Culinary calendar

55 Plus luncheon and program - Adults 55 and over are welcome. The program is “Window on the World” by Wey Simpson. Today. Noon. Spokane Valley United Methodist Church, 115 N. Raymond Road. Suggest donation: $2. (509) 924-7262.

Dining Out For Life - Local participating restaurants will donate 20 percent of their food and alcohol sales for the day to the Spokane AIDS Network. Participating restaurants include Bennedito’s Pizza, Bistango’s Martini Lounge, Cafe Marron, Catacomb’s Pub, Fai’s Noodle House at Northern Quest Casino, Herbal Essence Cafe, Luigi’s, Mizuna Restaurant and Wine Bar, Niko’s Greek and Middle East Restaurant, and Woodland at Northern Quest Casino. Thursday. (509) 455-8993.

French Bordeaux Wine Dinner - With expert Warren Helman, offering insight into the history of Bordeaux and offer informed predictions on upcoming vintages. Thursday. 6-10 p.m., CenterStage, 1017 W. First Ave. $69. (509) 74-STAGE, reservations required.

Introduction to Wine Tasting - Class presented by Vino. Thursday. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 222 S. Washington St. $35. (509) 838-1229.

Invitation Breakfast - For Court Appointed Special Advocates program serving North Idaho. Thursday. 7:30 a.m., Coeur d’Alene Resort, 115 S. Second St., Coeur d’Alene. (208) 667-0623.

Spring Market - Downtown Spokane - Thursdays through May 3. Fresh-baked goods, flowers, pasta, wooden treasures, fresh eggs and more farm-fresh goods. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Community Building lobby, 35 W. Main Ave. (509) 232-1950.

Sushi Classes – Thursday or Tuesday. Pre-registration and pre-payment required. 6 p.m., Japanese Cultural Center, 4000 W. Randolph Road. $20. (509) 328-2971.

Child Trafficking Victims: Global Problem - Local Reality - Lecture and luncheon sponsored by Western Regional Institute for Community Oriented Public Safety and the Inland Northwest Task Force on Human Trafficking. Thursday, noon-1:3 p.m. YWCA Comstock Room, 829 W. Broadway Ave. Free. (509) 343-5074.

Festival at Sandpoint Wine Tasting, Dinner and Auction - Annual fundraiser with gourmet dinner catered by the Floating Restaurant and silent and live auctions. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit music festival. Friday. 5:30 p.m., Bonner County Fairgrounds, Sandpoint. $60, plus tax and includes unlimited wine tasting, gourmet dinner, music by the John Kelly Trio and complimentary Festival at Sandpoint wine glass. (208) 265-4554.

Fish and Fries - Hosted by the Elks Lodge. Reservations required. Friday. 5:30-7 p.m., 2605 N. Robie Road. $6.50. (509) 926-2328.

Sons of Norway Wine and Beer Tasting - The evening will also include hors d’oeuvres and dancing. Friday. 5:30 p.m., Sons of Norway Lodge, 6710 N. Country Homes Blvd. $8 admission. (509) 326-9211.

Yummi Yakisoba and Sushi Roll Sale - Sushi roll and yakisoba noodles for sale. Celebrating Japan Week. Friday. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Spokane Falls Community College, Student Union Building, 3410 W. Fort George Wright Drive. (509) 533-3367.

Bonners Ferry Farmers’ Market - Opening day Saturday with plant sale. Held weekly 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Highway 95 at Kootenai Street, in City parking lot, Bonners Ferry. (208) 267-7698.

Sukiyaki Dinner - 58th annual event with each dinner made individually to order. Choices include beef, tofu, or half and half. Includes sale of specialty Japanese food: senbei, sushi bar, bake sale, along with Japanese crafts sale. Saturday, noon-7 p.m., Highland Park United Methodist Church, 611 S. Garfield St. $12/dinner. Sushi bar separate. (509) 535-2687.

Chinese Flower Tea Tasting - Includes tea and dessert with Dr. Reta Gilbert pouring. Two seatings, 3 and 4 p.m. on Saturday. On Sacred Grounds: Coffee, Tea and Specialty Shoppe, 12212 E. Palouse Highway, Valleyford. $7. (509) 747-6294 for reservations.

La Cucina Italiana - Cooking for teens, sponsored by the City of Spokane Parks and Recreation Department. Saturday. 6-8 p.m., Corbin Art Center, 507 W. Seventh Ave. $21. (509) 625-6677.

April in Paris or is it California? - Five-course dinner with six wines of the Rhone Valley. Music by classical guitarist Abe Kenney. Saturday. 6:30 p.m., Di Luna’s Cafe, 207 Cedar St., Sandpoint. $65. (208) 263-0846.

CROP Hunger Walk ‘07 - 10K or two-mile walk along the Centennial Trail to help stop hunger. Registration at noon with entertainment, walk starts at 1:30 p.m. A project of Church World Service and the Interfaith Council of the Inland Northwest. Sunday. Starts outside at Gonzaga University, Martin Centre, south side of building. Bring canned food for Second Harvest Food Bank. (509) 326-5656.

Opera Plus! Gala - Food, wines, opera, auctions, and surprises. Money raised will support Opera Plus! programs and educational outreach. No-host cocktails begin at 5 p.m. Dinner is at 6. Sunday. Coeur d’Alene Resort Plaza, 115 S. Second St., Coeur d’Alene. $110 per person. (208) 765-3723 or (208) 964-4469.

Mother’s Day Tea - An elegant afternoon sharing tea, refreshments, entertainment by RiversEdge Chorus and a fashion show from Chico’s. Event to be held May 12 at 1 p.m. Monday. St. Thomas More Parish hall, 8112 N. Howard Drive. $15, reservations by Monday. (509) 466-7784.

Second Annual Jazz Dessert and Auction - Live jazz music, great dessert and great auction items. Presented by Central Valley High School Band and Colorguard. Tuesday. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 821 S. Sullivan Road. $10/advance, $15/door, $5/seniors and students. (509) 220-2331.

Compass Club May Luncheon - A women’s club for welcoming newcomers to the area. Program will include a style show by Talbot’s. Lunch menu includes: fresh mixed greens with fruits, nuts, cheese, and huckleberry vinaigrette; curried chicken salad with roasted vegetables; feta and basil salad; fresh rolls and butter; chocolate pound cake with fresh berries; coffee and tea. Wines by the glass will be available for purchase. Tuesday. 11 a.m., Beacon Hill, 4848 E. Wellesley Ave. $18. (509) 465-4043 for reservations.

31 Cent Scoop Night - Benefiting the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, an organization that honors America’s fallen fire heroes and their families. Baskin-Robbins is making a $100,000 donation to the organization. May 2. 5-10 p.m., 1925 N. Monroe St. 31 cents/scoop.

Spaghetti Feed, Silent Auction and Bake Sale - Benefits the Austan Pierce family. Austan is a student at Ferris High School who has battled Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare childhood soft tissue and bone cancer. May 3. 5:30-7 p.m., Central Valley High School, 821 S. Sullivan Road. $5/person, $20/family. (509) 228-4000.

4th Annual EWU Alumni Wine Tasting - Sample wine selections from a variety of renowned wineries and enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres. Come early for our free Wine 101 class presented by Through Grape Vine author Candace Frasher. May 4, 6-6:30 p.m., optional wine tasting class 6:30-8:30 p.m. wine tasting Beacon Hill, 4848 E. Wellesley Ave. $35. (509) 359-4550 or 1-888-EWU-ALUM.

Odessa Wine Tasting and Silent Auction - 16th annual event presented by The Odessa Healthcare Foundation with proceeds benefiting the community’s health care. May 4. 6:30 p.m., Odessa Community Center, Odessa. $15. (509) 982-2000.

Quatro De Mayo Dinner - (day before Cindo de Mayo). May 4. 5:30-7 p.m., Elks Lodge, 2605 N. Robie Road. $6. (509) 926-2328, reservations by May 3.

Farmers’ Market at Sandpoint - Opening day May 5. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Wednesdays, 3-5:30 p.m., through Oct. 13. Farmin Park, Third at Main, Sandpoint. (208) 263-2844.

Kayak and Klink’s - Paddling in the evening, then dinner at Klink’s on the Lake. For ages 18 and older. Sponsored by Spokane Parks and Recreation Department. May 5. 4-8 p.m., Williams Lake. $39. (509) 625-6200.

La Fiesta Cinco de Mayo - Traditional Latino foods, drinks, arts and crafts, piñatas, music and folkloric dancers, burrito eating contest, family games, community speakers, exhibits, low-rider custom car show and more. May 5. 10 a.m.-11 p.m., Spokane Community College Lair, 1810 N. Greene St. $5/adults, $4/students and seniors, $1/ages 10-17, free/ages 9 and younger. (509) 483-2523.

North Idaho College Booster Club Awards Banquet and Spring Auction - Featuring female and male student athletes of the year and outstanding female and male scholar athletes of the year. Public is welcome to attend. All proceeds from the auction and banquet benefit NIC Athletics Department. May 5. 5 p.m., Shriner’s Building, 1250 W. Lancaster Road, Hayden. $25/person, $175/table of eight. (208) 769-3348.

Elks Breakfast - Have breakfast with the officers. May 6. 9-11 a.m., Elks Lodge, 2605 N. Robie Road. $5. (509) 926-2328.

T.I.D.E.S. tea - T.I.D.E.S. (Teamwork In Dance Education Support) is holding their second annual tea, a fundraising event for scholarships for deserving dance students. Includes a four-course high tea, dance entertainment, silent auctions and raffle of decorated tea tables. May 6. 4-6 p.m., Heritage Congregational Church, 1801 E. 29th Ave. $15/adults $10/children age 5-18. (509) 448-2464.

Women Helping Women Luncheon - 15th annual luncheon with guest speaker Soledad O’Brien, TV journalist and CNN co-anchor. May 7. Noon-1:15 p.m., Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. $100/person. (509) 328-8285.