› The Beat Divas present a cooking class well-seasoned with jazz tunes at Central Market Cooking School (4001 N. Lamar). $55 per person; reserve at 206-1014. Friday, May 4, 6:30-9pm.
› Becker Vineyards (www.beckervineyards.com) hosts its 14th annual Lavender Festival on the vineyard grounds with live music, lavender products, craft booths, cooking demos and seminars. $5 parking fee. Lavender luncheons both days for $65 per person; reserve at 830/644-2681 x230. May 5-6, Saturday, 10am-6pm; Sunday, noon-5pm.
› Generous Art (www.generousart.org) hosts an art show and sale at the Downtown Farmers’ Market to benefit the Sustainable Food Center, the artists themselves, and the mission of the nonprofit. Saturday, May 5, 9am-1pm.
› Pastry chef Janina O’Leary of Trace at the W Hotel presents a class on Italian pastries at the Lamar Culinary Center, Whole Foods Market (525 N. Lamar). $70 per person; reserve at 542-2340. Saturday, May 5, 3-5:30pm.
› Chef Robert Morales presents a class on the art of making French macarons at the Savory Spice Shop (1201-B W. Sixth). $25 per person; reserve at 524-1093. Sunday, May 6, 5pm.
› This year’s Digestible Feats conclude with a cocktail lounge featuring New Orleans-style snowballs reimagined as refreshing adult beverages at the Fusebox Festival Hub (1100 E. Fifth). Sunday, May 6, 10pm.
Cinco de Mayo and Derby Day Events
› Royer�s Round Top Cafe (www.royersroundtopcafe.com) is selling Cinco de Pie-O, Padre of Pies, and Hecho en Round Top t-shirts to celebrate the holiday. Buy them at the caf� or order online.
› Chef Jesse Griffith of Dai Due has a roster of hot and cold Cinco de Mayo specials for pick up at his booth at the Downtown Farmers� Market: pork chicharrones or egg and nopales tacos, pork tinga tortas, French toast with cajeta and mangoes, squash blossom quesadillas, iced caf� de olla, and iced horchata. Saturday May 5, 9am-noon.
› The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center and Latinometro present TACORAMA �the first annual Austin Taco Festival; a week of events to raise awareness of hunger in Austin�s Latino community while celebrating Latin culture, food, music, and art. All events are free and open to the public.
› Saturday, May 5, noon-3pm � celebrate Cinco de Mayo on the grounds of the MACC with free food, refreshments, live music, and kid�s activities. Bring one non-perishable food item for the Capital Area Food Bank.
› Wednesday, May 9, 7-9 pm � Gustavo Arellano signs copies of Taco USA at BookPeople
› Thursday, May 10, 6-8pm � Cocktail reception with tacos by several Austin chefs to complement a special Cine Las Americas screening and silent auction at Mexic-Arte Museum.
› Saturday, May 12, Latinometro readers� choice tacos announced at the Pachanga Festival at Fiesta Gardens.
› Twisted X Brewing Company celebrates its first anniversary with a Cinco de Mayo party at the brewery (3200 Whitestone Blvd in Cedar Park) with special barrel aged concoction, a guest tap from another Texas brewery, free beer samples, Shane�s Tex-Mex Cola and water, plus a Twisted X souvenir pint glass. Enjoy brewery tours at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30pm; live music from the Bill Davis Band and food from the Peached Tortilla from 2-4pm. Tickets are $20 at www.texmexbeer.eventbrite.com. Saturday May 5, 1-5pm
› Univision hosts the 4th annual Cinco de Mayo Block Party at La Condesa. The entire block of W. Second between Guadalupe and San Antonio will be closed for this festive, family-friendly event attracting thousands of people. Enjoy live music from Bombasta, La Guerrilla, Mariachi Tamazula, Charanga Cakewalk, and Este Vato plus recorded music from Ocote Soul Sounds and Deejay Honecomb. Food and beverages by La Condesa and Malaga. Saturday May 5, 4-10pm
› Zandunga Mexican Bistro (1000 East 11th) hosts an East Side Cinco de Mayo party on their back deck with the East Side Ice Queens serving raspas spiked with tequila or Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka and music from Huerta Culture (5pm) and DJ�s Peligrosas (8pm). Saturday May 5, 5pm-closing
› Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at TenOak Bourbon House & Lounge (409 Colorado) DJ Mad Coins putting out the tunes, sombrero giveaways and pi�atas, plus Herradura and Dos XX drink specials and Mexican food. Saturday May 5, 8pm
› Cinco de Mayo Block Party After Party at Malverde (200 W. Second) Saturday May 5, 10pm-2am
Derby Day Parties
› J. Black�s Feel Good Kitchen & Lounge (710 W. Sixth) invites folks to their 5th annual Hats & Horses party to celebrate the running of the Kentucky Derby. There will be games and prizes, a complimentary photo booth and big hat contest, plus mint juleps, Kentucky hot brown sandwiches, and a live performance from Aunt Ruby�s Sweet Jazz Babies. Saturday May 5, doors open at 11am; post time 5:24pm
› TenOak Bourbon House & Lounge (409 Colorado) invites you to celebrate the run for the roses with Woodford Reserve mint julep specials and great prizes in a Derby pick raffle. Saturday May 5, 2-6pm
› The Highball (1142 S. Lamar) hosts a Kentucky Derby watch party with $5 Maker�s Mark mint juleps and Manhattans, plus a big hat contest. Saturday May 5, 4-6pm
› Put on that floppy hat and hoof it on over to Drink.Well (207 East 53rd) for a Derby Day party featuring a race-inspired roster of $8 julep drinks and delicious Kentucky hot brown sandwiches ($7). Pick the trifecta and win a $50 gift certificate. Saturday May 5, 4-6pm
This article appears in May 4 • 2012.