—Beginning Sept. 4, Chicago q, 1160 N. Dearborn St., will offer four $4 menu items available through Sept. 7 to mark its golden annivesary ( turning four on Sept. 4 ). The specials are summer corn and squash fritters; pork skewers; braised pork-belly salad; and alligator tacos. On the actual anniversary—Thursday, Sept. 4—10 percent of all proceeds will be donated to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
—Swedish restaurant Ann Sather, a Chicago favorite, has been named one of Thrillist's 21 best breakfast spots in the United States. The article praises Ann Sather's sampler ( consisting of Swedish pancakes, potato sausage, Swedish meatball and an egg ) and its famous cinnamon rolls. There are three main restaurants: at 909 W. Belmont Ave., 3415 N. Broadway and 1147 W. Granville Ave.
—This Labor Day ( Monday, Sept. 1 ), Shaw's Crab House will celebrate the U.S. workforce at both Chicagoland locations. There will be a half-priced oyster deal; in addition, at 4-6 p.m., the Schaumburg location will serve oysters for 50 cents apiece in both the Oyster Bar and on the outdoor patio. Visit www.shawscrabhouse.com .
—French restaurant Bistro Campagne, 4518 N. Lincoln Ave., has several August specials. Among them are De Bruin Farm-raised rabbit pappardelle, Dotson Farm heirloom tomato salad, and Klug Farm peach-and-apricot crumble. In addition, patrons can dine in the outdoor garden, which is in full bloom. Visit www.bistrocampagne.com .
—Shock Top Oyster Fest returns for its 16th year on Saturday, Sept. 6, to the 2000 block of West Roscoe Street ( at Damen Avenue ) in the Roscoe Village neighborhood. Brews will be available courtesy of this year's beer sponsor, Shock Top, and the Village Tap Bar & Grill, 2055 W. Roscoe St. will sell raw oysters. Fest hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; a portion of the $7 gate donation benefits the Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce.
—Now through Sept. 1, each of the Kimpton Restaurants of Chicago—Sable Kitchen & Bar, Atwood Restaurant, 312 Chicago and South Water Kitchen—will be collecting gym-shoe donations. For each pair of shoes collected, guests will be given a voucher for a free dessert at any restaurant for their efforts in helping support Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation. "Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Awareness Day" is Sept. 12.
—Treasure Island Foods has announced the launch of its Cooking for a Cause event. Partnering with Publican Quality Meats, Goose Island and Terlato Wines, all proceeding from the event will be donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The event will be held outdoors at Treasure Island Foods' 2121 N. Clybourn Ave. location on Aug. 26, 6:30-9 p.m. Tickets include wine and beer tastings, giveaways and raffles and a five-star intimate meal cooked by Publican Quality Meats chefs Paul Kahan and Cosmo Goss. Visit www.tifoods.com/cooking_school.
—Phil Stefani's 437 Rush, 437 N. Rush St., is inviting people to visit a link to win two VIP tickets to "A Magnificent Taste" Aug. 22, or to win a $100 gift certificate to the restaurant. Visit stefanirestaurants.com/a-magnificent-taste/ . In addition, VIP passes to "Taste" are available at www.Priceless.com/chicago.
—Health-conscious fast-casual franchise Freshii is hosting a frozen-yogurt throughout August. Valid 3-5 p.m. every day this month, Freshii locations are offering frozen yogurt with one topping for $2.99; a second topping can be added for 50 cents more.
—The Great American Bacon Festival will take place Saturday, Sept. 6, at Union Station's Great Hall, 225 S. Canal St. VIP admission starts at 6:30 p.m., with general admission beginning at 7 p.m., with the event ending at 9:30 p.m. There will be everything from a tasting station to unlimited samples to trivia games. Tickets are $65-$110 each; see thegreatamericanbaconfestival.com .
—Cece & Melinda, with Raymi Productions, have announced the first annual Mac & Cheese Fest to be held Saturday, Oct. 4, at the UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Rd., at 12-3 p.m. Tickets will be available through TicketMaster Sept. 1 for $50, and proceeds will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana. For more information, visit www.macandcheesechicago.com or contact Melinda@raymiproductions.com .
—A Magnificent Taste, Chicago's annual outdoor culinary event, kicks off Aug. 22, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Pioneer Court, 401 N. Michigan Ave., as a part of The Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival presented by MasterCard, which will take place Aug. 22-Sept. 1. A Magnificent Taste will feature Chef Sam Talbot, a Top Chef semifinalist ( season two ). Talbot will prepare a dish for guests alongside 15 Chicago chefs from top restaurants in the city to raise funds for Common Threads. Tickets are $125-$200; visit http://events.commonthreads.org/eventDetails.aspx?eventId=143.
—The producers of Chicago's WingFest now present an end of summer-food competition with HogFight on Sunday, Aug. 31, 3-7 p.m., at Mahoney's Pub & Grille, 551 N. Ogden Ave. HogFight is a whole-hog competition pitting select Chicagoland chefs against one another to declare one the HogMaster and take home $1,000 in cash, and it all benefits Variety-The Children's Charity. Visit www.HogFight.com .
—Hofbrauhaus Chicago—advertised as the first and only German microbrewery, beer hall and restaurant in the Chicago area—will celebrate its second annual Oktoberfest Sept. 12-Oct. 31 in MB Financial Park at Rosemont. Festivities include authentic Bavarian entertainment, freshly brewed "Oktoberfestbier," daily food specials and celebrity keg-tapping ceremonies. Visit hofbrauhauschicago.com .
—Magnolia Bakery—located in Block 37 ( 108 N. State St. )—is now offering the Chicago Bears cupcake. The Bears cupcake ( $5.25 ) is a classic chocolate or vanilla cupcake with vanilla buttercream and topped with the "Da Bears" saying.
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