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A smushed Slurpee cup. Don't litter, people.

Tomorrow is SlurpFREE Day at (participating) 7-Eleven stores. Things are never what they seem though, OK? Sure, a store is giving away something free, but that doesn't meant it's mandatory flip-out time. Here are a few party tips:

1. You need to know, and strongly consider, that 7-Eleven is plotting world dominance by planning to open 630 new stores in the U.S. and Canada just this year (to the great fear of mom-and-pop stores across the nation).

2. Slurpees aren't really that expensive the other days of the year.

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photo by foodbitch

The scene at Taste of the NFL

While she didn't get the chance to lick any football players at last night's Taste of the NFL at the new Omni Hotel, foodbitch was pleasantly surprised by all the energy inside. And that energy inspired her to get poetic.

Because what's Monday without whimsy? Here we go.

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East Dallas Urban Coop Tour

The Third Annual Peep at the Coops: The East Dallas Urban Coop Tour is this Sunday, May 20, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There are few rules for the tour. First, you can't bring your dog. (Really? Do we have to make that a rule? If you thought you could bring your dog on a chicken tour, then you're automatically banned from ever raising chickens.)

Tour HQ is at the Stonewall Gardens and Outdoor Science Lab, which is a 20,000-square-foot learning garden for the kids at Stonewall Jackson Elementary at 5828 E. Mockingbird Lane.

On Sunday all types of chicken folks will be hanging out and teaching classes, including: Backyard Chickens 101; Incubating, Hatching and Brooding; and Backyard Poultry. Check A Peep at the Coops for a full line up.

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BeerProfiler

North Coast Grand Cru: Sweet but dangerous.

American Craft Beer Week kicked off Monday and fine watering holes throughout the city are celebrating with rare keg tappings and tastings. Design District gastropub and beer-nerd destination the Meddlesome Moth is creating special dishes each night this week to complement its beer offerings.

Tuesday night the Moth presented Grand Cru from North Coast Brewing Company out of Fort Bragg, California. The special-edition ale is brewed with Belgian yeast and agave nectar and aged in bourbon barrels. It pours a bright golden orange, with a light fizzy head and an intensely sweet aroma of apples and honey. It's sweeter than I expected with virtually no bitterness, and there's definitely a boozy bite in there to remind you it's 12.5 percent ABV.

That high alcohol content that's so prevalent amongst craft beers gets me every time -- one glass of Grand Cru and I was toasted.

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BrewRiot

Oh it's just another beer festival, that's all. 'Cause that's how we roll here in Dallas. Beer festies every weekend. This one even involves running, which is great because there's such satisfaction in digging a hole just to fill it right back up.

Sunday brings the Third Annual BrewRiot Homebrew Beer Competition on Bishop Avenue between 7th and 8th Streets from 4 to 8 p.m. The event will feature more than 50 homebrew teams competing against one another. Plus there will be more than 150 different types of beer to sample. The lineup includes lagers, IPAs, Belgian & French ales and specialty brews.

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Deep Ellum Brewing Company

If you already have plans for Memorial Weekend, cancel them. If you don't, congratulations, you do now.

The Deep Ellum Brewing Company is getting all grown up and is already planning "second annual" events. It's like kindergarten is done and they're off to college already.

DEBC is hosting a Brew-B-Q in its brand-spanking new beer garden, which is looking quite sharp in an industrial-swank Deep Ellum sort of way. They'll have all their current beers on tap, an "epic array of homebrew" and some flavors from other local breweries including Peticolas, Lakewood, Martin House Brewing and Armadillo Ale Works.

All this fun will take place in front of live musical stylings by The O's.

The festivities all take place on May 27 from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance, which will get you a plate of Q plus a Brew-B-Q souvenir glass. The price goes up $5 day of.

Buy tickets in advance through EventBrite.

Central Market

Never take for granted the greatness of Central Market. In a region that is often criticized for its lack of culinary elegance, CM is our state's playground for the at-home chef. Heck, even the pros love it.

Today begins Passport France at all Central Market locations. Through May 22. wines, cheeses, pastries and all kinds of delicacies from Provence to the Loire Valley will take center stage.

A particular highlight is cooking classes from James Beard-nominated Bruno Davaillon, executive chef at the Rosewood Mansion. He'll be teaching a class on Loire Valley cuisine at the Southlake store on May 15 and at Lovers Lane on May 16. These will absolutely sell out quickly (party tip: great Mother's Day gift).

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Bacon photobombs a tiny chocolate cupcake.

Last night, a metric shit ton of fancy Dallas people met at the Fashion Industry Gallery to stuff their faces full of awesome.

There was much bacon. Will Fleischman and his beard were slicing up a Lockhart Smokehouse meatfest for the masses. Mixologists were shaking up cocktails whilst wearing their newsboy caps. There were old dudes sampling bundt cakes. There were young dudes asking, "Who's this Kent Rathbooone guy, anyway?" There was even a kid dancing to Outkast. And oh my crap, there was so much bacon. If the night taught me anything, it was this: Bacon needs to be POTUS.

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Jay Barker

Scott Romano (left) took home the giant skillet.

Last night brought the Observer's annual celebration of station-to-station face-stuffing, a tasting event and cooking competition that packed downtown's sleek Fashion Industry Gallery and packed on a few pounds as well.

The highlight of the night, not counting the three Tiff's Treats I stuffed in my pocket on the way out, was the cook-off, which pitted Whiskey Cake's TJ Lengnick against veteran chef Scott Romano. Romano took home the prize, as you can see above; find out how, and see more, in Jay Barker's slideshow.

Our own Cheap Bastard, Alice Laussade, judged the event and will be along shortly with her take on the proceedings.

Don't forget that tonight, this here Dallas Observer presents Iron Fork, a culinary event showcasing local chefs and an opportunity to sample dishes from more than 30 area restaurants. A mixologist station, alongside wine, beer and cocktail samples, will also be available.

The highlight of the evening is a chef challenge moderated by Chef Kent Rathbun, which pits returning champion Scott Romano against Whiskey Cake's TJ Lengnick. Each contestant will receive a basket of ingredients, including one mystery item, and a panel of judges that includes our own Cheap Bastard will determine the winner.

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