ZED451, 739 N. Clark St., will host a "Meet Our Sommeliers" event on Thursday, July 27, 6-8 p.m. The event will feature a variety of wine samplings paired with artisan cheeses and charcuterie stations. Tickets are $35 per person ( excluding tax ) and are available at ZED451.eventbrite.com .
For International Chicken Wing Day ( July 29 ), Jake Melnick's Corner Tap, 41 E. Superior St., is offering spicy pina colada wings. Jake's jumbo wings ( served with ranch dressing ) are fried until crispy, tossed in their house-made spicy pina colada sauce and garnished with toasted coconut.
Also on that day, SafeHouse Chicago is offering chicken wings for half-price all day if the codeword ( "Birdwatcher" ) is used. See SafeHouseChicago.com .
In recognition of National Chicken Wing Day on Saturday, July 29, MAK: Modern Asian Kitchen, 1924 W. Division St., will host a 29-cent wing "Flappy Hour" from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Guests can get their hands on MAK's signature Chicken Wangs for only 29-cents per wing with the purchase of any wine, sake, beer or soda ( minimum of five wings and maximum of 20 wings per order ). Also, all sake and wine is half-price from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 29.
On July 24-30, Filini, 221 N. Columbus Dr., is offering cocktails in honor of the International Film Festival that's coming to town and honoring Jane Fonda on July 29. The cocktails are There Was a Little Girl and Barbarella. See FiliniChicago.com .
Lowcountry, 3343 N. Clark St., invites Chicagoans to turn up the heat and test their limits by participating in a spicy food challenge featuring its heat level-five, off-the-menu "MJ Sauce"named after Michael Jordan. On Saturday, July 29, 5-11 p.m., participants will be given 30 minutes to devour two pounds of shrimp, corn, and potatoes, all smothered in dangerously spicy MJ sauce. ( Participants must purchase two pounds of shrimp ( $32-36 ) with corn ( $2 ) and potatoes ( $2 ). ) RSVP on Facebook at www.facebook.com/events/1940820746186471/permalink/1940835662851646/ .
Bottleneck Management announced that its Michigan Avenue dining destination, Howells & Hood, 435 N. Michigan Ave., will close its doors in late 2018. The decision came as a result of new ownership and development of the Tribune Tower. "This was not an easy choice," said Bottleneck Management CEO Chris Bisaillon in a statement. "We've loved our home on Michigan Avenue. For five years we've been able to provide incredible service to our guests on the Magnificent Mile with our vast selection of beer, our gorgeous patio, and our historic home in Tribune Tower."
Honey Butter Fried Chicken, 3361 N. Elston Ave., recently launched all new Lunch Box specials, available Tuesdays through Fridays at 11 a.m-4 p.m. Lunch Box #1 includes two pieces of fried chicken or fried-chicken strips with one side, while Lunch Box #2 includes a fried-chicken sandwich with chicken strips and honey butter. See HoneyButter.com .
As a kick off to Lollapalooza, Joy District in River North will host "Journey to Lollaland" on Sunday, July 30, 1-6 p.m. The event will be on the rooftop, and feature jewelry and clothing from Rock & Rags Boutique along with a DIY patch and pin shop, Braid Bar hosted by Swerve Salon, and temporary tattoo bar with merchandise from Inked by Dani Tattoos. Guests can purchase $10 Cutwater cocktails with selections including a Bloody mary, gin and tonic and more. See www.joychicago.com .
Lollapalooza will take place in Chicago Aug. 3-6. In anticipation, South Water Kitchen, 225 N. Wabash Ave., is catering to thirsty festivalgoers by offering $5 draft craft beers to patrons wearing Lollapalooza wristbands, open to close, on Aug. 4-6. The draft selection, regularly $8-$9, includes eight hand-selected craft brews such as Stone Brewing's "Tangerine Express IPA," 3 Floyds' "Alpha King" and more. See SouthWaterKitchen.com .
Chicagoans are invited to join Four Entertainment Group ( 4EG ) as they host a Throwback Thursday Lollapalooza celebration at aliveOne, Easy Bar, Estelle's, Remedy and The Owl on Aug. 3. All locations will feature music from a different year of Lollapalooza including Red Hot Chili Peppers ( 2006 ), Soundgarden ( 2010 ), Cypress Hill ( 1995 ), Smashing Pumpkins ( 1994 ) and more.
honeygrow, a fast-casual restaurant, is making its grand debut in Chicago on Friday, Aug. 4, in Fulton Market at 179 N. Morgan St. The spot features made-to-order stir-fry, salads, a honey bar and cold pressed juices, all made from scratch and fully customizable. ( honeygrow's signature honeybar features fresh fruits, local honey and toppings such as local plain yogurt, dark chocolate chips, coconut shavings and housemade whipped cream. ) See Honeygrow.com .
Uncommon Ground, 3800 N. Clark St., and Parce Rum will present a three-course rum-tasting dinner on Thursday, Aug. 10, at 6:30 p.m. Culinary items will include papas rellenas, carne asada, and roast banana and cocoa-nib bunuelos. The cost is $40/person ( excluding tax and gratuity ); visit BrownPaperTickets.com/event/3047921.
The 16th installment of The Local Tourist's AlphaBeer will take place on Saturday, Aug. 12, 3-6 p.m., at A. J. Hudson's Public House, 3801 N. Ashland Ave. AlphaBeer features 26 beersone for each letter of the alphabetand beer-industry experts will give a full lesson on each beer. Admission is $50 each; see AlphaBeer.com .
Chef Trevor Teich of the Claudia pop-up restaurant welcomes Chef Jake Bickelhauptformerly of two Michelin star 42 Grams restaurantto join him for four exclusive collaborative fine-dining pop-up dinners on Friday, Aug. 11, and Sunday, Aug. 13. Also, tickets are still available for Teich's solo summer ten-course Claudia dinner on Friday, July 28, with seatings at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $225-$325 each; visit ClaudiaRestaurant.com .
On Tuesday, Aug. 15, 6-9 p.m., Spiaggia returns to Chicago's Oak Street Beach to celebrate the Italian holiday of Ferragosto with a casual beach BBQ on Lake Michigan, complete with whole roasted lamb and veggies from Executive Chef Joe Flamm. Guests can also expect communal picnic tables, string lights, gelato, rose, beer and tequila, along with a DJ. All-inclusive tickets are $75/person; visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ferragosto-at-oak-street-beach-tickets-35769498533.
Restaurants across the United States, along with founding corporate partner United Airlines and Woodford Reserve, will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Chef Charlie Trotter's eponymous restaurant during the 4th annual Charlie Trotter Days celebration Aug. 17-20 to raise funds for the Pillars of Excellence Mentor Program. To benefit the Trotter Project, which celebrated its 3rd anniversary in June, United Airlines will donate $1 for every Choice Menu Bistro on Board item sold on all domestic flights during the celebration. For the current list of participating restaurants, visit TheTrotterProject.org .
Green Curtain Events is holding the 2nd annual Tacos y Tamales Festival on Aug. 18-20, with the main festival entrance at 16th and Peoria streets in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood. Regarding entertainment, there will be two performance stages featuring live music throughout the weekend, with traditional acts during the day, interactive dance performances and lessons, and higher energy Latin rock into the night. There is a $5 suggested donation upon entry; visit ChicagoTacoFest.com
On Sunday, Aug. 20, at 5:30 p.m., Oyster Bah, 1920 N. Halsted St., will host an oyster roast, leading to a champagne and Chesapeake fried-chicken dinner as well as peach slab for dessert. The evening costs $39.95 per person ( exclusive of tax and gratuity ). Call 773-248-3000.
On Tuesday, Aug. 29, 6-9 p.m., Eataly ( for its next Quattro Mani ) will welcome NAHA Chef/owner Carrie Nahabedian. Her pizza will be ‹topped with Luleh kebab spiced lamb, Armenian string cheese and Greek Feta, wood-roasted Tropea onions, Kalamata olives, thyme, and sprinkled with Istanbul spice market ‹s‹alt. See www.eataly.com/us_en/stores/chicago/quattro-mani-naha/ .
The James Beard Foundation ( JBF ) has announced that tickets for the fifth anniversary year of the Taste America national culinary tour are now on sale at JamesBeard.org/taste-america-tickets. Chicago's itinerary will kick off on Friday, Oct. 27, at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago with "A Night of Culinary Stars." On Saturday, Oct. 28, free in-store consumer events will take place at Sur La Table, 900 N. Michigan Ave.
Veggie Grillwhich calls itself the largest vegetarian, premium fast-casual brand in the countryis set to open its first ever location in Chicago in late fall, and it will be the first of its restaurants beyond the West Coast. Veggie Grill Chicago will be located at 614 W. Diversey Pkwy.; visit VeggieGrill.com for more information.
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