It's time for Dining Month, presented by Deer District and its spooky Halloween-themed alter ego, Fear District. Throughout the month of October, we'll be serving up fun and fascinating content about all things food.

For the 11th(!) year in a row, Beans & Barley has secured the top spot for in the best vegan/vegetarian category in OnMilwaukee's best of dining poll. Move over brats and cheese curds: This East Side staple has paved the way for vegetarian and vegan restaurants and cuisine here in Milwaukee, becoming a long-time favorite within – and even outside – the vegetarian community thanks to its fresh flavors and bold veggie-inspired menu.

Today, Alston owns and operates a popular vendor stand called Heaven’s Table BBQ inside the Crossroads Collective food hall on the east side of Milwaukee. The business dishes up a menu of beef brisket, smoked chicken, sausage and pork shoulder, along with a roster of sides.

Hacienda is an experimental side project of Door County Brewing Company (8099 Highway 57, in Baileys Harbor), which was founded in 2013 by John McMahon, his wife, Angie, and their sons, Danny and Ben.

MILWAUKEE — After several months of preparation, organizers for the 2019 Milwaukee Film Festival were ready to welcome tens of thousands of guests on opening day. Milwaukee Film is hosting the 15-day festival. This year they will show 349 films and host more than a hundred events.

The annual Milwaukee Film Festival returns to southeastern Wisconsin later this week, bringing more than 350 films and related events to nine area venues from Oct. 17 to 31. Now in its 11th year, the two-week event, presented by Associated Bank, annually attracts tens of thousands of attendees (nearly 80,000 in 2018).

The late night eats category has turned into one of the most dramatic parts of our Best of Dining poll. Last year, first and second place were separated by a whole two votes; this year, the margin of victory expanded (to a comparatively colossal 11 votes) but it was a third party coming in to sneak victory from former champions Oakland Gyros and Vanguard.

For the first time, Hacienda Beer Co. will make Motel Citroen Farmhouse Ale and Time Is An Illusion Hazy Double IPA available in cans. Motel Citroen is Hacienda's Norwegian-inspired farmhouse ale brewed with lime zest and lemon verbena and fermented with Norwegian kveik (type of yeast).