Food-o-File

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Event-o-Rama

Even though the thermometer still says summer, the fall culinary season kicks off this week with a big bang! Today, Thursday, Sept. 5, come out to Shady Grove (1624 Barton Springs Rd., 474-9991) to support one of Austin's most precious natural resources, local musicians. KGSR and Shady Grove will host the "A Day in the Life" benefit for the SIMS Foundation, a local nonprofit that provides access to low-cost mental health services for local musicians and their immediate families. Shady Grove will donate a percentage of Thursday's profits to SIMS, and raffle tickets will be on sale for such items as a custom Epiphone guitar, a weekend stay for two at the Austin Hilton North, and classes from Yoga, Yoga with a drawing in the evening. The fundraiser starts at 11am and runs through KGSR's "Unplugged at the Grove" performance by Bob Schneider... On Friday, Sept. 6, Spicewood Vineyards (1419 Burnet County Rd. 409, 830/693-5328) kicks off their monthly wine dinner series with a three-course meal designed to complement Spicewood wines by Austin chefs Quincy Erickson and Karen Farnsworth of Amuse Bouche Catering. Tickets for the dinner are $59.95 plus tax . Reservations are necessary... Speaking of local musicians, the multitalented Mundi Ensemble has a slew of events scheduled this weekend to celebrate the release of their marvelous new instrumental CD "When Barley Falls." They'll play and sell CDs during market at Boggy Creek Farm (3414 Lyons, 926-4650) at 9:30am on Saturday morning, Sept. 7, and then perform on the patio at Central Market North (4001 N. Lamar, 206-1000) on Sunday evening, Sept. 8, at 6:30pm. Five percent of the proceeds from the sale of the new CD goes to the Green Corn Project (www.greencornproject.com)... Although his Saturday night cooking class at Central Market is sold out, California chef/cookbook author John Ash will sign Fetzer Vineyards wine bottles in the store's wine department from 5:30 to 6:30pm on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 7... San Gabriel Restaurant Group owner Reed Clemons christens his newest restaurant this Saturday evening, Sept. 7, from 7pm until midnight, with a soiree benefiting Mobile Loaves & Fishes. Reed's Jazz & Supper Club (9901 Capital of TX Hwy., 342-7977) is a swanky new Forties-style eatery offering seafood, steaks, live music, and dancing in the Gateway Shopping Center. Tickets for the opening are $50 per person and can be purchased by calling 328-7299... This could be the easiest charitable donation you make all year: On Monday evening, Sept. 9, 80 Austin restaurants will donate 15% of their dinner proceeds to AIDS Services of Austin (www.asaustin.org) in the 10th Annual Dining for Life benefit. All you have to do is check out the list of participating restaurants in the ad on p.39 in today's Chronicle, go out to dinner, and enjoy yourself. The restaurants do the rest. That same evening, Zoot (509 Hearn, 476-6535) Executive Chef John Maxwell hosts a five-course dinner paired with the wines of Bonny Doon Vineyards. Tickets for the dinner are $70 per person, and reservations are necessary. Fifteen percent of the proceeds from that meal also goes to the Dining For Life... Though the popular SoCo neighborhood eatery Lambert's (1716 S. Congress, 383-8877) isn't normally open for brunch, chef/owner Lou Lambert will host a special champagne brunch on Sunday, Sept. 15, to benefit Project Transitions (454-8648). The $65 prix fixe will include champagne or wine and gratuity. Staggered seatings, limited to 90 people, will begin at 10:30am and end at 1:30pm. Call 454-8646 for reservations. Proceeds from this brunch will be used to provide landscaping at Doug's House, a five-bedroom residential hospice for people living with AIDS.