Special to the online edition of Windy City Times—The Food Truck Social brand will debut to the Near North community in August. The first-ever Near North Food Truck Social will take place Aug. 11-12 at 800-873 N. Sedgwick Ave., and will bring all the bells and whistles of its tenured sister food-truck social festivals ( Pilsen FTS, Logan Square FTS, West Town FTS ), in a more intimate package. Some of the participating food trucks will be from Giordano's, Da Lobsta, Pierogi Rig, Carnivale and Lucy's. Visit www.nearnorthfoodtrucksocial.com .
—Bounce Sporting Club, 324 W. Chicago Ave., has unveiled a new dessert menu. Items include Milk & Cookies, S'Mores Sundae, churros, the Strawberry Shortcake Melting Dome and the Rainbow Explosion Surprise Cake ( which required a 24-hour notice ). Items are $12-$45 each. See BounceSportingClub.com .
—Oak Brook spot Perry's Steakhouse & Grille, 5 Oakbrook Center, has announced its newest signature Manhattan cocktail: the Hog-Hattan ( $15 ). The Hog-Hattan features a classic Manhattan with Redemption Rye—a spicy 92-proof straight rye whiskey—and Vya vermouth and a dash of bitters. With the glass' rim coated in brown sugar and Perry's Signature Homemade Barbecue Sauce, the Hog-Hattan is topped with a skewer of Luxardo cherries and Perry's Famous Pork Chop Bites.
—Last Call Tavern Group acquired Trace, a Chicago neighborhood bar and late-night Wrigleyville staple since 2001, on July 19—and the spot remains open for business, despite reports of closing. Last Call will add events and entertainment at Trace in the coming months, as well as a kitchen to serve lunch, dinner and late-night eats.
—Rosemont's Hofbrauhaus Chicago, has a new lunch special. Through Dec. 31, guests can enjoy $10 off any lunch that is $30 or more Monday through Friday at 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Guests can enjoy authentic German dishes, such as baked pretzels and Munich pork roast, as well as a variety of desserts including Black Forest cake and apple strudel. Visit HofbrauhausChicago.com .
—Furious Spoon has gone vegan. The classic Vegetable Ramen Bowl features Furious Spoon's famous homemade noodles and delicious toppings including red and Napa cabbage, bean sprouts, kikurage mushrooms, roasted garlic, scallions, sesame seeds and vegan broth. See FuriousRamen.com .
—At Juniper Spirits & Oysters— the new seafood-centric restaurant at Claridge House Chicago, 1244 N. Dearborn St.—dogs are just as important as human guests. In August and September, Juniper is offering Poochie Portraits—a chance to snap a complimentary professional photo with your dog, for Instagram or the living-room wall. Guests who attend the event at Juniper's dog-friendly Dearborn Street patio on Aug. 9 and Sept. 6, 5-8 p.m., can enjoy Chef Felipe Patron's fare and mixologist Nic Nye's botanical cocktails. A percentage of proceeds from the Poochie Portraits events benefit PAWS Chicago.
—Athenaeum Book Bar will hold its "Art is Life" themed pop-up at Saturday, Aug. 11, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., at The Living Room ( TLR ), 2423 W. North Ave. The pop-up will feature a selection of more than 300 coffee table-sized books on notable artists—including Picasso, Monet and Banksy—all for under $10 each. See www.eventbrite.com/e/art-is-life-athenaeum-librarium-pop-up-shop-tickets-48391803186.
—The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, 521 N. Rush St., is offering artisan popsicles, created in partnership with ItsaPop. The Gwen's guests can beat the heat with three flavors of popsicles from Chicago-based popsicle artisan Itsapop. Founded by Chef Sarah Russo, Itsapop is a female-owned company committed to organic and locally sourced products that are free of allergens. Available flavors include Straight Strawberry, Mexican Hot Cocoa and the hotel's custom creation—The Gwen, which includes mango, coconut milk, lemon and turmeric. The treats go for $6 a pop and can be enjoyed on their own or dipped into a glass of prosecco.
—In celebration of Peruvian Independence Day ( July 28 ) and its five-year anniversary, Tanta, 118 W. Grand Ave., debuts three new specials running through Aug. 12. Specials include tiradito bachiche ( thinly sliced fresh fluke, 22-month aged parmesan sauce, crispy garlic, crisp faux fish skin and basil oil ), anticucho carretilla ( sweetbreads, veal heart, aji panca, marble potato, aji amarillo and huacatay sauce ) and paiche charapa ( the fish paiche, green plantain tacacho, double smoked bacon and mishkina steamed in a banana leaf—and garnished with cilantro and grilled pineapple chalaca sauce ).
—Chef Abe Conlon, the 2018 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef: Great Lakes, joins business partner Adrienne Lo to bring their Chicago eatery, Fat Rice, to Manhattan for a two-month residency at Chefs Club New York on Aug. 13-Oct. 13. Like Fat Rice Chicago, Fat Rice by Abe Conlon at Chefs Club New York will present many experiences under one roof, including an elevated dinner menu that will offer sneak peek of the next evolution of the restaurant's food program.
—Equality Illinois will host its annual MOMosa brunch Saturday, Aug. 18, 12-3 p.m., at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted St. Tickets are $40 in advance, and $45 each at the door; all proceeds support Equality Illinois. See www.equalityillinois.us/events/momosa-brunch-2/ .
—In honor of its third consecutive year in Humboldt Park ( at 3021 W. Division St. ), Sangria Festival is expanding from one to two days, Aug. 18-19, noon-10 p.m. The fest is an homage to Latino culture, with authentic foods, arts, and performances all weekend in benefit of local charities. The food and drink at this year's Sangria Fest will present a variety of global options, including Mija Sangria Red & White, Juicy Luzy Sangria with Ruby Red, Pear, Pomegranate & Mango, Tapas Valencia ( paella ), Jeannie's Flan, Taco In A Bag ( nachos ), Boulevard Lounge ( Impossible Burger ), BLVD Pizza Bar, Flash Tacos, Sweet Lady Flan and more. Tickets are $25-$60 each; see SangriaFestivalChicago.com .
—On National Waffle Day ( Aug. 24 ), Oak Lawn's Fry the Coop will be offering $5 chicken & waffles. Fry the Coop's Chicken & Waffles ( normally $14 ) is served with fried chicken, smoked bacon, spiced butter and hot maple syrup. See FryTheCoop.com .
—The Tie Bar and the Green Tie Ball ( Sept 14 ) are teaming to celebrate National Bow Tie Day on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 6-8:30 p.m., for a good cause. During the public event at The Tie Bar flagship store at 918 W. Armitage Ave., guests will sample bites from Broken English, Sunda, Underground and wine from E & J Gallo Winery. While snacking, guests can pursue black-tie accessories and receive styling tips from The Tie Bar staff. RSVP at michael.corrigan@thetiebar.com . ( The ball will take place Friday, Sept. 14, 7 p.m.-12 a.m., at The Geraghty, 2520 S. Hoyne Ave.
—Broken Barrel Bar is slated to open this fall at 2548 N. Southport Ave. Executive Chef Bryant Anderson ( who has won awards at Chicago's Best Wing Fest, Bacon Fest, Mac & Cheese Fest and WACO Wing Fest ) will offer items such as the Flying Swine Sandwich, with pork belly, crispy chicken skin, house pickles and truffle-Dijon sauce; and roasted Brussels Sprout nachos, with crispy Brussels sprouts, fresno peppers, pickled red onions, radish, smoked cheddar sauce, cilantro and queso fresco.
—Shore Club, 1603 N. Lake Shore Dr., has announced a series of events running through October. Events include Rose Fest on the Beach ( Saturday, Sept. 15, 2-5 p.m. ), Whiskeyfest on the Beach ( Saturday, Sept. 22, 2-5 p.m. ) and Oktoberfest on the Beach ( Saturday, Oc. 6, 12-4 p.m. ) For more information, visit www.ShoreClubChi.com .
—The James Beard Foundation ( JBF ) announced the cities and dates for its sixth annual Taste America national culinary tour: Sept. 28-Nov. 17. Chicago will share the dates of Oct. 26-27 with San Francisco. Chicago events include the Taste Chicago Benefit Dinner on Oct. 26 at Prime & Provisions/Builders BLDG, and free demos on Oct. 27 at Michigan Avenue's Sur La Table with Karen Akunowicz and Big Jones chef Paul Fehribach. See https://www.jamesbeard.org/tasteamerica.
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Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
