Weekend Events Open Thread!

First, let me give a hearty welcome to our new readers/subscribers who found us throughrecent write-ups in Indy.com and the IndyStar. I typically cover a bit more local restaurant news, cooking, and my own eating adventures than I have lately, this week has been a flurry of events. Late April is one of the most busy food times of the year!

I haven't heard much about last weekend's Chef's Alliance dinner at The Oceanaire but will try to get some news in soon. While last year, all of the same events landed on the same weekend, this year they're a bit better spread out over three. This weekend includes Midwest Wine Experience (tonight), the Biergarten opening at Das Rat (the Rathskellar), the Slow Food event at RBistro and Ivy Tech's April in Paris both on Sunday. The local Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevine is in France on their group trip and the spring craziness ends with the Chaine des Rotisseurs Rites of Spring Elevation and Induction at Meridian next weekend, on May 3. (That's after two days of Derby Parties, of course!) (Huge kudos and a giant thanks to Chef Dan Dunville for accepting a challenge and creating not only a terrific menu for us but rallying his staff at such short notice. I believe it will one of our best events ever.)

Dont' forget one event in the non-food related column: tonight and tomorrow the annual Stutz Open Studio nights -- always a great way to enjoy art and run in to lots of people you know.

So, how about it? Any reports on fine dining events so far this spring?