Culinary calendar for the week ahead: A farewell to Sheehan

The year might be starting off slow, but there are still plenty of culinary events to keep things cooking -- including your very last chance to have Westword restaurant critic Jason Sheehan sign a copy of Cooking Dirty.

Here's a taste of what's ahead:

Now through January 15:

Enter your homebrew in the Ska Brewing Snowdown Pro-Am Homebrew Competition, a preliminary for the 2010 Great American Beer Festival Pro/Am Category. Sign up by January 15 and get your brew to Ska no later than January 18. Find details at www.durangohomebrew.com.

Monday, January 4:

Cook Street School of Fine Cooking, 1937 Market Street, is hosting a Kitchen Basics class tonight. It's $69, and you'll need to register in advance at 303-308-9300 or www.cookstreet.com.

Wednesday, January 6:

Tonight is your last chance to have Jason Sheehan sign your copy of Cooking Dirty, at 7 p.m. at the Broadway Book Mall, 200 South Broadway; afterward, catch him at Sketch, 101 Broadway, for a bon voyage party. Call 303-744-2665.

Thursday, January 7:

Vail's Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival kicks off with a stellar lineup of breweries; it runs through Saturday, January 9. Get more info at www.bigbeersfestival.com.

Saturday, January 9:

Lafayette is hosting its annual Quaker Oatmeal Festival, featuring an oatmeal breakfast, certified 5K run/walk, a health fair, an oatmeal-baking contest and the Oatmeal Creation Challenge. Events run from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. today in Lafayette; visit www.lafayettecolorado.com/oatmealfestival.html to learn more.

For information on dozens of culinary events around town, visit our online Food & Drink listings.