Today
Brew for the River Event. 5-7:30 p.m. Blue Tractor, 205 E. Washington, Ann Arbor. Back by popular demand, five Ann Arbor microbreweries have teamed 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 host the second annual BREW FOR THE RIVER event every Thursday nights 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. (The Grand Prize is a growler a month for 10 months, from the participating microbreweries). Sept. 6: Rounding out the set of awesome beers and brewers, Tim Schmidt will be brewing Hay Creek at the last (but certainly not least) event. Passports with five stamps will be submitted here, and the winners will be announced though they must be present to win. 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.

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: Red wines of Spain. 734-997-7500.

Friday
Michigan Beer Tasting: Bell’s Brewery. 5-7 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor, at the wine bar. A representative from the brewery will be on hand to lead the tasting and answer questions. Pricing varies; usually $6 for six tastes. 734-997-7500.

Dixboro Farmers Market. 3:30-7:30 p.m. Dixboro United Methodist Church, 5221 Church Road, Ann Arbor. We have a wide variety of food only vendors as well as ready-to-eat meals for a village green picnic. No admission; price of purchases. 734-665-5632.

Saturday
Healthy School Lunches and Snacks Class. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods Saturday, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. School days are just ahead and as our schedules fill up with school events and after school activities. We also need to fill our plates with healthy supporting food. Learn tips and recipes to create healthy school lunches and after school snacks for your family that are simple and delicious. Your fee will be a donation to support our Salad Bar and School Garden Grant project. Learn how to apply for your school. Join Jan Kemp, Healthy Eating Specialist, for this fun and informative class. This Class is held in the Cooking and Lifestyles Classroom, and proceeds benefit Whole Kids Foundation Salad Bar and Garden Grant Program for Local Schools. $10. To register, call 734-975-4500.

11th Annual Harvest Party at Lone Oak Vineyard Estate. 5-9 p.m. Lone Oak Vineyard Estate, 8400 Ann Arbor Road, Grass Lake. Come and celebrate the harvest season with us at our 11th annual Harvest Party. Great music by "Wynwood", great food by Bone Island Grille, great estate grown wines, hourly drawings for gift baskets, bonfire at 9 (weather permitting).  We're putting up a 3,200-square=foot tent, so there's plenty of space for the party, rain or shine. $7 admission. 517-522-8167 or www.loneoakvineyards.com.

Fifth annual HomeGrown Festival. 6-10 p.m. Ann Arbor Farmers Market, 315 Detroit St.,
Ann Arbor. The HomeGrown Festival is a grassroots communityevent showcasing the best of our region’s locally grown food, drink, music and fun. Held under the historic Ann Arbor Farmers' Market pavilion, the volunteer-organized HomeGrown Festival showcases a vibrant and sustainable local food system and seeks to strengthen community food security in Southeast Michigan. Chefs committed to cooking with seasonal, local food will offer small-plate portions ($1-$7) of creative dishes sourced from area farms. For adults over age 21, tasting portions of dozens of Michigan's small producer beer, wine, mead, and hard-ciders will be available for purchase. In addition, the festival hosts a line-up of popular bands (with dancing), special activities for kids, a silent auction, an artisan market, tastings and chef demonstrations, and many opportunities for learning about the people and places that make up this region's diverse andproductive foodshed. Project Grow Community Gardens will be celebrating their 40th anniversary, and bringing more than 50 varieties of heirloom tomatoes to taste. No admission charge. For more information, visit homegrownfestival.org/.

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.

Second Saturday Coffee Tour. 11 a.m.-noon Zingerman’s Coffee Co., 3723 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. One of Zingerman’s Coffee managing partners, Allen Leibowitz or Steve Mangigian, offers a free tour of the coffee company and talk about the intricate world of java. Free. 734-929-6060.

Sunday
VVA Chapter 310 Tenth Annual Pig Roast. Time TBD. VFW Graf-O’Hara Post 423, 3230 S. Wagner Road, Ann Arbor. Enjoy a pork dinner with all the fixin's. There will be bucket drawings for many items. Military merchandise will be for sale, and live music provided by "Shelter Dogs." All proceeds go to support the troops. $10 for adults, $5 for children 6-12. children younger than 6 can eat for free. 734-662-3972.

Halcyon Daze Festival 2012. Noon-9 p.m. Corner Brewery, 720 Norris St., Ypsilanti. After long works weeks and crazy nights we have all cherished our lazy Halcyon Sundazes this summer and it’s time to come out for the laziest of them all (you’ve earned it). Corner will be brewing up halcyon vibes all afternoon as we celebrate our annual Halcyon Daze Festival. Since Halcyon Sundaze began in the beer garden we’ve always embraced the essence of Halcyon vibes of community, art, and music. On top of Halcyon Sundaze, we are celebrating the Halcyon seasons on a larger scale by having an expanded event that will feature local vendors, artists, nonprofits and musicians in our parking lot to provide extra fun and mutual benefit for all. In commemoration of the new Arbor Brewing Co. brewery being open in India, the theme of the festival is Indian. We would love to see participants have fun and partake in the excitement by wearing Indian garb and/or put an Indian twist on their offerings. There is still plenty of space for local vendors and performers to show off their unique skills and interests during this special event! Participation is free, and applications and liability forms are available on the Halcyon Daze Festival website: http://www.halcyonsundaze.com/p/halcyon-daze-festival.html. Admission to the festival is free. 734-480-2739.

Preserving Traditions: Canning Tomatoes and Salsa. 2-5 p.m. Pittsfield Grange, 3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Ann Arbor. Can your tomatoes and salsa in good company. This is not so much a teaching workshop as a community canning bee. Bring your own tomatoes, jars and lids. Minor ingredients will be provided. $5-$10 sliding scale (Grange members free). RSVP to preservetrad@umich.edu or 734-769-1052. preservetrad@umich.edu.

Grandparents Day Golden Wine Tour. noon-5:30 p.m. Tour starts at Carson's American Bistro, 2000 Commonwealth Blvd., Ann Arbor. Gather in Ann Arbor to join our wine tour created for a day of exquisite tastes and beautiful friendships in the abundant Michigan countryside. Tours include wine and appetizers at a select Mainstreet Ventures Restaurant. Enjoy tastings at three Michigan wineries hosted by a Golden tour guide. Visit the website for other tour dates. $125. 800-300-5151 or events@goldenlimo.com or www.goldenlimo.com/winetours.

Monday
Health Benefits Of Indian Spices with author Veronica 'Rani' Sidhuat. 7-8:30 p.m. Ann Arbor District Library, downtown branch, 343 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor. Science is just catching up to what the ancients have known for thousands of years - spices and herbs are nature’s pharmacy. This timely topic will be discussed by Veronica “Rani” Sidhu M.A, author of Menus and Memories From Punjab: Meals To Nourish Body And Soul. This event also features a booksigning, and books will be on sale. Rani learned to cook north Indian dishes at the side of her Punjabi mother-in-law using an array of fragrant spices and herbs. Punjab is the “melting pot” of South Asia. Each of the invaders of that region brought their dishes with them. The best of the best survived - - making this one of the most popular cuisines around the world.  Rani will touch upon this history as she tells some fascinating stories. Attendees also will be able to taste a famous Punjabi dessert, Sevian (toasted vermicelli pudding) - a recipe from her cookbook. The talk is held in the Multi-Purpose Room. Free. 734-327-4555 or www.aadl.org.

Cocktail Class: Mad Men. 7:30 p.m. Live/The Last Word, 102 S. First St., Ann Arbor. New York, Madison Avenue, the 1960s: When men were men, women were women, and everyone knew how to make a decent Manhattan. Most certainly don't yearn for a return to traditional gender roles, but we could do worse than reinvigorating interest in the kind of simple but delicious cocktails that were a mainstay of 1950s and 60s entertaining, as seen on the AMC show Mad Men. This class will focus on applying today's standards for quality in cocktails to some classics like the Old Fashioned, Tom Collins and Manhattan. Along the way you'll learn about garnishing and glassware to make your drink look as good as it tastes. In honor of our theme, prizes will be awarded to everyone who comes dressed in period attire. $35. Register at http://www.tammystastings.com/shop.

Tuesday
Chicken Curry with the Works! 5:30-8 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Menu: Chicken Curry, Basmati Rice and Sooji Halwa. Instructor: Smriti “Simmi” Isaac. popular Indian dish that has as many different recipes as the number of spices that go into it. Learn a quick and simple method of preparing this comfort food that can be served with rice or rotis, and will satisfy every time. The meal will finish with Sooji Halwa (a dessert made with fine semolina roasted in clarified butter and seasoned with sugar, saffron and golden raisins). This class is held in the Cooking and Lifestyles Classroom. Tuition: $35. Materials fee: $15. Register on-line through www.wccnet.edu.

San Street Pop Up. 5:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. The Bar at 327 Braun Court, 327 Braun Court, Ann Arbor. San Street will host a new weekly pop-up series to be held every Tuesday at the Bar at 327 Braun Court. San Street already serves really great Asian street food at Mark's Carts and will expand their menu beyond the already popular steamed buns and banh mi sandwiches to savory pancakes, dessert, dumplings, noodles, soups and more. No cover; price of purchases. 734-585-5440.

Phil’s Wine Discoveries. 4-6 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor, at the wine bar. A Whole Foods wine specialist leads tastings of three wines.  Free. 734-997-7500.

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
Preserving Vegetables Italian Style with Francesca Giarraffa. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Native Italian cooking instructor Francesca Giarraffa guides students through the steps to preserve garden vegetables using several techniques. The first, a pickling technique to create "giardiniera Emiliana" (pickled green tomato, bell pepper and onion "stew" cooked with vinegar and olive oil); next, oven roasted and marinated plum tomatoes (layered with olives, capers, anchovies, chilis, herbs and olive oil) and finally, grilled fresh marinated artichoke hearts (in red wine vinegar, olive oil, dried rosemary, oregano and garlic). This class is held in the Cooking and Lifestyles Classroom. Tuition: $39. Materials fee: $15. Register on-line through www.wccnet.edu.

2|42 Community Church fundraiser. 6 p.m. Gratzi, 326 S. Main, Ann Arbor.2|42 Community Church - Ann Arbor Campus is holding a special fundraiser at Gratzi. Tickets include free childcare (separate location); a silent auction, iPad raffle ($5 tickets) and a four-course meal to raise money for the mission trip that 10 church members are taking to Guatemala in October; most of the ticket is tax deductible. The team will build four homes for widows in five days, as well as support the local orphanage with various supplies. Dinner will include passed appetizers, salad, entree, and dessert. $75/person. http://242guatemalagratzi.eventbrite.com.

Salumi: The Craft of Italian Dry Curing 7 p.m. Nicola’s Books, 2513 Jackson, Ann ARbor. Detroit chef Brian Polcyn gives a cooking demonstration and discusses his new book. His previous book, "Charcuterie," was nominated for a James Beard Award. There will be a book signing. Free. 734-662-0600.

Wednesday Evening Farmers Market. 4:30-8:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Farmers Market, 315 Detroit St., Ann Arbor. At the Wednesday Evening Farmers Market, you'll find local produce and food from some of your favorite farmers and vendors from the Saturday and Wednesday markets, plus many innovative new vendors. There will be live music, food carts, and throughout the season a non-profit sponsored beer and wine garden, as well as educational food demos and more. Free admission. Visit www.a2gov.org/market for more information.

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, Sept. 13
Benefit Dinner: Community Farm of Ann Arbor. 6-9 p.m. Cobblestone Farm, 2781 Packard Road, Ann Arbor. The event includes food from Zingerman’s Roadhouse, a silent auction, and live entertainment by Chris Badynee, a Dearborn bassist who plays on a cardboard box upright bass he invented. Cash bar. $75-$200 in advance at communityfarm2012benefit.eventbrite.com. 734-433-0261.

Michigan Made: Arbor Brewing Company Beer Tasting. 7-9 p.m. Arbor Brewing Co., 114 E. Washington, Ann ARbor. This is a chance to sample and learn about more than two dozen of the state's best craft-brewed beers, including some hard-to-find specialty brews. Also, a drawing for beer-related prizes. The price of admission includes unlimited beer sampling and a German appetizer buffet. $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: All-American Zinfandels. 734-997-7500.

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