—Chicagoans can enjoy a Fourth of July beach party at North Avenue beach spot Castaways, 1603 N. Lake Shore Dr. While taking in live entertainment by The DJ Firm, guests can sip on a special "Stars & Stripes" frozen cocktail. The red, white and blue drink features Castaway's signature Miami Vice ( a frozen mix of pina colada and strawberry daiquiri ) topped with blue curacao, and is available for $10 each from Monday, July 1 through Sunday, July 7.
—Joy District, 112 W. Hubbard St., will host a "Uncle Sam's Cookout" rooftop party on the Fourth of July featuring $5 grilled hot dogs with all the fixings ( special is available on the rooftop only ) and a $14 Boozy Firecracker frozen cocktail with red, white and blue pina colada. Other drinks include a Froze ( rose, Hangar One rose vodka, strawberry puree ), Casamigos Margarita ( rotating flavors ) and the Spray Tan ( Red Bull Orange, mango puree, Cruzan strawberry rum ).
—For National Fried Chicken Day ( Saturday, July 6 ), several spots are offering specials. Gemini Chicago is offering $26 meals ( July 6 and dinner service on July 7 ) while Walton Street Kitchen + Bar is offering $28 dinner service ( July 6-7 dinner service ). Also, The Dearborn will have Midwest-inspired fried chicken with a maple mustard glaze, hot sauce and pickles for $17; and Urbanbelly will have Thai fried chicken dressed with crushed garlic peanuts and scallions.
—Purple Pig—described as a "cheese, swine and wine emporium"—has reopened in its new location at 444 N. Michigan Ave. with 120 dining-room seats and a 20-seat semi-private dining room. James Beard Award-winning chef/partner Jimmy Bannos Jr. continues to helm the spot, which offers 1,000 wines curated by Beverage Director Alan Beasey.
—Virgin Hotels Chicago's Miss Ricky's has launched a dog-friendly menu. Executive Chef Moosah Resume has created a three-course menu for dogs for $9. Entree choices include yogi parfait, organic yogurt, seasonal berry bowl and puppy power bowls; the dessert is a puppaccino ( beef broth natural whipped cream topped with puppy peanut-butter treat ); and there's a housemade puppy treat to go.
—LH Rooftop, 85 E. Upper Wacker Dr., is launching a month-long pop-up serving kakigori—a Japanese style of shaved ice—at the rooftop's outdoor cupola. The kakigori is available on weekends in July at 2-6 p.m., and guests can enjoy a variety of artisanal shaved ice flavors, which they may customize with boozy additions. Shaved-ice flavors include Golden Raspberry/Watermelon, Black Sesame and Spiced Condensed Milk ( $10 each ). Guests can indulge in a kakigori cocktail by adding spirits ( an additional $4 ) such as Kahlua, Malibu Cream or Appleton Estate 12-Year Rum.
—Oak Brook spot Perry's Steakhouse & Grille, 5 Oakbrook Center, is celebrating 40 years by giving customers four choices for four courses, all for $44, throughout July. Appetizers, entrees and desserts include fried asparagus, kale sald, pork-chop bites, grilled salmon, Perry's Famous Pork Chop, creme brulee and much more. See PerrysSteakhouse.com .
—In honor of Bastille Day and the historic year of 1789, Bistronomic ( 840 N. Wabash St. ) will offer a $39 three-course dinner menu as well as a $17.89 burger special. From Friday, July 12, through Sunday, July 14, Bistronomic will offer a $39 three-course dinner menu featuring the ahi tuna nicoise salad with avocado wedges, hard boiled eggs, fennel shavings, Nicoise olives, fingerling potatoes and a lemon vinaigrette; the Le French Burger with Angus beef, housemade country pate, swiss cheese and cognac sauce; and steak frites with flat iron steak, roasted garlic purée and hand cut pomme frites.
—Travelle Pastry Chef Danielle Marelli will lead a plating workshop at Travelle at The Langham, 330 N. Wabash Ave., on Saturday, July 20, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Participants will learn the art of plate presentation while enjoying a three-course meal ( skillet cinnamon bun; salad du Marche, chicken and waffles, or avocado toast; and strawberries and mascarpone creme ) prepared in combination by Chef de Cuisine Jeff Vucko and Pastry Chef Danielle. Admission is $65 each; call 312-923-7705.
—The 13th annual Veggie Fest will be in Lisle's Danada South Park on Aug. 10-11. Just a few of the recent additions to the international food court include four styles of vegan omelets, buffalo cauliflower wings ( served with vegan ranch dip ), a Buddha bowl with quinoa and a twist on avocado toast. See VeggieFestChicago.org .
—Jeong, 1460 W. Chicago Ave., has a menu that draws inspiration from traditional Korean ingredients from Chef Dave Park's childhood with his grandparents in Korea. However, one of his desserts borrows something from his childhood that is a little less traditional ( and Japanese ): Hi-Chew. Park crafts a sweet stock using Hi-Chews, and incorporates that into making a pillowy mochi, served with a sorbet made with cloudy Korean rice wine Makgeolli as well as grapefruit segments for some added acidity. The whole dessert is topped with a delicate meringue made using omija or "five-flavor" berries that have five distinct tastes ( sour, bitter, sweet, spicy and salty ).
—Ace Hotel Chicago's City Mouse, 311 N. Morgan St., has a new executive chef: Matt Danko. Danko now oversees all culinary all culinary operations at the hotel, and is working in very close collaboration with chefs Jason Vincent and Ben Lustbader as well as Josh Perlman ( the team from the award-winning restaurant Giant ), who are the partners for City Mouse.
—Dakota 94, 5304 W. Devon Av., is now open daily beginning at 8 a.m. A family-friendly breakfast, lunch and dinner restaurant, Dakota 94 is a neighborhood spot offering American cuisine, with everything made in-house from scratch. Owned by the operating partners of Kanela Breakfast Club, husband-and-wife duo Peter and Kayla Lardakis, the name "Dakota 94" is a nod to the Lardakis' roots and relationship. ( Interstate 94 connects Peter's home in Chicago to Kayla's hometown in North Dakota. )
—Wake 'n Bacon—a boozy cafe with an over-the-top food and drink menu which can be completely customized with CBD add-ons—will debut this summer at, yes, 420 W. Belmont Ave. The spot will be run by husband-and-wife duo and Chicago industry veterans Gabriel Ayala ( Dragonfly, SafeHouse, Blackfinn ) and Sarah Ayala ( Jalapeno, Dragonfly, NY Lounge ).
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