Food and wine events
Arts in Antioch
The Antioch Fine Arts Foundation presents its annual fundraiser with a silent art auction and raffle, plus a tasting featuring a variety of wines provided by Antioch Fine Wine and Liquor from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19 at the Comfort Inn & Suites, 350 W. Route 173, Antioch. Free; proceeds benefit the Antioch Fine Arts Foundation. (847) 838-2274 or antiochfinearts.org.
Native nosh
In addition to dance, traditional tales and other family fun, the Mitchell Museum's annual fall festival includes flavors of Native American cuisine. Among the buffet's highlights are freshly roasted buffalo meat, fry bread, wild rice salad and wojapi, a thickened berry dish of the Plains Indians. From 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, 3001 Central St., Evanston. $25, $10 for ages 12 and younger (includes museum admission). (847) 475-1030 or mitchellmuseum.org.
Cork cult
Those with a palate geared toward obscure libations must check out Wine Discount Center's cult wine tasting. The event offers a taste of twelve hard-to-find wines with an average retail price of $100, including several which earned a 100-point rating from Wine Advocate. Make reservations ASAP. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24 at Wine Discount Center, 311 E. Main St., Barrington. $100. (847) 277-0033 or winediscountcenter.com.
Taste Downers Grove at Carlucci
Carlucci Restaurant, 1801 Butterfield Road, Downers Grove, hosts a Taste of Downers Grove from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25. Live outdoor entertainment accompanies food from local restaurants including Parker's Ocean Grill, Stillwater, Roundhead's, Gatto's and Zed 451. There's no admission fee, but samples cost $2-$6, with proceeds going to District 59, District 99 and Good Samaritan Hospital. (630) 512-0990 or carluccirestaurant.com.
Thinking about drinking?
Morton's The Steakhouse, 1 Westbrook Corporate Center, Westchester, welcomes a representative of Belgium's Chimay Brewery from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22. Taste and learn about three brews crafted by the Trappist monks of the Abbey de Scourmont, each paired with a seafood course. $5 of every $45 admission benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation. (708) 562-7041 or mortons.com.
Vintner's Cellar Winery, 529 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, presents Wine & Design from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24. Libertyville potter Kerry Scheunemann demonstrates how to paint an unfinished clay wine cooler, after which participants decorate their own while tasting and discussing six wines. Afterward, the coolers will be professionally fired and returned containing a bottle of wine chosen by the participant. The event costs $42. (847) 918-9463 or vcwinery.com.
Enzo & Lucia Ristorante Italiano, 343 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove, offers an Italian cooking class and wine dinner at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25. Co-owner Lucia Cavallino leads the class, preparing four courses and discussing how to pair them with Antinori Santa Cristina wines from Tuscany. It costs $75. (847) 478-8825.
Also this week
Tallgrass Restaurant, 1006 S. State St., Lockport, celebrates its 29 out of 30 rating among top French eateries in "Zagat Chicago Restaurants 2008/09." Reservations are available between 6 and 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, when chef Robert Burcenski offers a five-course dinner of signature plates. It's priced at $60, and can be paired with a four-course wine flight for an additional $40. (815) 838-5566 or tallgrassrestaurant.com.
Lawry's The Prime Rib, 100 E. Ontario St., Chicago, hosts a cocktail reception with financial adviser Ellen Rogin, who discusses "Financial Prosperity in Any Economic Climate" from 5 to 6:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25. The $25 fee includes a copy of Rogin's book "Great With Money: The Women's Guide to Prosperity," wine, hors d'oeuvres and a mini version of Lawry's Meat & Potatoes Martini (the olive is stuffed with prime rib and horseradish). (312) 787-5000, ext. 25, or lawrysonline.com.
Loyola University's Simpson Center, 6333 N. Winthrop Ave., Chicago, is the starting point for the Edgewater Fall Dinner Crawl, held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25. Visit and sample menus from twenty restaurants in the far North Side neighborhood including Viet Bistro, Dawghaus Cafe, Ethiopian Diamond, Super Taqueria Susupuato and Terry's Toffee. Live music, DJs, art and eco-friendly initiatives factor into some stops, with a trolley available to zip participants between them. Tickets are $25. (773) 506-4016 or edgewaterdev.org.