—ZED451, 739 N. Clark St., is hosting "Confections with Kate" Aug. 10 (and the second Saturday of each month) with pastry chef Kate Milashus. Milashus will prepare cake doughnut holes, apple fritters, funnel cake and more. A $20 fee includes a take-home dessert and a cocktail demo; call 312-266-6691
—READY Coffee, a new independent coffee shop, has opened at 1562 N. Milwaukee Ave. All of the READY Coffee blends are roasted locally by legendary Chicago coffee roaster Greg Stivers. Prices of items are $1-$3, and the prices start with READY's one-dollar "Buck Cup," a 12-ounce cup of premium drip coffee made from the 100-percent Arabica house blend. See readycoffee.com .
—Kanela Breakfast Club, located in both Old Town and Lakeview, will offer several summer inspired specials in August as nods to national food holidays. For example, Kanela will celebrate National Sandwich Month with a summer turkey sandwich for $9 each. Also, in celebration of National Lemonade Day, guests will receive complimentary lemonade with the purchase of Loukoumades (Greek doughnut with lemon honey, syrup and toasted walnuts; $3.50). See www.KanelaCafe.com .
—Tickets to the fourth annual Hamburger Hop and the newly added Late Night Gourmet—the official kickoff events to Bon Appetit presents Chicago Gourmet—will be available for purchase online at www.chicagogourmet.org beginning Thursday, Aug. 8, at 10 a.m. Late Night Gourmet is a Friday night after-party held at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel. The events will take place Sept. 27.
—The restaurant mk, 868 N. Franklin St., has reopened—with a new look and dishes. The renovated interior includes a custom-designed bar, built from glass and wood by NuHaus, and new custom banquets and bar tables in the lounge. Executive Chef Erick Williams' and Chef Michael Kornick's new "bar bites" menu has items such as crab toast ($12), Wagyu beef sliders ($13) and a BLT ($11; boar bacon, arugula, Nichols Farm heirloom tomatoes and aged balsamic croutons). Visit www.mkchicago.com .
—Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., will host its first-ever Chicago Hot Dog Fest Sunday, Aug. 11, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The free event will feature more than eight different takes on the U.S. hot dog as well as live music, games and a cash bar. The first 100 guests receive eight free tickets, good for one free picnic meal. See ChicagoHistory.org .
—The Andersonville Development Corporation will present the inaugural Andersonville City Made Fest—the first-ever all-local street festival that highlights Chicago-made beer, music and products in that neighborhood—Sept. 21-22, 12-9 p.m., at 5000-5100 N. Clark St. There is a $5 suggested gate donation. See www.andersonville.org .
—LM Gastro Bistro, 111 W. Huron St., now has brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The menu features two special sections: 1) a cheval, a selection of fork-and-knife, breadless sandwiches, and 2) les tartines, open-faced sandwiches. In addition, there will be pancakes, crepes, omelets and more. See www.lmrestaurant.com .
—Taste of Greektown (formerly Taste of Greece) returns for its 24th year on Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 24-25, to the 400 block of South Halsted Street. Hours are 12-11 p.m. both days. Admission is free but accepted donations will benefit the Chicago Greektown Chamber of Commerce. Among the participating restaurants are The Parthenon, Greek Islands and Zeus Gyros.
—The 6th Annual Rib-a-Que Smoke-Out will take place Saturday, Sept. 21, in the Moonshine parking lot, 1824 W. Division St. Among other things, pro BBQ chefs will compete with amateurs for the rights to the coveted Gilded Grill trophy and cash prizes. (Applications for this year's Rib-a-Que are still being accepted at moonshinechicago@gmail.com .) Tickets are $25 in advance through Ticketweb.com or at Moonshine, or $35 at the door.
—Pippin's Tavern, 806 N. Rush St., will celebrate 40 years of serving alcohol in the business at that location on Aug. 8, during which Pippin's will offer customers 40 percent off all draft beer all day. However, a week before (Aug. 1), there will be Maker's Mark wax-dipping event 8-10 p.m.; Pippin's will offer $6 Maker's Mark shots in keepsake Pippin's branded shot glasses that may be dipped in the signature Maker's Mark red wax on site.
—Clark Street Dog and Bar, 3040 N. Clark St., is hosting a contest to win a custom-made 312 bicycle from Goose Island. To enter, contestants must visit the restaurant and bar's Facebook page and share their favorite Clark Street Dog memory, food item or why they stopped in by posting either a photo or story. Submissions are due Aug. 31; the winner will be announced Sept. 3.
—Phil Stefani's 437 Rush is holding a cooking class (which Executive Chef Christian Fantoni will teach) at Treasure Island, 2121 N. Clybourn Ave., on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 7-9 p.m. Items will include chilled cantaloupe melon & prosecco soup; halibut with bacon and organic corn; and wildberry compote. The cost is $18 per person; reserve at http://tifoods.com/cooking_school/classes/?class=88.
—Step Up Women's Network will once again gather local chefs and notables Thursday, Aug. 15, as it hosts "Shine & Dine" at the River East Art Center, 425 E. Illinois St. Chefs will include Ryan Poli (Little Market Brasserie/Tavernita), Kate Milashus (ZED 451) and Ryan Pitts (RL), among many others. Tickets start at $115 and are available by visiting suwn.org/snd or calling 312-253-4040.
—"Porn and Chicken" will celebrate its three-year anniversary at Evil Olive, 1551 W. Divison St., on Monday, Aug. 19, at 10 p.m. (The event is on Mondays there at that time.) The event, known as "The Shocker," will feature a pink carpet and a nine-DJ line-up. Advance tickets are at www.flavorus.com/wafform.aspx?_act=eventtickets&_pky=184777.
—The wine lounge ENO (in the Fairmont Chicago, 200 N. Columbus Dr.) has launched a series of "ENOversity" education classes. Remaining classes are on Aug. 20 (Viva La France), Sept. 17 (California Dream), Oct. 15 (Because It's Ladies' Night), Nov. 12 (I Have a Bubbly Personality) and Dec. 17 (Santa's Little Helper). All classes are at 6 p.m. and are $30 each; call 312-946-8953 or email Daniel.freedman@fairmont.com .
—La Grange restaurant Wild Monk, 88 S. La Grange Rd., has unveiled a new menu. Chef Francisco Vazquez said of his craft food-inspired menu, "We are trying to offer a different idea of gastropub to the town of La Grange by offering new eclectic dishes that are not found in many other locations." Those items include chickpea fries, monk balls (gnocchi stuffed with cheese curds paired with sundried tomato) and eggplant bacon. Other dishes range from flatbreads to salads to tacos to burgers. See www.WildMonkBar.com .
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