Special events
You could use a drink
Madison Cocktail Week started yesterday, and it's only five days long, so time's a-wastin'. Events continue from Feb. 26 to March 1, including a "Highland Luau" at Genna's on Feb. 26 at 10 pm; JR Mocanu bringing mezcal and tequila to Forequarter Feb. 27 at 10 pm; and a plethora of hangover brunches on March 1. See the complete schedule at madisoncocktailweek.com.
You don't have to bring a dish
The MACN Potluck is the culmination of MACN Week (a week full of chef-driven creativity at restaurants across the city) in the form of a fundraiser for Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin. Perhaps it's less potluck than small-plate extravaganza plus craft cocktails from 20 chefs. It's 5-8 pm March 15, at Sardine, 617 Williamson St. $75; tickets available at isthmustickets.com.
You should not be slow
It's not a great idea to wait to buy tickets to the popular SloPig celebration of heritage pork and craft punch competition. This year, the fifth iteration of the Madison event will feature chefs Chris Pandel of the Bristol in Chicago, Thi Co of Buckley's and Justin Aprahamian of Sanford in Milwaukee, and Dan Bonanno of A Pig in a Fur Coat and Tory Miller of L'Etoile in Madison. 5 pm, March 22, at the Madison Club, 5 E. Wilson St. $100/VIP $150, tickets available at isthmustickets.com.