Culinary calendar

Lunch Down Under - A benefit for Children’s Village. Lunch includes your choice of salmon or chicken, with chips, Caesar salad, bread and beverage; Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., The Outback Steakhouse, 1381 Northwood Center Court, Coeur d’Alene; $15. (208) 667-1189.

Japanese Food for the Soul - Cook, converse and enjoy culture. Classes are: Thursday, Obento Seasonal Box Lunch; Oct. 20, Rames rediscovered; and Oct. 27, Creative Sushi; 6-8 p.m., Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute, 4000 W. Randolph Road. $10 per class. 328-2971.

Wine Tasting Symposium – Second-annual event by the Community Colleges of Spokane Foundation and the Spokane Winery Association, and sponsored by Washington Trust Bank, to benefit the Spokane Community College Center for the Humanities. Wine experts Paul Gregutt, wine writer for The Seattle Times, and John Allen, owner of Vino! A Wine Shop will host. Tickets available at Vino!, 222 S. Washington; Thursday, 7-9 p.m., SCC, Lair Auditorium, 1810 N. Greene St. $75, includes three wine flights and light appetizers. 434-5123.

United Way Chili Cook-off - Sponsored by North Idaho College. Events include a chili and cornbread lunch, voting for team costumes and chili concoctions to the theme “Chili of the World,” a bake sale and silent auction; Friday, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Edminster Student Union Building, Lake Coeur d’Alene Room, Coeur d’Alene; $5/general, $3/students. (208) 769-3403.

Oktoberfest Dinner - Presented by East Central Community Center with proceeds benefiting low-cost senior activities. Dinner includes German sausage, bun, sauerkraut, German-style noodles, German-style potatoes, apple strudel, ice cream and German chocolate cake and a beverage; Friday, 5 p.m., 500 S. Stone St.; $5. 625-6693.

Spaghetti feed - Hosted by the Elks Lodge; Friday, 5:30-7 p.m., 2605 N. Robie Road, $5. 926-2328.

Feast of the Arts - A culinary experience showcasing food, Northwest wines, art, music and theater, held the night before WSU home football games. Feasts will be Friday, as well as Nov. 4 and 11. Visit wsu.edu/feast for menus and reservations; 6 p.m., Washington State University, Todd Hall Dining Room 268, Pullman; $50/includes gratuity. 335-DINE or (877) 978-3868.

Carl’s Picks o’ the Month - Taste new wines to be added to the shelves; Friday, 7 p.m., Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd Ave.; $20. 343-2253.

Apple Festival - Harvest festival is Saturdays-Sundays, through October. Enjoy a large variety of apples, fresh pressed cider and other produce, live music, craft booths, corn and straw mazes and animals. Green Bluff; www.greenbluffgrowers.com.

How Red Wines Age - Explore what happens in the bottle after five years, after 10 years and more; next Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Vino!, 222 S. Washington St.; $45. 838-1229.

Superb Savignon Blancs - Tour of the best wines from France, New Zealand, Italy, Spain and the United States; Oct. 21, 7 p.m., Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd Ave.; $18. 343-2253.

Colors of Mexico – Fall fiesta of food and folk art hosted by Cook With US and the Singing Shaman Traders. A celebration to honor the Day of the Dead will include a Mexican fiesta food buffet, cooking demonstrations and door prizes. Mexican handicrafts will be onsale at the event; Oct. 26, 6-9 p.m., Greenbriar Inn, 315 Wallace Ave., Coeur d’Alene; $20. (208) 818-7164.

Non-Rhone Rhones - Try Rhone varietals: grenache, syrah, carignane and mourvedre from all over the world, except from France; Oct. 28, 7 p.m., Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd Ave.; $22. 343-2253.

Octobrewfest and Auction - To benefit Multiple Sclerosis Association; Oct. 29, 5:30-10:30 p.m., Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, Havana Street at Broadway Avenue; $12/advance, $14/door. 482-2022.

Hurricane Relief Benefit - Proceeds from dinner, guestrooms and silent auction will be donated to Habitat for Humanity’s Hurricane Relief Fund. Chef Patrick Miller will be preparing a Cajun style dinner followed by live music and a silent auction; Oct. 30, Sun Mountain Lodge, Winthrop, Wash.; $35/person, $60/couple. (800) 572-0493.

Hope for a Wild Future - Sparkling wine reception with complimentary wine and appetizers, dinner, silent and live auctions. Benefiting Conservation Northwest whose work helps protect old-growth forests and other wild areas throughout Washington and the B.C. Rockies. Keynote speaker is Rick Bass; Nov. 2, 3:30-9 p.m., The Davenport Hotel; $45. (800) 878-9950, ext. 10.

BIG Reds Tasting - Taste Quilceda Creek Cabernet, Merryvale Profile, Leonetti Merlot, L’Ecole Perigee and more. Nov. 9. 6:30 p.m., Vino!, 222 S. Washington St. $40. 838-1229.

Season of Style Benefit - Tea and Fashion show at 11 a.m. or 2:30 p.m., including a Marketplace from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Spokane Valley Community Center to assist low-income families; Nov. 12, Mirabeau Park Hotel, Grand Ballroom, Sullivan Road at I-90, Spokane Valley. Show and marketplace: $27; marketplace only: $2. 924-0646.