Event Menu

Ballet Austin and the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar present a screening of the lavish classic MGM musical Kiss Me Kate in 3-D to kick off the ballet's weekend performances of Taming of the Shrew. The film will be accompanied by a three-course Renaissance Feast. Tickets are only $35 and include the film, the feast, and a pass to the ballet. To purchase tickets online, go to www.originalalamo.com. Thursday, April 5, 7pm.

Celebrate the beginning of strawberry-picking season at Boggy Creek Farm (3414 Lyons Rd., 926-4650) at their Strawberry Festival. The folk group Hand Me Down will be on hand to provide live music from 9 to 10am, and the farm stand will be packed with the abundance of the season. Saturday, April 7, 9am-2pm.

What better way to celebrate the Year of the Pig than to attend Austin's 29th annual Spamarama this weekend in Waterloo Park to benefit Disability Assistance of Central Texas. Enter the Spam cook-off or the Spamalympics competitions, or just listen to the Spam Jam Concert with the SowPremes, the Mother Truckers, and, as always, the Uranium Savages. There will be a kids fun area plus arts, crafts, and food vendors. A TV crew from the Smithsonian Institute Network will also be on hand. Admission is $5; for kids 12 and younger, free. Saturday, April 7, noon-6pm.

Learn about planting your own "salsa garden" and pairing wine with Mexican foods at the Spice Up Your Life gardening workshop presented by Dorsey Barger, David Kolasta, and Elaine Martin at East Side Cafe (2113 Manor Rd., 494-1464) Class includes dinner paired with three great wines, dessert, and organic gardening instruction for $39. Register now, as these classes sell out fast! Tuesday-Wednesday, April 10-11, 6:30-8pm.

This has to be the perfect vegetarian outing for the Year of the Pig. Alamo Drafthouse Village chef Trish Eichelberger has designed a delightful four-course vegetarian feast that includes some local organic produce and cheeses to complement the charming family film Babe. They promise that when it's done, you'll pat your belly and say, "That'll do, pig." To purchase the $50 tickets online, go to www.originalalamo.com. Wednesday, April 11, 7pm.

Author and Burgundy expert Clive Coates will be the guest of honor at a wine dinner hosted by Twin Liquors (www.twinliquors.com) and the Shoreline Grill (98 San Jacinto, 477-3300) to benefit the American Heart Association. Tickets are $150, and seating is limited. Call 433-4011 for reservations. Wednesday, April 11; reception/book signing, 6:30pm; dinner, 7pm.

The city of Austin's Small Business Development Program invites aspiring restaurateurs to attend the all-day business conference Ingredients for Success: Opening a Restaurant at Palmer Events Center (900 Barton Springs Rd.). The cost of the conference is $80 in advance and $100 at the door and includes conference materials, continental breakfast, lunch, and parking. For more information, call Stacy Mason at 974-7721, and to register, go to www.cityofaustin.org/sbdp. Friday, April 13, 8am-4pm.