Dine out, do good for vets

The next "Walk off the War" Birdsong beer dinner at the Cotswold Pizza Peel is coming up July 22.

"Walk off the War" (WarriorHike.com) was founded by U.S. Marine Corps veteran Sean Gobin, who "thru-hiked" the Appalachian Trail after three deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan -- meaning he hiked the whole thing. It helped, and he wanted other vets to have the experience. As he told the Washington Post here: “You’re not in front of a computer, you’re not in front of a TV, your brain has no choice but to process all those experiences. By the time you get to the end of the thru-hike, you’ve really worked out those emotions. . . . You’ve been reminded that there are so many people out there who are inherently good, and you’re really in the right place to start the next chapter of your life.”

Warrior Hike supports vets with supplies and other resources, and donations go through nonprofit partner Operation Military Embrace.

The dinner is four courses, including chilled melon soup with Higher Ground IPA; rosemary pepper chicken with Jalapeno Pale Ale; and Eat a Peach chocolate cake, with Eat a Peach Ale. Some items from area outdoor retailers will be raffled off, too.

$60; 4422 Colwick Road; 704-714-8808.