• In an effort to support Texas tomato growers after what has been a financially devastating season, both local Whole Foods Markets (525 N. Lamar, 476-1206; 9607 Research, 345-5003; www.wholefoodsmarket.com) are hosting a Tomato Festival to celebrate this important flavor of summer. The fest will focus on fresh tomatoes, offering samples of different tomato dishes in each department along with cooking demonstrations and Q&A sessions with experts. Saturday, Aug. 9, noon-4pm.

• We’ll all be screamin’ for ice cream at the second annual Austin Ice Cream Festival in Waterloo Park, benefiting the Austin Children’s Shelter. Austin’s best ice cream and gelato makers will be selling scoops, and there will be plenty of kid-friendly live music, plus a homemade ice cream contest and a popsicle-stick-sculpture contest. For complete vendor and band details or contest rules, go to www.austinicecreamfestival.com. Admission is $2, with kids 12 and younger free. Saturday, Aug. 9, 10am-7pm.

• 107.1 KGSR joins the Texas Beef Council and a group of Austin’s finest restaurants for a deliciously creative week of fundraising to benefit the Kids Cafe sponsored by the Capital Area Food Bank. During Austin Restaurant Week, participating restaurants will offer special $25 three-course fine-dining meals, exclusive of beverages, tax, and tips. Five dollars from each special meal sold during the week will be donated to Kids Cafe. For a complete list of participating restaurants, go to www.kgsr.com. Aug. 11-17.

This article appears in August 8 • 2008.

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