• Austin’s Sunshine Community Gardens (4814 Sunshine Dr., 458-2009) celebrate 30 years as the city’s oldest and largest community garden with a Spring Plant Sale and Garden Festival this weekend. The event will offer food and drinks, a silent auction, live music, arts and crafts booths, and a huge sale of organic and heirloom vegetable plants, medicinal and culinary herbs, and ornamental plants and flowers. More info at www.sunshinecommunitygardens.org. Saturday, March 7, 9am-2pm.
• Chef/nutritherapist Alain Braux will present a hands-on cooking class in the preparation of gluten-free and dairy-free desserts at the Culinary Academy of Austin (6020-B Dillard Circle, 451-5743, www.culinaryacademyofaustin.com). $85 per person. Make necessary reservations by phone or at info@culinaryacademyofaustin.com. Saturday, March 7, 10am-1pm.
• Toyota is marketing its new Venza with a national series of events that begins this weekend at the Austin Farmers’ Market (Fourth & Guadalupe, www.austinfarmersmarket.org). The Taste of the Market event will pair a dozen local chefs with area farmers to present free tastings of dishes featuring locally grown products. Market patrons can also sign up to receive a monthly guide to seasonal eating in Austin, take home complimentary herb plant starts, and enter to win a door prize. Saturday, March 7, 9am-1pm.
• North by Northwest Restaurant & Brewery (10010 Capital of TX Hwy. N., 467-6969, www.nxnwbrew.com) hosts a five-course Brewer’s Dinner prepared by chef George Powell with beer pairings by brewer Ty Phelps. $49 per person, reservations suggested. Wednesday, March 11, 7pm.
This article appears in March 6 • 2009.