Third Thursday in North Park; Beer & Cheese Dinner; Somm Skills

NORTH PARK— Tonight is Third Thursday in North Park, the monthly neighborhood open house with special food and drink deals from local business. This time around, there are $2 adobada tacos from Tacos Perla, a free horchata or quesadilla at City Tacos, a cask Beer and chocolate truffle pairing at Mike Hess Brewing, $20 craft beer pitchers at West Coast Tavern and lots more. [Facebook]

LITTLE ITALY— Ballast Point chef Travis Clifford is cooking up a cheese-centric dinner in collaboration with Venissimo Cheese on Wednesday, January 28 at 6:30 p.m. The four course family-style dinner is $50 and includes beer pairings with each course; the brewery's Reef Rye will be poured with braised chicken thighs and a Humboldt Fog goat cheese bread pudding and a beer from the vault, a 2010 Sea Monster Imperial Stout will be matched with dessert, a chocolate fondue served with coconut gouda. Contact littleitaly@ballastpoint.com for reservations. [EaterWire]

BANKERS HILL— A clink of our glass to Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant's Molly Brooks-Thornton, who just advanced to the next round of the prestigious Young Sommelier Chaîne Competition sponsored by the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. Brooks-Thornton is competing to represent our region in the finals, which will be held in May. [EaterWire]