Chris Benziger delicately held a glasss of real French Champagne in one hand as he stood outside the KRSH 95.9-FM studios last Wednesday at 8:25am. He took a sip and smiled. "There's more inside!" he offered. Benziger, in the studio for a quick Earth Day chat, was off to oversee the opening of his family's biodynamic discovery trail at the winery. Visitors can learn more about full moons and manure-filled horns at 1882 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen. 888.490.2739. . . .

The Seven Ultralounge nightclub that the city of Santa Rosa successfully dogged to the ground has been taken over by The Vine, which plans an opening night gala on Friday, May 1, with $10 getting patrons plenty to eat and a DJ spinning the platters; the bar is hosted from 9pm to 10pm that night. The next day at noon, the Vine presents a Kentucky Derby hat party for $20, which includes appetizers, photos and bourbon samplings; the pleasure of an RSVP is requested, and fancy hats are expected. Check it out at the Vine, 528 Seventh St., Santa Rosa. 707.527.5600. . . .

The Ceres Community Project, which serves healthy nourishing meals to cancer patients while honing the skills of young chefs, is lookinf for recipes that might pique the palate of a cancer patient for a new cookbook they're compiling. For details, call 707.829.5833 or email Kari Stettler at [email protected]. . . .

When the venerable Lark Creek Inn closed earlier this month after 20 years of destination dining, foodies mourned but bravely kept to the grind of their days knowing that the place is due to reopen in late May. Reborn as the Tavern at Lark Creek with a new menu topping out at $15 for entrées, the Tavern promises to be seasonally aware and casual enough for neighbors and grieving foodies to stop in early and often for a quick, lovely bite that doesn't need a prom dress or a birthday to prompt it. . . .

The Sebastopol Farmers Market hosts World Laughter Day on Sunday, May 3, with "certified laugh leaders" teaching market-goers the pleasures of guffawing for one full 60-second minute for no damned good reason (other than mere world peace and personal health). Get ready for a chuckle between 10am and 1:30pm in the Sebastopol Plaza. . . .

Dutcher Crossing Winery hosts Bravissimo!, a yowsa fundraiser for the Healdsburg School on Saturday, May 2, with a raffle that includes such treats as the chance to cook with Cyrus' own Douglas Keane for a day, a week's stay at an Italian villa, a 100-bottle "instant cellar," a dollop of trapshooting, a slice o' Hawaii and the ubiquitous more. Jazz, good food and fun, bien sur. Tickets are $100. For details, call 707.431.8508.

Send a letter to the editor about this story.