DINING: Veterans Day and 11/11 specials, and more

Friday is both 11/11/11 and Veterans Day, and some local restaurants are offering specials to commemorate one or the other.

Morton’s the Steakhouse, 400 E. Flamingo Road, is offering a signature Power Hour Mortini and four petite filet mignon sandwiches for $11 in its Bar 12-21.

The Eastside Cannery, 5255 Boulder Highway, is offering a $7 buffet, and the first 1,000 diners will receive hats.

Applebee’s is offering veterans and active members of the military a free signature entree. Dine-in only; proof of service required.

P.J. Clarke’s at the Forum Shops at Caesars, 3500 Las Vegas Blvd. South, will host an all-day Shot for Shot fundraiser Friday. Customers will be asked to donate the amount of the cost of their drink (or any amount); at the end of the day, the restaurant will match the total. Donations will go to Fisher House, a national foundation that supports veterans and military families. ...

P.J. Clarke’s also has scheduled its Oyster Fest & Beer Festival for this weekend, on Saturday. It will include oyster specials, shucking and eating competitions, a Guinness-chugging competition, beer tasting by Tenaya Creek Brewing Co. and food specials including oyster potpie, oyster chowder, baked oysters with Riesling and more. Cadillac Burgers with bacon for $5 and tuna tartare tacos for $1 also will be available. The company also announced the extension of its happy hour, with $1 oysters from “a quarter to 3” to 6 p.m. and $3 draft beers from 10 p.m. until closing daily. ...

Wine Away Wednesday is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (Nov. 16) at Vasari at Tivoli Village, 302 S. Rampart Blvd. Tickets are $15 at the door, or $13.65 online at WineAwayWednesday.Eventbrite.com. The events take place on the third Wednesday of each month, with locations rotating among Tivoli Village businesses. ...

Chef Geno Bernardo of Nove Italiano at the Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Road, will conduct an Italian Thanksgiving cooking class at noon Nov. 19. The five courses will include an entree of boneless turkey breast with chestnut and sausage stuffing and pumpkin cheesecake. It’s $75, which includes each course paired with wine. For reservations, call 942-6856. ...

Sweet Ruby Jane Confections, which started as an online company, has opened a store at 8975 S. Eastern Ave., offering home-style cookies and hand-dipped chocolates. Call 648-1000. ...

See’s Chocolates has introduced its annual line of Thanksgiving sweets, featuring Pumpkin Pie Truffles, Pecan Pie Truffles, Cranberry Orange Truffles, foil-covered turkeys and leaves, and more. ...