Venture Outdoors, the folks who aim to get you off the couch and into the woods, has a Gourmet Series of summer programs combining exercise with food and drink.

Coming up in July and August are:

Sunday -- Summer Salads Paddle. A paddle around North Park Lake followed by a picnic-style salad feast at the boat house, prepared by Mary Brenholts of the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts (10 a.m., $20 members, $30 nonmembers).

July 14 -- Beer-Tasting Hike. Two-mile walk on the scenic trails at Settlers Cabin Park, followed by hand-picked beers, cheeses and crackers (for ages 21 and over, 5:30 p.m., $25 members, $40 nonmembers).

July 21 -- Winery Tour. A stroll through the woods at Hartwood Acres and a tour with wine-tasting and snacks at La Casa Narcisi Winery, West Deer (ages 21 and over, 5:30 p.m., $30 members, $45 nonmembers).

July 22 -- Tea and Trails. Two-mile hike in North Park and a British tea with scones and strawberries and cream (2 p.m., $15 members, $25 nonmembers).

Aug. 18 -- Another Beer-Tasting Hike. Boyce Park.

Aug. 25 -- Wine and Cheese Walk. Hike in the South Park woods and enjoy a repast of bread, wine and top-notch cheeses (21 and over, 6 p.m., $25 members, $45 nonmembers).

For more information call 412-255-0564.

Gullifty's celebration

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Gullifty's in Squirrel Hill will be offering 15 percent off the dinner portion of checks beginning Monday and running through August. Next Monday through Friday only, 25 percent will be taken off. The discount applies to the early-bird hours of 5 to 7 p.m.

Featured entrees will be salmon prepared in a variety of styles. For details, visit www.gulliftysrestaurant.com.

Technique classes

Williams-Sonoma, 5514 Walnut St., Shadyside, will hold free technique classes from 10 to 11 a.m. Sundays:

July 15 -- Farmers Market Vegetables. Methods for cleaning, handling, storing and cooking vegetables.

July 29 -- Summer Fruits. An in-depth at cleaning, handling and storing fruit, plus grilling and baking it.

Aug. 12 -- Food Processor. Maximizing the potential of this workhorse of kitchen appliances.

Aug. 26 -- Setting the Perfect Table. The proper way to set a brunch or lunch table, a formal dinner or buffet.

Classes are limited to 25, and reservations are required: 412-688-9220.

We're among tops for blocks

Pittsburgh ranked eighth on the Top 10 National Block Party List.

Austin, Texas, took first place, followed by (2) New Orleans, (3) Birmingham, Ala., (4) St. Louis, (5) Providence, R.I., (6) Cleveland, (7) Chicago, (8) the 'Burgh, (9) Raleigh, N.C., and (10) Memphis, Tenn.

Chef Chris Jackson of Six Penn Kitchen, Downtown, was asked to create a recipe to celebrate our city's standing. He decided on a kielbasa barbecue sandwich topped with buttermilk ranch coleslaw.

"Nothing says Pittsburgh better than grilled kielbasa piled high with crunchy coleslaw, crispy fried onions and sliced pickles on a hearty roll," Chef Jackson said. Unfortunately, it serves 50, so we won't be running the recipe.

The survey was conducted by Bert Sperling, president of Sperling's BestPlaces, for www.mealstogether.com.

The last word

"After the agitation of too active thinking, there is safety in a tankard of ale." -- Philip G. Hamerton, British author