This coming week, in events that get to your heart through your stomach.
Highlights
Thursday, June 21
Who is Madison's top bartender? A few contenders will make their case for that title in The Ultimate Cocktail Event, a cocktail mixing competition that's part of the third annual edition of Summer Indulgence, a week of food festivities put on by Isthmus. Madison Club, 5 E. Wilson St., 6 p.m., $35. Purchase tickets Clips of Faith returns to town for another round of movies and microbrew. This is the third annual film tour and fundraiser presented by Salvatore's Tomato Pies will be serving hanger steak and roasted local vegetable kabobs over garlic toast, and NessAlla Kombucha will be available as a substitute for the beer. The Olin Park, 1156 Olin-Turville Ct., 7:30 p.m., free admission with $1.25 for 3 oz. beer sample and $5 12 oz. beer glass. Call 888-622-4044 for more info.
Saturday, June 23
As summer official arrives, so too do strawberries come into season, offering a sweet salve for the heat. This weekend will see community celebrations across the state marking the ripening of this fruit, including at the 25th annual StrawberryFest in Sun Prairie. Strawberries will be sold by the quart at this day-long festival hosted by the Colonial Club, 301 Blankenheim Ln., 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Call 837-4611 for more info.
Sunday, June 24
Picnic on the Farm, an annual fundraiser for the meal will be served at Cress Springs Farm, also home to "The Art of Cooking" exhibit, with more 60 south-central Wisconsin artists affiliated with the Biopharmaceutical Technology Center - Promega Gallery, 5445 E. Cheryl Pkwy., reception 4:30-6:30 p.m., exhibit running through September 7. Call 274-4330 for more info.
Wednesday, June 20
Terese Allen and Bobbie Malone book reading, with the authors of The Flavors of Wisconsin for Kids discussing state food traditions and conducting cooking demonstrations. Madison Children's Museum, 100 N. Hamilton St., 2 p.m., free with $8 admission. Call 256-6445 for more info.
Ice Cream Social, an annual fundraiser for the Lakeview Park, 6300 Mendota Ave., 5-8 p.m. Call 836-7614 for more info.
CSA Speaker Series, the second of four lectures in the , featuring a talk by Jeff Metoxen of the Oneida Nation's Food Project about "Tsyunhehkw," an 83-acre organic agricultural and cultural community. Goodman Community Center, 149 Waubesa St., 6:30 p.m., free. Call 226-0300 for more info.
Thursday, June 21
Town & Country Days, an annual four-day community Whole Foods Market, 3313 University Ave., 4:30-6 p.m., $10. Call 233-9566 for more info. Oregon Summer Fest, an annual four-day community food vendors, a softball tournament, the Summerfest Classic run/walk, a classic car show, carnival, parade, live music, and more. Kiser Firemen's Park, 245 Brook St., Oregon, 5-10:30 p.m. Thursday, 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-1 a.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Call 608-835-3697 for more info. Dane Fest, an annual four-day community festival, featuring a beer tent and grill, pork and chicken dinners, a softball tournament, the Heidi Festival, an annual three-day community Keg & Cork: Toast to a Cure, an annual benefit for the
Cross Plains World's Fair, annual three-day community Sun Valley Strawberry Festival, an annual community , 1650 Sun Valley, Beloit, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Call 608-365-7547 for more info.
First Tastes: Baby Food Making class at Nicki's Diapers, 739 N. High Point Rd., 10 a.m., free. Call 836-1211 for more info.
Herb Day at America's Best Flowers, 4311 Vilas Hope Rd., Cottage Grove, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., free. Call 222-2269 for more info.
Cannery Square Block Party, the seventh annual festival featuring food vendors, a beer garden, live music, and more. Cannery Square Plaza, Sun Prairie, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., free admission. Call 512-9743 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.
Radiate Hope Summer Festival, the sixth annual fundraiser in support of the Capital Brewery, 7734 Terrace Ave., Middleton, noon-4 p.m., free with donation suggested. Call 334-5051 for more info.
Nuestra Fiesta, an annual celebration of Latino culture hosted by Centro Hispano, 810 W. Badger Rd., noon-8 p.m., free admission. Call 255-3018 for more info.
Tour des Coops, a self-guided tour of backyard chicken coops around the Dog Days of Summer, a canine-themed festival and benefit for the Essen Haus, 514 E. Wilson St., 1-6 p.m. Call 255-4674 for more info.
An Evening with the Cranes, an annual fundraiser for the International Crane Foundation, E11376 Shady Lane Rd., Baraboo, 5-8 p.m., $60. Purchase tickets online, and call 608-356-9462 x. 121 for more info.
Sunday, June 24
Hava Nagila Jewish Community Picnic, an annual celebration hosted by the Goodman Jewish Community Campus, 7762 Hwy. PD, Verona, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., free. Call 278-1808 for more info.
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.
Whole Foods Market, 3313 University Ave., 2-3:30 p.m., $15. Call 233-9566 for more info.
Cooking It All: Spring Box class on CSA menu planning and cooking techniques, one in a , with instructors Deb Shapiro and Barbara Wright will using a season sample share to "provide weekly menu plans, recipes, tips, and techniques for healthy eating of a vegetable rich diet." Willy Street Co-op East, 1221 Williamson St., 4:30 p.m, $15. Call 226-0300 for more info.Monday, June 25
Whole Foods Market, 3313 University Ave., 4:30-6 p.m., $10. Call 233-9566 for more info.
Nutrient-dense foods discussion at the Madison chapter meeting of the Weston A. Price Foundation, with a focus on networking and farm sales. Wil-Mar Center, 953 Jenifer St., 7 p.m. Call 221-8696 for more info.
Save the date
Monday, July 9Wisconsin Cheese & Sommelier-Mixologist Duel, a Wisconsin cheese pairing competition, with L'Etoile wine and spirits specialists presenting a five-course cheese tasting menu. L'Etoile, 1 S. Pinckney St., 6:30 p.m., $65. Call 251-0500 for more info.
Sunday, July 15
Outlaw Dinner, with chef Kevin Tubb returning to present a five-course menu with tequila pairings and a signed copy of the Eldorado Grill Cookbook. Eldorado Grill, 744 Williamson St., 4:30 p.m., $65. Call 280-9378 for more info.
Sunday, September 16
Bike the Barns, the sixth annual , featuring a 60-mile route around western Dane County, with stops at Bleu Mont Dairy, , with a series of summer and its Reddan Soccer Park, 6874 Cross Country Rd., Verona, 8 a.m., pledge and no-pledge requirement fees for both rides. Register
