Weston Applefest & Other Weekend Possibilities

How do you like them apples? (#SorryNotSorry for that pun.) The 28th annual Weston Applefest is Saturday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Shop for handmade goods, watch a hay baler in action, or stuff yourself on apple butter, cider, or pie. Admission is $1.

There’s beauty in watching great chefs work. Discover that beauty when the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America tour rolls into town Saturday. Sur La Table (430 Nichols Road) is hosting a series of cooking demonstrations. Chef Gavin Kaysen is on at 10 a.m. and chef Debbie Gold is slated for 12 p.m. The demonstrations are free, but RSVPs are recommended as space is limited.

Remember, it’s Oktoberfest season. Grunauer’s (101 W 22nd Street) seventh annual Oktoberfest celebration is tonight and tomorrow. Fill yourself up with sausages, pretzels, and beer. You can bring your own stein (or they’ll sell you one you can keep). Tickets are $12. Westport is holding an Oktoberfest Pub Crawl this Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. There are 11 stops on the tour, and three beers and a mug are included. Tickets are $25.

Blue Sushi Sake Grill opened earlier this week at 4705 Rainbow Boulevard in Westwood, Kansas. The concept out of Omaha, Nebraska, has an array of sushi and sashimi, but is vegetarian/vegan friendly (the Crunchy Cabbage features tempura cabbage and spicy tofu). Happy Hour starts Monday.

Eat your way across Japan with the Kansas City Japan Festival in the Carlsen Center on the Johnson County Community College campus (12345 College Boulevard, Overland Park, Kansas) on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Check out Miyuki Sugimori, a Japanese candy artist who creates sculptures out of taffy, and then dive in with food from Nara, Edokko, Sama Zama, and Bimi Bakery. Tickets are $15 at the door ($5 for children ages six to 12 years old).

The Rieger (1924 Main Street) is hosting a Whiskey Brunch Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s three courses for $29 (whiskey cocktails are additional). Your breakfast could look something like avocado toast on pumpernickel followed by a fried oyster Benedict, and a cinnamon roll with an orange and gin glaze.

The Homesteader Cafe (100 E 7th Street) is celebrating its first anniversary and you’re invited. They’re throwing a free block party from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday with live music. It’s happy hour all day if you dine in the restaurant, along with free mini cupcakes.

— Jonathan Bender writes about food trends and is the author of “Cookies & Beer” and “Stock, Broth & Bowl.” Follow him on Twitter @jonathanbender.