Dining al fresco

The Arb is throwing the ultimate garden party on Thursday. It's called "Toast & Taste, a celebration of all that's green, fresh and local" on the Twin Cities food scene.

More than two dozen restaurants, including Spoonriver, Sopranos and the Oceanaire Seafood Room, will be serving chef-prepared treats, made with ingredients sourced from local producers and farmers. Local wineries and breweries also will be on hand, pouring various libations, and live music will be provided by George Faber and the Icons.

Toast & Taste is a fundraiser for the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and all proceeds will benefit its gardens and programs. The cost is $75 for general admission from 7 to 9 p.m. or $125 for patron-level admission including a pre-party at 6 p.m.

Reservations are required. To reserve a spot, call 612-625-9875 or visit www.arboretum.umn.edu/toastandtaste.aspx.

Do you have an old cracked patio or rundown wood deck? Bachman's is offering a patio resurfacing seminar, featuring VAST Resurfacing Pavers, a green product manufactured in Minnesota. Made of recycled rubber and plastics, these pavers come in three colors and offer the look of brick pavers at lower cost. The seminar will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Bachman's on Lyndale store, 6010 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls.

Martha Stewart has had more lives than Felix the Cat. She's been a domestic goddess, a corporate mogul, a TV star, a jailbird and even a poster woman for ponchos.

Now she's following Felix's footsteps into the comics pages. A 32-page comic book, "Female Force: Martha Stewart," was released last week by Bluewater Productions (www.bluewaterprod.com).

The comic book promises to chronicle the ambitious diva's "highest highs and lowest lows," from her beginnings as a model-turned-caterer, to building her media empire, to being convicted of insider trading.

Other women profiled in Bluewater's "Female Force" series of biographical comics include Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Clinton and Princess Diana. "Female Force: Martha Stewart" is available for pre-order ($3.99) on Amazon.com.

Want to learn more about solar panels and other renewable energy options? The Sierra Club is sponsoring a "Clean Energy Tour" of several Twin Cities sites on Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.

Highlighted projects will include solar installations, wind energy research and efficiency improvements. Speakers will discuss the projects and the money saved. Transportation and light refreshments will be provided.

Participants will meet at the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation at 411 Main St., St. Paul (free parking available). Advance registration requested. To register, call Joshua Low at 612-659-9124, ext. 311, or register online (action.sierraclub.org/TCcleanenergytour). The tour is free, but space is limited to 50 people.

KIM PALMER