Darryl Segina, McKeesport councilman and native and longtime chairman of the city's much-anticipated International Village, says the event keeps on trucking for a reason: "Because we try to maintain the integrity of the ethnic foods, fun and entertainment. That's our big secret."

Not a secret very closely held because, even though it hits mid-week -- from 3 to 11 p.m. next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the village always draws throngs, as people shuck their workaday selves to eat and dance, celebrating all things ethnic.

This year, a free children's festival kicks it all off from noon to 6 p.m. Monday in the Renziehausen Park band shell with food, crafts, face-painting, a bouncing activity zone, water balloon toss and more.

This is the 50th year for the event. Mr. Segina has been involved for 27 of those, in charge for 15, and despite the decades, his enthusiasm is clear as he talks about the village to be set up on Renzie's Stephen Barry Field.

"We'll have 18 food booths out there. ... You're going to get a different ethnic food at each of them," he says, noting that the festival celebrates the Old World roots that can be obscured by the years. "The mixing of the nationalities -- that's all lost sometimes," he notes. "Grandparents pass away and [people] don't eat that kind of food anymore. Well, we'll have it out here."

The expected ethnic participation runs from A to V: African American to Vietnamese, stopping at German, Greek, Lebanese, Polish, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian -- even Hawaiian and English. There will be Hoppin' John, halushki, pierogies, falafel sandwiches, spinach pie, lamb sandwiches, stuffed cabbage, shrimp or chicken fried rice, tabouleh salad.

There will be enough desserts to make your Yaya cry, from sweet potato pie to baklava to kolachi (fruit or nut-stuff rolls) to apple dumplings to chess pie.

There will be arts and crafts and music galore. Scheduled bands include such favorites as Henry and the Versa J's, the Lil John Polka Band, I Paesani and Otets Paiisi. See the Duquesne Junior Tamburitzans, Polka Quads and the Lajkoniki Polish Dancers.

The grand finale will feature Zambelli fireworks under the theme "Let's Celebrate McKeesport," says Mr. Segina.

It's a siren call: "This year, we've had calls from Oklahoma and California and North Carolina -- people who plan their vacations around this, so they can meet friends and go back to the village."

Head on down.

Admission is $2. For more, call 412-675-5020. (A special International Village tab is published yearly by the McKeesport Daily News.)

The Zen Center of Pittsburgh, a Soto Zen Buddhist Temple founded in 1999 (prairiewindzen.org/zcp/index.php), will mark its 10th anniversary with a Taste of Zen at various locations in the region. Zen priest the Rev. Edward Espe Brown, author of "The Tassajara Bread Book," will give a cooking class from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 20 at Sweetwater Cooking, South Side. He will screen the documentary, "How to Cook Your Life" at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Pittsburgh Filmmakers, Oakland. Events run through Aug. 23. For details: deepspringzen.org; the center, in Bell Acres, can be reached at 412-741-1262.

Have a green drink at 5 p.m. tomorrow at Six Penn Kitchen, Downtown, courtesy of folks who work in the environmental field or seek a greener planet. Complimentary appetizers of local fare and limited complimentary drinks, courtesy of the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, East End Food Co-Op, Three Rivers Bioneers.

Laura Autorino of Solania, Campania, Italy, partner/supplier of San Marzano tomatoes with George DeLallo Co. of Jeannette, will speak about the luscious fruit at 2 p.m. Aug. 23. The San Marzano Sunday Supper is sponsored by Slow Food Pittsburgh. Cheeses from Campania also will be available for tasting. Menu includes raw zucchini salad with olives, mint and pecorino; beau coup Italian meats and cheeses; simple red sauce made with San Marzanos; sea bass; almond praline Semifreddo with grilled peaches. Thirty seats available; $35 members, $45 nonmembers. E-mail vredpath@aol.com for details or call 412-343-7354.

Dreadnought Wines and The Priory Hotel will hold Picnic at the Priory at 6 p.m. Tuesday, 614 Pressley St., North Side. Pre-pay while reserving; $58; 412-391-8502; dreadnoughtwines.com.

Heinz has launched its first U.S. consumer Web site, heinzketchup.com, with recipes and a place for favorite family ketchup stories (you really have one?). For every story posted Heinz will make a donation to the National Gardening Association, and 57 storytellers will win a kit of kitchen and gardening tools, Heinz seeds, a digital camera, tomato planter and more. Go to heinzwholesomememories.com.

"America's Test Kitchen" Season 9 is now out on DVD from WGBH Boston Video. ... Yours truly will be among the judges, along with food writers Marlene Parrish and Nancy Anderson, for the Savor Pittsburgh event Sept. 2, where the city's finest chefs compete for "Dish of the Year," benefiting the American Respiratory Alliance. More details next week.