—The Oct. 27 installment of "The Dinner Party" will feature Chef Paul Virant of Vie & Perennial Virant cooking for Joffrey Ballet Artistic Director Ashley Wheater, film director Joe Swanberg, singer/Chicago Force quarterback Sami Grisafe and host Elysabeth Alfano—and the public at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., at 6:30 p.m. Visit www.citywinery.com/chicago/fear-no-art-presents-the-dinner-party-10-27-14.html .
—Cicchetti—the lauded Italian restaurant in the Northwestern Memorial Hospital building in Streeterville—closed Oct. 18 after fewer than 10 months in business, according to Eater Chicago. Cicchetti opened last December with Mike Sheerin ( Trenchermen, Blackbird ) as executive chef, and Sarah Jordan ( Boka, GT Fish & Oyster ) and Phil Rubino ( Spiaggia, Moderno ) as co-sous chefs. Sopraffina, owner Dan Rosenthal's casual concept next door, closed Oct. 17.
—Slated for a late November opening in Boystown, Dive Bar ( 3445 N. Halsted St. ) will revolve around a nautical theme, Eater Chicago noted. The food will feature surf-and-turf dishes in small and large plates, including Buffalo blue-cheese fried oysters as well as parmesan and baby shrimp-crusted yellowtail snapper.
—Chef Ryan McCaskey of Acadia, 1639 S. Wabash Ave., has launched Ramen Sundays. For $14, diners can enjoy a bowl of his Tonkotsu Ramen featuring pork belly, 24-hour pork shoulder, pickled quail egg, house sambal, enoki mushroom and spicy lobster oil.
—Tre Soldi, 212 E. Ohio St., will sell its pizzas ( normally $15-$17 ) for $10 during Chicago Bears games. Varieties include Matriciana ( tomato, mozzarella, pecorino, pancetta and onion ) and N'Duja ( spicy sausage, tomato, mozzarella and egg ), among many others. Customers are advised to call 312-664-0212 and ask for the "$10 Game Day Special."
—Kanela Breakfast Club has opened a new restaurant in Wicker Park, at 1408 N. Milwaukee Ave. This is the third Kanela to open in Chicago with previous locations in Lake View and Old Town, and is owned by restaurateur Chris Lardakis and former Illinois state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. The Wicker Park restaurant will eventually serve as the bread baking headquarters providing scratch made English muffins, croissants, monkey bread, cinnamon rolls and more to all the locations.
—Restaurant entrepreneur John Grbac has set his sights on Chicago's Buena Park neighborhood, opening Buena Beach Bar & Grill at Imperial Towers, 4250 N. Marine Dr., across from Montrose Beach at Lake Michigan. The restaurant, housed on the main floor of a high-rise condominium building, is described as "an eclectic American gastropub serving made-from-scratch comfort food at extremely reasonable prices." See www.facebook.com/BuenaBeachBarAndGrill.
—The culinary team at Piccolo Sogno Due, 340 N. Clark St., has announced its fall menu. Some of the items include antipasti such as calamari and arancini ( Sicilian saffron rice cakes ); salads such as seppia ( cuttlefish, lemon, fennel, arugula and squid ink ); and ravioli with local squash and walnut-filled pasta. Visit www.piccolosognodue.com .
—On Thursday, Nov. 6, Michael Kornick and Executive Chef Erick Williams of mk, 868 N. Franklin St., welcome Ken Wright of Ken Wright Cellars for an exclusive tasting experience at 6 p.m. Some of the dishes are Raspberry Point oysters and littleneck clams; Pan-seared Maine diver scallops; and charcoal-grilled ranch-raised venison. The event is $125 per person, including tax and gratuity; call 312-482-9179.
—Pinstripes—which is in Northbrook, Oak Brook and South Barrington ( as well as Edina, Minnesota )—is inviting people to take part in its "4th Annual Turkey Bowl" throughout November. Those who score a "turkey," or three strikes in a row, will receive a complimentary turkey platter. On Thanksgiving Day, Pinstripes will open its doors 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for bowling and bocce, and at 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for dining. See www.pinstripes.com .
—Charles Joly—now known as the world's best bartender ( winning the Diagio World Class Competition )—is leaving The Aviary at the end of October, Eater Chicago noted. Joly, who came to The Aviary from the Drawing Room in June 2012 and launched his own line of bottled cocktail ( Crafthouse Cocktails ) last year, will pursue "travel, consulting, continuing education and entrepreneurship," a release states.
—Geja's Cafe, 340 W. Armitage Ave., will host its 41st Annual Professional/Amateur Wine Tasting Contest on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 1 p.m. To enter, contestants pay an entrance fee of $20 and must be at least 21 years of age. To RSVP, call 773-281-9101.
—El Mariachi Tequila Bar, 3906 N. Broadway, is hosting Chicago Costume's 7th annual Halloween fashion show on Wed., Oct. 22, 7-10 p.m. It will be held on the patio with Halloween-inspired Don Julio cocktails to offer to guests. The event will be free upon entrance ,and there will be a cash bar throughout the night with $5 margaritas. See elmariachitequilabar.com .
—Sable Kitchen & Bar, 505 N. State St., will host award-winning whisky legend Dave Broom for a "Whisky Tasting, Brunch & Book Signing" on Sunday, Oct. 26, 12-2 p.m. Broom will guide guests through the global flavors of eight whiskey tastings, also available at Sable, including amber spirits such as Nikka Coffey Grain, Green Spot and Amrut Khadambam. Tickets are $120 per person, inclusive of brunch, taxes, gratuity and a copy of Broom's The World of Atlas of Whisky 2nd Edition. Visit www.eventbrite.com/e/dave-brooms-whiskey-tasting-brunch-book-signing-at-sable-chicago-tickets-13365020135.
—Lush Wine & Spirits ( 2232 W. Roscoe Ave. and 1412 W. Chicago Ave. ) is encouraging Chicagoans to drink pink in October with "From Our Rack to Yours," in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. One dollar from each bottle of pink wine purchased will benefit Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation.
—Chipotle Mexican Grill will again host its Halloween fundraiser, Boorito. On Friday, Oct. 31, Chipotle will offer $3 burritos, bowls, salads, tacos or kids meals to customers dressed in costume. Proceeds from the fund-raiser will benefit the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation.
—Pastoral is hosting a variety of activities in honor of National Cheese Month ( October ). Among other things, it will highlight four cheeses: Capriole Cheese's "O'Banon, "Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese's "Bay Blue," Alemar Cheese's "Good Thunder" and LaClare Farms' "Chandoka." Also, Bar Pastoral, 2947 N. Broadway, will host a special brunch/book-signing with Legendary "Breakfast Queen" Ina Pinkney in celebration of her new book Taste Memories on Oct. 26. See www.PastoralArtisan.com .
—This holiday season, The Boundary, 1932 W. Division St., will serve Turkey Day-themed cuisine Nov. 24-30. Special menu items include turkey-and-mozzarella croquettes and hot turkey sandwich. Visit www.BoundaryChicago.com .
—BBQ restaurant Smoke Daddy, 1804 W. Division St., is offering "Smoked-Turkeys-to-Go" for Thanksgiving. A whole slow-cooked turkey is priced at 11 pounds for $65, or 20 pounds for $85. ( Pulled turkey is $16 per pound. ) Pre-orders are being taken now; call 773-772-6656, or visit www.TheSmokeDaddy.com .
—Howells & Hood, 435 N. Michigan Ave., will offer Thanksgiving-related fare Nov. 24-30. Among the items are turkey wings, hot brown smoked pastrami turkey, H&H turkey loaf and pumpkin-pie flan. See www.HowellsAndHood.com .
—Sixteen ( at Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago, 401 N. Wabash Ave. ) has unveiled its newest menu, "The Faces of Sixteen." The 12-course tasting menu—which includes items such as pine-smoked venison, turtle soup and pear sorbet—costs $185 per person; wine pairings may be added for $125 and a reserve pairing may be selected for $185. Visit www.sixteenchicago.com or call 312-588-8030.
—On Friday, Oct. 31, ROOF on theWit, 201 N. State St., will be crawling with witches and dripping with blood-red cocktails in honor of Halloween. "A ROOF Horror Story," inspired by the television series, will feature the "spooky" sounds of DJ Tina T. There's no cover charge. Visit www.roofonthewit.com .
—Mundelein's Karma and Karma Pub, 510 E. Rte. 83, is offering specials this week, including Asian-influenced New York strip ( $26 ) and "The Ultimate BBQ Burger" ( with brisket, pulled pork, bacon, crispy onions, smoked gouda and Calvados Spiked BBQ Sauce ). Visit www.karmachicago.com and www.thekarmapub.com .
—Bistronomic, 840 N. Wabash Ave., will feature a Beaujolais Nouveau menu on Thursday, Nov. 20, 5-9:30 p.m. The $39 menu will include three courses of items such as Belgium endive salad, steak frites, Moulard duck breast and banana brioche bread pudding. ( Also, there is a Metra shuttle to and from Karma. ) Call 312-944-8400 or visit www.bistronomic.net .
—Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group announced the grand reopening of the all-new Wollensky's Grill at 318 N. State St. Corporate Executive Chef Matt King's menu is engineered toward sharing and sampling, with dishes such as classic Smith & Wollensky USDA Prime dry-aged and charbroiled steaks; lobster corn dogs; and duck-and-chicken liver mousse with tarragon and sea-salt fried dough. Visit www.smithandwollensky.com .
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