This coming week, in events that get to your heart through your stomach.
Highlights
Saturday, February 25
Beekeeping is so much the latest in urban locavorism that we're expecting a Portlandia segment to crop up any day now. Learn about the bee beat today at two workshops for "new-bees" (sorry) -- Beekeeping for Beginners and Fundamentals of Beekeeping, both organized by the president Tim Fulton, with a class taught by Charles and Karen Lorence of Illinois. Warner Park Community Recreation Center, 1625 Northport Dr., 9 a.m.-4 p.m., $60, call 221-0521 for more info.
Capital Brewery celebrates the start of bock beer season -- and spring with a legendary and popular blowout known, sensibly, enough, as Bockfest. If you already scored a VIP ticket, bully for you. Others can try to get in when doors open at noon, but there are only about 500 available spots for those who want to line up early. Those who get in will enjoy the tapping of the new season's Blonde Doppelbock, along with food, beads, live music, and the Running of the Blondes 1K race. Watch out for flying fish. Capital Brewery, 7734 Terrace Ave., 11 a.m.5 p.m., $10. Call 836-7100 for more info.
Indugence, an annual fundraiser for tasting from nearly two-dozen Wisconsin wineries and chocolatiers. Olbrich Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave., 5:30-8:30 p.m., $25 public and $20 members with $15 admission for designated drivers. Call 246-4550 for more info.
Sunday, February 26
What better locale for a chili cook-off than a club called the cooking contest features competitors in the categories of spicy, vegetarian, carnivorous, "unusual," and all-around-best. Sides include buttermilk biscuits, cornbread, deviled eggs, Rice Krispie treats, and all the usual chili toppings. Inferno, 1718 Commercial Ave., 6:30 p.m., $2. Call 245-9583 for more info.
More events this week
Tuesday, February 21
Step By Step into Raw class, with chef Amanda Fanning from Willy Street Co-op West, 6825 University Ave., 6-8 p.m., $15 owners and $25 all others. Call 284-7800 for more info.
Green Tuesdays, an educational series organized by Fresh, a 2009 documentary by Ana Sofia Joanes that "celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system." Oregon Public Library, 256 Brook St., Oregon, 6:30 p.m., free. Call 237-1957 for more info.
OutReach Mardi Gras, the fourth annual celebration and fundraiser in support of Club 5, 5 Applegate Ct., 6 p.m.-bar time, $10 donation. Call 255-8582 for more info.
Wednesday, February 22
Rooftop Seedlings, a weekly session for kids to explore gardening, composting, and cooking. Madison Children's Museum, 100 N. Hamilton St., 3:30 p.m., free with $8 admission. Call 256-6445 for more info.
Six Spices with Neeta Saluja class, with the chef preparing a menu of spicy lentil and vegetable sambhar, savory pancakes, and yogurt and lentil chutney. Willy Street Co-op West, 6825 University Ave., 6-8 p.m., $15 owners and $25 all others. Call 284-7800 for more info.
West African Cuisine class, with instructor Tina Osuocha preparing a menu of ankara balls, jollof rice, and egusi soup. 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, February 23
Whole Foods Market, 3313 University Ave., 6-7:30 p.m., $25. Call 233-9566 for more info.
Food Access, a hunger awareness workshop hosted by the Fighting Poverty Coalition, with participants conducting a grocery shopping and food pantry simulations that compares availability, prices, and location. St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 605 Spruce St., 6-8 p.m. Call 770-2049 for more info.
Green Thursdays, an educational series organized by Fresh, a 2009 documentary by Ana Sofia Joanes that "celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system." Edgewookd College - Anderson Auditorium, Predolin Humanities Center, 1000 Edgewood College Dr., 6:30 p.m., free. Call 663-2837 for more info.
The Chocolate War, a competition for teens featuring a cupcake decorating contest, candy bar guessing, chocolate trivia, and the "Ode to Chocolate" poetry contest. Middleton Public Library, 7425 Hubbard Ave., 7 p.m. Call 827-7402 for more info.
Friday, February 24
Madison Fishing Expo, the 27th annual three-day Alliant Energy Center-Exhibition Hall, 1919 Alliant Energy Way, 4-9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $8 and kids under 12 free. See Facebook and call 245-1040 for more info.
Whole Foods Market, 3313 University Ave., 4:30-6 p.m., $10. Call 233-9566 for more info.
Fish & Burger Night, the latest in a series of benefit dinners for the TEENworks program at the Ironworks Café, featuring a menu of fried walleye and beef or vegetable dinners, along with family-style pickled platters, dinner rolls, soup, and a kid's menu. Ironworks Café, 149 Waubesa St., 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. seatings, $16 entrees with other items for $3-7. See Facebook and call 241-1574 for more info.
Saturday, February 25
"Taste of the Market" breakfast at the Merchant preparing a menu of huevos rancheros with pulled pork or mushrooms, side salad (with pickled carrots, onions, leeks, and jalapeños), and pumpkin bread. Madison Senior Center, 330 W. Mifflin St., 8 a.m.-noon, $8 adults and $4 kids and smaller portions. Call 455-1999 for more info.
Evansville Farmers' Market, returning for a special indoor winter session. Cooking Up Poetry, a Black History Month celebration with a reading by recent Madison Poet Laureate Fabu and samples of traditional soul food. Madison Children's Museum, 100 N. Hamilton St., 10:30 a.m., free with $8 admission. Call 256-6445 for more info.
Joan Peterson book signing, with the author discussing her new book Eat Smart in Norway, published by Free community meal prepared by volunteers. Wil-Mar Center, 953 Jenifer St., 11:15 a.m., free. Call 257-4576 for more info.
Mount Horeb Wine Tasting Gala, a benefit in support of the Steampunk Gala, a steampunk-themed costume celebration of the 30th anniversary of Full Compass, 9770 Silicon Prairie Pkwy., 7 p.m.-midnight, $130. Purchase tickets online, and call 278-7990 for more info.
Sunday, February 26
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, February 27
Soup & Bread, a benefit supper in support of High Noon Saloon, 701A E. Washington Ave., 5-7 p.m., donations encouraged. See The Urban Gardener Part I: Laying the Groundwork for a Productive Year class, with instructors from Madison FarmWorks at Troy Community Farm covering intermediate and advanced gardening skills, including design and layout, planting schedules, crop rotation, cover cropping, and succession planting. Willy Street Co-op East, 1221 Williamson St., 6-8 p.m., $20 owners and $30 all others. Call 251-6776 for more info.
Family Dinner Night, a weekly meal hosted by The Crossing, 1127 University Ave., 6:30 p.m., $5. Call 257-1039 for more info.
Nutrient-dense foods discussion at the Madison chapter meeting of the Wil-Mar Center, 953 Jenifer St., 7 p.m. Call 221-8696 for more info.
Save the date
Tuesday, February 28
Herbal Tea: From the Garden to the Teacup, a class taught by Lauri Lee of the Olbrich Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave., 6 p.m., $40. Please RSVP by February 21 and call 246-4550 for more info.
The Good, the Bad & the Hungry: Wildlife in Your Garden, a class taught by Olbrich Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave., 6:30 p.m., $15. Please RSVP by February 21 and call 246-4550 for more info.
Thursday, March 1
Stunning Plants for Dazzling Effects, a class taught by Olbrich Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave., 6:30 p.m., $15. Please RSVP by February 23 and call 246-4550 for more info.
Saturday, March 3
Low Maintenance, Sustainable Gardening with Edibles, a day-long workshop taught by Roger Reynolds of Olbrich Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave., 9 a.m.-4 p.m., $50. Please RSVP by February 23 and call 246-4550 for more info.
Tuesday, March 6
Taste Traditions of Wisconsin, a monthly lecture and dinner series that features a Fur Trade-era menu and Betsey Means in character as early Portage settler Julliette Magill Kinzie telling stories from the book Wau-Bun: the Early Day in the Northwest. Wisconsin Historical Museum, 30 North Carroll St., 6:30, $30. Please RSVP by February 21, and call 264-6555 for more info.
