Today

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: Wines of Michigan. 734-997-7500.

Tips with Tips: Basic Cake Decorating. 5:30 p.m. Zingerman's Bakehouse, 3711 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. Before people find out how good the cakes taste, they comment on how good they look. Decorating might be the funnest part of cake making and it’s your chance to really put your personal touch on what you’ve baked. Learn the basics for a finished cake. We’ll split several cakes, crumb coat and ice them, and then add borders and a few flowers. Practice makes perfect so you’ll get plenty of that. You'll leave with basic knowledge to decorate cakes at home and 1 decorated cake you made in class. $100. Register at http://www.bakewithzing.com/class.php?id=5.

6th Annual Ann Arbor Trout Unlimited Conservation Banquet. 6:30-10:30 p.m. Barton Hills Country Club and Golf Course, 730 Country Club Road, Ann Arbor. Come join us at the Ann Arbor Trout Unlimited sixth annual conservation banquet. Enjoy a fantastic meal at Barton Hills Country Club, cocktails, fellowship and a chance at a long list of raffle and auction items. Visit our website www.AnnArborTU.org for more information, the prize list and to purchase tickets on-line. $95. 734-663-8511.

Risotto 101. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. This class is offered through WCC, but is held at Ann Arbor Cooks. Creating a great risotto is not as difficult as some would have you believe. Come dispel the myths and learn to create this classic Italian dish. In this full-participation class, discover the ways that it pairs beautifully with the cold weather months. Menu: risi e bisi (Venetian-style risotto with peas & prosciutto), risotto verde, red wine risotto, and risotto with asparagus, fresh peas and lemon zest. $65. www.wccnet.edu/lifelong-learning/.

Beer tasting: Hop Heads. 7-9 p.m. Arbor Brewing Co., 114 E. Washington, Ann Arbor. A chance to sample and learn about more than two dozen of the extremely hoppy beers. There will also be 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.

Friday

Hands-on: French Cuisine II with Brigette Romero. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Hollander's, 410 N. Fourth Ave., first floor of the Kerrytown Shops, Ann Arbor. This popular hands-on class features tomatoes with hot artichoke coulis, duck breasts with cider sauce, and steamed potatoes with herbs. For dessert, you will make delicious profiteroles (cream puffs) filled with Chantilly cream and topped with chocolate sauce. Class limit is 8. $65. 734-741-7531.

Girls Night Out! 6:30-9:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Come on ladies — this is your perfect opportunity for a fun night out. Grab your friends and join us for great food and great company. Menu: Bubble-0-7 Martinis; Bloody Mary shrimp cocktail; cucumber melon gazpacho shooters; green goddess martini with arugula and grilled chicken satay; Bailey's chocolate mousse martinis. $65. 734-645-1030.

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

Sustainable Earth: Buy Local Meet the Producer Event. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Meet some of our local entrepreneur vendors and learn their stories. Taste the delicious products they produce locally. Consider the importance of buying locally produced products to build our local economy and the positive environmental impact. Free. 734-975-4500.

Sunday

Golden Wine Tour. Noon-5:30 p.m. Carson's American Bistro, 2000 Commonwealth Blvd., Ann Arbor. Gather in Ann Arbor to join our fabulous 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. Today and again July 29, tours start at Carson's. Tours are $60 and up. Visit www.goldenlimo.com/winetours or call 800-300-5151.

Cookies Three Ways with Brian Steinberg. 1-2 p.m. Hollander's, 410 N. Fourth Ave., first floor of the Kerrytown Shops, Ann Arbor. There is nothing better than fresh out of the oven cookies. Brian provides his unique twist on three favorites: Smoked sea salt chocolate chip, fresh ginger oatmeal and lemon sugar cookies. $16. 734-741-7531.

Parent/Child Pizza Party! 1-3:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Bring a child (or two!) and learn to make your pizza dough and sauce. Practice preparing your favorite toppings while your dough rises. This class is for a parent with child(ren) 6-12 years old. $65 per parent + 1 child or $95 per parent + 2 children. 734-645-1030.

Arbor's Day of Bliss. All day. Arbor Brewing Co., 114 E. Washington, Ann Arbor. Arbor Brewing is excited to officially release its summer favorite, the Bavarian Bliss for the season! This summer specialty is made with 50 percent malted wheat for a clean, light, refreshing character, plus a special Bavarian yeast that creates the classic cloudy appearance and banana, clove and lemon character. No cover charge. 734-213-1393.

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

Monday
Spring Wine Show. 6-9 p.m. The Common Grill, 112 S. Main St., Chelsea. Although opening night for Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights is months away, organizers of the summer-long event have been busy planning the event, scheduling performers and fund raising. Kicking off this year’s campaign again is the spring wine show on Monday, April 16. Guests will be treated to wide selection of Chef Craig Common’s appetizers and desserts as they sample over 70 wines from various wine vendors. Wines will also be for sale that evening by the bottle or the case. All proceeds from the event benefit Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights and the Sounds & Sights Festival (formerly known as Summer Fest). There will also be a drawing for door prizes at the end of the event. $50. 734-475-0470.

Open dance and wine tasting. 6 p.m.-close. Passport Restaurant and Lounge, 3776 S. State St., Ann Arbor. Open dancing and free wine tasting from 6 p.m. to close. No cover charge; price of purchases. 734-222-1111.

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

Zingerman's Artisan Dinner. 7-10 p.m. Zingerman's Roadhouse, 2501 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor. Good food made at Zingerman’s is full-flavored and traditionally made, using real ingredients and intense flavors. The Roadhouse is honored to host the first Zingerman’s Artisan Dinner showcasing the many artisan food producers and their good food made in Ann Arbor. Zingerman’s Bakehouse bakers Amy Emberling and Frank Carollo, Zingerman’s Creamery cheesemakers John Loomis and Aubrey Thomason, Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory candymaker Charlie Frank and Zingerman’s Coffee Company coffee roasters Allen Leibowitz and Steve Mangigian share their personal stories, the history of their businesses and why the food they make is special. $50. www.zingermansroadhouse.com.

Caribbean Pork Scaloppini. Noon-1 p.m. Hollander's, 410 N. Fourth Ave., first floor of the Kerrytown Shops, Ann Arbor. Caribbean Pork Scaloppini with Marge Biancke. Spice up your menu planning with this Caribbean themed meal. Marge will show you how to prepare Pork Scaloppini with Pineapple Salsa and Pineapple Orange Cake. $16. 734-741-7531.

Beer Tasting: Brewery Vivant. 5-7 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor. Just in time for Earth week, enjoy brews from the first LEED-certified Michigan brewery: Brewery Vivant. Pricing varies; usually $6 for six tastes. 734-997-7500.

Bakin' with Bacon. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Zingerman's Bakehouse, 3711 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. You'll be using the power of bacon to flavor three amazing baked goods, all in honor of the release of the Zingerman's Guide to Better Bacon book (on sale now at all Zingerman's locations). You'll make a similar version of their wildly popular peppered bacon farm bread, bacon cheddar scones found in the book and bacon pecan sandy cookies. You'll leave with a few tested recipes, the knowledge to recreate them at home, and everything you made in class. $100. Register online at http://www.bakewithzing.com.

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

Wine from Australia and New Zealand: A New World of Wines. 6-9 p.m. Washtenaw Community College - Morris Lawrence Building, 4800 E. Huron Drive, Ann Arbor. Australia and New Zealand are part of the New World of wine producers who have a reputation for being able to merge traditional wine-making processes with innovations in blending, marketing and growing technologies. Their wines provide a fruit forward flavor profile that is not about sweetness, but about the initial onset of fruit taste, which can make these wines friendly and approachable for new wine drinkers. From affordable to collectible, wines from "down under" offer diversity and value. During this session you'll get to know the key growing regions and taste their distinct wine styles. $40. 734-677-5060.

Rustic Italian Cooking: A Taste of Northern Italy with Francesca Giarraffa. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Travelers to Italy may be surprised at the diversity of its regional cuisine. We invite you to spend two delicious culinary evenings with our native Italian cooking instructor exploring dishes from northern Italy. Each night a complete rustic Italian meal featuring an entree, side dish and dessert will be prepared and enjoyed together. Week one includes braciato al barolo (braised beef in a rich red wine sauce with vegetables and spices, served with roasted fennel au gratin), spinach and radicchio salad (with toasted walnut and mustard vinaigrette) and apple cake (baked with currants and topped with fruit glaze, served with homemade whipped cream). Week two includes ossobuco e risotto (braised veal shank cooked in white wine and chicken stock, then topped with a vegetable gremolata made of fresh herbs, diced tomatoes and lemon zest, served with saffron risotto), baked mushroom caps (stuffed with bread crumbs, garlic, chopped porcinis and parsley), and pinolata (homemade cream tart baked with pine nuts). This class is held in the Cooking and Lifestyles Classroom. Tuition: $79. Mandatory fee: $19. Students may register on-line through www.wccnet.edu.

Gluten-Free Gourmet. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Are you living with a gluten allergy or intolerance and a little overwhelmed in the kitchen? These classes are designed to help you out with education and plenty of new ideas. April menu: Breakfast rice pudding; healing miso soup; sesame ginger noodle bowl; orange ginger chew cookies. This class is also 100 percent vegan. $65. 734-645-1030.

Wednesday Wine Tasting. 6:30 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, April 19

Health Starts Here: Three Easy Recipes. 6:30 pm. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor. Join Rory as he demonstrates three easy recipes from our Health Starts Here program: Black bean salad with avocado-lime dressing; grapefruit avocado salad; and mushroom, chard and caramelized onion tacos. $10. To register, call 734-977-7500 or stop by the customer service desk.

Savory Pies. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Zingerman's Bakehouse, 3711 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. Is it dinner or a pastry? In this class we'll delve in to a few of the delicious savory pies found in just about every culture, like the empanada, so common in Spain, Portugal, Central and South America, and the knish, a Jewish staple in Eastern Europe. How about the pasty, served up by the thousands in Michigan's Upper Peninsula? You'll leave with the knowledge to make these pies at home, several recipes and everything you made in class. $125. 734-761-7255.

Coney Dog and Root Beer Float Night. 5-8 p.m. American Legion Post #419, 9807 Whitewood Road, Pinckney. $1. 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: Eco-friendly wines. 734-997-7500.

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