Drink out, do good

Getting clean water to the more than 1 billion people without it is the goal of Wine to Water (take a look here or here). If you want to see the presentation he gave at TEDxCharlotte, start here).

To that end, Soul Gastrolounge and TEDxCharlotte sponsor a Wine to Water Social at Soul Nov. 11 from 5-8 p.m. Wine to Water founder and president (and N.C. native) Doc Hendley will be there. Donate $20 and you'll get wine and "nibbles," and all proceeds go to Wine to Water. A compelling fact or two: More children die from water-related illnesses than from AIDS, malaria and measles combined, says Hendley, and $30 can get a filter in Haiti that gives a family clean water for up to five years. (So throw in that extra ten-spot at the door, if you've got it!)

Beer, Beaujolais, Bourbon (not together)

Whiskey Warehouse hosts an Olde Mecklenburg beer dinner Nov. 17, with Allison Stoltz from the brewery on hand. The menu includes hand-pulled barbecue chicken over cheesy grit cake with Copper Altbier; pot roast with Bauern Bock Doppelbock Lager; and more. $25; 1221 The Plaza; 704-334-7005.

The Palm offers a Woodford Reserve bourbon dinner Nov. 17. Among the courses: choice of veal osso buco braised in Woodford bourbon, on saffron risotto, or pan-seared Atlantic salmon with bourbon reduction over Yukon Gold whipped potatoes (each with Woodford Reserve neat), and warm buttermilk donuts with bourbon praline glaze. $90 ($75 for 837 club members); Phillips Place; 704-552-7450.

Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé! Well, it will have arrived Nov. 18 at Blue , which hosts a wine and food pairing to celebrate the midnight release of the 2010 Beaujolais Nouveau. Five dishes will be offered, including pan-seared scallop with roasted beet and beurre rouge; and Moroccan spiced breast of squab over almond basmati rice. $34.95; Hearst Tower at College and 5th streets; reservations required; 704-927-2583.

BLT Steak at the Ritz-Carlton uptown will also celebrate that release, with a special three-course menu and Cru Beaujolais pairings for $50 Nov. 18-23. The menu includes thyme-basted venison loin, chevre custard and more, and a special charcuterie place paired with Cru Beaujolais varietals will be offered at the bar for $10 each day. 704-972-4380.

Harper's at Carolina Place hosts an Olde Mecklenburg dinner Nov. 19 for $30. 11059 Carolina Place Parkway, Pineville; 704-541-5255.

Dine/drink out, do good

Paco's Tacos & Tequila hosts a four-course Milagro tequila dinner Nov. 17, benefitting Pat's Place Child Advocacy Center. Milagro expert Lauren Nguyen will be on hand to discuss cocktails and a flight with diners. $40; 6401 Morrison Blvd.; reservations required: 704-716-8226.

Johnny’s Red Bowl plans a Water (for Troops) Into Wine event Nov. 5-12: Bring a case of water (24 bottles minimum, in 12-ounce plastic bottles) to the restaurant and you'll be able to buy bottles of wine at the "WIW" price, posted on the wine list. Examples: G. D. Cru du Beaujolas Moulin-A-Vent $5, Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay $13; 2009 Cartlidge & Browne Chardonnay $6. 10822 Providence Road; 704-814-7777.

Links of the week

In preparation for Thanksgiving, check out the "winning technique" on turkey-cooking here. (PLEASE NOTE: I am NOT suggesting this. I am AMUSED by this.)

Here's a serious moment: How to keep kids healthy.

And fun again: An amazing glimpse: I've watched it eleventy-thousand times today.

Uptown gets another new one!

Halcyon: Flavors from the Earth is the name of the newest spot coming to uptown, from the folks at Something Classic.

It’ll be in the new Mint Museum (the balcony to the left if you’re looking at the front of the museum), and will open for lunch Thanksgiving weekend, then for dinner the following Tuesday, Nov. 30. Jill Marcus of Something Classic says chef will be Marc Jacksina, formerly of Lulu and Andrew Blair’s, and that the menu will be “farm to fork, seasonal and local … peasant … but very signature him.” Details to come ...

Expect dinner entrees in the $17-$23 range, lunch in the $8-$13 slot. You’ll be able to pull up to a 16-seat chef’s tasting table (of curly maple) for special menus or get a burger of house-ground meat, grab-and-go with a Something Classic sandwich at lunch if you’re pressed for time, dine out on a 35-seat patio (with the best view in all of Charlotte, says Marcus) and get drinks from a full bar.

Halcyon will be open beyond museum hours (daily for lunch; dinner Tuesday-Saturday) and is a collaboration – Marcus says she’s worked on the idea with the museum for about four years – but a stand-alone restaurant. Museum members will get a 10 percent discount at all meals. Parking is available off First Street in the Duke Energy deck.

For those of you keeping score at home, Halcyon joins Vapiano going into South Tryon Square, Harvest Moon Grille going into the Dunhill (formerly Monticello), the Midnight Diner arriving on Tryon, Vida opening at the EpiCentre, and several more spots on tap or in development.

Bits and crumbs

The third annual Taste of the Panthers will be Nov. 15, a spinoff of the Taste of the NFL, which raises money for and awareness about community hunger. This event, in the Bank of America stadium, will benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. Cost: $150 regular admission, $250 VIP (you get in an hour early, too). Participating restaurants include Aria, Bonterra, Chima, Encore, Enso, Kalu, McNinch House, Mimosa Grille, Paco's Tacos, Rooster's, Ruth's Chris, Sunset Grille and Zebra. Tickets: www.secondharvestmetrolina.org.

Lava Bistro & Bar will begin Nov. 12 offering a kids' feature: all children up to 8 years old eat free, all day, every day, with the purchase of one adult entree. Also beginning Nov. 12: half-price select bottles of wine each Friday and Saturday night. 8708 J.W. Clay Blvd.; 704-549-0050.

Among the dishes on the fall/winter menu at ilios noche: a ground-in-house lamb burger with Greek seasonings, feta, caramelized onion and tzatziki sauce; pappardelle wtih wild mushrooms and chicken; burrata Caprese (fresh cream-filled mozzarella with tomato and basil; and seasonal fish. 11508 Providence Road; 704-814-9882.

Coming up: wine, coffee, wine, opera

Del Frisco's hosts a Palm Bay International wine dinner Nov. 4, with master sommelier Laura DePasquale presenting each wine. Among the pairings: house-cured salmon with caviar over English cucumber with Gossett "Grand Rose" Brut; and filet mignon with sauce Diane, seasonal roasted vegetables and 2004 and 2007 Jean-Luc Colombo "Terres Brulees." $125; 4725 Piedmont Row Drive; reservations (required): 704-552-5502.

This year, bagel chain Bruegger’s is adding a perk to its Bottomless Mug Club. That's the plan in which the owner gets free, limitless refills of coffee, tea or soft drinks through the following year. This year, a portion of proceeds from each mug sale goes to Children's Miracle Network. Kickoff for the sale is Nov. 10, when everyone can get a free cup of coffee at all Bruegger's (the hope is that you'll donate what you would have paid to CMN). Cost of the Bottomless Mug is $139 in Charlotte.

Aria and Sonoma uptown will offer a three-courses-for-$30 dinner Nov. 16 in conjunction with a Pinot Noir tasting (ostensibly to help you pick a wine for Thanksgiving) at Founders Hall arranged by the Wine Vault. The tasting will offer more than 20 Pinot Noirs, including small producers from California, Oregon, New Zealand and France, and will cost $25 (waived if you buy a case). The restaurants will offer three-for-$30 from their regular menu choices to tasting attendees, and will not charge them corkage fees. Reservations for the tasting: 704-548-9463.

Rudy’s hosts an opera night Nov. 16, with two sopranos, two tenors and a pianist, along with a $40 dinner menu that includes lobster bisque, risotto with shiitakes, filet mignon or sea bass and dessert. 6414 Rea Road; 704-544-4949.