This coming week, in events that get to your heart through your stomach.
Highlights
Saturday, June 11
June, as all Wisconsinites know, is Dairy Month. (It's a difficult month for vegans.) That's pretty much the driving force behind breakfast-on-the-farm events, which now crop up in most counties across the state. Dane County outdoes itself this year with its 33rd annual Breakfast on the Farm, which features a live broadcast of Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know. But we are only really concerned with the menu for the meal. This includes cheesy scrambled eggs, sausage, cream cheese coffee cake, strawberry ice cream sundaes, "cheese of many varieties," and "milk in various flavors." Poetry on a plate. On the farm. Haag Family Farm, 6868 Buethin Rd., Dane, 7-11 a.m., $6 and $4 ages 2-11. Call 577-8990 for more info.
You are probably as familiar with the "Taste of" concept as you are with June as dairy month. Taste of Mount Horeb is a decent taste-of to, well, taste, as the town is home to several unique restaurants that we hope will be participating in the event. It's all part of the Mount Horeb 150: Sesquicentennial series of celebrations throughout the year. District #1 Old Schoolhouse, 110 N. Second St., 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Call 608-437-6828 for more info.
Even if you have seen cheese made before, this Old Time Cheesemaking demonstration is worth the drive. This is a rare chance to see Swiss cheese made the old fashioned way, by hand-stirring, at the restored Imobersteg Farmstead Cheese Factory, part of the Eine Kleine Kaserie (A Small Cheese Factory) will be official released. It's all part of the Smithsonian's Imobersteg Farmstead Cheese Factory, 2108 6th Ave., Monroe, 9 a.m.-mid-afternoon. Call 888-222-9111 for more info.
Sunday, June 12
We love Ethiopian food, and if we are not speaking everybody here in this sentiment, well, too bad. The Clinic at a Time benefit will feature homemade Ethiopian dishes (meat, vegetable, or combo) and the Ethiopian cuisine cookbook You Can Make Injera will be for sale. Proceeds benefit the local initiative Capital Brewery, 7734 Terrace Ave., Middleton, 2-5 p.m., $5 donation. Call 239-3091 for more info.
More events this week
Wednesday, June 8
Creative Container Gardening class, with instructor Erin Schneider covering "tips and tools for getting started with an emphasis on growing organically, soil building, multiple functions for your plants, design tips, and selecting the right plants for the right spaces." Willy Street Co-op West, 6825 University Ave., 6:30-8:30 p.m., $15 owners and $25 all others. Call 284-7800 for more info.
Thursday, June 9
Food Drive at the Zoo, with donations of nonperishable items going to the Henry Vilas Zoo 100th anniversary celebrations. Henry Vilas Zoo, 702 S. Randall Ave., 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 258-9490 for more info.
Verona Hometown Days, a four-day annual Friday, June 10 St Luke's Parish Festival, a three-day annual
"Clips of Faith" Beer and Film Tour, the second annual , featuring screenings of independent shorts created by Olin Park, 1156 Olin-Turville Ct., 7:30 p.m. Call 251-4456 for more info.
Saturday, June 11
Ride to Farm, the eighth annual bicycle ride and Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers, with participants riding a 56-mile two-stage tour around southern Dane and northern Green counties, and stopping for visits at the grass-based Tom Grady and Tim Pauli dairy farms near Oregon and Belleville, respectively, and lunch in New Glarus. Goodland County Park, Shelter #2, 2862 Waubesa Ave., Town of Dunn, 8 a.m.-end, $50 in pledges with registration in advance. Call 265-6437 for more info.
Taste of the Arts Fair, the 29th annual festival sponsored by the Taste of the Dells, the two-day annual food Cesky Den, the two-day 29nd annual Free community meal prepared by volunteers. Wil-Mar Center, 953 Jenifer St., 11:15 a.m., free. Call 257-4576 for more info.
Marquette Waterfront Festival, the two-day 22nd annual festival and benefit put on by the Yahara Place Park, 2025 Yahara Pl., noon-8 p.m. Saturday, 11:45 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. Call 241-7143 for more info.
Greener Wiener, a grill-out fundraiser for Willy Street Co-op East, 1221 Williamson St., 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., $5. Call 251-6776 for more info.
Booze, Beer & Brewers Tour, an all-day excursion organized by Vintage Brewing leading participants on a circuit that includes the Great Lakes Distillery, Milwaukee Ale House, and Miller Park. Glass Nickel Pizza-Atwood, 2916 Atwood Ave., 11 a.m.-11 p.m., $90. Call 467-5707 for more info.
Sunday, June 12
Pancake breakfast, a monthly fundraiser for Wil-Mar Center, 953 Jenifer St., 8:30-11 a.m., $8.50 adults and kids free. Call 259-9050 for more info.
REAP snack prep, with volunteers needed to prepare and package fresh, healthy, and locally-grown treats for kids at 14 elementary schools around Madison. 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.
Monday, June 13
Wisconsin Future Farmers of America Convention, a four-day annual gathering hosted by the Alliant Energy Center - Exhibition Hall, 1919 Alliant Energy Way, Monday-Thursday. Call 715-659-4807 for more info.
Party on the Lake, an annual fundraiser for Bishops Bay Country Club, 3500 Bishops Dr., Middleton, 5:30-9 p.m., $55. Call 661-4178 for more info.
Illini 4000 for Cancer Dinner, a potluck fundraiser for the , 2833 Raritan Rd., Fitchburg, 6 p.m., bring a dish to pass, donations accepted. Call 271-2811 for more info.
Save the date
Wednesday, June 15
Mad City Bloomsday, a celebration of James Joyce's Ulysses and fundraiser for the Brink Lounge, 701 E. Washington Ave., Ste. 105, 5-7 p.m., $25. Please RSVP by June 10, and call 255-1166 for more info.
Saturday, June 18
Rhapsody in Bloom, a semi-formal benefit gala for Olbrich Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave., 5-10 p.m., $110. Please RSVP by June 10, and call 246-5616 for more info.
Monday, June 20
Concert on the Green, the 17th annual fundraiser for the Madison Symphony Orchestra League, featuring a gourmet picnic, cocktail party, performances by MSO musicians, a silent auction, and a raffle. Bishops Bay Country Club, 3500 Bishops Dr., Middleton, 4:45 p.m., $80. Please RSVP by June 10, and call 238-1680 for more info.