—Elmwood Park's Burger Boss, 7512 W. North Ave., is honoring the Fourth of July with an all-new Firecracker Burger (which includes crispy fried onions and a pop of jalapeno ketchup) and the Apple Pie Shake to go along with sandwiches such as the Bleu Boss (with melted Bleu cheese) and the 8am Burger (with fried egg and bacon). See www.TheBurgerBoss.com .
—Select Rosebud Restaurants are celebrating the Chicago Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup. Until Sunday, June 30, Carmine's, Centro Ristorante, Rosebud Prime and Rosebud Steakhouse will offer a prime, 36-ounce, 21-day-aged, broiled Tomahawk steak ($60). There's also a Blackhawks Berry Mojito that features Mount Gay Rum, Crème de Mure, blackberries, raspberries and fresh mint, and topped with Prosecco ($10). See www.rosebudrestaurants.com .
—Vital Bridges Center on Chronic Care will hold its "Vital Nights" event Thursday, June 27, at Bridge Bar, 315 N. LaSalle St., 6-9 p.m. Attendees will sip specialty cocktails courtesy of SVEDKA Vodka and sample eats compliments of Bridge Bar. Tickets are available online and at the door for $25; see http://action.heartlandalliance.org/site/Calendar?id=104081&view=Detail.
—At Phil Stefani's 437 Rush, 437 N. Rush St., guests can the new "Twelve for $12" lunch specials Executive Chef Christian Fantoni has created. Menu items are $9.95 each and available for lunch Monday through Friday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Highlights include rigatoni pasta tossed in a summer vegetable ragu; wild arugula salad; toasted panino; crispy chicken wrap; and more.
—This July, Clark Street Dog and Bar, 3040 N. Clark St., will celebrate National Hot Dog Month. The restaurant has been serving hot dogs, hamburgers, gyros, Italian beef and sausage, chicken sandwiches, salads and other items for more than 36 years. See https://www.facebook.com/ClarkStreetDog.
—In addition, July is National Ice Cream Month. Carol Wallack—chef and owner of Sola, 3868 N. Lincoln Ave.—hand-crafts flavors such as Vanilla Wasabi, Cherry Goat Cheese, Mint Chocolate Chip, Pineapple Lemongrass, Peanut Butter-Black Sesame and others. See www.sola-restaurant.com .
—Eduardo's Enoteca, 1212 N. Dearborn St., will present a 5 Rabbit Cerveceria Beer Brunch menu Sunday, June 30, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Highlights will include a beer and beer-caramelized bacon flight with tastings of items such as 5 Rabbit Golden Ale. Call 312-337-4490 or visit www.eduardosenoteca.com .
—Howard Brown Health Center's "Garden of Eve" kickoff event will take place Thursday, July 11, 6-8 p.m., at L'etage Wine and Cocktail Bar, 5420 N. Clark St. The event is free, and hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be provided. To RSVP, contact Lizzie Bright at 773-388-8992 or LizzieB@howardbrown.org .
—bellyQ, 1400 W. Randolph St., will offer its first live cooking demonstration Saturday, July 6, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Chef Bill Kim will prepare dishes such as spiced shrimp with tomato salsa and avocado, and Lola's roast chicken with sambai chimichurri. Admission is $50; see www.brownpapertickets.com/event/402834.
—Tavernita, 151 W. Erie St., and guest hosts Kevin Aeh, Jeff Conway, Joe Cutaia, and Benjamin Newby will throw a Pride Month party supporting GLAAD on Sunday, June 23. Themed "I Want Candy," the brunch (11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.) will feature a complimentary Gummy Bear Bar in addition to options such as Belgian waffles with fried egg, candied bacon and maple syrup. See http://tavernita.com/menus/tavernita_brunch.pdf.
—Evanston restaurant Koi, 624 Davis St., is unveiling Table 23, a way for guests to donate to Koi's monthly charity. (Koi's charity in June will be Senior Connections.) Table 23 is Koi's most sought after table, located in the main dining room with a window view of Davis Street and downtown Evanston. To be seated at the table, guests must make special reservations by calling 847-866-6969.
—Vital Bridges Center on Chronic Care, a program of Heartland Health Outreach, Inc., has announced the Chefs and the City Summer Tasting & Croquet Garden Part Sunday, July 28, at Galleria Marchetti, 825 W. Erie St., 12:30-5 p.m. Attendees will sip on cocktails courtesy of Grey Goose Vodka and sample items from more than 15 of Chicago's most elite and experienced chefs including Bill Kim of BellyQ, Shin Thompson of Kabocha, and Brian Huston of The Publican. Tickets are $150 each ($600 for a croquet team of four to six people); visit www.heartlandalliance.org/vital or call 773-271-9161.
—The 5th annual Windy City Ribfest will take place Friday-Sunday, July 5-7, at Lawrence and Broadway. In addition to slabs, libations and music (from such acts as Liquid Soul and Velvet Jimis), there will also be arts & crafts and, on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, a kids' activity area. In addition, visitors will be able to vote for their favorite ribs. See www.ChicagoEvents.com .
—The fourth Roscoe Village Burger Fest will take place Saturday-Sunday, July 13-14, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., on Belmont Avenue at Damen Avenue. There will be 14 burger vendors, including Banh Mi & Company, Stanley's Kitchen & Tap, Hamburger Mary's, Rockit Burger Bar, Twenty Five Degrees and Goose Island Brewpubs. Sister Hazel and Cowboy Mouth will be among the bands at the festival. The gate donation is $7; see www.ChicagoEvents.com .
—Pastry Chicago is holding a free ice-cream social with Nielsen-Massey Vanillas Friday, July 26, 6-8 p.m., at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, 301 E. North Water St. There will be tastings as well as a demonstration by Chef Joshua Johnson of The French Pastry School. RSVP at info@pastrychicago.org or 312-726-2419, ext. 208.
—Japonais, 600 W. Chicago Ave., has introduced Ping-Pong tables outside for guests to enjoy, particularly during happy hour (5-8 p.m.). There is also a riverfront patio complete with cabanas, floor lamps and pillows. In addition, there are summer cocktails such as The Lychee at Night (Reyka Vodka, Soho Lychee Liqueur, Lychee puree, a splash of lime juice, simple syrup and blackberries). See www.japonaischicago.com .
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