Today

Thursday Night Rush Hour Relief at the Wine Bar. 5-7 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: 90 point rated wines. $17.

Health Starts Here Recipes-Party Pleasing Healthy Snacks. 1-4 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave. Join healthy eating specialist Jan Kemp on the sales floor to taste new Health Starts Here recipes each week through Dec. 17. 734-975-4500.

Wolverine Food Gatherers canned food drive. 3-11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon-midnight Friday and Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Wolverine Food & Spirits, 20460 Old US-12, Chelsea. Bring in a grocery bag full of really good food donations (Go to www.foodgatherers.org for ideas) and get $1 off any beer. Or, trade three bags of good food for a Mug Club Membership! The drive ends at 11 p.m., Dec. 21. No admission. 734-475-9014.

Friday

What is a Buche de Noel? 1-6 p.m. Zingerman's Bakehouse, 3711 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. Make all the components of this classic holiday treat: fluffy vanilla chiffon cake, walnut rum butter cream, chocolate butter cream and meringue mushroom decorations. Leave with the knowledge to make a Buche de Noel at home, a few recipes and a Buche de Noel you made in class. $125. Register online at www.bakewithzing.com/class.php?id=89.

Michigan Beer Tasting: TBA. 5-7 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor. Taste beers from a Michgan microbrewery - details TBA. $3 pints, $1 tastes.

Cheese Melts My Heart: a Fondue Party. 6-8 p.m. Zingerman's Creamery, 3723 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. Learn the basics of and taste variations on everyone's favorite comfort food: fondue! Just in time for your New Year's Eve bash (even if it's simply spent cozied up on the couch). $25.Reservations are required at 734-929-0500.

Saturday

16th Annual Cookie Walk. 10 a.m.-noon. St. Matthews United Methodist Church , 1344 Borgstrom Ave.,Ypsilanti. Dozens of decorative and tasty cookies, fudge and candies are made by the devoted women of St. Matthew’s for this annual fund raiser. Free admission. Containers are provided for purchases. 734-434-4398.

Pasta Factory opens its doors to the public. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Al Dente Pasta Factory, 9815 Main St., Whitmore Lake. For the month of December, the lobby of this Whitmore Lake Pasta factory, will be opened to the public on Saturdays from 11a.m.-2 p.m. for gift ordering and purchasing. aldentepasta81@gmail.com.

Learn to Make Fresh Mozzarella. Noon-2:30 p.m. Zingerman's Creamery, 3723 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. Come learn with the masters of mozzarella how to stretch your own from-scratch fresh mozzarella at home. $50 (or $45 if paid in advance). Reservations required at 734-929-0500.

Holiday tasting. 2-6 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor. Sample prepared dishes from the holiday menu. Free. 734-997-7500.

Holiday and New Year Entertaining with Wine. 4 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor. Kevin will lead a tasting of wines that are perfect for holiday entertaining. Appetizers will also be offered, with recipes available. Participants must be 21 or over. $10.

Michigan Brewers Guild Enthusiast tour. 1p.m. Original Gravity Brewing Co., 440 County St., Milan. Are you an Enthusiast Member of the Michigan Brewers Guild? If not, you should be. Members will get a guided tour of the brewery, complimentary tasting, light snacks and discounts on pints and growler fills. The tour is free, but reservations are required by calling 734-439-7490.

Sunday

Tours of the Creamery. 2 p.m. Zingerman's Creamery, 3723 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. Cheesemaker and managing partner John Loomis = gives the inside scoop on how they make artisan cheeses and old-fashioned gelato. $5. You will receive a $5 coupon to spend in The Cheese Shop. 734-929-0500.

Monday

Senior Lunch Program. 11:30 a.m. Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin Ave., Ann Arbor. Enjoy a nutritional lunch & socialize with friends, hosted by Ann Arbor Senior Center and Enrichment Program Services Mondays through Thursdays. $2.50 for seniors ages 60 and over. 734-794-6250.

Dining Out with Darren Schmidt, DC. 7-9 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor, in the Cooking and Lifestyles Classroom. Learn how to spot good food and the bad ingredients on the menu when dining out. Free, but registration is encouraged by calling 734-975-4500.

Tuesday

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.

Holiday coffee tasting. 10 a.m.-noon. Zingerman's Coffee Co., 3723 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. Stop by and taste a few of the coffees as they demonstrate the different brewing devices they have in the shop. Free. 734-929-6060.

The Original Downtown Ypsilanti Fall/Winter Farmers' Market. 3-7 p.m. Corner Brewery, 720 Norris St., Ypsilanti. More than 10 local produce growers, Zingerman's cheese and Grassfields Cheese, Pilar's Tamales (to go only), apple cider, and lots of delicious baked goods from the Ypsi Food Co-op, Maggie's Baked Goods, and Stone Hearth Bakery. No admission, price of purchases. 734-480-2739.

Wednesday

Wednesday Wine Tasting. 6-7 p.m. Paeasano’s, 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, Chef Isabella creates tasty appetizers to accompany the bold flavors. $25. 734-971-0484.

Dec. 23

Thursday Night Rush Hour Relief at the Wine Bar. 5-7 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: Cabernet Sauvignon $17.

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