Pop up at Zebra

Show up at Zebra June 25 for a (sort of) pop-up wine dinner: The location isn't secret or unexpected, but the vineyard whose wine will be featured, and the menu itself, are both being kept under wraps until that evening. There'll be hors d'oeuvres, followed by fish, fowl, meat, meat supplement, salad and dessert courses, with wines ranging from an '09 estate Chardonnay to an '07 Claret. $75; 704-442-9525; 4521 Sharon Road.

David Byrne on Harvest Moon Grille (and Hooters)

Musician David Byrne, in town for a show at the Belk Theater, stopped at a few Charlotte spots and blogged about it Tuesday. "Some of us went to a 'farm-to-plate' restaurant called Harvest Moon that was wonderful. There were pictures on the wall of the farm where lots of the food comes from, as well as sows and chickens."

He also hit the NASCAR museum, posting photos of a Wonder bread car and Hooters racing suit, and wished "every politician, artist or entity of any kind with corporate sponsorship revealed his or her backers so honestly and blatantly." (File photo from the Washington Post.)

Bill Spoon's on TV

Bill Spoon's shows up July 31 on the Travel Channel's new "BBQ Crawl," in which Canada’s Danielle Dimovski travels the barbecue competition circuit through the South. There's a double-episode kickoff July 3, featuring Texas, then a Texas to Arkansas swing; Spoon's is in the "Atlanta to North Carolina Crawl," along with Midway BBQ in South Carolina, and the Bone-In Artisan truck in Columbia.

NPR asks Southerners 'What's your food identity?'

It's like StoryCorps for eaters! The Southern Foodways Alliance, Whole Foods Market and Georgia Organics are doing something called "The Spoken Dish," a video storytelling project designed to document food memories and rituals of the American South. (Personal favorite so far: The girl who talks about her "port-bul fra-r." I'd watch them all at once but that 10-second intro is a mite long for me to take.)

The project is seeking input. Producer Kate Medley asks "What food tradition in your life reflects time, place, and people, or evokes a specific memory?" You can share with them on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, using #aspokendish.

(And a hat tip to @Smedette for the alert.)

Wait: New favorite is about the "redneck Durian." Seriously, y'all, these are fun.

Free drinks, food at Renaissance

"Summer of Discovery" at Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark hotel means -- on June 19 -- creating your own free cocktails with Topo vodka or whiskey (from North Carolina) and Cloister Honey (from Charlotte)-infused tea. There'll also be complimentary grilled shrimp and roasted oysters with watermelon pickle relish, Ashe County cheeses, grilled watermelon and Bosky Acres goat cheese salad, and more. Yes, the public can come, in addition to hotel guests; the event runs 5:30-8 p.m. 5501 Carnegie Blvd.; 704-501-2510.

Fido welcome at the Ritz

Dogs can accompany their owners to "Saturday Sidewalk Socials" this summer at the Ritz-Carlton in uptown, offered outside the hotel's Bar Cocoa and its menu of pastries, desserts, gelati and teas: A section of the sidewalk will have leash tie-ups, local dog-walking maps and Bar Cocoa dog biscuits. 201 E. Trade St.; 704-547-2244.

Updated: Dad's day on the way

The new Local Loaf, at 7th Street Public Market uptown, will do Father's Day brunch 9 a.m.-3 p.m.: a full omelet station, shrimp and grits, crepes, pork ribs, baked Brie, fresh fruit and live entertainment. $15 ($8 for kids 12 and younger); validated parking available in the 7th Street Station parking garage.

The Liberty offers half-price for Dad on Father's Day three-course brunch if you join its mailing list (through the website or its Facebook page). It's $21.95 for the rest of us, and the menu includes choices such as spicy New Orleans beer and Tabasco barbecue shrimp; pan-roasted wild Alaskan King salmon; fried chicken with biscuits; bourbon pecan pie and more. Reservations: 704-332-8830; 1820 South Blvd.

Harper's will offer 11-ounce prime rib and grilled shrimp and sirloin specials on Father's Day for $21.

e2 emeril's eatery plans a special Father's Day Brunch (June 16, folks) from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., with bananas Foster pancakes, andouille and crawfish omelets, Old Mill buckwheat waffles and more. 135 Levine Avenue of the Arts; reservations: 704-414-4787.

Red Rocks Cafe at Birkdale only (not the Strawberry Hill location) will offer a buffet beginning at 10:30 a.m., with the last seating at 3 p.m., followed by a regular menu with chef features that evening. Buffet: $25 for adults, $12 for children; 8712 Lindholm Drive in Huntersville, 704-892-9999.