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Noteworthy Nibbles — Nov. 18-24, 2008

YumSugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:00:55 -0800

This week, the country's running wild with wine tasting events. Even if there isn't one listed below that you can attend, chances are that this week there's a wine celebration going on near you, as the third Thursday of each November marks the yearly release of Beaujolais nouveau. Stock up on cases to pair with your upcoming Thanksgiving dinner, because as soon as the bottles sell out, they're gone for good.

Chicago, IL: Passport to France — Nov. 20
Houston, TX: Beaujolais Wine & Food Festival — Nov. 20
New York, NY: Beaujolais Nouveau 2008 Celebration — Nov. 20
Dallas, TX: Beaujolais Wine Festival — Nov. 21
Grand Rapids, MI: Grand Rapids Wine & Food Festival — Nov. 21-23
Stamford, CT: Connecticut Wine & Food Festival — Nov. 21-23
Plant City, FL: Plant City Pig Jam — Nov. 22

To see the rest,

Emmy Rossum Needs a Lint Roller

PetSugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 04:30:52 -0800

Yup, that furball and black dress could result in some unsightly hairs on Emmy Rossum. However, in this case, I'm just referring to the name of the event. Thrown by LA-based Best Friends Animal Society, the Lint Roller Party's an annual benefit for abandoned and abused animals.

The non-profit works with shelters and rescue groups nationwide, operates the country's largest no-kill sanctuary, and enjoys quite a bit of success based on its entertainment community fan base gathering press for their endeavors. The goal: "a time when homeless, unwanted animals are no longer being destroyed in shelters, and when every healthy dog or cat can be guaranteed a good life in a caring home."

Check out some of the familiar faces from last week's fundraiser at the Hollywood Palladium when you

Noteworthy Nibbles — Nov. 11-17, 2008

YumSugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:00:57 -0800

Oenophiles, rejoice: This week is packed with wine tastings around the country. Perhaps everyone's gearing up for the holidays, or brainstorming early pairings for Thanksgiving. I'll take the wine, whatever the reason. In fact, we'll be at SF Wine Week — maybe we'll see you there!

Boca Raton, FL: Taste of the Grape — Nov. 11
San Francisco, CA: SF Wine Week — Nov. 11-15
Kona, HI: Kona Coffee Cultural Festival — Nov. 11-16
Springfield, MO: Wingapalooza — Nov. 12
San Diego, CA: San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival — Nov. 12-16

To see the rest,

Noteworthy Nibbles — Nov. 4-10, 2008

YumSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:00:33 -0800

This week Noteworthy Nibbles includes an international chocolate show complete with chocolate-inspired runway designs. In sunny Florida, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival should be quite the spectacle. Folks who live in Virginia have the great fortune of two oyster events this weekend. Personally, I'm looking forward to San Francisco Wine Week!

Know of anything we've left out? Drop us a line in the comments below!

Orlando, FL: Epcot International Food & Wine Festival — Nov. 4-9
Philadelphia, PA: Celebrity Chef Tour — Nov. 6
St. Helena, CA: CIA Worlds of Flavor International Conference — Nov. 6-8
Palm Desert, CA: The Art of Food & Wine — Nov. 6-9
Ann Arbor, MI: Save a Heart Celebration of Wine and Food — Nov. 7

To see the rest,

Noteworthy Nibbles — Oct. 28-Nov. 3

YumSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:00:33 -0700

This week is all about quality over quantity: There aren't as many festivals on our radar, but all of them are can't-miss events. The Giant Omelette Celebration is sure to be an egg-cellent time. Now that we have yet another excuse to drink beer, let's enjoy some at the Great World Beer Fest. And a festival that's all about tamales? Who couldn't get behind that?!

Know of anything we've left out? Drop us a line in the comments below!

Denver, CO: Denver International Wine Festival — Oct. 29-Nov. 1
Terlingua, TX: International Championship Chili Cook-Off — Oct. 30-Nov. 1
New York, NY: Great World Beer Fest — Oct. 31-Nov. 1
Apalachicola, FL: Florida Seafood Festival — Oct. 31-Nov. 1

To see the rest,

Noteworthy Nibbles — Oct. 21-27, 2008

YumSugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:00:02 -0700

This week's events have left me curious: Exactly what activities does one partake in at a Pig Stein? Or a Yambilee? If you have attended these in the past, I'd love to know. Will anyone be at the James Beard Foundation's Taste America in Las Vegas?

If you know something we've left out, please leave a message in the comments below!

Las Vegas, NV: Rising Stars Las Vegas — Oct. 21
Torrance, CA: Oktoberfest at Alpine Village — Oct. 21-26
San Francisco, CA: Joy of Sake San Francisco — Oct. 23
Atlanta, GA: Celebrity Chef Tour Atlanta — Oct. 23
Portland, ME: Harvest on the Harbor — Oct. 23-25
Mountain View, AR: Arkansas Bean Fest — Oct. 23-25
Kohler, WI: Kohler Food & Wine Experience — Oct. 23-26
Opelousas, LA: Louisiana Yambilee — Oct. 23-26
Las Vegas, NV: The James Beard Foundation's Taste America Las Vegas — Oct. 24-26

To see the rest,

Mario Batali to Light Empire State Building Orange Tonight!

YumSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:15:26 -0700

When the sun goes down on New York tonight, celebrity chef Mario Batali and Hollywood actor-director Stanley Tucci will light Manhattan's Empire State Building bright orange. Batali and Tucci, both board members of the Food Bank, are spreading the word about the orange which, aside from matching Batali's clogs, also happens to be the symbolic color for raising funds and awareness of hunger relief. The duo are helping to kick off a hunger relief campaign called Go Orange! for the Food Bank for New York City. For every $1 donated, the food bank donates five meals to the needy, and at least 1.3 million New Yorkers — most of them children or the elderly — risk going hungry.

Those of you living in or near New York: Will you be checking it out from your window? I'd love to hear what you think of it!

Source

Noteworthy Nibbles — Oct. 14-20, 2008

YumSugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:00:42 -0700

It's only Tuesday, but I'm already looking forward to the multitude of festivals this weekend.

There are so many in the Bay Area alone that I can't decide whether to hit up the Santana Row Pear Festival, the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, or the Monterey Wine Festival. I suppose I might just rock them all!

Have we left something out? If so, please drop us a line in the comments below!

San Francisco, CA: Wine & Spirits Top 100 Tasting — Oct. 14
New York, NY: At the Table: New York — Oct. 14
Torrance, CA: Oktoberfest at Alpine Village — Oct. 14-20
Circleville, OH: Circleville Pumpkin Show — Oct. 15-18
Monterey, CA: Monterey Wine Festival — Oct. 16-18
Tulsa, OK: Tulsa Oktoberfest — Oct. 16-19
Crowley, LA: International Rice Festival — Oct. 16-19
New York, NY: 6th Annual Gourmet Institute — Oct. 17-19
Paso Robles, CA: Harvest Wine Weekend — Oct. 17-19

To see the rest,

Noteworthy Nibbles —Oct. 7-13, 2008

YumSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:00:12 -0700

It's the middle of Fall, and the festivities are bigger than ever. From Spencer, WV, to San Francisco, there's something for everyone, whether you've got a craving for candy or a hankering for ham. Know of something we've left out? Please feel free to add your comments below!

New York, NY: Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival — Oct. 9-12
Denver, CO: The Celebrity Chef Tour Denver — Oct. 9
Denver, CO: Great American Beer Festival — Oct. 9-11
Spencer, WV: West Virginia Black Walnut Festival — Oct. 9-12
San Francisco, CA: San Francisco Magazine's Fallfest 2008 — Oct. 9-12

To see the rest,

In the Spotlight: Celebs (and Pets) Come Bark For The Cure

PetSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:00:21 -0700

Hi, foxy Roxy! This cutie pie Pomeranian came out for the First Annual Bark For The Cure 5K/Canine Celebration with mom, Carmen Electra.

Sponsored by the Freshpet Foundation, the event (and nonprofit) supports nutritional research in the areas of prevention, care and treatment of canine cancer. The organization gives grants to veterinary colleges or research institutions doing work and helping find ways to hopefully one day cure this disease.

See more piccys from Saturday's event at LA's Griffith Park when you