This Thursday, the Music Hall’s Wild Card film series presents the movie Fast Food Nation, a docudrama adaptation of Eric Schlosser’s hard-hitting nonfiction book on the ubiquitous American fast food industry. In settings ranging from ranches to restaurants to meatpacking plants, the movie gives an expansive overview of how all those burgers and fries ended up on all those plastic trays. If you don’t like what you see, a panel discussion following the movie will concentrate on delicious alternatives. Susan Tuveson of Cacao Chocolates in Kittery and Evan Mallett of Lindbergh’s Crossing will offer up some ‘cooking as theatre,’ creating a dish right onstage featuring local eggs, potatoes, onions, and herbs. There’ll be tasting for all. Rounding out the discussion will be Garen Heller of Back River Farm, John Forti and Michelle Moon of Slow Food Seacoast, and the UNH Office of Sustainability. Film at 7:30, tasting and dicussion afterward. Please come down!

Warm up with cold brews and hot music at The Music Hall’s presentation of “Music in the Brew,” a concert by the Firebird Ensemble commemmorating local brewer Frank Jones’ involvement with this historic theater. Jones bought the then-23-year-old theater in 1901 and gave it one of its earliest restorations; as the Music Hall continues with its long-term restoration plans, it’s a good time to raise a glass to the hometown brewer who added to its historic flavor. The “genre-busting” Firebird Ensemble takes the stage on Friday, January 26.

After the show, find out how the local craft brewing tradition remains alive and well by joining Executive Brewer Tod Mott at the Portsmouth Brewery for a special beer tasting. Tickets to the tasting are limited, and can be picked up at the Music Hall box office. The Portsmouth Brewery supports the ideals of Slow Food; to whet your appetite for the tasting, why not peruse their “History of Beer, as We See It” web page. Now that’s taste education.

A number of Slow Food Seacoast folk will be attending the event. Hope to see you there!