Australian cuisine: Drop by the Taste of Australia event at Spec’s downtown today and you’ll find out it’s more than just koala steaks and the big bottle of Yellow Tail Shiraz. Featuring free wine and food samplings from the land down under, along with cooking demonstrations by Chef Jason Gould of Gravitas Restaurant, the event includes entertainment while shrimp are thrown on the barbie — maybe a little didgeridoo music. (Hmm, let’s see — a liquor store with free food and entertainment. Who is ever going to leave?) 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 2410 Smith. For information, call 713-526-8787 or visitwww.specsonline.com. Free.

Thu., Jan. 29; Fri., Jan. 30; Sat., Jan. 31, 2009

Bob Ruggiero has been writing about music, books, visual arts and entertainment for the Houston Press since 1997, with an emphasis on Classic Rock. He used to have an incredible and luxurious mullet in...