—Several restaurants will take part Thursday, Jan. 29, 6-10 p.m., in a fundraising project for the Chicago Red Dress Party. ( The party will take place April 18. ) Ten spots will be involved, including both mEAT restaurants, DS Tequila, Dive Bar, Hamburger Mary's, Bountiful Eatery, Nookies in Edgewater, Jack's on Halsted and two Giordano's sites ( 815 W. Van Buren St. and 1040 W. Belmont Ave. ). See www.ChicagoRedDressParty.org .
—The owners of American Junkie have sold the River North sports bar and nightclub. The business has been purchased by the Four Corners Tavern Group. After opening American Junkie Chicago on St. Patrick's Day in 2013, the Arizona-based brand saw much success in the two-story space that features a retractable roof. The last day for business was Jan. 15, 2015.
—Kanela Breakfast Club in Old Town, Lakeview and Wicker Park—which recently received its liquor license—has debuted a menu of classic and seasonal cocktails. Guests can sip on specialty drinks ranging from $7 to $8 each, including the Apricot Elderflower Bubbly, Almond Joy Latte, Vodka Caramel Apple Cider and more.
—The Chicago Academy for the Arts will host A Taste for the Arts Gala at the Harris Theater and Millennium Park Terrace Tuesday, May 12, at 6 p.m. This evening, hosted by Donna LaPietra and Bill Kurtis, will feature a performance by the emerging artists of the academy alongside the cuisine chefs such as Curtis Duffy ( Grace ), Matthew Kerney ( Longman & Eagle ) and Tony Priolo ( Piccolo Sogno/Piccolo Sogno Due ). Individual gala tickets start at $350, with reserved tables starting at $5,000; visit atasteforthearts.org to reserve event tickets or visit harristheaterchicago.org for performance-only tickets.
—Ice-cream maker Ben & Jerry's has debuted its Cookie Core line, the New York Daily News noted. It evolved from the Core line that came out last year, with two flavors on each side of a fudge or jam center. The flavors are Boom Chocolatta! Cookie Core, Peanut Buttah Cookie Core and Spectacular Speculoos Cookie Core ( with dark caramel and vanilla ice creams divided by a Speculoos ( gingerbread ) cookie butter core ).
—Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Ald. Will Burns, Alderman Pat Dowell and Bob Mariano, chairman and CEO of Roundy's, Inc., broke ground on the newest Mariano's grocery store, at the intersection of 39th Street and King Drive in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood. The first Mariano's to break ground on the South Side, it will reportedly create more than 200 construction-related jobs and 400 permanent jobs, and increase the availability of fresh and healthy foods for residents when it opens in 2016.
—The Gino's Brewing Company is now open at Gino's East River North, 500 N. LaSalle St. Gino's East River North is now pouring small batch, house-brewed beers expertly crafted by Brewmaster Kevin McMahon, including a unique Black Rye IPA, English IPA, Belgian Witte, and traditional German Helles. The beers are $6-$7 for a pint, $4-$5 for a 10-ounce pour; and a flight with samples of all four is $7.
—Cupcakes & Wine Night is returning to D.O.C. Wine Bar Lincoln Park, 2602 N. Clark St., on Wed., Jan. 21, at 6 p.m. For example, one pairing involves red-velvet cupcakes with chianti ( 2012 Sticciano, Tuscany, Italy ). The cost of Cupcakes & Wine Night is $25 per person, and advance reservations are required; call 773-883-5101.
—On Thursday, Jan. 29, at 6 p.m., Howells & Hood, 435 N. Michigan Ave., partners with Sierra Nevada to present guests with an exclusive vertical tasting of Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine. Among the dishes will be turban squash, venison sausage, and butterscotch-and-dark chocolate bread pudding, among other things. The cost is $60, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 312-262-5310.
—Sable Kitchen & Bar, 505 N. State St., has announced the promotion of John Stanton to head bartender. Mike Ryan has stepped down from his post to accept a position as the national manager for bar education for Sable's parent company, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants.
—Michael Jordan's Steak House, 505 N. Michigan Ave., has a new executive chef. Craig Couper will oversee the kitchen, develo p.m.ent of new dishes and overall operations. He held positions at the University Club of Rockford; The Haymaker in Poughkeepsie, New York; and Capital Grille in Chicago and Lombard before joining the team at Michael Jordan's Steak House in 2011 as executive sous chef.
—Tanta, 118 W. Grand Ave., has announced the launch of a "Cultural Crossover" chef collaboration dinner series, beginning Thursday, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. The first installation of the quarterly series teams Chef de Cuisine Jesus Delgado with Chef Bill Kim of Belly Q, Urban Belly and Belly Shack to feature a Peruvian/Asian-inspired menu with items such as anticucho BBQ and cardamom-scented ground lamb fried rice. Tickets are $99 per person for dinner only, and $150 with paired drinks, exclusive of tax and gratuity; call Lucy Kendall at 312-222-9604 or email events@tantachicago.com .
—Chicago Restaurant Week will take place Jan. 30-Feb. 12. The restaurants will offer three-course lunches for $22 and three- or four-course dinners for $33 and $44. Among the 250+ restaurants participating are 312 Chicago, Big Jones, Browntrout, May St., Cafe, Oceanique, Piccolo Sogno, GT Fish & Oyster and Vermilion. Make online reservations at www.choosechicago.com/things-to-do/dining/chicago-restaurant-week/ .
—BIG Bar, 151 E. Wacker Dr., is entertaining New England Patriots fans and the 12th Men from Seattle ( Seattle Seahawks ) with a Super Bowl Finger Foods and Football Brews menu. Munch on The Seahawk Salmon Dip ( $13 ) or dig into The New England Mini-Lobstah' Rolls ( $15 ) for the big game Feb. 1. BIG Bar is open on Super Bowl Sunday 5 p.m.-1 a.m.
—AAA ( American Automobile Association ) announced this year's five-diamond and four-diamond restaurant and hotel winners—and Chicago six five-diamond restaurants, all repeat winners, The Chicago Tribune reported. ( Only New York City, with seven winners, has more. ) Everest, Tru, Alinea, Acadia, Grace and Sixteen were all five-diamond establishments. Four-diamond winners were Arun's, Blackbird, Boka, Cafe des Architectes, Les Nomades, mk, Moto, Naha, Next, Pelago, Sepia, Shanghai Terrace, Spiaggia, Topolobampo and Travelle.
—Francesca's Restaurant Group has announced the "Take Me to Tuscany" getaway, a five-day trip to the Italian countryside featuring wine-estate stays and vineyard visits to the restaurant group's Italian partners for Francesca's Restaurants and Davanti Enoteca. Guests can enter now until Saturday, Feb. 28, at the close of business at any Francesca's Restaurant Group concept ( Francesca's Restaurants, Davanti Enoteca, and Glazed and Infused ). For more information on all locations and concepts, visit www.miafrancesca.com .
—Filini Bar & Restaurant, 221 N. Columbus Dr., offers a creative, untraditional way to spend Valentine's Day with a special "Seven Deadly Sins" menu. Guests are invited to discover their sultry side while savoring the flavors of lust, envy, wrath, gluttony, greed, pride, and sloth. Among the available items will be oysters, tuna and yellowfin crudo ( lust ); grilled shark with chili oil and blood orange ( wrath ); and macaroons with chocolate covered raspberries, passion fruit sorbet, and frozen beet foam ( sloth ). The seven-course menu is $95 per person or $125 with cocktail pairings. Reservations are required; call 312-477-0234 or visit www.filinichicago.com .
—Frontier, 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., celebrates Fat Tuesday with a Louisiana shrimp boil on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 6 p.m. For $33 per person ( excluding tax and tip ), guests will enjoy an all-you-can-eat shrimp boil complete with potatoes and corn. Purchase tickets at www.thefrontierchicago.com/events-tickets.
—The 16th Chicago's Best WingFest will take place Feb. 22 at Bailey Auditorium, 1340 W. Washington St., 1-5 p.m. WingFest has tailgating, wings from 25 area restaurants, competitive wing-eating, six categories of competition and more. Funds raised will benefit Chicago Neighbors United. General admission tickets for this 21-and-over event are $40; see www.WingFest.net .
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