Some of the best chefs in Las Vegas are stepping forward to raise money for victims of Superstorm Sandy.

Southern Wine and Spirits is hosting The Start Spreadin’ the News food and wine event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. December 9 at the Brooklyn Bridge at New York-New York Hotel & Casino.

It will feature some of the city’s best known chefs. Restaurants and chefs that have been invited to participate include: Mario Batali, Tom Colicchio, Todd English, Bobby Flay, Rao’s, Nobu and Smith & Wollensky.

Wine, craft beers and specialty cocktails will be provided by Southern Wine and Spirits. All the proceeds from the fundraiser will go the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Tickets are on sale now for $100. They can be purchased through the New York-New York box office 866-606-7111. 

The Nevada Wild Fest returns to southern Nevada next month, bringing an array of entertainment options over a long weekend.

Music fans, food lovers, thrill riders and animal enthusiasts can find something at the event. For the first time, the four-day festival will be on the grounds of the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino near the intersection of Flamingo Road and Interstate 15.  Nevada Wild Fest will donate 100 percent of the net proceeds to the Lili Claire Foundation, supporting special needs children and their families.

Admission to the Nevada Wild Fest is $9 for adults, $7 for Senior Citizens (65 and up), Military and College Students with ID. Children ages 3 and under are free. For additional information, go to www.nevadawildfest.com or call 862-8141.

From October 25-28, Nevada Wild Fest will feature free musical acts including The Farm, Katie Arminger, JT Hodges and Collette Carr. (Music is free with festival admission.)

Consider yourself a foodie or foodie wanna-be?  A variety of celebrity chefs from Las Vegas restaurants will be conducting cooking demonstrations and providing samples and cooking insights. Chefs include Chef Geno Bernardo of NOVE Italiano, Chef Chris Conlon of FIX, Chef Mike Armstrong of TAO, Chef Massimiliano of LAVO and Chef Dave Middleton of Marche Bacchus. If you're looking for food a little less formal, 15 Las Vegas food trucks will be present. in addition to other carnival food.

The two Hard Rock Cafes in Las Vegas will not just be serving food during the month of August. They will also be taking in books for southern Nevada kids.

The cafes will be working with the nonprofit Spread the Word Nevada by collecting books. Spread the Word Nevada is working to advance childhood literacy by donating books to at-risk and low-income kids around the Las Vegas valley.

The Hard Rock Café at 4475 Paradise Road will host a Rock the Cause Donation Day from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 14. They are encouraging people in the community to donate gently used books to the nonprofit.

This year Spread the Word Nevada distributed its 2 millionth book to a child in Clark County. The charity also hosts literacy workshops for parents.