Wine Growlers: Good news, wine and cider lovers! The Oregon State Senate unanimously passed HB 2443, effectively legalizing growlers of wine and cider in grocery stores, wine shops, wineries, bars, and restaurants, a privilege recently limited to beer. Governor John Kitzhaber is expected to sign the bill soon, which will go into effect immediately.

Life's a picnic: John Dovydenas' Picnic food cart will return after a winter hiatus in Mid-April at a new location, SW Third and Stark, and with a new menu. For more Picnic info, check out Eat Beat's 2012 review of the cart.

Lake Oswego: The In Good Taste cooking school is launching a three-week Baking Boot Camp beginning in may, with hands-on pastry training starting with basic cakes and cookies and ending with more complex fruit fillings, sauces, and glazes. 6302 SW Meadows Rd, Lake Oswego 

Food & Wine: Nominations are in for the online vote-off celebrating Food & Wine's People's Best Pastry Chef, and two PDX dessert mavens are among the honored: St. Jack's Alissa Rozos and Andina's Megan Vargas. Cast your vote all week on the Food & Wine website, through April 8.

New cider in the city: Oregon's Craft Brew Alliance (which markets Kona Brewing, Redhook Brewery, Widmer Brothers Brewing, and Omission beer) announced the launch of a new cider today. Square Mile Cider Company will offer two varieties of cider, available by bottle in the next month—The Original, a "classic American" hard cider, and Spur & Vine, the Original with the addition of Galaxy hops. 

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