Wednesday November 18top

ArtsRising Portland Launch and Dinner Potluck

Bring a dish to the Sea Change Gallery tonight and learn about ArtsRising, a new national arts nonprofit. You'll also get to schmooze with local artists and community organizers, eat free dessert and join ArtsRising for a discounted membership fee of $25. SEA Change, 625 NW Everett St., No. 110., seagallery.wordpress.com. 5-7 pm Wednesday, Nov. 18. Free with potluck dish or drink. Map

Cuisine de la Mer at Carlyle

Like seafood? The Carlyle is hosting a special ocean-centric meal tonight filled with all sorts of rarely seen delicacies. The price of dinner will get you six courses and a wine pairing. Carlyle, 1632 NW Thurman St., 595-1782. 6:30 pm Wednesday, Nov. 18. Call 595-1782 for reservations. $90 plus gratuity. Map

Holiday Tea at the Heathman: Tickets Available this Friday

If you look forward to spending your Black Friday sipping tea and munching on scones, get in touch with the Heathman to reserve tickets for its annual day-after-Thanksgiving holiday tea. There'll be three seatings throughout the afternoon, and the Heathman offers a menu just for younger palates, with everything from hot chocolate to "ants on a log." Adults can, of course, indulge in slightly more refined treats like deviled eggs and lemon curd along with their tea. Heathman Restaurant and Bar, 1001 SW Broadway., 790-7752. 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm Friday, Nov. 27. Call 790-7752 for reservations. $32 adults. $14 kids. Map

Martinotti Wine Tasting Event

One hundred bucks might seem like a lot to throw out for an evening event, but wait! The Oregon Pinot Noir Club's tasting will feature at least 100 rare, aged wines from Burgundy, Bourdeaux, Italy, California and Oregon, drawn from the depths of late Portland wine merchant Armand Martinotti's cellar. You'll also get to sop up the alcohol with appetizers and charcuterie from Ten 01. This is any wine nerd's paradise. Ten 01, 1001 NW Couch St., 226-3463. 5:30-9:30 pm Wednesday, Nov. 18. Call 222-1189 for reservations. Event is open only to the first 100 guests. $100. Map

Thursday November 19top

New Moon Release Party

Quivering in anticipation for the release of second Twilight saga vampire flick, New Moon? Join other hard-core fans on the eve of its release for a Twilight extravaganza. You'll feast on eternal love cake and other Twilight-inspired goodies at the View Point Inn (you know, from the prom scene) while watching the first film. The crowd will then head over to the nearby theater to watch New Moon at midnight. Event attendees will get priority seating in their own theater and a special gift. The View Point Inn, 40301 E Larch Mountain Road, Corbett., 695-5811. 6 pm-2 am Thursday Nov. 19. Call 695-5811 for reservations. $58 for dinner, movie and gift. Map

DJs Against Hunger

Local DJs are pairing up with the Oregon Food Bank this Thursday to collect food and raise money in hopes of improving the holidays of the less fortunate. Bring a couple of non-perishables or a cash donation to Club 915 tomorrow night—you'll feel good about yourself and you can get down to some sick dance beats. Club 915, 915 SW 2nd Ave., . 8 pm-2 am Thursday Nov. 19. Call 360-921-8578 for more information. Map

Friday November 20top

Beaujolais Nouveau Festival

Whether or not you enjoy the simplicity and lightness of each year's Beaujolais Nouveau (for non-wine nerds, Beaujolais Nouveau is a red wine fermented for only a few weeks and released every year at the end of November), the harvest celebration at the Heathman is not to be missed. Sponsored by the French-American Chamber of Commerce and Alliance Française, the event will serve up wines from French producers Georges Dubeouf, Joseph Drouhin and Terres Dorées, as well as WillaKenzie Estate, Pacific Rim Winemakers and Amity Vineyard from Oregon. And a party at the Heathman would not be complete without delicious food created by award-winning head chef Philippe Boulot. Heathman Hotel, 1001 SW Broadway., 241-4100. 6 pm Friday, Nov. 20. Call 223-8388 for reservations. $65 in advance. $100 at the door. Map

Saturday November 21top

EaT One Year Anniversary Party

Portland's seriously Cajun oyster bar is turning one this weekend. Come celebrate all day Saturday—there are activities enough for anyone. Hungry? There'll be a crab and shrimp boil starting at 6 pm, and oysters are $1 all day long. Thirsty? All tap beers are 2 for $5. Brave? Enter the gumbo cookoff—the winning stew gets a $100 gift certificate. Smart? There'll be New Orleans trivia starting at 8 pm. Broke? Dress up like legendary Cajun chef and cookbook author Justin Wilson (just Google him) and you'll get a special gift. For those lacking creative ambition, there will also be drawings for gift certificates from a ton of awesome restaurants like Pix, Bunk Sandwiches, Beaker and Flask, and Podnah's Pit. EaT: An Oyster Bar, 3808 N Williams Ave., 281-1222. 11:30 am-midnight Saturday, Nov. 21. Gumbo contest participants must sign up at the restaurant any time before Saturday. Call 281-1222 for more information. $25 a plate for crab and shrimp boil. $1 oysters. Map

Indie Wine Foundation Tasting Event

Want to serve a new wine with your holiday dinner but don’t know what to pick? Come to a pre-Thanksgiving tasting at the Brookside Inn to taste over a dozen vintages from local vineyards. Brookside Inn, 8243 NE Abbey Road, Carlton., 595-0891. Noon-5 pm Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 21-22. Call 595-0891 for more information. $20. Map

Olio Nuovo Festa

November's harvest brings us not only great vegetables and delicious wine, but also mountains of olives. Celebrate the 2009 olive harvest by touring Yamhill County's only olive oil press. You'll get to watch the oil be made, taste some fresh from the press and will get to fill your own bottles of oil by hand. Oregon Olive Mill at Red Ridge, 5700 NE Breyman Orchards Road., 864-2200. 11 am-4 pm Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 21-22. Free. Map

Scratch Bake Sale Benefit

This is not your average PTA bake sale. Gallery Homeland has gathered an impressive roster of local chefs and artists to throw a delicious fundraiser for the nonprofit arts organization. Baked goods, priced between $3 and $5, will include sour cream coffee cake from Chris DiMinno of Clyde Common, cardamom apple pie from Emily Katz, banana bread from Sara Dudzinsky of Better Late than Never and chocolate cake from Colleen French of Renegade. There will also be ice cream, pickles and free hot cider. You won't even have to set foot inside a school. The Cleaners, 403 SW 10th Ave., . 11 am-2 pm Saturday, Nov. 21. Free admission. Map

Sunday November 22top

Latke Cooking Contest

After hosting one of the best look-alike contests ever (Martha Stewart, anyone?), Krakow is back with a new challenge. If you think you've got the chutzpah, head over on Sunday and put your family's latke recipe to the test. Judging the potato pancakes will be Laurie Watson of the Western Culinary Institute, Krakow manager Basia Sonowska, and Mike Grahek, former chef of the Cadillac Cafe. And while you're waiting to try the winners, you'll be entertained by klezmer music by the Hora Tzigane band. Oy vey. Kraków Cafe & Pub, 3990 N Interstate Ave., 954-2200. 1 pm Sunday, Nov. 22. Map

Monday November 23top

Craft Bitters and Vermouth Tasting Class

Learn the nuances of formerly disavowed cocktail ingredients at the Meadow this Monday. Taste a plethora of variations on the mixers, learn how they're made, and experiment with new cocktail combinations. The Meadow, 3731 N Mississippi Ave., 288-4633. 7-8:30 pm Monday, Nov. 23. Purchase tickets at atthemeadow.com. $25. Map

Tuesday November 24top

Drink Local Project

Get locally sauced this month at Urban Farmer. Each week, bartender Daniel Stern will create four new cocktails featuring a different local producer. Recently, he showcased Integrity Spirits, and in following weeks Stern will shake or stir selections from House Spirits, Clear Creek Distillery and Stumptown Coffee. New cocktails premiere each Tuesday during an extended happy hour. Urban Farmer Restaurant, 525 SW Morrison St., 8th floor., 222-4900. Cocktails debut 3-7 pm Tuesdays in November. Map

P:ear Barista School Offers Free Coffee

Think all Portland baristas are trustafarian hipsters? Think again. Local outreach organization P:ear has started a barista school for at-risk youths—hoping to get more kids off the streets and serving coffee. Participants undergo extensive coffee training, from palate-building exercises to espresso-drink construction. This Tuesday, come sample their handiwork at the P:ear gallery–they'll be offering free espresso drinks all morning. p:ear gallery, 338 NW 6th Ave., 226-6677. 8:30 am-11:30 am Tuesday Nov. 24. Free. Map