—Chicago Hispanic newspaper Hoy hosted its inaugural Noche de Agave event Aug. 18 at Morgan's on Fulton. Guests sampled tequila brands such as El Jimador, Tequila Herradura, Balam, Cruz de Fuego, Trianon Tequila and Flor de Deseirto while enjoying hors d'oeuvres from French/Mexican restaurant Mexique.
—On Monday, Sept. 5, Oyster Bah, 1962 N. Halsted St., will offer Labor Day specials. Among said specials are half of a fried chicken, served with Bad Seed hot sauce ( $17 ); and steamed lobster ( $37 ). Specials will come with sweet corn on the cob and cole slaw. See OysterBah.com .
—Two restaurant and bar concepts—Boleo and Vol. 39—have opened in tandem with The Kimpton Gray Hotel. Boleo, a South American rooftop restaurant and bar, and Vol. 39, a refined lobby bar, are backed by Executive Chef Nick Sutton ( Tru ), Chef de Cuisine Alexis Hernandez ( Embassy of Peru ) and Head Bartender Jess Lambert ( Sable Kitchen & Bar ).
—Blackwood BBQ has opened its fourth location on in the Loop's Illinois Center, 233 N. Michigan Ave. The 14-seat space is open Monday-Friday at 7 a.m.-4 p.m. for breakfast and lunch, and serves the BBQ joint's signature smoked meats. The newest location joins three other properties throughout Chicago, at 28 S. Clinton St., 307 W. Lake St. and 962 W. Belmont Ave.
—Ironside Bar & Galley—a neighborhood sports bar in River North complete with Chicago crafted bar food with an emphasis on seafood and scratch-made food and craft beverages—will open to the public at 4 p.m. on Wed., Aug. 31, at 546 N. Wells St. in the former Cyrano's Farm Kitchen space. Ironside owner-operator Jon Mossberger and his business partner in Ironside, Steve Mayer, also own and operate Flagship Tavern & Grill in Lake View.
—Jake Melnick's Corner Tap, 41 E. Superior St., is offering limited-run menu items and Monday Night Football specials. Items include the Oktoberfest Burger ( topped with bacon apple sauerkraut, Swiss Cheese, pickled red onion and spicy brown mustard ), Sweet & Sour Wings and the Daddy Mac Foot Long Dog! New York vs. Chicago ( a foot-long hot dog topped with Jake's housemade mac n' cheese ).
—Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House, 58 E. Oak St., is offering 30 percent off bottles of wine up to $500 on Sept. 2-5 ( Labor Day weekend ). See DelFriscos.com .
—The Beverly Arts Center of Chicago will host the third annual Beverly Brews Fest on Saturday, Sept. 3, at the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St. The 6 p.m. VIP event ( $50 admission ) allows unlimited tastings with special food pairing; the 7 p.m. general-admission event ( $35 ) offers tastings from more than 25 craft breweries. See BeverlyArtsCenter.org .
—Chefs John Shields and Karen Urie Shields have opened West Loop restaurant Smyth. Smyth is their tasting menu concept, a fine-dining compliment to neighborhood restaurant and bar The Loyalist housed downstairs. The eight-course menu is priced at $135, with optional beverage pairings for $85. The restaurant accepts reservations via Tock for the tasting-menu experience Tuesday-Saturday 5-10 p.m.
—On Labor Day weekend, ROOF on the Wit, 201 N. State St., will present the finale of theWit's JetSet Weekend Series. The event will feature traditional Spanish fare such as calamares ( pimenton aioli, grilled onion crema, pine nut and parsley ), Ibiza summer flatbread ( grilled artichokes, clams, olive oil, garlic, chili flake ), Spanish chicken sliders ( sherry vinegar glaze, espelette aioli, piquillo pepper ) and more. For table reservations, call 312-239-9502.
—Parlor Pizza Bar is putting its own twist on National Cheese Pizza Day, Sept. 5. The Cheesus, Mary & Joseph ( $15 ) is topped with leek bechamel, whipped ricotta, white cheddar, parmesan, smoked mozzarella, minced garlic and fresh oregano, and is available at both the West Loop and Wicker Park locations. See ParlorChicago.com .
—Mid-Autumn Festival, also referred to as Moon Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday, will take place Thursday, Sept. 15. In celebration, The Peninsula Chicago's Shanghai Terrace, 108 E. Superior St., will be selling mooncakes, round pastries filled with egg custard, which are made individually by Chef de Cuisine Elmo Han. Orders can be placed starting this week and can be picked up from Shanghai Terrace Aug. 15-Sept. 15. ( They are $40 for a four-piece box and $78 for an eight-piece box, and they're on the menu at Shanghai Terrace for $8 apiece. )
—Chicago Loop Alliance ( CLA ) launches its fifth ACTIVATE event of the year, TASTE, on Thursday, Sept. 15, 5-10 p.m., in Cow Path Alley, 100 W. Monroe St. Attendees will get a TASTE of ACTIVATE as they experience art installations by local artists, a fashion show, DJs and plenty of sweet surprises in the transformed Cow Path Alley. Next, guests will venture from alley to rooftops AIRE Rooftop Bar/Hyatt Centric The Loop and Boleo at The Grey Hotel as the journey continues with more art, food, live shows and specialty bites and sips. Guests who RSVP in advance at LoopChicago.com/activate receive a complimentary drink ticket for beer or wine.
—Drink Local—a one-day showcase of domestic, U.S. distilleries, breweries and wineries with a special focus on Chicago's popular bar and restaurant scene—will take place Saturday, Sept. 17, at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the Chicago Marriott at Medical District/UIC, 625 S. Ashland Ave. ( Food will be available for purchase ) Tickets are $60 ( general ) and $80 ( VIP ); visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/drink-local-chicago-presented-by-social-power-hour-tickets-26494827743.
—The Signature Room, 875 N. Michigan Ave., and Veuve Clicquot join forces to host an exclusive brunch reception on Sunday, Sept. 18. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., guests can enjoy a brunch buffet along with champagne pairings, including Veuve Clicquot Rose, Veuve Clicquot Rose Yellow Label, and The Signature Room at the 95th Sparkling Brut. Tickets are all inclusive and are available for $75 per person. Guests will also take home a signature gift bag. Seats may be reserved by calling 312-280-0465.
—Bon Appétit presents Chicago Gourmet will take place in Millennium Park on Sept. 23-25. This year's celebration welcomes its first-ever host chef, Rick Bayless, who will be joined by celebrity chefs such as Todd English, Stephanie Izard, Jose Garces, Art Smith, Amanda Cohen, Lorena Garcia, Jeff Mauro, Takashi Yagihashi, Tony Mantuano, Jimmy Bannos Jr., Sarah Grueneberg, Edward Lee and Richard Sandoval, among others. The complete line-up is at ChicagoGourmet.org .
—Smack Shack, 326 N. Morgan St., is unveiling new cocktails for fall. They include the Mule Stable, Rose Today, Gin It to Win It ( all $12 each ) and Hurricane ( $15 ). Those who are looking for other ways to enjoy Smack Shack's new cocktails should check out their Moscow Mule Tasting on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 6:30 p.m. Tasting tickets are $30 and include trips to Five Unique Moscow Mule tasting stations ( each with different recipes, liquor vendors and types of ginger beer ), passed apps and a complimentary Smack Shack Mule mug. See https://nightout.com/events/smack-shack-chicagos-moscow-mule-tasting/tickets?a=pr-6#.V8WBryMrL1w.
—The 28th Annual Oyster Fest Presented by Shaw's Crab House returns to Chicago on Friday, Sept. 30, 3-10 p.m., at the corner of Hubbard and Rush streets in River North. Oyster Fest will feature six varieties of oysters—both East Coast and West Coast—on the half shell as well as other festival favorites like king crab bites, lobster rolls, clam chowder, fish tacos and more; there will also be local blues bands including headliner Bumpus. Admission is $20-$50; visit OysterFestChicago.com .
—Identita Golose returns to the United States for the third annual Identita Chicago on Oct. 1-2. Eataly Chicago, 43 E. Ohio St., will host the event, which features some of Italy's most revered chefs along with esteemed U.S. chefs, all from prominent Michelin-starred restaurants. Admission is $75 for the Oct. 1 master classes, and $150 for the Oct. 2 lunch; see IdentitaGolose.com .
—French restaurant Bistronomic, 848 N. Wabash Ave., will offer a celebratory three-course Rosh Hashanah menu from Sunday, Oct. 2, through Tuesday, Oct. 4, beginning at 5 p.m. nightly. Rosh Hashanah menu highlights include Bistronomic's chioggia and golden beet salad, prime beef short ribs and the apple challah bread pudding; vegetarian options are offered for each course. The price for the three-course meal is $39. A two-course meal is available at 5-6 p.m. on Oct. 2-9 for $32. Call 312-944-8400.
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