In chatting with Middle West Spirits partner Brady Konya for this month’s cover story, (614) learned that the Short North-based micro-distillery will be offering in-depth whiskey workshops starting with the February 4th Gallery Hop. This will be the first in a series of total immersion events, explained Konya. It'll be five hours of everything from grain selection to preparing the mash to signing the barrel that is filled during the class – participants will receive a bottle of “their” batch once the aging process is complete. For details, call (614) 299-2460.

Even though economy has face-planted, eateries keep popping up around town. Downtown workers have never had it so good – in addition to the current faves and food truck appearances, two new spots have opened to dazzle lunch-hour appetites. Fresh 50 has moved in at 50 North High Street, offering an Asian take on the Chipotle fast-fresh made-to-order concept. Also jumping on the point-and-create trend is Streetfare by Lola, the kiosk sibling of Café Lola on Broad. Brightening up the lobby of the Fifth Third building, Streetfare by Lola offers basic foundations – subs, wraps, green salads – that customers customize with various proteins, veggies and more.

From lunch to late night, howl-at-the-moon peeps also have a couple of new offerings to satiate their nighttime hungers. Everyone’s favorite shack-centric nom-nom maestros, the Foodie Cart Fresh Street duo, have debuted (Section 8) Yakitorium in the Brewery District’s Double Happiness bar space at 462 South Front Street. Yakitori are Japanese grilled chicken skewers, but the Fresh Street creatives will no doubt dabble in many kinds of skewer yum. In the Short North, Justin Boehme, da dude at Da Levee, has thrown open the backdoor for . . . wait for it . . . Backdoor Burritos. Open Friday and Saturday from midnight to the witching hour (3 a.m.), the menu is concise, with items named to entertain the too-drunk-to-order crowd. A King Cock anyone? Located in the back of 765 1/2 North High Street, this is one tasty stop on the road to soberville.

New Albany has also gotten a new dining destination, Ella. An acronym for ‘eat local, love art,’ Ella is a joint effort from Hayley Savage and Amy Schottenstein. The restaurant supports local growers, farmers and food artisans with a food-forward menu created by Executive Chef Travis Hyde and sous chef Alexis Randolph, formerly of Z Cucina and G. Michael’s, respectively. Beyond the ‘eat local’ angle and impeccable resumes of those involved, Ella is unique because of its tie to the Hayley Gallery, Savage’s award-winning art gallery that now shares its space with the new restaurant. Providing local art for the walls and hosting monthly artist receptions, the ‘eat local, love art’ concept couldn’t be more accurate for this already popular eatery. Visit 266 East Main Street in New Albany to experience Ella.