What could be better than relaxing with an after-work cocktail at the gleaming new bar at B&O Brasserie? How about knowing that a portion of the money you spent on that libation is going to fight HIV/AIDS.

Throughout November, the restaurant will donate $1 to the Whitman-Walker Clinic in Washington each time a guest orders one of four featured cocktails. The clinic focuses on HIV/AIDS education, prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

The featured cocktails are:

• Grapefruit Spritz - Ketel One Citroen vodka, Campari, and fresh grapefruit juice
• Bad Apple - Don Julio silver tequila, Lillet, Angostura bitters, apple juice, and ginger beer
• Orange Blossom Fizz - Belvedere Orange, St. Germain Elderflower liqueur, pineapple juice and sparkling
• Morning Daiquiri - Ten Cane rum, Grand Marnier shaken with fresh lime juice and orange marmalade

They all sound delicious, don't they? If forced to choose, I'd probably go with the Morning Daiquiri, but knowing $1 from each $9 cocktail goes to such a good cause, I just might have to try them all.

Over the weekend someone sent me a link to the Web site Groupon.

It's a pretty simple concept. Each day a Baltimore business (the site also operates in a host of other cities) offers a coupon on Groupon. If enough people sign up for the deal, it becomes official. If not enough people do, the offer is rescinded.

Here's an example. Today's deal is $15 for one hour of bowling and shoe rental at Mustag Alley's in Little Italy (normally, that package would cost $31.50). When I logged on around 8:30 this morning, 10 of the required 20 people had signed up for the package. Now, just before 10, more than 25 have, meaning it's official. If the minimum hadn't been met, people who signed up for the deal wouldn't have been charged.

This form of social media marketing seems smart to me. It's a win-win for businesses and customers. Check it out when you get a minute. Maybe I'll see you at Mustag Alley's.

As readers of this site know, I love food. Granted, I'm hungry as I write this (on Thursday evening), but I can't think of a single food item I won't eat. Cold borscht comes the closest.

That's why Charles Street: Let's Eat, an event happening tomorrow, caught my eye. From noon to 6 p.m. on Read Street between Charles and Cathedral streets, 10 Mount Vernon restaurants will be offering up samples of their cuisine. Drinks, live music, and even belly dancing are on the schedule.

Admission is free, and food and drink prices vary. Scanning the restaurants that will be there, I can tell you that there is certain to be some delicious food on the menu (Saschas 527 Restaurant and the Helmand are personal favorites).

It's a relatively quiet weekend around town, so it might be a good weekend to check out a museum, go to a farmers' market, or try a new restaurant (like this one in Canton).

Thursday

Leonardo Da Vinci's Science, Technology, and Art - Noted Da Vinci scholar and Discovery Channel personality Dr. Jonathan Pevsner offers insight into the genius of Da Vinci. The lecture is free with RSVP to 410-545- 5980. It begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Maryland Science Center, and after guests can tour the Da Vinci exhibit at the museum.

Friday-Saturday-Sunday

Greek Heritage Festival - The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation sponsors its 38th annual festival at 24 W. Preston St. downtown. Food, drink, and music from Greece take center stage during the three-day festival, which is free to attend. Hours are 11-11 Friday and Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.