September 22

Tonight, the Mifflin Street Community Cooperative holds a Pirate Party Benefit. Participants are asked to come dressed as a pirate. The party features music, dancing, treasure hunting, and eating. There is a suggested donation that benefits the Coop. This is at Ambrosia Housing Co-op, 225 East Lakelawn Place, from 9:30pm to 2:30 am. Check mifflincoop.com for details.

Tomorrow is the Taste of Mifflin St. Co-op. Participants can get a taste of what Mifflin offers with lots of free samples of the food from the store and learn ideas for easy-to-make food. This is from 1 to 5 at the Coop, 32 North Bassett Street. Check mifflincoop.com for details.

Tomorrow evening, the Alliance for Animals holds its third annual Vegan Chili Cook-Off. The Alliance for Animals is a Wisconsin-based non-profit organization advocating for the rights and human treatment of all animals. There is a ticket charge that is waved for those entering their chili. All profits benefit the Alliance for Animals. This is at the Atwood Community Center, 2425 Atwood Avenue, from 6 to 9. For more information, call 257-6333 or check www.allanimals.org.

Sunday, Mifflin Street Community Cooperative hosts a silent auction that will auction a wide array of items and services donated from local businesses in the Madison area. This includes items such as a Guatemalan Quilt; a massage; gift certificates from area restaurants; and a nights stay at the Arbor House, an Environmental Inn. This is at the Orpheum Theatre, 216 State Street, with the cocktail hour at 5 and bidding starting at 6pm. Check mifflincoop.com for details.

Beginning Sunday, the Peregrine Forum holds the first in its Fall Discussion Series “Introduction to the Palestinian Conflict”. The main reading for this course will be veteran Middle East British journalist David Hirst’s The Gun and the Olive Branch: the Roots of Violence in the Middle East. This is at Escape Java Joint, 916 Williamson Street, at 6:30. This runs on alternative Sunday evenings through December 3. There is a registration fee. To RSVP for limited seating, call 442-8399 or email dvdwilliams51@yahoo.com.