Culinary Calendar

Starlight Children’s Foundation-Northwest Benefit - Make a minimum donation of $5 and enjoy free appetizers and drink specials. Held every Wednesday in October and November from 3-6 p.m. All proceeds benefit seriously ill children and their families. Applebee’s South Hill, 2107 E. 29th Ave. (509) 321-0799.

Cooking Classes at The Kitchen Engine - October classes include: today at 6 p.m., Gnocci with Tiffany White, $35; Thursday at 6 p.m., Beef Short Ribs with Chef Mark Steinmetz, $39; Sunday at 2 p.m., Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos Cuisine with Chef Lynne Wiedemann, $39. Pre-registration is required. The Kitchen Engine, 621 W. Mallon No. 416. (509) 328-3335.

Viva Italia! - A pre-concert fundraising dinner presented by the Washington Idaho Symphony. Enjoy a four-course, Italian gourmet meal and a complimentary glass of wine. Reservations are required by Thursday. Nov. 5. 5 p.m., Gladish Community and Cultural Center, View Room, 115 NW State St., Suite 212 A, Pullman. $55 per person ($30 of which is tax deductible); $440 for a table of eight. (509) 332-3408.

Spokane Public Market - Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit www.spokanepublicmarket.org. 24 W. Second Ave. (509) 624-1154.

“Murder at the Speakeasy”- A murder mystery dinner set in the 1920’s. Reservations are required. Shows Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.lionaround.org. The Lion’s Share, 1627 N. Atlantic Ave. $40 for dinner and show. (509) 327-1113.

Free Scary Face pancakes - Local IHOP restaurants will be giving out free Scary Face pancakes to children age 12 and under. Each oversized buttermilk pancake can be decorated with whipped cream, strawberry, Oreo cookies and candy corn. Spokane Valley locations are at the Spokane Valley Mall and near Costco on East Sprague. Friday. 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

2011 Harvest Moon Auction and HalloWine Tasting - Eighth annual auction and wine tasting to benefit the Spokane Fantasy Flight and the Inland Northwest Business Travel Association’s scholarship fund. Friday. 5:30-9 p.m., Mirabeau Park Hotel and Convention Center, 1100 N. Sullivan Road, Spokane Valley. $45/person. (509) 789-8867.

Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre - Second annual event to benefit the Kootenai County Chapter of Crime Stoppers. Featuring a social hour, auction, dinner and performance. Friday. 6 p.m., Best Western Coeur d’Alene Inn, 506 W. Appleway Ave., Coeur d’Alene. $45/individual or $80/couple. 1-800-251-7829.

Cooking Classes at the Historic Greenbriar Inn - Classes and events include: Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Authentic Mexican Cooking with Chef Lynne Wiedemann; Nov. 5, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Souffles with Chef David; Nov. 7, 6-9 p.m., Healthy and Easy Meals for Your Family with Head Chef Derek Eakin; Nov. 12, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Make-Ahead Meals with Kris McIlvenna; Nov. 14, 6-9 p.m., Gluten Free Cooking with Chef Derek; Nov. 19, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Freeze Ahead Appetizers with Kris McIlvenna. Pre-registration is required. Historic Greenbriar Inn, 315 E. Wallace Ave., Coeur d’Alene. $45 per class. (208) 667-9660.

Apple Festival - Runs through Sunday. Visit www.greenbluffgrowers.com for map of growers. Green Bluff.

Mixing for Mobius (NOTE DATE CHANGE) - Sixth annual with martinis, dinner and auction to benefit Mobius Kids Children’s Museum. Previous date was Oct. 7. Saturday. 5:30-9:30 p.m., Northern Quest Casino, 100 N. Hayford Road, Airway Heights. (509) 624-KIDS, ext. 305.

Moran Prairie Annual Harvest Dinner - Turkey and all the trimmings and homemade pie. Sunday. Noon-3 p.m., Moran Prairie Grange Hall, 61st and Palouse Highway. $10/adults, $8/ages 5-12, free/age 4 and younger. (509) 922-2113.

“Haunting Sounds of Broadway” (CANCELLED as of Oct. 24) - Enjoy a four-course dinner and an evening of music from “The Phantom of the Opera,” Gruber’s “Frankenstein,” “Jekyll and Hyde” and more. Proceeds will benefit Showkidz, a program that provides Broadway show experiences and education to local organizations that serve the Spokane community. Sunday. 5 p.m., The Steam Plant, 159 S. Lincoln St. $95/person. 1-800-325-SEAT.

Co-op’s Good Food Book Club - Presented by the Moscow Food Co-op. Group will discuss “The $64 Tomato: How One Man Nearly Lost His Sanity, Spent a Fortune, and Endured an Existential Crisis in the Quest for the Perfect Garden,” by William Alexander. Sunday. 7-8:30 p.m. Event will be held at a private residence. Email bookclub@moscowfood.coop for directions, Moscow, Idaho. (208) 882-8537.

Feed Cheney Free Dinner - Open the last Monday of the month. There will also be free groceries for participants to take home and a clothing bank. No paperwork is required. Clothing bank opens at 5 p.m. and dinner is from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28 and Dec. 26. Wren Pierson Community Center, 615 Fourth St., Cheney. (509) 324-1659.

Scandinavian Bazaar - Bazaar from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., with lefse, Scandinavian cookies, meatballs and flatbread; Kaffe Stua from 9-11 a.m., with homemade desserts served by women in traditional Scandinavian dress. Nov. 4, Central Lutheran Church, 512 S. Bernard St. (509) 624-9233.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Benefit Breakfast - To raise money and educate individuals in the Spokane community about the mentoring program. Reservations requested. Nov. 4, 7:30-8:30 a.m., Northern Quest Resort and Casino, 100 N. Hayford Road, Airway Heights. Donation. (509) 328-8310, ext. 223.