Progressive dinners

Writer John Burgess recently took us on a progressive dinner through the South End.

Now it's time to head North -- specifically, to North End Exposure Part 3, a progressive dinner through Boston's mecca of Italian food. It takes place Sept. 2, from 6:30-9 p.m. Diners will visit Prezza, Taranta, Tresca, and Lucca.

Just show up at Prezza at 6:30 and you'll get a map and a menu of what each chef is preparing. (There are four options to choose from at each place, with pasta, meat, fish, and vegetable selections.) The restaurant is at 24 Fleet St.

Tickets are $50 per person, with with an optional $10 wine pairing. Valet parking is available at Prezza. Call 617-227-1577.

In other North End news, St. Anthony's Feast takes place this weekend, Aug. 29-Sept. 1. Local chefs and folks from Le Cordon Bleu culinary school will be doing cooking demonstrations on the hour at the Filippo Berio Culinary Pavilion, and at 7 p.m. on Aug. 30 and 31 there will be a "North End Iron Chef" contest at the pavilion.

The feast takes place on Endicott, Thacher, and North Margin streets.