This coming week, in events that get to your heart through your stomach.
Highlights
Thursday, August 25
It's been really great weather for outdoor food fests and picnicking of all sorts. The first hint of fall in the air just makes you want to bake a pie, doesn't it? Or at least eat one. At the 46th annual Orton Park Festival there's an international dinner on Friday night that you can piece together yourself. On Sunday morning, it's the "Jazz Brunch" with tunes from the truly fabulous Sally DeBroux, breakfast goodies baked by the neighbors and coffee from Willy-area vendors. The cake walk on Sunday afternoon features "decadent cake-like things" again baked by folks from the neighborhood; it's not pie, but it will do. Food vendors will be on hand throughout the weekend-long festival, serving pizza, ice cream, and various other treats. Orton Park, 1103 Spaight St., 5:30 p.m.-close Thursday, 5 p.m.-close Friday, noon-close Saturday, 9 a.m.-close Sunday. Call 241-7143 for more info.
Saturday, August 27
Ice cream, thy name is sassy. The Sassy Cow Creamery outside Columbus again offers an ice cream social, with farm and creamery tours, music, games, and food. On the menu is root beer floats, cupcakes and ice cream, and pie and ice cream. Potosi BrewFest heartily recommend the experience. Located next to the Mississippi River in the southwestern corner of Wisconsin, Potosi is home to the revived National Brewery Museum. More than 20 breweries from Wisconsin and elsewhere around the region are participating, including Ale Asylum, Capital Brewery, the Great Dane, the Grumpy Troll, Dells Brewing, New Glarus Brewing, Sand Creek Brewing, Vintage Brewing, and others. Attendees will also be treated to samples from four home brewers, another quartet of wineries, Yahara Bay Distillers, and a handful of cheesemakers. Tickets include unlimited samplings of beer, wine and artisan cheese, a tasting glass, and admission to the museum. online, and call 608-763-4002 for more info.Ongoing
The recipe contest, the winners of which will form the fodder for its second cookbook. Its first, the local classic From Asparagus to Zucchini, is now in its third edition. The new book, with a working title of Farm-Fresh and Fast will focus on recipes designed for home chefs to prepare in under an hour (take that, Rachael Ray) although still using healthy, fresh local produce. Contest details and a submission form are Fruit Walk, a tour of the UW West Madison Agricultural Research Station, 8502 Mineral Point Rd., Verona, 6 p.m., free. Call 262-2257 for more info.
Sweet & Savory Summer Harvest class, with instructor Hallie Klecker of the blog Willy Street Co-op West, 6825 University Ave., Middleton, 6-8 p.m., $15 owners and $25 all others. Call 284-7800 for more info.
Wednesday, August 24
Vegan cream pies class, with instructor Cara Moseley, pastry chef at Green Owl Cafe, preparing three types of pies with different crusts and fillings. Willy Street Co-op West, 6825 University Ave., Middleton, 6-8 p.m., $15 owners and $25 all others. Call 284-7800 for more info.
City Chickens 101 class, with instructor Alicia Rheal of Willy Street Co-op East, 1221 Williamson St., 6-8 p.m., $15 owners and $25 all others. Call 251-6776 for more info.
Thursday, August 25
Discovery! Thursdays, a regular series of science presentations, with this edition featuring Meadowridge Library, 5740 Raymond Rd., 6:30 p.m., free. Call 288-6160 for more info.
Friday, August 26
Middleton Good Neighbor Festival, the 47th annual three-day community Fireman's Park, 7400 Lee St., Middleton, 4 p.m.-midnight Friday, 8 a.m.-midnight Saturday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Call 800-688-5694 for more info.
Taste of Portage Market Fair, an annual two-day community festival, featuring a food court, a car show and "cruise," an arts and crafts fair, live music, children' activities, and more. Market Square, corner of Hwy. 33 and Adams St., Portage, 4-9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday. Call 608- 742-6242 for more info.
Saturday, August 27
Community Gardens Bike Tour, the ninth annual family-friendly bicycle ride hosted by , Sheboygan Ave. off Segoe Rd. adjacent to the Hill Farms State Transportation Building, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., free. Call 246-4730 x. 208 for more info.
Garden Festival, the sixth annual harvest celebration at Rotary Gardens, 1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., free. Call 608-752-3885 for more info.
Free community meal prepared by volunteers. Wil-Mar Center, 953 Jenifer St., 11:15 a.m., free. Call 257-4576 for more info.Sunday, August 28
Savory Sunday, with volunteers need to prepare and serve a fresh, hot meal for the hungry. Lutheran Campus Center, 325 N. Mills St., 11 a.m. Call 233-6967 for more info.Sushi: Not Just Raw Fish! class, with instructor Paul Tseng preparing a menu of vinegared rice, Maki-roll, Nigiri-zushi, Tamaki, and "not-so-raw" Sashimi. Willy Street Co-op East, 1221 Williamson St., 11 a.m.-1 p.m., $15 owners and $25 all others. Call 251-6776 for more info.
Whole Foods Market, 3313 University Ave., 2-3:30 p.m., $15. Call 233-9566 for more info.The Principles of Baking: Cakes with Fresh Summer Fruits class presented by , with instructor Mary White demonstrating different methods of preparing cake batter using seasonal fruit. Honey Bee Bakery kitchen, 4611 Dovetail Dr., 2-4 p.m., $25 Slow Food members and $30 non-members. Purchase tickets online and call 442-0311 for more info.
Pressure Canning - Low Acid Foods, a workshop hosted by the Lakeview Lutheran Church, 4001 Mandrake Rd., 4-8 p.m., $25. Call 226-0300 for more info.
Monday, August 29
Get Fresh, a fundraiser and membership drive for patio by Chef Talish Barrow. Graze1 S. Pinckney St., 5:30-8 p.m., $10 donation. Call 251-7020 x. 18 for more info.
