John Fladd

• Telling fine whiskeys apart: Tuscan Market (Tuscan Village, 9 Via Toscana, Salem, 912-5467, tuscanbrands.com) will host a Whiskey Appreciation class Friday, Aug. 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. Explore a selection of whiskeys, each with its own unique story. Featured pours include Angel’s Envy Triple Barrel, Woodford Reserve Double Double, and Basil Hayden Golden Rye. The cost is $65 through the Tuscan Brands website.

Craft cocktails are their specialty Michael Demicco is the owner of The Grey Dog in Manchester, a new addition to downtown’s growing craft cocktail scene. His mission is to present customers with the purest, most attention-grabbing flavors possible in his drinks, he said. Sometimes that involves stripping recipes down to basics. “I’ve also learned through trial and error over the years,” he said, “how important it is to simplify drinks.

Sunfox Farm holds its annual Sunflower Bloom Festival So, that thing about sunflowers turning to face the sun? It turns out that isn’t actually true. Well, a little true, said Greg Pollock, owner of Sunfox Farm in Concord. “It’s sort of a misconception,” he said. “When [sunflowers] are growing — when they’re young, and even when they’re setting their buds — the buds and the leaves will follow the sun throughout the day.