� Food for Black Thought Symposium Scholars, community organizers, and culinary professionals will explore Black experiences with the social, political, historical, and economic aspects of food over two days of seminars, discussions, readings, meals, and film screenings. The daytime event Friday takes place on the UT campus; the film screening Friday night and all Saturday sessions will be at the Carver Cultural Center. All events are free and open to the public. See a complete schedule online. Fri., Sept. 28, 11am-9:30pm; Sat., Sept. 29, 11am-6pm. Warfield Center for African American Studies at UT, Jester A232A; Carver Cultural Center, 1165 Angelina. www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/caaas/events/24115.

� Bourbon Heritage Month Dinner Adam Harris of Jim Beam Distillery will join chef David Griffin to present a three-course meal with bourbon in each course paired with a custom bourbon cocktail. Reserve by phone. Fri., Sept. 28, 5-10pm. Austin Cake Ball Kitchen & Bar, 3401 Esperanza Crossing #104, 215-3633. $35. www.austincakeball.com.

� Austin Restaurant Week Restau­rants all over town offer special fixed-price menus from $11-17 for lunch, $17 for brunch, and $27-37 for dinner. Proceeds benefit Meals on Wheels and More. See a list of participating restaurants online. Sun.-Wed., Sept. 30-Oct. 3. www.restaurantweekaustin.com.

� Massage & Mimosa Brunch Enjoy a $17 brunch for Austin Restau­rant Week. With a $10 donation to Meals on Wheels, get a free mimosa and a chair massage by Massage Har­mony. Sun., Sept. 30, 11:30am-1:30pm. Paggi House, 200 Lee Barton.

� Oktoberfest Meat & Greet Chef Zach Northcutt is creating three distinctive, German-inspired sausages, and mixologist Justin Elliott will present a special drink menu of German beers and custom cocktails. Mon., Oct. 1, 7pm. Volstead Lounge, 1500 E. Sixth.

� Wine Me Dine Me Dinner Fall Creek Vineyards owners Ed and Susan Auler will be guest winemakers at this month’s multicourse dinner, pouring wines and discussing the history of the modern Texas wine industry. Reserve by phone. Tue., Oct. 2, 6pm. Cafe Josie, 1200-B W. Sixth, 322-9226. $69.

� Let Them Eat Cake! AMOA-Arthouse presents Collection Selections: De-Luxe in the Driscoll Villa, enhanced by sweets and libations from some of Austin’s finest culinary artisans. Tue., Oct. 2, 8-10pm. Driscoll Villa at Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th. $20 ($15, members).

� 26th Annual Gruene Music & Wine Fest Four days of delightful wine, food, and music events in historic Gruene. For details and tickets, call or go online. Thu.-Sun., Oct. 4-7. Gruene Historic District, New Braunfels, 830/629-5077. www.gruenemusicandwinefest.org.

This article appears in September 28 • 2012.

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