Today
My Vegetarian Holiday Feast. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Whether you are vegetarian or not, odds are pretty good that you might be cooking for some this holiday season! Come learn some new and interesting dishes that are guaranteed to impress! Menu: Curried pumpkin bisque; arugula and apple salad with cranberry vinaigrette; maple-balsamic glazed tempeh with shallot and chestnuts; candied ginger pears. $75. www.annarborcooks.com.

Seafood Appetizers and Platters for the Holidays. 6 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower, Cranbrook Village shopping center. Laura will share some holiday favorites. Recipes and samples are included. Free. 734-997-7500.

Arbor Brewing Beer Tasting: Holiday Ales. 7-9 p.m. Arbor Brewing Co., 114 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor. This event is a chance to sample and learn about some two dozen festive holiday ales spiced with fruit, herbs, and spices. Included will be 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: Winter reds with caviar. $17. 734-997-7500.

Friday
Michigan Beer Tasting: Bell's Brewing Co.. 4-7 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 answer your questions. Prices vary; usually $6 for six tastes. 734-997-7500.

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
Holiday Cookie Exchange. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor.Celebrate the season with a massive cookie exchange. Enjoy an afternoon full of baking, snacks and holiday cheer. During class you will produce loads of cookies and share with your classmates at the end. Leave class with dozens of cookies to hand out as gifts to friends and family. Menu: Pear and walnut thumbprint cookies; chewy ginger molasses cookies; homemade fudge; cranberry-pistachio oat cookies; chocolate-dipped macaroons; red and green monster cookies. $95. www.annarborcooks.com.

Gingerbread Houses. Three sessions: 2-3:30 p.m. at Ypsilanti District Library - Superior Township branch, 8975 MacArthur Blvd.; and 11 a.m.-noon and 1-2 p.m. at the Whittaker branch, 5577 Whittaker Road, Ypsilanti. Children ages 5-12 may create a festive graham cracker house by adding candy and frosting. Limited to the first 20 participants each session. Free. 734-482-4110.

Citrus Showdown: A Battle of Epic Flavor . Noon-4 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor, in the produce department. Which citrus has the a-peel to make crowds go wild? You decide. Join Alsan in our produce department for a taste test featuring two of our citrus favorites - satsumas and clementines - in a battle for flavor. Vote your favorite for a chance to win five pounds of the citrus of your choice - clementines or satsumas. Free. 734-997-7500.

Food From Fiction . 3:30 p.m. Ypsilanti District Library - Michigan Avenue branch, 229 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti. Kids in grades three through six: Want to learn to cook? Love to read novels with great food scenes? Join us to cook and hear read alouds from Newberry winning authors such as Beverly Cleary, Polly Horvath, and Kate DiCamillo. Free. Registration is required at 734-482-4110 ext. 1390.

Saturday Farmers Market. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Ann Arbor Farmers Market, 315 Detroit St., Ann Arbor. Find local produce and food from some of your favorite farmers as well as educational food demos and more. Free admission. Visit www.a2gov.org/market for more information.

Sunday
Third Sunday Breakfast and photos with Santa. 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Pinckney Masonic Temple, 210 Mann St., Pinckney. Starting at 10 am you can have your picture taken with Santa for a donation. Santa's elves have been busy making Christmas cookies, molded chocolate candy and pretzels, cocoa mix, cookie mixes and scented coasters, which will be available to purchase. There is a Toy for Tots drop off collection box available, and the group is also accepting food donations for the community for Christmas. It will be delivered to Farley Elementary, where 44 percent of the children are below the poverty level. Eat, drop off toys for tots and food for the community, purchase cookies and candy and have your photo taken with Santa, and there may also be some caroling as well - all in one location. Admission is by donation. Treats available for purchase.

Brewing Methods. 1-3 p.m. Zingerman's Coffee Co., 3723 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor. Learn the keys to successful coffee brewing using a wide variety of brewing methods from filter drip to syphon pot. We will take a single coffee and brew it six to eight different ways, each producing a unique taste. We’ll learn the proper proportions and technique for each and discuss the merits and differences of each style. $10. 734-929-6060.

Monday
South Indian Cuisine with Smriti “Simmi” Isaac. 5:30-8 p.m. Ann Arbor Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor. Dosa, Potato Masala and Payasam - Come and learn to prepare one of the most popular South Indian dishes, a dosa (a crispy crepe made from a fermented batter of soaked rice and lentils). Dosas may be served as a meal at any time of the day - breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even as a snack. A “Masala” dosa is one with a savory and spicy mashed potato filling (you’ll learn how to make the masala from scratch). The meal will finish with a South Indian dessert called Payasam (a roasted vermicelli and sago pudding cooked in milk, raisins and almonds). This class is held in the Cooking and Lifestyles Classroom. $50. Students may register on-line through www.wccnet.edu.

Buche de Noel. 6-10 p.m. Ann Arbor Cooks, 5060 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. Come and create a classic French holiday dessert! Buche de Noel or "yule log" has been a continuing holiday tradition in many families across the globe. You will learn everything: chocolate almond sponge, chocolate buttercream, chocolate ganache, marzipan holly leaves and berries, and meringue mushrooms! Leave Ann Arbor Cooks with your beautifullydecorated Buche de Noel that night to share with your family and friends. $75. Register online at www.annarborcooks.com.

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.

Tuesday
VegMichigan Veg 101. 7-8:30 p.m. Cranbrook Whole Foods, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor. VegMichigan sponsors a fun and informative cooking class. Attendees will learn the nutritional aspects of a plant-based diet and taste samples of the prepared food. Presenters will discuss how easy it can be to transform a standard meal into a delicious plant-based (no meat or dairy) option. Free. Register at the Customer Service Desk or call 734-997-7500.

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
Rat Pad Release. 6 p.m. Corner Brewery, 720 Norris St., Ypsilanti. Local amateur and professional brewers create imaginative beers on our 10-gallon Rat Pad brew system. Corner Brew releases these brews on the third Wednesday of each month and serves them while supplies last. No cover. 734-480-2739.

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
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: Christmas wines. $17. 734-997-7500.

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