Dinner and a movie about dinner

A long holiday weekend presents a perfect opportunity to catch up on your sleep, or your social consciousness. FoodTank is a website dedicated to offering "solutions and environmentally sustainable ways of alleviating hunger, obesity and poverty by creating a network of connections and information for all of us to consume and share." Its creators have chosen 26 films, long and short, that they believe everyone should see to boost their awareness about issues in our food system. From "King Corn" to "Taste the Waste," the list may provide a curriculum worth digesting when it comes to understanding food issues that loom. For the list, visit http://bit.ly/19zEUd4.

Tea for two, four, six

Mrs. Kelly's Teas offers its annual chance to try more than 100 of its freshly blended teas, including the "world premiere" of six caffeine-free dessert teas with flavors such as Crème Brûlèe, Bananas Foster, Chocolate Mint, Apple Tartlet, Cherry Amoretti and Black Forest. Great holiday gift ideas there. The tasting event is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 7-8 at the Grain Belt Brewery Warehouse, 77 13th Av. NE. in Minneapolis. There also will be seminars by B.T. McElrath Chocolatier, Muddy Paws Cheesecake, Ames Farm Honey and more. Suggested donation for admission is a nonperishable food item or $2. All admission proceeds go to Second Harvest Food Shelf and/or Perspectives Kids Café. For details, visit www.MrsKellysTea.com.

Kitchen heroics

Every once in a while, we get a press release that earns points just for pushing the envelope. In this case, it's for Everfan, which urges cooks to "hang up your aprons and put on your capes!" The Georgia company's superhero capes mostly carry college sports team logos, but can be personalized with initials, and there are cupcake and hot dog logos. While we're skeptical of mashing potatoes while wearing a polyester cape (not to mention grilling), there is something to the company's contention that "putting on a cape represents putting on your best self and making the world a better place." Everfan also donates capes to children's hospitals. To learn more, visit http://everfan.com.

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