For Steve Carlson of Johnston, this year's Restaurant Week delivered more than great meals at a great price: The Johnston resident won the drawing for a luxury trip for two to Miami. The drawing, sponsored by the Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau, was open to diners who turned in receipts from four restaurants they visited during Restaurant Week.

Overall, more than 24,300 people--representing an 11 percent increase from 2014--were winners, dining out at 37 restaurants during the eighth annual event Aug. 14-23. During the week, restaurants offered special menus for $25 for two lunches or one dinner. The 10 days of feasting contributed about $357,000 to the local economy.

It's not too early to mark your calendar for next year's event! Save the dates: Aug. 19-28, 2016.

Chef Katie Porter will prepare a special menu for a fundraising dinner.

When I recently reviewed the Farm-to-Table Dinners held each Thursday night at the Wallace House in Sherman Hill, I was especially impressed with the way chef Katie Porter's visionary yet down-to-earth cooking provided a fitting tribute to the Wallace family's progressive legacy.

In fact, about the only thing I didn't love about the dinners was that they're always held on a Thursday night. Porter's thoughtful cuisine merits special-night-out status, which, for many of us, means a weekend evening.

Now there's a chance to enjoy Chef Porter's food in a Saturday night setting: On Oct. 17 she will prepare a Farm-to-Table Fundraising Dinner. The five-course dinner, with seatings at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., costs $70 per person; you can bring your own wine ($3 corkage fee) or purchase Iowa wines and beer--the venue just recently obtained its license to sell alcohol. Proceeds will go to support the programs at The Wallace Centers of Iowa.

The menu hasn't yet been designed; Porter says that the meats, sourced from local farms, will be chosen according to what goes best with the vegetables that will be at their peak. That's just what I'd expect from a chef who always puts her freshest best forward.

To sign up, call 243-7063 or click here. Incidentally, I have been asked to be on hand to greet guests at this dinner. See you there!

Strutting the runway during last year's "Take a Chance on Me" fashion show.

Rescued pets will model local finery at the Animal Rescue League's "Take a Chance on Me" fashion show Oct. 2. The fashion show sold out early last year, so register soon, suggests the ARL's Jessi Decker.

The annual fundraiser features pet owners walking the fashion runway with their own rescued pals, plus adoptable pets escorted by ARL volunteers. Each pet will be stylishly fitted with chic and original accessories created by local designers. The 5:30 to 9 p.m. show at Adventureland's Palace Theater includes music by Melanie Wright, plus food and beverage options.

Registration through Sept. 15 is $60 ($480 for a table of eight). Questions? Call Decker at (515) 473-9126.

Jonathan deLima is the Wolf and Kate Glenney is Little Red Ridinghood in "Into the Woods," Sept. 11-Oct. 4, 2015, at the Des Moines Community Playhouse. Photo by Steve Gibbons.

The fall theater season kicks off this week, with companies offering a rich variety of productions over the next month. How to choose? Easy. See them all.

• Venture "Into the Woods" this Friday, Sept. 11, in this musical that weaves together the stories of several classic fairy tales. The show runs through Oct. 4 (dates and times vary) at Des Moines Community Playhouse. Tickets are $25-$45; get them here.
• Also this Friday (Sept. 11), the Repertory Theater of Iowa presents "Broadway Bound" at the Des Moines Social Club's Kum & Go Theater. Part three of Neil Simon's acclaimed autobiographical trilogy, the play focuses on Eugene and his older brother Stanley trying to break into show business as professional comedy writers. The play runs through Sept. 27 (dates and times vary). Tickets are $15-30; buy them here.
• You'll undoubtedly have the time of your life at "Dirty Dancing," the musical that launches Des Moines Performing Arts' 2015-2016 Broadway series. The show hits town next Tuesday, Sept. 15, and runs through Sept. 20 (times vary) at the Des Moines Civic Center. Tickets are $35-$127 (subject to change); get them here.
• "Bad Jews" is a "comic encounter of chaotic cousinhood and family feuding" that tells the story of brothers Liam and Jonah and their loud-mouthed cousin Daphna. StageWest Theatre Company will present the show Oct. 9-18 (dates and times vary) at the Des Moines Social Club's Kum and Go Theater Tickets are $25-$30; buy them here.