Want to do your part to fight colony collapse? At Saturday’s Urban Beekeeping II workshop at Angelic Organics Learning Center aspiring beekeepers will learn methods for harvesting, extracting, and bottling honey, organic disease control, and preparing the hive for winter. Participants will also taste fresh urban honey, which is supposed to taste pretty similar to wildflower honey, although advocates claim that urban bees can produce a “richer variety” of honey because of the wide selection of plants in parks and gardens. It starts at 2 PM and costs $50; registration required.
Ballo is accepting recipe submissions for its second annual meatball contest, “Just Roll With It,” through September 15. The challenge is to top the restaurant’s own “Mama’s Meatballs,” and 10 finalists will compete in a cook-off on October 14 for the grand prize, a trip for two to Napa Valley.
Wine Compliments offers a free in-store wine tasting in conjunction with Edison Park Fest this Saturday and Sunday from 2-8 PM. The festival itself, featuring a beer garden, local food vendors, an arts and crafts fair and a dog show (plus the requisite rides, games, etc.) runs Friday from 5 PM to 11 PM, Saturday 9 AM-11 PM, and Sunday 9 AM-10 PM.
Slow Food Chicago hosts high tea this Sunday at 3:30 at Angel Food Bakery, with treats made from from stone fruits provided by Seedling. It’s $19; reservations recommended.
Also Sunday, Chicago pastor and amateur chef Dominic Grassi signs Bumping into God in the Kitchen: Savory Stories of Food, Family, and Faith, a collection of fifty food-related stories plus some of his favorite recipes. The signing is at 2 PM at the Webster Place Barnes & Noble.
Osteria Via Stato‘s Sultry Summer Wine Fling on Wednesday is already sold out, but if you’ve got your heart set on sipping Italian wine and munching hors d’ouevres with master sommelier Alpana Singh and advanced sommelier Adam Seger, now might be a good time to make reservations for the next “20 for $20” wine tasting, on September 19 at 5:30 PM (or for the October 17 or November 14 dates).
If you can’t wait that long to taste a couple dozen wines at once, Mon Ami Gabi has a tasting of 25 French wines for $25 (not including tax and tip) this Monday from 6 to 8 PM. Reservations are required.
And if 25 wines still isn’t enough, try 30 wines for $30 this Tuesday at the Tasting Room at Randolph Wine Cellars, 6-8 PM. This month’s theme is Goin’ Green, and will focus on wines and winemakers that support biodiversity as well as organic and sustainable vineyard and wine-making practices. Reservations are highly recommended.
Chicago Culinary Adventures, a new social group “for those who enjoy food, wine, and culture” created by Get A Life! In the City, kicks off with a screening of Amelie at Alliance Francaise from 6:30-9:30 PM Thursday. The $45 ticket ($35 if booked in advance) includes wine, appetizers, and a goodie bag; for reservations call 1-800-495-6038.