Champagne pop and shop

The Lake County Discovery Museum hosts a special ladies night out titled "Chocolate, Champagne and Shopping." Snack on chocolates and sip champagne while shopping for items ranging from jewelry to soaps.

Info: 5:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, in the Lakewood Forest Preserve, 27277 N. Forest Preserve Drive, Wauconda. Tickets are $12-$15. (847) 968-3400 or LCFPD.org.

Holiday sampling

Mangels of Long Grove hosts an evening celebrating "Food & Wine for the Holiday Season." Get ideas on holiday decorating and entertaining by sampling appetizers and wine and watching demonstrations by experts like Pat Doepke of Party Plus Catering and Carol Cosentino of Williams-Sonoma.

Info: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 421 Robert Parker Coffin Road, Long Grove. Cost is $35 per person. Reservations recommended. (847) 634-9287.

Nouveau for November

French wine fans know that Beaujolais Nouveau is always released (by French law) on the third Thursday in November. D&J Bistro celebrates the official release of the George Duboeuf Beaujolais with a special menu featuring Le Cassoulet de Carcassonne - a slow-baked dish of duck, pork, sausage and beans - to team with the latest 2009 vintage.

Info: 5:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19 at 466 S. Rand Road, Lake Zurich. Reservations recommended. (847) 438-8001 or dj-bistro.com.