Green Curtain Events has announced the 4th Annual Tacos y Tamales Festival on July 19-21 at 16th and Peoria streets. The Tacos y Tamales Festival aims to give back to the community in which it is hosted, as a portion of the proceeds will benefit the local Frida Kahlo Community Group and Opportunities for All. Food vendors will include Yvolina's Tamales, Taqueria Los Comales, Spicy Mexican Grill, Juanitas Mexican Food, Taqueria La Ciudad, Super Pollo Mexican Food, La Cebollita Grill, Don Pedro Carnitas and more. See chicagotacofest.com .
The Taste of River Northtaking place at Ward Park, 630 N. Kingsbury St.announced the final line-up of participating restaurants and musicians for the 18th annual food and culture festival, July 19-21. Some of the more than a dozen restaurants taking part include Wildfire, Su Casa, Butterclaw Lobster Co., TAO Chicago and Victory Italian. See TasteOfRiverNorth.com .
Surrounding the traditional Running of the Bulls that occurs every July in Pamplona, Spain, Mercat a la Planxa, 638 S. Michigan Ave., will donate $1 of every tasting menu sold through Sept. 12 to the Chicago French Bulldog Rescue. ( Mercat a la Planxa's eight-course tasting menu is available at $55 per person with a two-guest minimum, and features a selection of signature Spanish tapas as well as a paella and dessert. ) In culmination of the the promotion, Mercat a la Planxa will host a "Meat and Greet" dog-friendly event on Sept. 14.
On Sunday, July 21, "Camp" Headquarters Beercade, 213 W. Institute Pl., will present Wet Hot American Cider Fest, at 12-5 p.m. With the purchase of a ticket ( $25 each ), guests will receive event admission, a personal five-ounce glass, as well as six activity/drink tickets. To sample more ciders and/or play summer camp games, additional tickets can be purchased on site in quantities of six, 12 and 24. Each cider and game will be worth one ticket each. See https://www.universe.com/events/wet-hot-american-cider-fest-tickets-chicago-RK0XTW.
To celebrate National Wine & Cheese Day, July 25, Spiaggia and Cafe Spiaggia ( 980 N. Michigan Ave. ) have various cheese-centric dishes. Spiaggia has caviale e burrata ( golden osetra caviar, burrata and chive ), rabarbaro ( cheesecake, strawberry escabeche, mousse and basil ) and the Dolci Board ( crostata, cheese, fruit and crackers ). Cafe Spiaggia will have items such as charcuterie, burrata, cacio d pepe and chicken parmigiana.
Chicagoans can celebrate National Scotch Day on Saturday, July 27 and enjoy a rare whisky flight from Aberlour Single Malt Scotch Whisky available only at Prime & Provisions, 222 N. LaSalle St., now through Wed., July 31. The flight will be available for $22, and expressions will include Aberlour 12 Year Old, 16 Year Old and A'bunadh.
In recognition of Discovery Channel's "Shark Week" this July, aliveOne, 2683 N. Halsted St., will offer drink specials including Dogfish Head American Beauty for $5 each and a "Jaws" cocktail for $8 with CH Key Gin, demerara syrup, fresh lime juice and grapefruit La Croix. Also, Castaways, 1603 N. Lake Shore Dr., will offer a special "The Hammerhead" cocktail ( Captain Morgan coconut rum, pineapple juice and blue curacao ) for $9 each during July 28-Aug. 4.
The First Annual Trotter Project Beer Fest, presented by Helios Construction, will debut at The Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N Knox Ave., from 1:30-5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11. The ticketed feast and imbibe event is the official kick-off for Charlie Trotter Days, which returns Aug. 11-18. Tickets are $35 for the Aug. 11 event; visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/trotter-project-beer-fest-tickets-63883105087.
There is a new Picnic in the Park menu from Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, 200 N. Columbus Dr. Created by chefs from its in-house gastropub, Columbus Tap, the Deluxe Park Totes for Two offers the menu for $67 through Sept. 2. Fairmont's Deluxe Park Tote for Two features a variety of dishes, including charcuterie featuring two meats;, two cheeses; a small baguette and assorted olives; Columbus Tap's rotisserie chicken salad with kale; and a choice of dessert such as a slice of flourless chocolate cake, slice of Chicago style cheesecake or the chef's choice. Diners may also choose between a bottle of Robert Mondavi Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon, and enjoy two bottles of Fairmont spring water. They can be reserved 24 hours in advance; visit fairmontchicago.wufoo.com/forms/2019-picnic-in-the-park/ .
The Florentine, 151 W. Adams St., is bringing in fresh ingredients from the Federal Plaza farmers' market to its bar with its featured frozen Negroni and weekly rotating spritzes. The Italian cucina's beverage director, Fidelma Cunniffe, has curated a summer menu spotlighting the restaurant's frozen take on a classic Negroni. Each week, the menu also feature a spritz using seasonal summer produce, such as peaches, basil, blueberries, blackberries, cherries or cucumber from the local farmers' market.
Send items to Andrew@WindyCityMediaGroup.com, or follow on Twitter @Azygous60610 or on Instagram at azygous333.