This week and weekend

The Renaissance Wine Festival is set for Sunday, Aug. 23, at the Bank of America City Center in Kennedy Plaza. An open tasting ticket for the 3-6 p.m. event costs $35. A private tasting session starts at 2 p.m. and costs $50. There will be music by the Mary Andrews Trio and Mac Odem and Chill. A silent auction will benefit Junior Achievement. For tickets, visit bellaeventsri.com or call (401) 270-6169.

“Oysters On the Deck” will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, at Langworthy Farm Winery, Route 1A, in Westerly. Rhode Island oysters will be provided by Watch Hill Oyster Co. Oysters can be purchased for $1.

The American Celiac Family Support Group will hold a Dine Out at China Lake Restaurant, 2732 County St. (Route 138), Somerset, at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23. Reservations are required by calling (508) 678-1888. Officers will be available for an informal “celiac chat.” For more information, visit CeliacSupportGroup.com.

Jonathan Edwards Winery of North Stonington, Conn., has a Ladies Day Package for The Hall of Fame Champions Cup tennis Thursday, Aug. 20, at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport. The cost is $55 and the ticket includes a VIP box seat for the tennis matches, $25 off a purchase of $100 or more at the Tennis Hall of Fame Store, a glass of wine at the Jonathan Edwards booth, a voucher for two for a free tasting at the winery and a pair of sandals from Talbots. To learn more, call the winery at (860) 535-0202 or the Hall of Fame at (866) 914-3263.

Narragansett Creamery cheesemakers will go to Shelburne, Vt., to represent Rhode Island at the first Vermont Cheesemakers Festival on Sunday, Aug. 23. The one-day event will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Coach Barn at Shelburne Farms. Guests can sample more than 100 types of cheese from 40 cheesemakers, a variety of locally produced wines and beers, and other artisan foods, including maple syrup, honey, chocolates, baked goods and more. The festival will also feature four tasting seminars, during which visitors will learn how to pair cheeses with wine, beer and other foods. Tickets to the festival are available online at vtcheesefest.com for $20.

Twin River, 100 Twin River Rd., Lincoln, (877) 827-4837, twinriver.com, will have a prime rib and seafood buffet from 5 to 9 p.m. for $19.95 Friday and Saturday, Aug. 21, 22, 28 and 29. It’s all-you-can-eat boneless prime rib, snow crab clusters and shrimp, as well as chicken, pulled pork, baked ziti and more.

Coming up

The Pawtucket Arts Festival will kick off the 2009 gala with the 3rd Annual Taste of Pawtucket from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 28 with tastings offered by more than 30 Pawtucket food establishments. There will also be music performed by C.J. Chenier and The Red Hot Louisiana Band and Slippery Sneakers Zydeco Band from 8 to 11 p.m. The festivities will take place on Roosevelt Avenue and on the Slater Mill grounds. Cost is $10.

McFadden’s, 52 Pine St., Providence, (401) 861-1782, will hold a beer lovers’ clambake at 6 p.m. Aug. 29. Dinner will include appetizers, clam chowder, lobster, steamers, corn, onions, potatoes, Saugys and blueberry cobbler for dessert. Cocktail hour includes sampling of new Sam Adams flavors. Dinner comes with a choice of Sam Adams beers including Light, Lager and Blackberry Wheat. Tickets are $50 inclusive. Reservations required.

Park Square’s Park Place Dine Around, which features a progressive dinner at five restaurants in Boston’s Park Square, is set for 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 2. Guests can visit Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse, Da Vinci Ristorante, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Legal Sea Foods and Via Matta for a culinary tour spanning five courses. Tickets are $50 and include one course at each location. Check-in begins at Davio’s, 75 Arlington St., Boston, (617) 357-4810.

The Bradford Jonnycake Center, 23 Industrial Drive, Westerly, (401) 377-8069, will hold a Taste of Italy wine and food festival from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 3 at the Westerly Yacht Club. More than 60 Italian wines will be featured, along with Italian specialties from local purveyors. Tickets cost $30 each or $50 a couple and are on sale at the Jonnycake Center, a nonprofit agency; and at Ray’s Barber Shop, 182 Main St., Westerly (401) 741-0985.

Wine events

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 1 West Exchange St., Providence, hosts The Jimmy Fund as part of its Wine Down Wednesdays charity series from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 26. The evening features light hors d’oeuvres paired with a selection of red and white wines in the bar. The cost is $25 with proceeds to benefit The Jimmy Fund. For tickets, call Barbara Livingstone, (401) 231-7110, or e-mail Barb1064@cox.net.

The Coast Guard House, 40 Ocean Rd., Narragansett, will hold a “Wine Down Wednesday” beginning at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 26 on the deck. Five wines from Tamaya - Limari Valley, Chile, will be paired with tapas. The cost is $23.95 inclusive. Reserve at (401) 789-0700 or e-mail office@thecoastguard house.com

Oceancliff Resort and Hotel, Ocean Drive Newport, will host a wine dinner under a tent on Aug. 27. There will be an opening session at 6:30 p.m. featuring Prosecco. Executive Chef Bradley McCoil presents a five-course dinner accompanied by wine pairings from The Jonathan Edwards Winery of Connecticut. The inclusive price is $100. Reserve by calling Oceancliff at (401) 841-8868 or Jonathan Edwards Winery at (860) 949-5930.

On the menu

Warwick Ice Cream, 743 Bald Hill Rd., Warwick, (401) 821-8403, has a cash and carry wholesale window catering to individuals, church groups, schools and organizations. All ice cream products, including all ice cream desserts, novelties, ice cream pies and cakes, are on sale this month for the company’s 85th anniversary.

Christie’s, 351 Thames St., Newport, serves an Asian/Latin-inspired menu of big and small plates, salads and sandwiches. The new menu is complemented by a new, modern look for the restaurant. Christie’s has outdoor seating; inside there is a 20-seat communal table available for large parties and those who want to meet new people. The restaurant is open seven days a week for breakfast from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.; lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; dinner from 5 to 11 p.m. Brunch is available Friday through Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Angelo’s Civita Farnese, 141 Atwells Ave., Providence, now serves a new limited menu from 10 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays. Included will be calzones, frittatas, stuffed mushrooms and an Italian Sampler of sopressata, sharp provolone, stuffed cherry peppers and olives. LaSalle Bakery items have been added in addition to assorted gelatos and sorbets and homemade hot cinnamon-sugar doughboys. There’s espresso, cappuccino, assorted teas and a full wine list.

Via Roma, 308 Atwells Ave., Providence, (401) 331-1717, romaprov.com, will begin serving lunch on Aug. 31 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday. The Express Lunch Buffet will feature salad, soup and pasta of the day along with meatballs marinara, chicken cacciatore, eggplant parmigiana, sausage and peppers, herb-roasted chicken, slow-roasted pork loin, roasted potatoes and vegetables. The cost is $7.95 (excludes beverages, dessert, gratuity and tax.) There will also be à la carte menu service including hot and cold subs, specialty salads, grilled pizza and daily specials. Enter on the side of the building on America Street and go up to the second floor. Take-out is available.

Pearl Restaurant and Lounge, 393 Charles St., Providence, (401) 331-3000, offers a fixed price dinner for $25, which includes choice of soup/salad, appetizer, entrée, dessert and glass of wine/beer Tuesday through Thursday nights weekly. During dinner there will be music by Twice on Wednesday and The Mary Andrews Trio on Thursday.

Ponderosa Steakhouse, 562 Washington St., South Attleboro, (508) 399-7250, ponderosasteakhouses.com, celebrates the last blast of summer Aug. 24 to 28 with specials. From 5 to 8 p.m. the kids’ buffet and drink is $1.99 and each day has a different activity such as banana split night on Monday, create your own cupcake on Tuesday, have breakfast for dinner on Wednesday in which children are invited to wear pajamas, video game night Thursday and Ponderosa All Star Night Friday. For adults, there’s a 2 Can Dine for $20 menu. Choose from sirloin tips, chopped steak, charbroiled chicken or mesquite chicken dinners. Dinners include the entrée, choice of potato, the keep-it-comin’ buffet and dessert bar.

On TV

TV Maitre d’ with Joe Zito, airing at 11 a.m. Sundays on Channel 64 and 11:30 a.m. on Channel 12, will visit Luxe Burger Bar, the Roman Garden Terrace at Camille’s, Hemenway’s Seafood Grill and Oyster Bar, Pane e Vino, Costantino’s Venda Ravioli, wines with Mark Gasbarro on the terrace at The Loft Restaurant and Lounge in Warwick’s NYLO Hotel. The show also airs Saturdays at 7 a.m. on Channel 64. For more information, visit tvmaitred.com.

gciampa@projo.com