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When Print Works Bistro (702 Green Valley Road, Greensboro; 379-0699; www.printworksbistro.com) opened at the Proximity Hotel last fall, executive chef Bart Ortiz and owner Dennis Quaintance were besides themselves at the "green" innovations incorporated into the restaurant and the hotel.

Those innovations have paid off. The Proximity and Print Works have been awarded the LEED Platinum by the U.S. Green Building Council.

LEED is the USGBC's rating system for designing and constructing the green, energy efficient and high performance buildings.

In addition to the 100 solar panels on the roof of the hotel that heat the water for the guest rooms and the restaurant, Print Works Bistro was designed to allow lots of natural light for diners. Other technological innovations include variable speed hoods that automatically adjust to the kitchen's needs for a lower level of operation, and geothermal energy for the kitchen's refrigeration equipment.

In striving for sustainability, the restaurant's tabletops were milled from salvaged walnut trees and the room service trays are made of Plyboo, a type of bamboo plywood.

A vegetated rooftop above the restaurant to reduce the amount of energy needed for refrigeration and air conditioning is planned for the future.

Seasonal beverage tasting

Earth Fare (2965 Battleground Ave., Greensboro; 369-0190) is holding a Fall Fest Wine and Beer Tasting from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday.

A $5 donation to The Sparrow's Nest of Greensboro also gets you light appetizers.

Earth Fare will also accept entries for a jack-o'-lantern contest from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The entries will be displayed for shoppers to vote for and the winner will be announced during a Kids' Halloween Festival on Oct. 25.

Scoop shop birthday

Ben & Jerry's (3332 W. Friendly Ave., Greensboro; 856-2178) at Shops at Friendly Center kicks off a weeklong second anniversary celebration with a Greensboro Children's Museum Day on Sunday offering free cups or cones to ages six and younger and $5 off purchases of $10 or more by showing your Greensboro Children's Museum membership card.

Monday is Friendly Center Appreciation day and you'll get a smoothie for $1 if you show proof you work at Friendly Center or the Shops at Friendly Center.

Tuesday is College Day with a buy-one-get-one-for-$1 special for any cup or cone of equal or lesser value for college students with ID and a friend.

On Oct. 22, all Vermonsters are $22.22.

More specials to come.

Teachers do the serving

On Tuesday, schoolteachers and staff will serve dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. at some area McDonald's.

McDonald's will partner with area schools to share a percentage of sales during that time for this unique benefit.

For a list of McDonald's locations and the schools with which they are partnering, visit www.mcnorthcarolina.com/543/21264/McTeachers-NightNew/.

Pizza buffet opens

A new Cici's Pizza (5825 Samet Drive, Suite 195; 841-1006) has opened at the Palladium Retail Center in North High Point.

Cici's offers and all-you-can-eat pizza, pasta and salad buffet. This is owner P.J. Moore's second franchise in High Point.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Discount on take-out

Taste of Thai (1500 Mill St., No. 101, Greensboro) is offering a 25 percent discount on take-out orders placed before 3 p.m.

The catch is that you can't pick the order up until after 5 p.m.

Call 273-1318.

S.C. franchise to open

Fatz Cafe (www.fatzcafe.com) is coming to Greensboro.

Fatz Cafe, a South Carolina-based franchise specializing in ribs, steaks, pasta, sandwiches, seafood and salads, including Calabash-style fried chicken and the Fatz Famous Calabash Salad, is set to open soon at 619 Regional Road.

Seasonal dishes offered

Carrabba's Italian Grill (3200 High Point Road, Greensboro; 323-6069 and 1653 New Garden Road, Greensboro; 218-0623) is offering a couple of seasonal specials.

Through December, Carrabba's is offering Marsala di Carrabba, a combination of chicken and sirloin Marsala in a wine sauce, and Risotto d Mare, fresh fish and shellfish in a homemade broth.

For more information and other locations, visit www.carrabbas.com.

Contact Carl Wilson

at 373-7145 or carl.wilson

@news-record.com