Culinary calendar for the week ahead: Vail Restaurant Month and Oktoberfest celebrations

Well, Denver Beer Fest and the Great American Beer Festival have come and gone -- but there's still plenty to do, including a great excuse to head for the hills: Vail Restaurant Month starts today. Learn more about that, plus see what else is on the menu, below.

Monday, September 20:

Morton's, 8480 East Belleview Avenue in Englewood, presents Savor the Grape for Charity, an evening of fine wine, food and an auction to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, with special guests Champ Bailey and John Lynch. It starts at 7 p.m. and costs $75 to $250; call 303-409-1177.

Venue, 3609 West 32nd Avenue, presents the Loire Valley Wine Dinner, four courses paired with wine for $60. It starts at 6:30 p.m.; call 303-477-0477 or visit www.venuebistro.com.

Vail presents Vail Restaurant Month through Sunday, October 17, with different weekly themes and special activities. Visit www.vailrestaurantmonth.com.