The first ever Atlanta Beer Week is from May 16 to 22. Bars, restaurants and gastropubs all over the city will offer specials and tastings. Check out the Atlanta Beer Week Web site for a complete listing sorted by date. Some notable Atlanta Beer Week events will appear in this listing along with other special dinners, cooking lessons and events.

5 Seasons Brewing Sandy Springs, Mon., May 17: Cooking with Beer class featuring Chef Dave creating menus around beer, cooking with beer and pairing beer with food. Call or e-mail to reserve a space. The class is free, but to stay after and eat the food you prepared costs $25. 7 p.m. 5600 Roswell Road. 404-255-5911. www.5seasonsbrewing.com. The same class will take place on Tues., May 18 at 5 Seasons Brewing Westside.

The Marlay House, Tues., May 18: Sample Irish beer flights paired with live Irish music. 7:30-10 p.m. Free. 426 West Ponce De Leon Ave., Decatur. 404-270-9950. www.themarlayhouse.com.

Whole Foods Ponce de Leon, Tues., May 18: The latest in their ongoing "A Taste of..." series, A Taste of Local. Enjoy a sampling of Georgia's local specialties paired with complementary wines. Seating is limited, so please RSVP at Customer Services. 7 p.m. $20 in advance. 650 Ponce de Leon Ave. 404-853-1681. www.wholefoodsmarket.com/storesbeta/poncedeleon/.

5 Seasons Brewing Alpharetta, Weds., May 19: Spring Seafood Seasonal Beer Dinner features nine courses and nine beers. Reservations required. 7 p.m. $55. 3655 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta. 770-521-5551. www.5seasonsbrewing.com.

The Melting Pot, Weds., May 19: All four Atlanta-area locations host Avenue Q and Fondue. Enjoy three courses of fondue and Orchestra Level seats at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center. Call for reservations. $79.  754 Peachtree Street; 2500 Cobb Place Lane, Kennesaw; 3610 Satellite Blvd, Duluth; 1055 Mansell Road, Roswell. 404-389-0099; 770-425-1411; 770-623-1290; 770-518-4100.  www.meltingpot.com (Note: music plays automatically on load).

Buford Highway Farmers Market, Weds., May 19: Chinese Southern Belles presents hands-on cooking classes. This week, create three varieties of homemade spring rolls. Participants will receive a $10 BHFM gift card after "graduating" from each course. Registration required, e-mail bill.bhfm@gmail.com or call. 7-9 p.m. $25. 5600 Buford Highway, Doraville. 678-873-7447. www.chinesesouthernbelle.com.

Valenza, Weds., May 19: Join chef Matt Swickerath for a cookout on the patio, featuring light Italian dishes paired with sangria. 6 p.m. Free. 1441 Dresden Drive, Suite 160. 404-969-3233. www.valenzarestaurant.com.

5 Seasons Brewing Westside, Thurs., May 20: The unveiling of a new beer produced in collaboration with Adam Tolsma of Green's Package Store--Adam's Grand Cru, a Belgian golden ale promising "soft, fruity, mysterious flavors." 5:55 p.m. Free. 1000 Marietta St. 404-875-3232. www.5seasonsbrewing.com.

5 Seasons Brewing Westside, Thurs., May 20: Wine Barrel Beer Dinner features five courses and five beers aged in wine barrels. Reservations required. 7 p.m. $55. 1000 Marietta St. 404-875-3232. www.5seasonsbrewing.com.

Food 101, Thurs., May 20: Chef Justin Keith hosts a four-course Spring Strawberry Wine Pairing Dinner. Each course spotlights strawberries in different forms, accompanied by excellently-paired wines. Reservations required. Reception at 6:45 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. $65. 4969 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs. 404-497-9700. www.101concepts.com.

La Pietra Cucina, Thurs., May 20: The Sagra del Maiale dinner series concludes with a small plates menu featuring dishes inspired by Italian restaurants in New York City's West Village. Portions of proceeds benefit the Atlanta chapter of Slow Food. Limited to 30 guests. Reservations required. Reception at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. 1545 Peachtree Street. 404-888-8709. www.lapietracucina.com.

Whole Foods Ponce de Leon, Thurs., May 20: Celebrity vegan chef Tal Ronnen, author of The Conscious Cook, cooks gardein, a vegetable-grain blend that is an ideal source of protein. Try the gardein and meet Chef Tal. Signed copies of his cookbook will be available. 6:00 p.m. Free. 650 Ponce de Leon Ave. 404-853-1681. www.wholefoodsmarket.com/storesbeta/poncedeleon/.

TAP, Fri., May 21: $20 buckets of beer! Buy a bucket of SweetWater 420 and get cool SweetWater swag (while supplies last). 5-8 p.m. 1180 Peachtree Street. 404-347-2220. www.tapat1180.com/home.php (Note: music plays automatically on load).

Tour de Champagne, Fri., May 21: Everyone is a VIP at Tour de Champagne, featuring over a dozen champagnes and food from Atlanta restaurants. A silent auction benefits Angel Flight of Georgia. Buy tickets in advance, as it may sell out. 7-10 p.m. $140-$160. 103 West Paces Ferry Road. 404-233-5993. www.tourdechampagne.com.

Whole Foods Ponce de Leon, Fri., May 21 to Sun., May 23: Vegetarian Weekend features samples of vegetarian dishes, recipes from vendors and demonstrations from Whole Foods staff. 2-8 p.m. Friday, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free. 650 Ponce de Leon Ave. 404-853-1681. www.wholefoodsmarket.com/storesbeta/poncedeleon/.

5 Seasons Brewing Westside, Sat., May 22: Belgian Beer Fest features over 50 different Belgian brews to sample. Keep the beer glass as a souvenir. Samples are $1 per ounce. Don't forget a designated driver. 2-7 p.m. $5. 1000 Marietta St. 404-875-3232. www.5seasonsbrewing.com.

East Atlanta Beer Festival, Sat., May 22: In a new location, the festival offers over 130 beer samples, complementary food samples, bands and the return of the souvenir pint glass. Check the Web site for a list of items not allowed in the festival and please don't forget a designated driver (note that special DD tickets are no longer offered). 1-6 p.m. $30 in advance, $35 at the gate. 205 Emerson Ave. www.eastatlantabeerfest.com

Osteria 832, Sat., May 22: Osteria's seventh birthday party features $1.50 pizza slices, cheap beer, a live DJ and prizes. Proceeds benefit Virginia-Highland Firehouse 19 and Inman Middle School. Free. 832 North Highland Ave. 404-897-1414. www.osteria832.com.

Whole Foods Ponce de Leon, Sat., May 22: Emory Healthcare and Whole Foods present information about the health benefits of vegetables. Dr. Sylvia Morris of Emory University School of Medicine joins the Whole Foods team for tastes, recipes and information about getting the most out of veggies. 12-2 p.m. Free. 650 Ponce de Leon Ave. 404-853-1681. www.wholefoodsmarket.com/storesbeta/poncedeleon/.

5 Seasons Brewing Sandy Springs, Sun., May 23: Sausage King Competition features 25 chefs competing to create the best sausage as well as a gender-neutral Sausage Queen pageant. Call restaurant for more information about the pageant. 2 p.m. $5. 5600 Roswell Road. 404-255-5911. www.5seasonsbrewing.com.

(Photo from sxc.hu)