Where wine and food are concerned, the Iberian Peninsula could not be any hotter these days. The folks at Grape Vine Market (7838 Great Northern Blvd., 323-5900) will demonstrate why with an in-store tasting and special sale of foods and wines from Spain and Portugal. There will also be live music and dancing; noon-6pm, Saturday, Aug. 5.

The Red Ribbon Dinner Series benefiting AIDS Services of Austin (www.asaustin.org) continues this week with a fabulous five-course meal prepared by chef Jeff Liu of Bistro 88 (2712 Bee Caves Rd., 328-8888). Tickets are $125, $100 of which goes directly to ASA. Make necessary reservations online; 7pm, Monday, Aug. 7.

Ice-cream lovers have a great opportunity to get a cool reward for an important act of community service during the next two weeks. Blue Bell Creameries sponsors the “Pint for Pint” blood drive at the Blood and Tissue Center of Central Texas (www.bloodandtissue.org) this month. Participating locations are 4300 N. Lamar in Austin (206-1266) and 2132 N. Mays in Round Rock (512/233-5433), where donating a pint of much-needed blood will get you a free pint of Blue Bell ice cream; Aug. 7-19.

This article appears in August 4 • 2006.

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