It’s a safe bet to assume that Edmontonians don’t need a reason to dine out. We just do it. A lot. We have a world-class selection of diverse restaurants here, and even one of our busiest summer festivals is all about food!

And just like with “A Taste of Edmonton,” not staying home is a good thing. For the third year in a row, the city’s finest eateries welcome you with open arms and empty stomachs for “Dining Out For Life” on Thursday, April 24th. Amazing to think a night out with good food and friends would become such a must-do on the calendar, but for such a good cause it just makes sense. If you’re among those who seldom treat themselves to a dinner out, then definitely make April 24th your night.

“Dining Out For Life” is a treasured event, where for just one night only you select from a fine list of local restaurants, enjoy a fantastic meal, and a minimum of 25% of your food bill goes directly to the Living Positive for Positive Living Society of Alberta, an organization that cares for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Nothing wrong with ordering an appetizer or dessert here: the more you order, the larger the donation.

Also new this year, Alley Kat Brewery, makers of some fine local beers, is joining in and donating $0.50 of every bottle purchased at participating restaurants to Living Positive. So if you’re as much of a foodie and drink-to-donate kinda guy as I was last year, Living Positive will get something out of your beer buzz too.

My usual spot is the Blue Plate Diner, just north of Jasper on 104 Street. They actually donate 30% of your food bill, and if you can’t make it out in the evening, their lunch menu qualifies as well. Some of the other hot spots to check out in the downtown core are The Crêperie, il Portico, Vons Steakhouse & Oyster Bar, Wild Tangerine and the underrated Four Rooms in City Centre. The incredible Culina on the south side, and The Blue Pear in the northwest, are also fine bets. Eight of the 17 restaurants are participating for lunch and dinner, and one - Leva, the famed Italian bistro with a 1900s-era espresso maker and fantastic home-made gelato - welcomes “Dining Out For Life” patrons at breakfast as well!

Spaces fill fast, and a photographers may be present, so make sure you swallow before saying “cheese.” Reservations are required; just mention you’d like to “dine out for life.” Last year the event raised close to $8,000.

The event began in Philadelphia in 1991 and soon after, hundreds of locations around the US and Canada participated. Since then, 33 cities operate their own “DOFL” event each year. With more than 2,500 restaurants donating a portion of their proceeds, over $2 million a year is generated for research and care through HIV/AIDS programs around North America. New cities are added each year, and you can visit the organization’s main website at www.diningoutforlife.com and nominate an establishment and/or city if you’d like them to be involved (come on Calgary, let them know you want it too!).

A complete list of this year’s participating restaurants with addresses and phone numbers is available at www.diningoutforlife.com/edmonton, and a few even allow you to make reservations online. And for those that cannot make it out, the website accepts monetary donations as well. And be sure to visit www.edmlivingpositive.ca to see how your digested dollars are going to make a massive difference to those that really need it.

A huge thank you has to go to the establishments as well, who really work their butts off to ensure this event’s success each year. But they need diners to do it! So if you’ll pardon the pun, on Thursday, April 24th, dine out and fight AIDS!

Dining Out for Life

Edmonton

Thurs, April 24th

www.diningoutforlife.com/edmonton