Black Tie Affair

Friday: Variety hosts its 28th annual Black Tie Dinner at 7 p.m. at the Hy-Vee Conference Center, 5820 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines. The event is a great chance to network, enjoy dinner and cocktails and hear guest speaker Casey Wiegmann, an Iowa native and former Kansas City Chiefs player. $150 for Young Variety members, $300 for others. Go to varietyiowa.com.

Get Energized

Sunday: The Iowa Energy return from a stint on the road to take on the Canton Charge at 4 p.m. Sunday at Wells Fargo Arena, 730 Third St. The first 1,000 fans into the arena get a free winter hat courtesy of MidAmerican Energy. $8-$20. Go to dahlstickets.com.

Buc up

Friday and Saturday: The Des Moines Buccaneers host two games this week at Buccaneer Arena, 7201 Hickman Road, Urbandale. At 7:05 p.m. Friday the Bucs take on Sioux City with $1.50 Miller Lite beers, then at 7:05 p.m. Saturday they face Team USA, with a John Stoddard Cancer Center jersey auction following the game. $11-$19. Go to bucshockey.com.

The bulls are back

Friday and Saturday: Cowboys and cowgirls will show off their skills at the World’s Toughest Rodeo at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena, 730 Third St. Events include bull riding, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding and women’s barrel racing and a finale matching Brandon Lindsey in the Three Hills Rodeo’s Devil’s Dance. $20-$57 through dahlstickets.com.

Learning (wine) lab

Tuesday: Abbe Hendricks, sommelier for Gateway Market, invites you to Abbe’s Wine Lab, 6:30 p.m. at South Union Bread Cafe, 1007 Locust St. Hendricks will deconstruct pinot noir, sharing tidbits about the grape that will entertain and surprise connoisseurs and novices alike. $40. Go to winefestdesmoines.com.