• Amiable chef Jerry Pizzitola will present two free hands-on pasta-making workshops in the teaching kitchen at Faraday’s Kitchen Store (1501 RR 620 N. Ste. A, 266-5666) this weekend. Students will learn how to make pasta dough, roll and cut it with the Atlas Pasta Maker, and cook it. Classes are free, but space is limited, so sign up in advance. Saturday, March 15, 9:30 & 11am.

• Way out Wineries (www.wayoutwineries.org) invite you to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with them this weekend, promising green wine (!), Celtic music, complimentary wine tastings, and plenty of blarney. This free event is one in their series of holiday and seasonal road trips. Saturday-Sunday, March 15-16, noon-6pm.

• Eastside Cafe (2113 Manor Rd., 476-5858) opened in 1988 and built its reputation as a pleasant oasis on the way to and from Austin’s old Robert Municipal Mueller Airport. The airport moved a few years back, but Eastside is still going strong at 20, now the anchor tenant of one of Austin’s busiest restaurant rows. Owners Dorsey Barger and Elaine Martin are throwing themselves a “Happy Birthday to Us” party to kick off a yearlong fundraising marathon to benefit their three favorite charities: Waterloo Counseling Center, AIDS Services of Austin, and the youth development gardening project Urban Roots. The big birthday bash will include food, beer, wine, live music, handmade chocolates, and plenty of fun. Tickets are $50 in advance, $60 at the door. Sunday, March 16, 5-8pm.

• A beloved Austin landmark will commemorate 60 years of continuous business this week with a somewhat smaller celebration. Arkie’s Grill (4827 Cesar Chavez, 385-2986) will offer $5 lunches with a choice of one of their popular entrées, three vegetables, dinner rolls, and corn sticks. Monday, March 17, 11am-3pm.

• Ty Phelps, head brewer at North by North­west Restaurant & Brewery (10010 Capital of TX Hwy. N., 467-6969) has brewed a unique Irish Stout just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, and chef George Powell is simmering a pot of Irish stew and baking fragrant loaves of soda bread. They invite you to spend the holiday with them. Monday, March 17, 11am-10pm.

This article appears in March 14 • 2008.

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