Quaff and strollThe seventh annual Cold Climate Conference for wine and grape growers is this weekend at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel. While the producers will be discussing the business of growing grapes, the public gets to sample the wares of 24 regional wineries at the Midwest Wine Stroll from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in the Garden Court of the Sheraton, 7800 Normandale Blvd. Cheeses, chocolate and pastries will be served. Tickets are $30 and may be reserved by contacting Terri Savaryn at 912-223-0288 or mgga.tjsavaryn@gmail.com. A limited number of tickets are available, so reserve now.
Blog at the LoftSure, a food blog's recipes have to be good, but the best blogs are well written with a distinctive voice, are well designed and have sharp photography. If you want to extend your skills beyond risotto, the Loft Literary Center is offering a food blogging course with Claire Stanford, a former freelance Web editor for Bon Appetit magazine and cofounder of the blog Food Junta (foodjunta.com). The single-session class will look at content, photography, design and marketing. It meets from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. April 2 at Open Book in Minneapolis. Cost is $46.50 with a $10 copying fee. To register, visit www.loft.org.
Write at the arboretumTeacher and poet Jules Nyquist will teach "Food as Metaphor: Writing Inspirations From Food," a three-session class at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Writing exercises will cover cultural images; how food is a metaphor for gender, politics or body image; how writers combine gastronomy and character development, and food as a powerful source of inspiration. Think of it as finding your personal madeleine. Nyquist's latest poetry chapbook is "Appetites: Poems on Food, Drink, Sex." Classes are March 10, 17 and 24 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Cost is $80 for members; $90 for nonmembers. To register online, visit www.arboretum.umn.edu/learn.aspx.
KIM ODE
