Civic Center Eats, wine tastings, cooking classes and more on the calendar this week

Cafe Max, 2412 East Colfax Avenue, has introduced a wine-tasting and education program that takes place at 6 p.m. every other Monday -- including tonight. The course is led by certified sommelier Chade Pare and costs $20; call the cafe at 303-333-0003 for more details.

It's Colorado Wine Week, which culminates in the Colorado Urban Wine Fest on Saturday, June 8 at Infinity Park. Find a full schedule of Wine Week events here, and keep reading for a taste of what else is on the culinary calendar this week.

See also: - Photos: Cafe Max is now open on East Colfax - Tovar Cerulli on the ethics of eating and his journey from vegan to hunter - News, brews, reviews: A second helping of this week's Cafe Society

Monday, June 3:

Frasca Food & Wine, 1738 Pearl Street in Boulder, is welcoming six Italian winemakers to discuss their wine during the restaurant's weekly Monday night wine dinner. The four-course meal costs $50, and guests can try all six wines for an additional $45. Call 303-442-6966 for reservations.

"Taste on the Terrance" has begun at Flagstaff House, 1138 Flagstaff Road in Boulder. Every evening until September, the restaurant will host a happy hour on the patio from 5 to 7 p.m., featuring small plates and summer cocktails. Call 303-442-4640 for more information.

The Original Pancake House is celebrating its seventeenth anniversary in Denver with a half-off pancake deal that begins today and runs through Sunday, June 9. The chain has two metro locations: 8000 East Belleview Avenue in Englewood, and 5900 South University Boulevard in Greenwood Village. Visit the website for more details.

Tovar Cerulli, author of The Mindful Carnivore: A Vegetarian's Hunt for Sustenance, will read from and sign his book at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Tattered Cover LoDo as part of the Rocky Mountain Land Series. Read our interview with Tovar Cerulli here.

Tuesday, June 4:

The Squeaky Bean, 1500 Wynkoop Street, will introduce a new cocktail happy hour today. From 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, the spot will offer deals on bites, adult punch, cocktails, wine and craft beer. Call 303-623-2665 to learn more.

Green Russell, 1422 Larimer Street, has invited six of the city's top bartenders to compete in a cocktail competition that features Colorado wine this evening. The event is inspired by Colorado Wine Week; admission is $12 in advance and $15 at the door, which opens at 4:30 p.m.

Civic Center Eats kicks off today at Colfax Avenue and Bannock Street in Civic Center Park, and continues from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. most Tuesdays and Thursdays through September 26. The movable feast also features live music in addition to food trucks and other vendors; check the website for the full schedule of vendors.

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Makan Malaysian, 1859 South Pearl Street, is celebrating its one-year anniversary this evening with an all-night happy hour (yes, the restaurant got its liquor license) -- and complimentary curry puffs for all of its customers. The party runs from 5 to 9 p.m.; call 720-524-8093 for more information.

Thursday, June 6:

Chef Simon Purvis of EDGE Restaurant & Bar, 1111 14th Street, is bringing back his summer grilling cooking class series. Every Thursday through September, Purvis will host an instructional grill-out for $40 per person. The class also includes a cocktail, draft bee, or glass of wine, as well as a spice rub to take home. Tonight's session features chicken and Angus sliders; call 303-389-3343 to reserve a seat.

Root25 Taphouse & Kitchen, 7800 East Tufts Avenue, presents Craft Colorado -- an event that celebrates Colorado Wine Week with three food-and-drink pairing stations competing for votes from attendees. There will be five courses paired at each station, and the cost is $35. Call 303-779-1234 for more information.

Friday, June 7:

It's National Donut Day, and Donut Maker, 9625 East Arapahoe Road in Greenwood Village, is celebrating by giving away free donuts to customers all day. Visit the website to see the selection, and call 303-799-1702 for more information.

Garden Grapes and Hops goes down from 6:30 to 10 p.m. tonight at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Tickets ($65 for nonmembers, $60 for members) include all-you-can-eat food samples from over a dozen local restaurants, and drinks from fifteen breweries and wineries. Get more info and purchase tickets here.

For information on dozens of culinary events around town, visit our online Food & Drink listings -- and if you have information for a culinary event you'd like included in our online calendar, send it to cafe@westword.com.

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