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June 23-29, 2005

food

off the menu

Art may be beautiful and dynamic, but leave it to the next wave of wines to be biodynamic. On Saturday night, the Vox Populi artists' collective presents an evening of cutting-edge wine appreciation, which focuses on this specialty oenophile area.

While organic wines are produced with organically grown grapes and often without the use of sulfites, the term biodynamic refers to sorts that are even more purist, produced by what wineanorak.com calls a "supercharged system of organic farming." By considering the vineyard (including the soil and water supply) as a living system, biodynamic grape farmers eschew pesticides but also boost the soil using preparations such as nettle tea or ground quartz. These processes, some claim, produce wines with character drawn from their geographic origins.

The event, raising funds for Vox Populi, is a collaboration between Moore Brothers in New Jersey, who'll provide the wines in question, and Inky wine columnist Deborah Scoblionkov, who'll lead the discussion. There'll also be hors d'oeuvres and art on display, along with the craftsmanship in the glass. (Sat., June 25, 4-7 p.m., $50/$35 artists, john@philaculture.org or www.voxpopuligallery.org.)

Know your Fat Angel from your HiPA? Or maybe you just like your beer labels a little techno-pagan? Magic Hat, the Vermont-based brew company with all the best fonts, will be in-residence at Iron Hill Brewery this week. On Saturday, they'll present a Brewer's Reserve Night, walking visitors through the stories of some of their best beers. How about Russian Stout, heavy with a sniff of coffee and toffee? Their version of the classic Barleywine? Or Sour Flemish Ale, aged with pomegranates, cherries and blueberries, proving there's as much color within the bottle as without. (Sat., June 25, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, 1460 Bethlehem Pike, North Wales, 267-708-2000.)

In Short: It's, what, three weeks since the Italian Market Festival, and already Bella Vista's itching to draw another hungry crowd? Vesuvio joins with the Bella Vista United Civic Association to host the first Bella Vista Barbecue Block Party on Fitzwater Street between Eighth and Ninth, where burgers, hot dogs and all manner of grilled items will abound. (Sat., June 25, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Fitzwater between 8th and 9th sts., 267-872-4686.)

Picnic basket cases can hone their skills at Lindsay Gilmour's workshop, "Let's Picnic: Food for the Great Outdoors." It will include dishes such as Thai summer vegetable rolls and shrimp in a basil and mustard marinade. (Fri., June 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m., $25, Whole Foods, 940 Rt. 73 N, Marlton, N.J., 856-797-1115.)

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