertainment will be provided by Italian folk musician Pino Marelli, featuring a large dance floor to accommodate those more active partiers. In addition to the food and music, there will be several Fiat 500s on hand, courtesy of Yark Fiat of Toledo, to preview during the evening. Wine for the event will be provided by Firelands Winery of Sandusky, Ohio. Winemaker Claudio Salvador will be on hand to share his wines and insight. $50. paesanosannarbor.com.

Raw Foods: The Pros and Cons of Fermented and Preserved Foods. 7-8:30 p.m. Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tearoom, 114 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Learn the raw food perspective on the pros and cons of this form of food processing for our health, with instructor Ellen Livingston. Free. 734-665-2757.

Cobblestone Farm farmer's market. 4-7 p.m. Located at the historic Cobblestone Farm, this market will feature local, organically grown produce every Tuesday evening beginning June 19. No admission charge; price of purchases. www.cobblestonefarmmarket.com.

Saline Farmers Market. 3-7 p.m. Saline District Library, 555 N. Maple Road, Saline. Fresh local produce and fruit are on offer, as well as local cheese, butter, honey, maple syrup, jams, eggs, meat, coffee and baked goods. Also available are flowers, plants, hanging baskets, planters, annuals, perennials, and vegetable and herb plants. There are a variety of hand-crafted items such as wood bowls and pens, jewelry, garden art, soap and more, all created by local artisans. Master Gardeners from the Michigan State University Master Gardener program are available to answer questions at the market during May, June and September. Bridge Cards, Senior Project Fresh and WIC (Women with Infant Children) Project Fresh coupons can be redeemed to buy fresh produce and fruit at our Market. Patrons can visit the Bridge Card booth at the Saturday Saline Farmers Market and obtain wooden tokens in $1 increments for the amount requested to be added to their Bridge Card. Tokens can be redeemed at the Tuesday Saline Farmers Market but can only be purchased at the Saturday Market. For more information, call Nancy Crisp at 734 429-3518, email salinefarmersmarket@comcast.net or visit cityofsaline.org/farmersmarket.

Lunch is Served. Noon-1 p.m. Turner Senior Resource Center, 2401 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor. Repeats every Tuesday and Friday. Reservations are required with two days prior notice. Suggested donation for those over 60 years of age is $2.50, for all others, $5. Call 734-998-9353 for reservations.

Wednesday
The French Chef: in celebration of Julia Child. 7-10 p.m. Zingerman's Roadhouse, 2501 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor. On the day that would have been Julia Child’s 100th birthday, the Roadhouse celebrates the woman who introduced French cuisine to the American public. Often criticized for her use of ingredients like butter and cream, she addressed the critics throughout her career, predicting that a fear of food would take over the country’s dining habits, taking the focus away from enjoying one’s food. Interviewed in 1990, Julia said, “We should enjoy food and have fun. It is one the simplest and nicest pleasures in life.” Chef Alex will showcase Julia’s best recipes from her many books and work to bring back the real pleasure of eating of really good food. $45. 734-663-3663.

Wednesday Wine Tasting. 6 p.m. Paesano's Italian Restaurant, 3411 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. This informal wine tasting allows patrons to sample five up and coming wines from Italy. Joined by one of Paesano's knowledgeable wine purveyors, the staff creates tasty appetizers to accompany the bold flavors. $25. www.paesanosannarbor.com.

Thursday, Aug. 16
Happy 100th Birthday Julia Child! 6:30-9:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. That's right, if Julia were still with us, she would be turning 100 years old this very month. Join us for an evening of warm-weather Julia Child classics as we pay homage to one of the greatest chefs and lovers of food that has graced this country! As Julia once said, “Cooking is like love; it should be entered into with abandon or not at all.” Menu: Moules a la Marinere (mussels in white wine with shallots and herbs); Soupe au Pistou Verte (green zucchini soup with a garlic and basil garnish); Salade Nicoise; Tarte aux Abricots (fresh apricot tart). $75. 734-645-1030 or www.AnnArborCooks.com.

Brew for the River Event. 5-7:30 p.m. Jolly Pumpkin, 311 S. Main, Ann Arbor. Back by popular demand, five Ann Arbor microbreweries are teaming up with Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) to sponsor a night dedicated to water, beer, and the people who love both. Wolverine, Jolly Pumpkin, Grizzly Peak, Arbor Brewing and Blue Tractor are hosting the second annual BREW FOR THE RIVER event every Thursday night from Aug. 9 to Sept. 6. All of the Brew Events are Free and open to the public. The brewers are donating a portion of proceeds from sales to the Huron River Watershed Council. The only cost is to participate in the optional passport activity at the first event at Wolverine on Aug. 9 for $5. Attend all five events and get five stamps on the passport to be eligible for a grand prize drawing at the Blue Tractor on Sept. 6. (The Grand Prize is a growler a month for 10 months, from the participating microbreweries). Aug. 16: Jolly Pumpkin (8/16) 311 South Main, http://www.jollypumpkin.com/. Get ready for Brewer Ron Jefferies’ tongue-twisting, palate-pleasing Hummocky Lick Sumac Sensation. No cover charge. http://www.hrwc.org/events/brew-for-the-river.

Coney Dog and Root Beer Float Night. 5-8 p.m. American Legion Post #419, 9807 Whitewood Road, Pinckney. $1.25 per Coney dog. For more information call 734- 878-9522 or 734-341-4249.

The Monthly Slurps. 5-7 p.m. Spotted Dog Winery, 108 E. Michigan Ave., Saline. Stop in for an after-hours wine and food event on the third Thursday of each month. Price: TBD. www.spotteddogwinery.com.

Thursday Night Rush Hour Relief at the Wine Bar. 5-8:30 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor, at the wine bar. Each Thursday evening, experts lead an exploration of wine, cheese and appetizers. This week’s topic: Chardonnay from the U.S. 734-997-7500.

To submit events for this calendar, e-mail calendar@annarbor.com.