It’s beginning to feel a bit like Thanksgiving: Eastern Iowa food events

Thanksgiving is the theme this week in our gathering of Eastern Iowa food events. Go ahead and splurge, you only live once.

Thanksgiving eve whiskey tasting

Whiskey is a large category of spirits, including bourbon, scotch, rye, Canadian and Irish. Grow your palate and find some bottles for yourself or for gifting this holiday season. Tastings are complimentary and open house style.

' When: 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday

' Where: Benz Beverage Depot, 501 Seventh Ave., Iowa City

' Cost: Free

' Details: (319) 365-2556

Thanksgiving Wine Tasting

Just in time for the Thanksgiving feast, taste, learn and enjoy a lineup of WineStyles' favorite wines to pair with turkey and other Thanksgiving favorites. RSVP not required.

' When: 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday

' Where: WineStyles Cedar Rapids, 4201 42nd St. NE, Cedar Rapids

' Cost: $10

' Details: (319) 200-4171

Black Friday Sip & Shop

Skip the mall and shop with local businesses while tasting wine for free at Cedar Ridge Winery. There will be giveaways, door prizes, and raffles along with local vendors.

' When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 29

' Where: Cedar Ridge Distillery & Winery, 1441 Marak Rd. NW, Swisher

' Cost: Free

' Details: (319) 857-4300

Y.O.L.O. (YOUR OTHER LUNCH OPTION)

Join Prairiewoods for a meal made from scratch by chefs Tara King, Laurie Erlacher and Rochell Potter. This month, the theme is Cajun Christmas. Fellowship begins at 11:30 a.m., with the buffet open at noon. Registration required at least two days in advance.

l When: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 4

l Where: Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center, 120 E. Boyson Rd., Hiawatha

l Cost: $12

l Register: (319) 395-6700, prairiewoods.org

Sustaining a food system for a growing world

This talk will explore how we got to our current food system and how a sustainable food system might look. How can we feed the world, reduce our carbon impact, and adapt to our changing climate? Part of on ongoing lecture series.

' When: 7 p.m. Dec. 4

' Where: Mount Mercy University, Flaherty Community Room, 204 Basile Hall, 1330 Elmhurst Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids

' Cost: Free

l Details: (319) 363-1323, mtmercy.edu