[EID Events] October 9-November 2

ONGOING

Ferndale Restaurant Week, through October 13
More here.

Dine Drink Detroit, October 10-16
More here.

THIS WEEKEND 

(revolver) Dinner with the Cook's Crossing, Hamtramck, October 11
The new communal-style chef's tasting dinner is now taking reservations for October 11 but hurry, only 35 seats are available. Read more about them here and make your reservations.

Farmington FoodaPollooza, Riley Park, Farmington, October 13
Farmington's first-ever food truck rally is hosted by Off the Beaten Path Books, Grow Farmington, and KickstART Farmington and will have four food trucks and live music.

Good Food Gathering, Plymouth Michigan Gathering Space, Plymouth, October 13
A celebration of all things Michigan-made, hosted by Door-to-Door Organics.

AND BEYOND

Jolly Pumpkin and North Peak Beer Dinner, Forest Grill, Birmingham October 14
Five courses featuring the beers of Jolly Pumpkin and North Peak as well as some Civilized Spirits. Tickets are $70pp.

The Great Pumpkin Feast at the Root, White Lake October 16
Every course features pumpkin as a highlighted ingredient with beer pairings from, naturally, Jolly Pumpkin Brewery. Seats still available.

Michigan Craft Beer Gala, Karl's Cabin, Plymouth October 16
Featuring a chef's buffet including items like pate and charcuterie as well as 10 3-oz. samples of Michigan craft beers from Witch's Hat, New Holland, Right Brain and Liberty Street.

Salumi Dinner by Righteous Rojo at Zingerman's Events, Ann Arbor, October 16
A selection of salumi (as well as vegetarian options) will be served from 5-10 p.m. or until they run out of food. No seating times; just drop on by.

Detroit Beer Week, October 17-27
New Official Beer Destinations now and events are being announced daily; follow the Facebook page for updates.
~Rock City Eatery Food + Beer Specials featuring Dark Horse, October 17-27
~Sammie, Soup + Beer Combo Special at Mudgie's all through DBW, October 17-27 
~Afternoon Delight Daily at Woodbridge Pub, October 17-27
~Griffin Claw's Brewmaster Dan Rogers at Woodbridge Pub, October 17
~Short's Tap Takeover at Foran's Grand Trunk Pub, October 19
~Orange + Black Party at Woodbridge Pub, October 20
~New Holland Double-Header at Woodbridge Pub, October 21
~Kill All the ZomBEEs at Foran's, October 21
~Arbor Brewing Tap Takeover at Foran's Grand Trunk Pub, October 23
~Bell's Tap Takeover at Foran's Grand Trunk Pub, October 24
~Cans for Cans at Green Dot Stables, October 24 
~Beer Fest Hangover Brunch at Woodbridge Pub, October 27

Windsor Craft Beer Festival, Windsor October 18-19
Right on the other side of the Detroit River lies the exotic land of Windsor-Essex, and lo and behold they brew beer there. Can't wait for Fall Beer Fest in Eastern Market? Get prepped the weekend before with this celebration of craft beer heritage in Windsor-Essex in historic Olde Walkerville.

WindsorEats Bikes + Beers Cycling Tour (Beer Fest Edition), Windsor October 19
Visit local beerie establishments by bike then end your tour at Windsor's inaugural craft beer festival.

(revolver) Dinner with Rubbed, Hamtramck, October 18-19
The European-style deli and sandwich shopping opening soon in Corktown will present this five-course dinner at (revolver). Two seatings are available each day.

Theatre Bizarre: The Procession, the Masonic Temple, Detroit October 18-19
New this year is a Preview Gala on Friday night. Limited tickets are available for this intimate event where masks are mandatory and masqueraders are led through a strolling dinner and scheduled performances. On Saturday, join the Procession.

West Village Biergarten, West Village, Detroit, October 19-20
Hatch Detroit and the Villages of Detroit present this pop-up beer garden to introduce Phase II of the Detroit Lions Living for the Neighborhood Initiative in West Village.

Halloween Harry Potter Hogwarts Feast at the Old Town Hall, Farmington October 19
Off the Beaten Path Books presents this Harry Potter-themed Halloween feast in Farmington. Dress in your wizardly best and allow the sorting hat to decide if you are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or (shudder) Slytherin. (There are only 25 seats per table so not everyone can be Gryffindor.) There will be house tables and house cups, butter beer, and readings from the Harry Potter books. Artisan Knitworks in downtown Farmington will also have knit kits available to make your own house scarves and earn your house extra points (okay, so houses will be sorted in advance). Tickets are $25.

Sweater Weather, Boston-Edison, Detroit, October 19
This event is hosted by 826michigan and will be held inside a historic mansion in the Boston-Edison district. Food by Righteous Rojo.

Kung Food Pop-Up Dinner After the Shanghai Ballet, Music Hall, downtown Detroit October 20
Following the performance of The Butterfly Lovers (China's own Romeo and Juliet) by the Shanghai Ballet at the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, enjoy a dinner with local Asian food pop-up Kung Food. Combo tickets are $50.

Sundaylicious, MotorCity Wine, Corktown, October 20
This Sunday's food feature is a raw bar from Chef Robert Scherer of the London Chop House.

Michigan Brewers Guild Fall Beer Festival, Eastern Market October 25-26
As if this needs any kind of explanation.

Wrestlemania Halloween at Green Dot Stables, Corktown October 31
Break out your '80s spandex for a Wrestlemania Halloween at everyone's favorite slider joint, Green Dot Stables. There will be food and drink specials and theme music. 

Dia de los Muertos at Imperial, Ferndale November 1-2
Remember when they did this last year and it was amazing? Well, they're doing it again. Details TBA. For now, set those dates aside. 

[NEWS BITES] Introducing Ferndale Restaurant Week + FestivALE

The Burger Brawl winner at One-Eyed Betty's.

Fall is a time for food. We can officially ditch the summer diets and stop worrying about having a "bikini body" (or, for some of us, just continue going on with business as usual but with the relief that comes from knowing we can hide all our rolls under bulky sweaters and snazzy leather jackets) and stuff our faces with the unparalleled bounty of fall foods. Pumpkins and apples and Bambis and Thumpers and doughnuts and pie and all the other rich, fattening, flavorful comfort foods we deny ourselves when it's 90 degrees outside if for no other reason than the fact that it's 90 degrees outside.

So it makes sense that there are a millionjillionfafillion fall-themed food events going on this year because it's fall and fall is awesome. Coming up next is the brand-new Ferndale Restaurant Week, an effort from the Ferndale Downtown Development Authority chaired by Beth Hussey, co-owner of One-Eyed-Betty's.

Beth, who previously spent a couple of years in Grand Rapids and dealing with all of the ArtPrize shenanigans and restaurant week events out there, had been wanting to do something similar in Ferndale for awhile. But she didn't want it to be a "normal" restaurant week – she wanted to really put in the effort to make it cool.

Since Ferndale is home to a wide variety of restaurants and food spots – casual, upscale, breakfast and lunch only, ice cream shops, beer and burger bars – Ferndale Restaurant Week offers a wide variety of options so you can experience everything Ferndale has to offer at prices that make sense for the individual businesses.

The Ferndale Restaurant Week website.

"It's as easy as one-two-three," Beth says, and the website was designed with that in mind. With food options set at $10, $20, and $30 price points; offerings for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner; and options for one or two people, Ferndale Restaurant Week offers the most variety and the most flexibility. Visit the website for the full breakdown of who's offering what with notations next to their names.

23 restaurants in downtown Ferndale are participating in this event, which will be held twice annually in the spring and fall (basically it's most of them). The website will live year-round as a resource for restaurants in downtown Ferndale and participating restaurants will benefit from year-round visibility and promotion.

This first edition of Ferndale Restaurant Week will be held October 7-13.

But that's not all Beth has in the works.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 23, and don't plan on doing anything else. One-Eyed Betty's is hosting a monster FestivALE – a fall festival for all! (Or a festivus for the rest of us, if you must.)

What started out as a beer tent to coincide with the Ferndale DDA's 5k obstacle course nighttime run (a fundraising effort for their holiday events) has turned into a full-scale holiday festival with lots of food and beer and entertainment – like fire dancers, aerialists, and stilt-walkers, plus music from Americana bluegrass bands like the Appleseed Collective.

The DDA approached Beth about hosting a beer tent for the 1,000 runners they expect at their event. She agreed, then figured, "If I'm going to do a beer tent I might as well turn it into a thing and make it a big deal."

And oh, IT'S A BIG DEAL. FestivALE will feature all seasonal and holiday beers, including some very special limited releases and rare imports. The whole concept is based around Christmas beers – those high-octane specialty releases like St. Bernardus Christmas Ale and Delerium Noel. There will be several local breweries pouring samples of seasonal and limited releases including (so far) Bell's, Dark Horse, Arbor Brewing, and (99% sure) Short's, all set up in an outdoor tent like at the Michigan Brewers Guild festivals. There will also be a special one-off Christmas beer booth with scheduled tappings of extremely limited kegs of rare and unusual beers (some of these kegs are the only ones allotted to the state of Michigan). Harpoon with also be there with kegs of their Winter Warmer and their ciders, available for the first time in kegs.

Since this is the Saturday before Thanksgiving and right as we all get into the full holiday swing, the food will also be equally as special as the beer. They'll have a "roast beast" dinner of pig, goat, and lamb, all served as finger food in rolls or tortillas with complementary sauces. Beth is also having a giant tartiflette pan custom-made by local metalworker Richard Gage to make the traditional cold weather comfort food of Franco-Swiss origin made with potatoes, Reblochon cheese, lardons and onions (they'll put their own spin on it, naturally). And there will probably be a six-foot-long apple strudel.

"We're really going for a different kind of feel than other festivals," Beth says. "We just want it to be a really awesome party with really great beer, really great food, and a really great atmosphere."

Another awesome food and drink festival in Ferndale that puts all others to shame? I'm in.

UPDATE: Tickets to FestivaALE are now on sale!

[EID Events] UPDATED October 3-November 2, 2013

The Sugar House. Photo by Nicole Rupersburg.

ONGOING

Plymouth Restaurant Week, through October 5
Has enough of restaurant weeks yet? Well, here's another one! This one's in Plymouth and features three-tier pricing.

Fall Flavor Weekends at the Henry Ford, through October 6
Celebrate harvest season at the Henry Ford during their Fall Flavor Weekends featuring a variety of fall foods and related programming.

Bastone Brewery Oktoberfest, through October 13
Bastone is now serving their annual Oktoberfest menu with their popular Rocktoberfest lager and special edition beer glasses.

TONIGHT

Fall Show Opening Reception at Rodin, Midtown October 3
The second best thing about art openings (aside from the ART, duh) is the booze. And Rodin has plenty of that. Check out the opening party from 6-8 p.m.

THIS WEEKEND

Free Lunch Friday (FLF), Detroit Labs, downtown October 4
Register now for a networky rah rah Detroit lunch thing at Detroit Labs next Friday. (Actually the free spots are all taken but you can still snag a non-free spot with a donation.)

8 Degrees Plato Two-Year Anniversary, Ferndale October 4
Celebrate two years of Tim and Brid and craft beer tonight from 4-8 p.m. with a free tasting featuring several Short's beers and some of their personal favorites, with Chicago-style hot dogs from Hippo's to go with the beer! Totes free. 

Manya's Birthday at Abick's Bar, Southwest Detroit October 4
Manya, the owner of Abick's Bar in Southwest Detroit, turns 90 years old today. Celebrate with her anytime this weekend at one of Detroit's oldest and friendliest bars. Read more about it here. 

The Greening Gala, Roast, downtown October 4
Yes, tickets are $500 each. Let's just get that part out of the way right now. This is a gala fundraising event for the Greening of Detroit and you either have the money or you don't. If you do, celebrity chef Michael Symon himself will be cooking using ingredients he'll source that morning from the Greening of Detroit's 2.5-acre farm in Eastern Market and locally-raised livestock in a five-course menu at his flagship Detroit restaurant Roast. 

Kuhnhenn Oktoberfest, Kuhnhenn Brewing Company, Warren October 5-6
There will be live music and German food in their tented biergarten and Kuhnhenn Festbier on tap. Time to break out the lederhosen! 

Hamtramck Neighborhood Arts Festival, Hamtramck October 5
Held over 26 locations with 50 artists, musicians, theatre, dance, readings and more. Grab a guide at Public Pool.

The DIA's Inside|Out Community Dinner, Gleaners Community Food Bank, the Villages October 5
This event, presented by the DIA in conjunction with Detroit Harmonie and Slows BAR BQ to benefit Gleaners, is on a wait list but it's worth a shot. This community dinner is the wrap-up event for the DIA's 2013 Inside|Out program; Gleaners was one of 13 locations in the Villages to host one of the images. 

Sundaylicious at MotorCity Wine, Corktown October 6
The weekly Sunday themed and pop-up dinner series at MotorCity Wine continues this week with Rubbed, a Euro-style deli opening soon in Corktown. 

The Great Lakes Regional Chili Cookoff, downtown Plymouth October 6
This 18th annual event features a huge chili cookoff with awards in several categories, a motorcycle show, music, kids' activities, and more.

NEXT WEEK

Big Dumb Tiki Party, the Sugar House, Corktown October 7
Celebrate the two-year anniversary of the Sugar House at their "Big Dumb Tiki Party" on Monday, October 7 starting at 5 p.m. with music from the Mexican Knives and the Hentchmen, exotic tiki coolers, cheap punch, and floral shirts. No cover. 

Ferndale Restaurant Week, October 7-13
More here.

Dine Drink Detroit, October 10-16
More here.

(revolver) October 11
The new communal-style chef's tasting dinner is now taking reservations for October 11 but hurry, only 35 seats are available. Read more about them here and make your reservations.

AND BEYOND

Jolly Pumpkin and North Peak Beer Dinner, Forest Grill, Birmingham October 14
Five courses featuring the beers of Jolly Pumpkin and North Peak as well as some Civilized Spirits. Tickets are $70pp.

The Great Pumpkin Feast at the Root, White Lake October 16
Every course features pumpkin as a highlighted ingredient with beer pairings from, naturally, Jolly Pumpkin Brewery. Seats still available.

Detroit Beer Week, October 17-27
New Official Beer Destinations now and events are being announced daily; follow the Facebook page for updates.
~Rock City Eatery Food + Beer Specials featuring Dark Horse, October 17-27
~Sammie, Soup + Beer Combo Special at Mudgie's all through DBW, October 17-27 
~Cans for Cans at Green Dot Stables, October 24 
~Beer Fest Hangover Brunch at Woodbridge Pub, October 27

Windsor Craft Beer Festival, Windsor October 18-19
Right on the other side of the Detroit River lies the exotic land of Windsor-Essex, and lo and behold they brew beer there. Can't wait for Fall Beer Fest in Eastern Market? Get prepped the weekend before with this celebration of craft beer heritage in Windsor-Essex in historic Olde Walkerville.

WindsorEats Bikes + Beers Cycling Tour (Beer Fest Edition), Windsor October 19
Visit local beerie establishments by bike then end your tour at Windsor's inaugural craft beer festival.

Theatre Bizarre: The Procession, the Masonic Temple, Detroit October 18-19
New this year is a Preview Gala on Friday night. Limited tickets are available for this intimate event where masks are mandatory and masqueraders are led through a strolling dinner and scheduled performances. On Saturday, join the Procession.

Halloween Harry Potter Hogwarts Feast at the Old Town Hall, Farmington October 19
Off the Beaten Path Books presents this Harry Potter-themed Halloween feast in Farmington. Dress in your wizardly best and allow the sorting hat to decide if you are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or (shudder) Slytherin. (There are only 25 seats per table so not everyone can be Gryffindor.) There will be house tables and house cups, butter beer, and readings from the Harry Potter books. Artisan Knitworks in downtown Farmington will also have knit kits available to make your own house scarves and earn your house extra points (okay, so houses will be sorted in advance). Tickets are $25.

Kung Food Pop-Up Dinner After the Shanghai Ballet, Music Hall, downtown Detroit October 20
Following the performance of The Butterfly Lovers (China's own Romeo and Juliet) by the Shanghai Ballet at the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, enjoy a dinner with local Asian food pop-up Kung Food. Combo tickets are $50.

Michigan Brewers Guild Fall Beer Festival, Eastern Market October 25-26
As if this needs any kind of explanation.

Wrestlemania Halloween at Green Dot Stables, Corktown October 31
Break out your '80s spandex for a Wrestlemania Halloween at everyone's favorite slider joint, Green Dot Stables. There will be food and drink specials and theme music. 

Dia de los Muertos at Imperial, Ferndale November 1-2
Remember when they did this last year and it was amazing? Well, they're doing it again. Details TBA. For now, set those dates aside. 

The Week We Ate (The EID Week in Review)

ICYMI:
~Rock City Eatery is now open! They will have a limited menu and hours during their soft opening period, so be patient. Once they're firing at 100% the menu will include items like duck rilette sandwiches, charcoal-grilled beef tongue skewers, pork "fries" with togarashi, and bone marrow fritters, with plenty of vegetarian options like roasted brussels sprouts with Thai basil and smoked tomatoes, and grilled heirloom carrots with fast-pickled apples and goat cheese. [EID]
~Dine Drink Detroit, Ferndale Restaurant Week, Hamtramck Food Week, Revolve Detroit's Art + Retail on the Ave in conjunction with Detroit Design Festival's Light Up Livernois, expanded Detroit Restaurant Week and bunches of new restaurants opening: yeah, this fall kicks all other falls' asses. [EID]
~The Two James Spirits tasting room is now open with limited hours, but you can find their 28 Island Vodka in stores and on the shelves of local favorites like SLOWS BAR BQ, The Sugar House, and Michael Symon's Roast - Detroit. You can also buy bottles directly from the tasting room. [Model D]
~Interested in the growing craft spirits movement happening in metro Detroit? Here I talk in-depth with folks from Valentine Distilling Co., Griffin Claw Brewing Company (GCBC), Two James Spirits and Detroit City Distillery about craft spirits as part of the local foods movement and how recent changes in the laws governing microdistillers have allowed them to flourish. [Metromode]
~Better mark Eastern Market After Dark on your calendar for next year. [EID]

Get your taste of Hamtown with the new Hamtramck Food Week starting today: 10 restaurants with dinners priced at $10 or less and a host of other coordinating events. [Model D]

The new ballroom at COBO Center is now open and it's spectacular. Want to see it for yourself? Sign up for the Crain's Detroit Business House Party this Thursday, which includes an afterparty inside the new ballroom (with strolling dinner and open bar). Registration closes today. [The Detroit Hub / Crain's]

Public House is also now open for all your rock and bao roll needs north of 8 Mile. [Real Detroit]

Ben Hall and Jason Murphy, owners of Russell Street Deli, are opening a new restaurant on the outskirts of Corktown this spring called Lafayette Kitchen and Diner. [Crain's]

Excellent article about a book about supper clubs - The Supper Club Book - and about Detroit's own historic supper club, Cliff Bell's. Join them for Detroit Restaurant Week going on now through September 29. [Detroit News]

Celebrate the Garden Bowl and Lounge's centennial Dude-style on September 28. [Detroit News]

Here is an example of the powers of media being used for good: Bedrock (parent company of Quicken) has dropped the eviction notice against Angelina Italian Bistro after word spread through the media and Bedrock received a good public social media shaming. [Freep]

Yates Cider Mill is 150 years old this year and it's officially CIDER SEASON! [Yates Official]

Crain's Detroit Business takes a look at how area cider mills are diversifying after 2012's apple crop devastation, including a new cider house and winery at Blake's Cider Mill, expanded offerings at Paint Creek Cider Mill, and a brewery, winery, and distillery in the works at Miller's Big Red. [Crain's]

It is now officially fall. And that means pumpkin EVERYTHING - including Pumpkin Pie a la Mode ice cream from Guernsey Farms Dairy. [Guernsey Official]

Here's why the annual Tour de Troit is more than just a bike ride. If you missed it this year, better mark that one on your calendar for next year too. [Model D]

Beerie
~This video from Founder's should give you an attack of the eye-watering "allergies."

~Speaking of Founders Brewing Co., Thrillist named the best breweries in each state and Founders was named the best in Michigan. [Thrillist]

~On their search for Michigan's best brewery, MLive paid a visit to Warren's newest brewery Falling Down Beer Co. Here's more about it. [MLive]

~Who makes one of the best pumpkin beers in the country according to Complex Magazine? Jolly Pumpkin Brewery, of course! (As is to be expected.) [Complex]

~Detroit Beer Company celebrated their 10-year anniversary this weekend. [DBC FB]

Misc.
~One woman's experience surviving Whole Foods. Namaste. "Next I see the gluten-free section filled with crackers and bread made from various wheat-substitutes such as cardboard and sawdust. I skip this isle because I'm not rich enough to have dietary restrictions." [HuffPo]

~I want to hang out with these kids. [Death + Taxes]

~Chipotle Mexican Grill wins. [Gawker]

[HOT LIST] Fall events

Not all falls are created equally. And this fall is about to put all other falls to shame. From spankin' new events to expanded old events, bon vivants have plenty of opportunities for dining and drinking in the coming weeks. Here are the highlights.

#1 Dine Drink Detroit October 10-16
In the afterglow of the grand dame of Detroit dining events, Detroit Restaurant Week, check out the brand-new Dine Drink Detroit. If the comparison had to be made, DDD is DRW's scrappy DIY cousin. And that suits these particular Detroit joints. Thirteen of Detroit's most interesting bars and restaurants that don't really fall into the realm of "fine dining" (as in, $32 a plate) will offer food and drink pairings for $15 each, no reservations necessary. Follow them on InstaBookEr via the hashtag #DineDrinkDetroit. Participating restaurants are: El Barzon, Great Lakes, Green Dot, Mercury Burger Bar, MotorCity Wine, Mudgie's, Ottava Via, Rodin, Slows, St. Cece's, Sugar House, Traffic Jam, Woodbridge Pub.

#2 Ferndale Restaurant Week October 7-13
Also hot on the heels of Detroit Restaurant Week is Ferndale Restaurant Week, a new effort by the Ferndale DDA chaired by Beth Hussey, co-owner of One-Eyed Betty's. It was important to Hussey to create the kind of event in which ALL Ferndale restaurants could participate, everyone from Treat Dreams and Easy Like Sundae to Assagi Bistro and Local Kitchen + Bar. So Ferndale Restaurant Week has options for breakfast, lunch and dinner in $10, $20, and $30 increments. Check out the very cool website to see the full list of 24 participating venues and what they will be offering, including the brand-new Public House, which just so happens to be opening to the public at 5 p.m. today.

#3 Hamtramck Food Week September 23-28
So hot on the heels of Detroit Restaurant Week it's actually happening at the same time, the first-ever Hamtramck Food Week, which starts on Monday, features ethnic cooking demonstrations, food history tours and tours of Hamtown Farms and Srodek's, a pop-up biergarten, as well as $10 dinners at participating restaurants. Plus, both Rock City Eatery and (revolver) will be open just in time!

#4 REVOLVE Detroit Art + Retail on the Avenue
REVOLVE Detroit's new Art + Retail on the Avenue makes its debut tonight as part of the Detroit Design Festival's Light Up Livernois event. Art + Retail on the Avenue includes four new permanent retailers, eight pop-up concepts, nine art projects, and additional programming and events. Check out the new Local Social Ice Cream + Good Cakes and Bakes, a combination ice cream shop and bakery, and Regal Cafe, a coffee shop and arts space, as part of the new permanent retailers on the Ave. Pop-ups include the Fresh Food Co-op with food from known pop-up food businesses the Batata Shop, Treats by Angelique, Beautiful Soup and Fresh Corner Cafe; True Indulgence, a specialty bakery; anf Fill-Anthropy, a pop-up nonprofit bar.

#5 Detroit Restaurant Week September 20-29
Since launching in 2009, DRW is still the grand dame of Detroit dining events. Add-ons this year include Jefferson House and Guns + Butter, and all the old favorites are returning. As always, prime time reservations fill up quickly, so make your reservations now or plan your outing mid-week to secure your spot.

Bubbling under Detroit Beer Week October 17-27 (events will be announced soon), Michigan Brewers Guild Fall Beer Festival October 25-26 (Saturday is sold out; Friday tickets still available);  Theatre Bizarre: The Procession October 18-19 (for the first time ever, Theatre Bizarre is hosting a Preview Gala the night before the main event, masks required; if you purchase tickets to both events, you will also receive a limited-edition signed and number giclee print from Theatre Bizarre artist John Dunivant entitled "Edgar Balloon" from his Expatriate Parade series)