Food/Drink

For more culinary happenings, see What's Cooking.

• BEER AND HOME BREWING 101 In this "Introduction to Greatness," students will learn how beer is made, the major beer styles and the history of brewing at-home ale, Fri, Aug. 7, 7:30pm, $32.99, The Beer School, 2006 Fairmount Ave., 267-307-9220.
• CENTER CITY DISTRICT SIPS 2009 Restaurants across the city are celebrating summer with an extended happy hour — get $2 beers, $3 wines and $4 cocktails on Wednesdays. For a full list of participating restaurants, visit centercityphila.org/life/sips.ph. Every Wed, 5-7pm, various locations, 215-440-5500.
• CUPCAKES AND CAKE BALLS What's more precious than cake? Its tiny counterparts — cupcakes and cake balls, duh. Students will tackle the basics of making these petite pastries and learn decorating techniques like piping icing and using fondant, Sat, Aug. 8, 10am-3pm, $160, Viking Culinary Center, 1 Town Place, Suite 100, Bryn Mawr, 610-526-9020.
• FRENCH OUTDOOR CAFE In this class, students will prepare classic French dishes like blinis with smoked salmon, fresh strawberry tarts and salade nicoise, Thu, Aug. 13, 6-9pm, $109, Viking Culinary Center, 1 Town Place, Suite 100, Bryn Mawr, 610-526-9020.
• FROM FARM TO TABLE Processed foods are so passé. This class will teach students how to utilize the bounty of Pennsylvania and why they should stay away from the over-processed foods lingering in our local grocers' darkest aisles, Wed, Aug. 12, 6-9pm, $89, Viking Culinary Center, 1 Town Place, Suite 100, Bryn Mawr, 610-526-9020.
• GARRY MADDOX BARBECUE CONTEST Can't get enough of barbecue? Apparently neither can former Phillies center fielder Garry Maddox, as he hosts his eighth annual barbecue contest, which will feature local restaurants up against individual, self-proclaimed pit masters, Sat, Aug. 8, 4-7pm, FREE , Citizens Bank Park, 1 Citizens Bank Way, 215-463-1000.
• GIRLS' NIGHT OUT: IN ROME Enjoy Roman cuisine with your buddies without the hassle of hoping on a plane. Students will learn how to prepare fresh ravioli, chocolate gelato and veal scaloppini. Also, a percentage of the class's cost will go to breast cancer research, Thu, Aug. 6, 6-9pm, $99, Viking Culinary Center, 1 Town Place, Suite 100, Bryn Mawr, 610-526-9020.
• HONEY HARVEST Howell Farm and Mercer County Park Commission sponsor this event, where visitors will get up close and personal to a bee hive in order to harvest its honey. Fair warning: Don't wear perfume, cologne or hairspray, Sat, Aug. 8, 10am-4pm, Howell Living History Farm, 70 Woodens Lane, 609- 737-3299.
• KIDS' ITALIAN PASTA PARTY Most kids love pasta and most kids love parties, too, so why not combine the two? In this class, kids ages 7 to 12 will learn how to make their own pasta dinner, follow a recipe, measure ingredients and keep safe in the kitchen, Fri, Aug. 7, 10am-noon; Mon, Aug. 10, 6-9pm; $69, Viking Culinary Center, 1 Town Place, Suite 100, Bryn Mawr, 610-526-9020.
• READING TERMINAL MARKET CHEESESTEAK DAY It's no secret that Philly's got a favorite sandwich, and to celebrate our love for it, the market is hosting a day of sales and events. City Paper's own Carolyn Wyman will also be there to sign copies of her new book, "The Great Philly Cheesesteak Book," Thu, Aug. 13, noon-2pm, Reading Terminal Market, 12th & Arch sts., 215-922-2317.
• SUMMER WINE CONCERT SERIES Throughout the summer, Shady Brook will host live music and the thing that goes best with it — wine. Tastings will be served up by Rose Bank Winery, and local farmers will provide cheeses, crackers, dips and other foods, too. Every Sun, noon-4pm, FREE , Shady Brook Farm, 931 Stony Hill Rd., Yardley, 215-968-1670.
• SUCCESSFUL HOME CANNING In this class on canning dill pickles, local food writer Marisa McClellan will offer tips and tricks on how to do it at home, Sat, Aug. 8, 11am, $39, Foster's Homeware, 399 Market St., 215-925-0950.
• TEENS' CAMP: EXPLORING CUISINES Is it time that your kids put down the Hot Pockets and learned how to cook for themselves? In this five-day summer camp, they'll learn how to make basic Italian, Asian, French and American dishes, Thu-Fri, Aug. 6-7, 1:30-4:30pm, $375, Viking Culinary Center, 1 Town Place, Suite 100, Bryn Mawr, 610-526-9020.
• TEENS' CAMP: HOT COOKING TRENDS Got a kid whose favorite TV show isn't "Dora the Explorer," but "Top Chef"? This five-day cooking camp will teach them about the latest cooking trends and healthy, easy-to-prepare meals, Mon-Thu, Aug. 10-13, noon-2:30pm, $375, Viking Culinary Center, 1 Town Place, Suite 100, Bryn Mawr, 610-526-9020.
• A VEGETABLE garden PARTY Disgusted by the American food industry after watching "Food, Inc."? This event will explore food's origins, modern ecology and urban gardening. And, of course, there'll be veggies to snack on, Fri, Aug. 7, noon-4pm, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St., 215-409-6600.