Culinary calendar

Spuds ‘n’ Suds - Baked potato bar with lots of toppings and A&W root beer floats. Chili, green salad and apple pie a la mode will be served. Sponsored by the seniors at East Central Community Center; Thursday, 1 p.m., 500 S. Stone St.; $5/advance, $7/door. 624-6693.

Washington Boutique Wine - Small production red and white wine from Washington State producers who care more about quality than quantity; Friday, 7 p.m., Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd Ave.; $22. 343-2253.

Apple Festival - Harvest festival is held over seven weekends, through Oct. 30. Enjoy a variety of apples, fresh pressed cider and other produce, live music, craft booths, corn and straw mazes, pony rides, horse drawn wagon rides and animals. Green Bluff. 238-6970.

Benefit Dinner and Silent Auction - To benefit Zachary T. Baldwin, a 7-year-old injured in a dirt bike accident. All-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner; Sunday, 4-8 p.m., Northern Quest Casino, 100 N. Hayford Road, Airway Heights; $10/adults, $5/children age 11 and under, $30/family of four or more. 981-4726 or 796-2415.

Imported French Wines - Robert Kacher selections presented by Vino! with 12-15 wines to sample, appetizers and informational handouts. Pre-registration is required. Monday. 6 p.m., The Spokane Club, Cutter Room. $50. 838-1229.

Caring For Kids Benefit Luncheon – Ninth-annual event helping support the work of St. Anne’s Children and Family Center and Morning Star Boys’ Ranch; Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., Red Lion Hotel at the Park, 303 W. North River Drive; $100/person.

Spokane College Women’s Association luncheon - The guest speaker is author Mary Jane Butters of Moscow, Idaho; Sept. 28, 11 a.m., Red Lion River Inn, 700 N. Division St.; $13. Reservations required by Saturday. 465-0362.

Cabernet, Cabernet, Cabernet - It’s good to be the king – of wine, that is; Sept. 30. 7 p.m., Rocket Market, 726 E. 43rd Ave.; $25. 343-2253.

28th Annual Mennonite Country Auction and Relief Sale - Breakfast served 7:30-9:30 a.m.; demonstrations of wheat weaving, making cider and apple butter, flour and ice cream begins at 9:30 a.m. Food booths open at 10 a.m. along with many vendors; Oct. 1, Menno Church grounds, 20 miles west of Ritzville. Free admission. 765-8683.

Oktoberfest - Twenty-piece German band, huge German-food buffet and beer; Oct. 1, 4 p.m., Hidden Lakes Golf Resort, Sandpoint. (208) 263-1642.

Octoberfeast Dinner and Auction – Eleventh-annual event with silent auction and beer garden from 4-6 p.m., dinner from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and live auction from 6:30-8 p.m. Proceeds will be used for retreat services; Oct. 2, Immaculate Heart Retreat Center, 6910 S. Ben Burr Road; $25. 448-1224.

The Bishop’s Poor Man’s Meal - Proceeds benefit the Emergency Winter Sleeping Program; Oct. 2; noon-2 p.m., House of Charity, 32 W. Pacific Ave.; $10/person, $30/family, includes lunch. 358-4254.

Desserts: Discovering the World of Chocolate - With Eva Roberts, sponsored by Institute of Extended Learning Community Education. Participate in chocolate sampling to see the differences in types of chocolate; watch a demonstration on baking incredibly delicious chocolate indulgences that you can make at home; tour the bakery and meet the instructor and family, owners since 1986; Oct. 4, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Just American Desserts, 213 S. University Road; $24. Pre-registration is required. 279-6000.

Big-Time Red Wine Styles - Taste the dominant red grape varietals cabernet, merlot, pinot noir and others. Learn regions known for these grapes and why aging and storing can make such a difference. Oct. 5; 6:30 p.m., Vino!, 222 S. Washington St.; $40. 838-1229.

70th Annual Greek Festival - Oct. 6-8. Enjoy dinner (served 4:30-8 p.m.), pastries, souvlakia, taverna, dancing coffee, deli, imports and Orthodox Book Store. Noon-8 p.m., Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1703 N. Washington. 328-9310.

Second Annual Elktoberfest - Beer garden with 10 different Oktoberfest beers on draft. Oct. 8. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., The Elk Public House, 1931 W. Pacific Ave., Browne’s Addition. 363-1973.

Annual Bazaar and Chicken Teriyaki Dinner - Fresh produce, crafts, California sushi and more. Tickets must be reserved or purchased in advance; Oct. 8, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Highland Park United Methodist Church, 611 S. Garfield St.; $8.50. 535-2687.

Festa Italiana - Italian Festival - Oct. 8-9. With cooking demonstrations, wine and beer garden, bola grape stomp contest, mouth-watering food, carnival rides, Italian Idol karaoke singing contest, artisan and business booths, and live family entertainment with jugglers, magicians, music and more. Hours are Saturday, 10 a.m.-midnight, and Sunday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Kootenai County Fairgrounds, Coeur d’Alene. Free admission, parking $1. (208) 773-8522.

Wine Tasting Symposium – Second-annual seated wine tasting led by Seattle Times wine writer Paul Gregutt and Vino! Owner John Allen. The speakers will give educational analysis, observation and commentary on Spokane Winery Association wines as they are poured. Includes three wine flights and light wine-friendly appetizers prepared by the Spokane Community College Hospitality Management and Inland Northwest Culinary Academy students. Benefits the SCC Center for the Humanities. Registration is limited; Oct. 13, 7-9 p.m. Spokane Community College Lair Student Center; $75. Call 434-5123 for tickets or go to Vino!, 222 S. Washington St.

How Red Wines Age - Explore what happens in the bottle after five years, after 10 years and more; Oct. 19, 6:30 p.m., Vino!, 222 S. Washington St.; $45. 838-1229.

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

Hope for a Wild Future - Sparking 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 BC 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.

Christmas Tree Elegance Holiday Luncheons - Benefit the Spokane Symphony Orchestra. Luncheons with fashion shows are Nov. 29-Dec. 2, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Free viewing of 12 beautiful trees and gifts on the mezzanine, Nov. 25-Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Tree lighting ceremony on Nov. 25 at 5 p.m., free family entertainment days Nov. 27, 12:30-5 p.m. and Nov. 28, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Gala Dinner Dance, champagne reception, gourmet dinner with fine wines, dance music by Tuxedo Junction Big Band on Dec. 3, 6 p.m.-midnight, $125/person. Davenport Hotel, 10 N. Post. Raffle tickets for trees: $1 each. 458-TREE.