[Photograph: Robyn Lee]

Thursday (September 16)

Let Us Eat Local
Thursday September 16th, party starts at 7 p.m., 6 p.m. reception for VIPs
Support Just Food (an organization that fosters community supported agriculture, city farms, and food education) by attending this tasting event at the South Street Seaport's Water Taxi Beach. Revel in the last golden rays of summer and taste fare from over 30 restaurants while honors are bestowed to writer Mark Bittman and farmers Yonnette Fleming and Cheryl Rogowski. Tickets include a signed copy of Bittman's book, Food Matters. $150, VIP $275. South Street Seaport Water Taxi Beach, Pier 17, New York, NY; event website

Breaking Bread
Thursday September 16th, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Meet three women who know their dough. June Russell is a Greenmarket manager who is working to restore relationships between NYC bakers and upstate farmers and millers. Jessamyn Waldman of Hot Bread Kitchen will be providing tastes of her breads, and Lynne Christy Anderson, author of Breaking Bread: Recipes and Stories from immigrant Kitchens, will reading from her book. Cheese and wine will also be provided. All proceeds benefit the Harvest Time in Schools and Neighborhoods Farms program. $25 for Slow Food members, $35 non-members. Ici, 246 DeKalb Ave., Brooklyn, NY; event website

Saturday (September 18)

Batty for Bugs
Saturday September 18th, 6 p.m.
Calling all adventurous appetites: Brooklyn Kitchen presents an Insect Tasting Menu, lead by Philip Ross of the CRITTER Salon in San Francisco. This four course pairing of edible insects and fine alcohols will include delectables such as Wax Moth Larvae Ceviche with Brooklyn Lager, and Grasshoppers with San Honesto Mezcal. Space is limited, call to reserve. 718-389-2981. $98. 100 Frost St., Brooklyn, NY; event website

Free Wine Tasting
Saturday September 18th, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Every Saturday, Jamie Wolff and David Lillie of Chambers Street Wines hold a three hour wine tasting featuring six to ten wines. This week, Burgundies from Bouvier, Lafouge, Bart, and Litaud will be available to boire. 148 Chambers St., New York, NY; for more information click here

Sunday (September 19)

Eating Locally, Thinking Globally
Sunday September 19th, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Spend an afternoon ruminating with a team of eating experts including Slow Food USA's Program Manager Jerusha Klemperer and FEED Project's Cofounder/Executive Director Ellen Gustafson, who will provide insights about the bigger picture around the locavore movement. Discussion will alternate with sommelier-guided wine tastings and paired hors d'oeuvres from Katchkie Farm upstate. Advance registration is required on the website (here), and proceeds support the Columbia College Women's Scholarship fund. $75. Mae Mae Café, 68 Vandam St. between Varick and Hudson, New York, NY; Contact Katerina Vorotova at 646-436-2590 for more details

Back To Basis Good Food Festival
Sunday September 19th, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In celebration of the season's harvest, join sustainable and nutrition-advocacy groups Basis and the FEED Foundation for a market fundraiser. Buy groceries and sample dishes from over 40 participants, including family-owned farms and local top chefs. An evening dinner combines the abundant field-fresh produce and chef talents for a family-style feast. Ticket proceeds will benefit The Feed Foundation's 30 Project and Just Food. Ticket information here. Entrance free, tasting packages $20-$75; 6 p.m. dinner $125. Gansevoort Plaza, 42 Gansevoort St between Greenwich and Hudson, New York, NY; event website

Tuesday (September 21)

Harvest in the Square
Tuesday September 21st, General Admission 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Early VIP entrance 6 p.m.
Take part in Union Square's food and wine extravaganza, where over 50 chefs from local restaurants (including favorites such as Aldea and Tamarind) offer up their signature dishes. Each tasting is paired with New York microbrews and wines. $125, VIP $400. Union Square, enter at 16th St. and Union Square West, 29 Union Square W, New York, NY; event website

The Cuisine of Queens and Beyond
Tuesday September 21st, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
This event is no mere sample fest—as you take your pick from the wide range of restaurants, your entertainment is provided in the form of a Five Ingredient Cooking Challenge. Rocco Sacramone of Trattoria L'incontro and Andrea Beaman from Bravo's first season of Top Chef will battle it out with a randomly selected VIP audience member, who will receive all sorts of prizes in compensation for taking the heat (or burns, more likely) in competition against such culinary giants. Tickets $55 in advance and $65 at the door, limited number of VIP tickets available for $75. Astoria World Manor, 25-22 Astoria Blvd., Astoria NY; 718-777-7918; event website

Thursday (September 23)

The Joy of Sake
Thursday September 23rd, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Come taste more than 300 different sakes, representing every region of Japan, along with bites from restaurants including 15 East, EN Japanese Brasserie, oms/B, Matsugen, Hibino, and more. $90. 82 Mercer, 82 Mercer Street, New York NY; event website

Pies, Squared
Thursday September 23rd, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Come to the Diamond Bar in Brooklyn for pies in exponential numbers! It's free to enter your own pie (email joann@greenpointopenstudios.org to register) and $10 to try the pies from all the contestants. Will the winner be the Cream Cheese Pumpkin Pie? Or the Pickled Veggie Smoked Meat Rooftop Hipster Pie? Buying a ticket enters you into the raffle for prizes including gift certificates for coffee, ice cream, and yoga. The Grand Pie(ze) Winner receives dinner for two hosted by the exclusive, underground Brooklyn Edible Social Club. All proceeds go towards Greenpoint Open Studios, a weekend event celebrating the burgeoning local art scene. The Diamond, 43 Franklin St., Brooklyn, NY; event website