Mount Washington is celebrating "An Evening on Grandview" June 30 with a walking tour, food from top restaurants and cocktails as the sun goes down.

A dozen homes, living spaces, architectural monuments and gardens are on the tour from 4 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 day of event.

The evening is saved for cocktails and menu sampling from Bella Vista, Grandview Saloon, Shiloh Inn, La Tavola Italiana, Redbeards, RedStar Tavern, Bar Louie, DiFlores Ice Cream and Melting Pot.

Grandview Avenue will be alive with huge white tents, a live band on the viewing pod and strolling musicians. An added bonus -- the street will be open to foot traffic only.

Tickets for the entire event are $30 in advance, $40 day of event. Parking will be on Sweetbrier Street, off Grandview, with shuttle service every 15 minutes.

Tickets: 412-481-3220. Proceeds benefit Mount Washington Community Development Corp.

A two-pack of beer notes

3 Sons Dogs & Suds, a six-pack shop on Route 19 in the Wexford Flats Plaza in Pine, will have a free tasting of five different flavors of Lindemans Belgian lambics from 6 to 8 tonight. Flavors are raspberry, peach, apple, cherry and black currant.

A reminder to beer lovers: the 10th Great European Beer Festival at The Sharp Edge is Saturday and Sunday outside the Friendship location. More than 101 European and Belgian beers will be on tap during the three, three-hour sessions. Tickets for each are $38; call 412-661-3537 or online at www.sharpedgebeer.com.

Travel Channel tour

The Travel Channel's food program "Taste of America," which chronicles the background of regional dishes around the country, was in Pittsburgh this week shooting a segment on specialties created here -- Devonshire sandwiches and banana splits.

Tuesday, host/comedian Mark DeCarlo visited the Union Grill, Oakland, and LeMont, Mount Washington for the Devonshire story.

Wednesday, he traveled to Valley Dairy Restaurant and Ice Cream, Latrobe, where the banana split was invented by apprentice pharmacist Dr. David Strickler.

DeCarlo wound up the show at nearby St. Vincent College where the splits were first eaten 100 years ago. No date has been set for airing.

Birthday party class

Food Glorious Food is having a "Birthday Party Celebration" class for kids (no age restrictions) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday. On the menu are fresh baked pretzels, macaroni and cheese, and a cupcake birthday cake with handmade edible decorations. Cost is $40. Call 412-363-5330.

A top chef

Chakir Errafaq, executive chef at the Stone Mansion, Franklin Park, was the winner of the PA Preferred Best Chef of Pennsylvania-Western Region contest.

Using fresh greens, veal chops and other Pennsylvania products, Errafaq produced two plated dishes in 30 minutes and won the judges' hearts. The competition was held at the Three Rivers Arts Festival.

Bread on tour

The Pittsburgh-based Bread Bakers Guild of America has taken its artisan baking education program on the road, launching USA Tour 2006 with a dozen "bread-ucational" events planned across the country. The tour began at the Artisan Bread Festival in Asheville, N.C., and includes Boston, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Portland and Chicago.

A taste of Lebanon

Longing for Lebanese? The Eighth Annual Lebanese Food Festival at Our Lady of Victory Maronite Catholic Church, Scott, begins today and runs through Saturday.

Menu items include favorites such as grape leaves, stuffed cabbage, baked kibbee, grilled kafta, hummus, tabbouleh salad, spinach and meat pies, and assorted pastries.

Hours are: 4 to 10 p.m. today, noon to 10 p.m. tomorrow, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday (live entertainment Friday and Saturday evenings). Call 412-278-0841.

The last word

"There's a lot more future in hamburgers than in baseball."

-- Ray Kroc, founder of the McDonald's fast food chain