Culinary Calendar

Homeless benefit – Transitions will host a breakfast Wednesday at 7:30 and a lunch on Thursday at noon to raise money and awareness of its programs to help homeless women. The meals will be served at Red Lion Inn at the Park and will feature information sessions. There is no cost to attend, but donations are welcome. (509) 328-6702.

Oktoberfest - Happy hour at 5:30 p.m., dinner and dancing at 6:30. Menu consists of Schnitzel, red cabbage, spaetzle, gravy and peach kuchen, authentic Bavarian wine and beer tasting; Friday, at Sons of Norway Tordenskjord Lodge, 6710 N. Country Homes Blvd.; $12.50, reservations required; (509) 326-9211.

Spaghetti Dinner - Hosted by the Elks Lodge, Friday, 5:30-7 p.m., 2605 N. Robie Road; $5; (509) 926-2328.

“Wings of Hope: Pursuing Our Dreams” - By Russell O’Quinn, test pilot and aircraft designer as the keynote speaker at Christian Youth Theater-Spokane benefit dinner Saturday, 6:30 p.m., Red Lion Inn at the Park, 303 W. North River Drive; $65/person, $400/table of eight; (509) 487-6540.

Apple Festival at Green Bluff - Large variety of apples, fresh-pressed cider and pumpkins. Live music, food, craft booths, antiques, farm mazes and animals. Saturdays-Sundays through Oct. 28 at Green Bluff.

Benefit Dinner, Auction and Dance - Presented by Latah County Youth Advocacy Council on Saturday, 6:30-11 p.m., University Inn-Best Western, 1516 W. Pullman Road, Silver and Gold Rooms, Moscow; $30; (208) 883-2268.

Harvest Celebration - Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Maryhill Winery, 9774 Highway 14, Goldendale, Wash.; features free wine tasting, with live music 1-5 p.m.; (877) 627-9445.

Home Roasting Your Coffee Beans - Class with coffee tastings and choice of pastry on Saturday, 10:30 a.m., On Sacred Grounds, 12212 E. Palouse Highway, Valleyford; $6; (509) 747-6294.

Marines are Serving Breakfast - Saturday. 10 a.m.-noon, at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 51, 300 W. Mission Ave.; menu consists of pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, coffee, milk and orange juice; proceeds benefit the Melvin M. Smith Detachment, Ladies Auxiliary, Devil Dogs and VFW Post 51; $5; (509) 327-9847.

Pancake Feed - Pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee on Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-noon, at Moscow Fire Station, 603 S. Main St., Moscow; $5/adults, $3/children; proceeds benefit the Moscow Fire Department; (208) 883-7082 or (208) 882-2831.

Italian Wines and Italian Cheeses - Taste with Oona Timmons and Kim Morin of Saunders and John Allen of Vino! A Wine Shop on Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., at Saunders Cheese Market, 210 S. Washington St.; $45, reservations required; (509) 455-9400.

Wine and Cheese Tasting - Walla Walla’s Amavi Winery and Saunder’s Cheese Market will present samples of four wines with distinct paired cheeses; Tuesday, 5-8 p.m., at Cena, 12501 N. Highway 395, Suite 3; $5; (509) 328-3709.

Harvest Party - Share delicious, fresh food and learn about the hot issues in sustainable agriculture in Washington on Oct. 18, 5:30-7:30 p.m., in the Community Building lobby, 25 W. Main Ave.; free; donations accepted; reservations required; (360) 336-9694, ext. 100.

Understanding Wine Jargon - Learn the language and taste the terms on Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m., Vino!, 222 S. Washington St.; $40; (509) 838-1229.

“Eating Your Way to Sustainability” - Speakers will discuss challenges with our current farming system, introduce principles of sustainability and share some exciting efforts that are happening in Washington state on Oct. 19, 4:30-6 p.m., at Spokane Falls Community College, 3410 Fort George Wright Drive; (360) 336-9694, ext. 100.

Dinner Among Friends - Oct. 20, 6 p.m., Northern Quest Casino, 100 N. Hayford Road, Airway Heights. Event benefits Cancer Patient Care, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to providing emotional, nutritional and financial support to our community’s low-income cancer patients and their families. There will be a silent auction and local performers will perform a Broadway Musical Revue. Cost: $35/person, $60/pair; (509) 456-0446.

Octobrewfest and Auction - 12th annual event. Enjoy a sampling of microbrews from northwest breweries, bidding on silent and live auction items and wine and gourmet root beers also available. Benefit for the Inland Northwest Chapter, National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Must be 21 or older. Oct. 20. 6-10:30 p.m., Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. $13/advance from Yokes or TicketsWest, $15/door. (509) 325-SEAT.

Oktoberfest - Oct. 20. 6:30 p.m., Elks Lodge, 2605 N. Robie Road. Menu of Bratwurst, sauerbraten, German potato salad, sweet and sour red cabbage and mud pie; dancing to Rain Shadow. $17.50; reservations by Oct. 17; (509) 926-2328.

The Pink Ribbon Wine Tasting - Oct. 19, 7 p.m. Huckleberry’s Natural Market, 926 S. Monroe St.; portion of the proceeds will benefit the Spokane Chapter of Susan B. Komen Foundation; $25, includes six pourings and a taste plate of cheese, crackers and breads; (509) 624-1349.