What's Happening This Week: A Grill-off & A Pig Out for Your Outdoor Meat-eating Pleasure

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Good Beer Month Local Grill-off
Queens Water Taxi Beach
July 21, 6-9 p.m. (rain or shine)
Emcee Jimmy Carbone of Jimmy's 43 will be your host as amateur grill chefs pit their burgers, sausages, and hot dogs -- all produced from humanely raised animals -- against each other. It's all part of Good Beer Month, which is just what our fair Mayor Bloomberg renamed July (how can you stay mad at him now?). This grilling smackdown and beer fest will benefit the Harvest Time program of Slow Food NYC, which supports edible gardens, student farm stands, and good food education at public schools. Fette Sau, Gusto, Rub BBQ, the coming-soon Fatty Cue, and Jimmy's 43 will be serving as well.

2nd Annual Pig Roast & Dance Party
3rd Ward
July 26, 4-9 p.m.
"Put your diets on hold and tear off your skinny jeans," recommend the good folks at 3rd Ward for their second annual Pig Roast pig out. Butcher and sometime pig roaster extraordinaire Tom Mylan of Marlow and Sons fame, along with local chef Eric Sherman, will turn 200 pounds of hog into finger-licking pork tacos. The romp-stomping good time will feature live music from Stumblebum Brass Band, Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers, In Cadeo, and DJ Tanner. So, why would an arts and design center host a pig roast? Why not! Co-founder Jason Goodman took Mylan's butchery class and was so taken with the the meat carving whiz he asked him to participate in the event. Veggies are welcome to join in for the music and meatless sides.

Channing Daughter's Wine Dinner
Il Buco
July 27, 7 p.m.
Join Christopher Tracy, the winemaker at Channing Daughters winery, for a $125 six-course summer menu with wine pairings. The meal will be a locavore's dream as the Long Island winery pairs its offerings with Pasta Negra with Local Melon, Farro Salad with Local Cucumbers, Risotto with Heirloom Tomatoes and Fresh Goat Cheese, and Grilled Quail with Fresh Figs, Hazelnuts and String Beans. Guests will also get to try the new "Madeira" Merlot.