Toby Cecchini in Portland

Drinks writer Toby Cecchini, author of Cosmopolitan: A Bartender’s Life, the unblinking behind-the-scenes account of his time running a bar in New York City’s West Village, will be “talking cocktails and technique” at Nostrana in Portland, Ore., on Wednesday (6-7 p.m., $10, call for tickets: 503-234-2427). With attendance limited to 30 people, it should be a great opportunity to meet the guy who invented the modern cosmo and ask him questions (like what, exactly, happened to the cosmo). Cecchini’s making time for the appearance while he’s in town this week to judge the wines submitted to the Portland Indie Wine Festival (the top 40 of more than 100 Oregon wines will make it into the festival, May 2-4). Don’t be surprised if you see him around Portland’s better bars in the coming days … razz him about the cosmo at your own risk.