Monroe Street Merchants Association
This sign was made with dark chocolate by Maurie's Fine Chocolate.
This coming week, in events that get to your heart through your stomach.
Highlights
Tuesday, March 22
The Greenbush, the predominantly Italian neighborhood around Regent Street and the "Triangle," was uprooted with urban renewal projects in the 1960s, but it lives on in fragments and in memory. Celebrate it on Greenbush Day with dancing, ethnic foods and other entertainment. Even though "The Bush" has changed, there is still plenty to cherish. UW Welcome Center, 21 N. Park St., 4-6 p.m., free. Call 260-2674 for more info.
Friday, March 25
It's completely implausible that you won't have a good time at the Iron Chef Cook-Off hosted by the Tenant Resource Center. It's all hors d'oeuvre-sized. The chef teams face off against each other, trying to out-create each other with the secret ingredients. This year Michael and Corey Jacob face off against Laura Detert, Micheal Quieto and Kate Golden (stars of last year's competition) take on Jacque Pokorney, Steve Schooler and Marsha Mansfield will stir it up against Beth Zeier, and Roberto Yanez goes toque to toque with Brian Solomon. Audience members and celeb judges vote on the winners. It's all a benefit for the Center. Brink Lounge, 701 E. Washington Ave., Ste. 105, 5-7 p.m., $25. Call 257-0143 for more info.
Saturday, March 26
The second annual Monroe Street Chocolate Walk is kind of a cross between one of those runs for charity and a bar crawl, except that participants just walk from place to place and eat chocolate. Over 20 businesses in the 1700 to 3500 blocks of Monroe Street will give out chocolate treats and desserts; it's a fundraiser for the Maple Syrup Fest at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, a series of stations will show the various stages in the process. If you want to have some on pancakes, though, you're going to have to hit the diner on the way. Aldo Leopold Nature Center, 300 Femrite Dr., Monona, 1-3 p.m., $6 per person or $20 per family for Center members and $7 per person or $25 per family for non-members. Call 221-0404 for more info.
More events this week
Tuesday, March 22
Moving Food from Farm to Cafeteria, the second in a four-part UW Nelson Institute Community Environmental Forum series of panel discussions about "Building a Sustainable Food System." UW Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave., 5:30 p.m., free. Call 263-3063 for more info.
Wednesday, March 23
DNR public hearing seeking community feedback on inland trout fishing. DNR South Central Region Headquarters, 3911 Fish Hatchery Rd., Fitchburg, 6 p.m. Call 273-5946 for more info.
Six Spices with Neeta Saluja cooking class, with the chef preparing a menu of sambhar, oothappam, and yellow lentil chutney. 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, March 24
MadWest Farmers' Market organizational meeting, focusing on planning and launching a new neighborhood market in June. Lussier Community Education Center, 55 S. Gammon Rd., 5 p.m. Call 833-4979 x. 208 for more info.
Madison FarmWorks that focuses on gardening techniques like rotation and cover cropping, planting schedules and succession planting. Whole Foods Market, 3313 University Ave., 6-7:30 p.m., $25. Call 233-9566 for more info.
Clean, Vegan Cooking Together! class, with Rebecca Pozorski and Carrell Casey preparing a soy-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free menu of roasted kabocha squash with kale, basmati rise with cinnamon and cumin, and dark chocolate truffles. Willy Street Co-op West, 6825 University Ave., 6-8 p.m., $15 owners and $25 all others. Call 284-7800 for more info.
Immigrant Workers Union Banquet, a second annual fundraiser for Brink Lounge, 701 E. Washington Ave., Ste. 105, 6 p.m., $25. Call 335-0357 for more info.
Meals on Mad Rollin' Wheels, a fundraiser for the evening Meals on Wheels program operated by , 6430 Bridge Rd., Monona, 5:30 p.m., $50. Call 274-7900 for more info.
Salsa (and chips) with UNIDOS, an annual fundraiser for Cardinal Bar, 418 E. Wilson St., 5-7 p.m., $10. Call 256-9195 x. 103 for more info.
Friday, March 25
Six Spices with Neeta Saluja cooking class, with the chef preparing a menu of khichri, spinach kadhi, chicken kofta, and tapioca pudding. Willy Street Co-op West, 6825 University Ave., 6-8 p.m., $15 owners and $25 all others. Call 284-7800 for more info.
Bala's Friday Family Dinner Night, a special edition of the weekly meal hosted by preparing a menu of spinach chapathi wraps with spicy chick peas, vegetable biryani with dhansak, and coconut payasam. The Crossing, 1127 University Ave., 6:30 p.m., $5. Call 257-1039 for more info.
Saturday, March 26
"Taste of the Market" breakfast at the L'Etoile, preparing a menu of breakfast gyros (homemade flatbread filled with roasted lamb or mushrooms, as well as onions, eggs, and tzatziki sauce), spiced croissant, lemon-scented breakfast potatoes, Greek salad with feta cheese, and baklava. Madison Senior Center, 330 W. Mifflin St., 8 a.m.-noon, $7.50 adults and $3.75 kids and smaller portions. Call 455-1999 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.
Wine & Cheese Potluck, with guests asked to bring their favorites to share. Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society, 2010 Whenona Dr., 7-10 p.m., free. Call 271-8218 for more info.
Sunday, March 27
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 neeed 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.
Pies with Laurie Conrad cooking class, covering the preparation of pie crusts by hand or with food processors, as well as how to blind bake and make a double crust. Willy Street Co-op West, 6825 University Ave., 6-8 p.m., $15 owners and $25 all others. Call 284-7800 for more info.
Monday, March 28
Gluten Free Cooking Group with Judy Haight: Taco Monday cooking class, covering how to prepare tortillas. Willy Street Co-op West, 6825 University Ave., 6-8 p.m., $15 owners and $25 all others. Call 284-7800 for more info.
Bell's Oberon Kick Off, a release party for the summer seasonal made by Argus Bar Grille, 123 E. Main St., 6-9 p.m. Call 256-4141 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.
Save the date
April 1
Friday Night Out, a fundraiser for the Concourse Hotel, 1 W. Dayton St., 5:30 p.m., $85. Please RSVP by March 28, and call 231-8006 for more info.
Red Ribbon Affair, an annual fundraiser for the Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolen Dr., 6 p.m., $95 or $145 for a 5:30 p.m. reception. Please RSVP by March 25, and call 252-6540 for more info.
April 3
REAP Spring Gala, a benefit feast in which eight acclaimed local chefs will host and prepare a unique five- or six-course locally-oriented menu with wine pairings for a single table of 10 to 12 guests. Concourse Hotel, 1 W. Dayton St., 5:30 p.m., $150 or $550 for four and $2,500 for a full table. Please RSVP by March 23, and call 310-7836 for more info.
April 7
Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation fundraiser, featuring a talk by Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolen Dr., 5-10 p.m. $100. Please RSVP by March 25, and call 442-3720 for more info.
April 17
Tuscan Wine Dinner, with a six-course menu featuring bruschetta with chicken livers, zuppa di fragioli, tripa al Fiorentina, pasta with boar ragu, pork arista, and castagnaccio, each paired with an Italian wine. Harvest, 21 N. Pinckney St., 6 p.m., $65. Call 255-6075 for more info.
