Breakside's Beer Float Party; Taste of the Nation's GEMS

NORTHEAST: NE Dekum's Breakside Brewery will host a "ice cream beer social" fundraiser this Sunday, April 1, featuring the products of a doubly collaborative effort with Alberta ice creamery Salt & Straw. Earlier this year, the brewery teamed with S&S to create two unique products: a boozy "Salted Caramel Sweet Stout" served at the brewery, as well as a "Bailey's with Irish Stout" ice cream flavor available at the scoop shop. The two will come together — in the form of a beer stout ice cream float — on Sunday, with all proceeds benefiting Food Works Youth and Farm Program. The party starts at noon and continues until 11pm (or until the stout and ice cream run out). [EaterWire]

DOWNTOWN: Organizers for this year's Taste of the Nation gluttonfest have announced this year's "GEM" lineup (aka the restaurants guests will have to shell out an extra $50 to taste, albeit for a good cause). Aviary, Bamboo Sushi, Boke Bowl, Gruner, Ned Ludd, and Olympic Provisions have been named the VIP/GEM restaurants for the 2012 event, which will be held May 8 at Jeld-Wen Field. (Incidentally, three of those spots were named to Eater's Best-of Taste list last year.) Tickets are still available here. [EaterWire]

Image of Breakside Brewery courtesy Christine Jump via Flickr