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 November from 3-6 p.m. All proceeds to benefit seriously ill children and their families. Applebee’s South Hill, 2107 E. 29th Ave. (509) 321-0799.

Cooking Classes at The Kitchen Engine - Tuesday at 6 p.m., Soups with Chef Lynne, $35. Pre-registration is required for all classes.The Kitchen Engine, 621 W. Mallon No. 416. (509) 328-3335.

Dickens of a Dinner - Victorian feast with a performance of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Shows Dec. 2-3 and 9-10 at 6 p.m. Reservations are required. Discounted tickets available for reservations made by Thursday. For tickets, call (509) 327-1113. For more information, visit www.lionaround.org. The Lion’s Share, 1627 N. Atlantic St. $40 for dinner and show after Thursday.

Citywide Thanksgiving Dinner - Hosted by the Union Gospel Mission. For those without homes from throughout the city as well as families struggling to make ends meet are invited to a meal and warm fellowship. Today. 4-6 p.m., Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane. Free. (509) 279-7000.

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

Thanksgiving Community Dinner - Turkey and all the fixings. Bus stops with pick-up/drop-off at 11 a.m., noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m. at Target parking lot, Michael D’s Restaurant and St. Vincent’s in both Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls. Thursday. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Fedora, 1726 W. Kathleen Ave., Coeur d’Alene. Free. (208) 772-7541.

Free Thanksgiving Day Meal - With live music and a Kids Korner. Call if you need a ride or a meal delivered. Thursday. Noon-2 p.m., Lake City Center, 1320 E. Garden Ave., Coeur d’Alene. Free. (509) 226-3208.

Wine Tastings at Vino! - Friday, sample six wine selections. Drop by anytime between 3 and 5:30 p.m., $10; Saturday, sample six holiday wines with cheese and crackers for $10, drop by anytime between 2 and 4:30 p.m., Vino! A Wine Shop, 222 S. Washington St. (509) 838-1229.

Author Morgan Fraser - Signing copies of “Savoring Chelan” and “Savoring Leavenworth,” two cookbooks that pair wines with recipes by local people from those wine-producing regions. Saturday. 1-3 p.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, mezzanine, 402 W. Main Ave., Spokane. (509) 838-0206.

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 and Dec. 26. Wren Pierson Community Center, 615 Fourth St., Cheney. (509) 324-1659.

Tasteful Thursdays - Enjoy live acoustic music while sampling a variety of food. There will also be in-store demonstrations, sampling and local gifts for sale. Dec. 1, Palouse Suzuki Strings students; Dec. 8, Lewis-Clark College sax quartet; Dec. 15, Gypsy Dawgs; Dec. 22, Palouse Suzuki Strings students with Bill and Linda Wharton. 5-7 p.m., Moscow Food Co-Op, Moscow Food Co-op, 121 E. Fifth St., Moscow, Idaho. (208) 882-8537.

45th Annual Crab Feed - Presented by the Exchange Club of Downtown Spokane. Event will also feature a silent auction. Proceeds will benefit the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, Children’s Home Society of Washington and SCAN. Corporate tables and individual tickets can be purchased at www.dsxc.org. Dec. 2. 5:30 p.m., CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place, Spokane Valley. (509) 226-2448 or (509) 747-2058.

Mobius Kids Santa Breakfast Fundraiser - Eighth annual event. Breakfast, festive activities and a visit with Santa. Dec. 3. 8:30-10:30 a.m., The Davenport Hotel, Grand Pennington Ballroom, 10 S. Post St. $25 per person (12 months and younger free). (509) 624-KIDS, ext. 0.

Breakfast with Santa - Enjoy breakfast and a variety of fun-filled children’s games, activities, goody bags and entertainment. Bean bag toss, fish pond prizes, face painting, crafts and a visit from Santa. Hosted by Spokane Valley Rotary Club. Proceeds benefit Rotary scholarship funds and service projects. Dec. 3. 9-11 a.m., Centerplace, 2426 N. Discovery Place, Spokane Valley. $4/person at the door. (509) 688-0300.

Art Matters - Celebration of the arts with champagne and hors d’oeuvres, silent auction, gourmet dinner and live entertainment. Live entertainment by The Lake City Playhouse. Dec. 3. 5:30-9 p.m., Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center, 405 N. William St., Post Falls. $125. (208) 457-8950.