Meal Times

BANGER'S OKTOBERFEST Brand new Banger's hits the ground running with a fortnight of Oktoberfest activities through Oct. 7. Enjoy food and drink specials, a petting zoo, crazy lawn games, polka music, whole animal roasts, and contests, depending on the date. Complete schedule online. Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden, 79 Rainey, 386-1656. www.bangersaustin.com

SULLIVAN'S PINK MENU FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS All month long Sullivan's Steakhouse, 300 Colorado #200, 495-6504. $39.95. www.sullivanssteakhouse.com

26TH ANNUAL GRUENE MUSIC & WINE FEST This festival offers four days of delightful wine, food, and music events in historic Gruene. For complete details and tickets, call or go online. Thu.-Sun., Oct. 4-7 Gruene Historic District, New Braunfels, 830/629-5077. www.gruenemusicandwinefest.org

BOOKSIGNING BRUNCH Noted culinary tour leader and award-winning cookbook author Marilyn Tausend will sign copies of her new book, La Cocina Mexicana: Many Cultures, One Cuisine (Univ. of California Press, $40) during the Fonda's renowned Sunday brunch. Look for a review of the book in our On the Range blog. Sun., Oct. 7, noon-2pm. (2012) Fonda San Miguel, 2330 W. North Loop, 512/459-4121. www.fondasanmiguel.com

CULINARY COLLABORATIVE DINNER Austin Restaurant Week concludes with the inaugural dinner collaboration presented by chefs Shawn Cirkiel of parkside, Ned Elliott of Foreign & Domestic, and Janina O'Leary of Trace at the W to benefit Meals on Wheels and More. Call or go online to reserve your seat. Sun., Oct. 7, 6-7:30pm. (2012) Meals on Wheels and More, 3227 E. Fifth, 200-3439. $85. www.restaurantweekaustin.com

EMMA'S 2012 PIE SOCIAL Pie maven Emma Little invites you to a sweet and savory pie social to benefit the South Austin Popular Culture Center. Register to bring one pie to serve and another to sell via email at samopc@gmail.com with Pie Social in the subject line, or pay $5 at the door to enjoy pie, a silent auction, and music by Denny Freeman. Sun., Oct. 7, 2:30-5:30pm. (2012) Antone's, 2015 W. Riverside, 512/800-4628.

HOPE MARKET MEAT & GREET Market manager Alexa Senter leads a meat tour of the market, introducing ranchers and farmers who raise sustainable meats for the market as well as prepared food vendors who utilize them. Heather Frambach will speak about the paleo diet, followed by a Q&A. Sun., Oct. 7, noon-3pm. (2012)

MIX & MINGLE WITH CHEF AIDA MOLLENKAMP Food Network and Cooking Channel star Aida Mollenkamp hosts a party to launch her new book, Keys to the Kitchen: The Essential Reference for Becoming a More Accomplished, Adventurous Cook (Chronicle Books). RSVP online. Sun., Oct. 7, 6-8pm. (2012) Hotel Saint Cecilia, 112 Academy, 512/852-2400. www.keystothekitchenaustin.eventbrite.com

FOOD FIGHT ONLINE CHARITY AUCTION The Austin chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier launches their fourth annual Food Fight online fundraiser, which offers more than 50 unique and taste-tempting culinary experiences ranging from foodie getaways to hands-on cooking classes to signed cookbooks and exclusive restaurant dinners. The 12-day online bidding begins on Oct. 8 at www.austinfoodfight.org and proceeds will benefit culinary scholarships for young women and local school gardens.

GLENMORANGIE SCOTCH TASTING A representative of Glenmorangie will present five different Scotch whiskeys to taste with menu pairings by Executive Chef Carlos Garcia. $25; reserve by phone. Wed., Oct. 10, 6-8pm. (2012) Sullivan's Steakhouse, 300 Colorado #200, 512/495-6504. www.sullivansteakhouse.com

SIP 'N SPIN WITH MARK SAYRE Join current sommelier and former DJ Mark Sayre as he indulges his love for good food, wine, and music at a party on the back lawn at the Four Seasons. Price include access to free-flowing appetizers and wines specially selected by Sayre to pair with his hand-mixed tunes. Wed., Oct. 10, 7-9pm. (2012) Four Seasons Hotel, 98 San Jacinto, 512/478-4500. $35 ($25, advance). trioaustin.ticketbud.com/sip-n-spin

TAPAS & SHERRY DINNER Chef Andrew MacArthur will prepare a five-course tapas menu complemented by sherries and aperitifs selected by bar manager Francisco Terrazas. Reserve by phone. Thu., Oct. 11, 7:30pm. (2012) Fino Restaurant Patio & Bar, 2905 San Gabriel, 512/474-2905. $45. www.finoaustin.com

ZAX OKTOBERFEST Zax's eighth annual Oktoberfest celebration will include Smokey Denmark beer brats, Oktoberfest beer, giveaways, and surprises. Thu., Oct. 11, 6pm. (2012) Zax Restaurant & Bar, 312 Barton Springs Rd., 512/481-0100. www.zaxaustin.com

JARRITOS FLAVOR FESTIVAL Friendly masked Mexican luchadores will be part of the Jarrito's team, offering refreshing exotic fruit beverages to thirsty ACL-fest goers in the parking lot here all weekend. Enjoy adult beverages made with Jarrito's sodas inside the saloon or just hang around outside enjoying the Federico Archuleta mural and spinning the Wheel of Oportunidad for prizes. Fri.-Sun., Oct. 12-14 Barton Springs Saloon, 424 S. Lamar, 512/482-9673. www.bartonspringssaloon.com