—Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced that its new cafe/bar at 1700 N. Halsted St. will be named Front Bar: Coffee and Drinks. The cafe/bar also connects to Steppenwolf's existing main building creating an expanded lobby space. Steppenwolf is collaborating with friends and neighbors Boka Restaurant Group ( BRG ), along with interior designer Karen Herold of Studio K and the marketing and design firm Grip on the development of Front Bar, which is slated to open in May.
—The team behind Sepia, 123 N. Jefferson St., Chef Andrew Zimmerman, Advanced Sommelier Arthur Hon and restaurateur Emmanuel Nony have announced the concept and location for their forthcoming restaurant. Located at 565 W. Randolph St. in the Werner Printing & Engraving Co. building, the restaurant is situated at the corner of Randolph and Jefferson streets. The restaurant is slated to open in late 2016; a name will be revealed later this summer.
—River North's Rockit Bar & Grill Cinco de Mayo celebration extends through Friday, May 6. Featuring menu specials each day from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Rockit marks the holiday with cilantro-lime shrimp tacos ( $16; whole wheat tortillas, shredded red cabbage, pico de gallo, salsa verde ), chicken tortilla soup ( $5 cup, $8 bowl ), chicken chili verde nachos ( $14; tomatillo salsa, queso fundido, jalapeños, guacamole ), and steak quesadillas ( $14; chopped steak, onions, chihuahua cheese, salsa roja, guacamole, sour cream ). See RockitBarAndGrill.com .
—Robert's Pizza Company, 355 E. Ohio St., will be serving huevos rancheros pizza and hibiscus margaritas to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. The pie features black beans, chorizo, queso fresco, scallion, cilantro, salsa verde and eggs cooked right on top of the pizza.
—At RPM Steak, 66 W. Kinzie St., there will be a butcher demo and dinner with Italian butcher Dario Cecchini on Thursday, May 4, at 7 p.m. Bringing along his cooks and own arsenal of ingredients, Cecchini will demonstrate the techniques of properly breaking down beef and pork and present guests with a multi-course dinner including his Florentine steaks accompanied by wines from two Italian wineries, Gaja and Il Poggione. Reservations are $265 per person ( plus tax; gratuity not included ) and can be reserved at RPMRestaurants.com .
—For Cinco de Mayo, Commonwealth Tavern, 2000 W. Roscoe St., will offer $6 margaritas, $6 Mexican Mules and $5 Dos Equis tallboys. Guests can pair their beverages with Commonwealth's queso fundido ( roasted poblano, chorizo and Chihuahua cheese, served with tortillas, $10 ). See CommonwealthChicago.com .
—Mezcaleria Las Flores, 3149 W. Logan Blvd., will be serving $8 margaritas in honor of Cinco de Mayo. The margarita contains Milagro blanco, fresh lime juice, orange liqueur and simple syrup, garnished with salt and poured over ice; there are also drinks like the Falconry Demonstration, which includes Mezcal PelotÃ"n de la Muerte, Busnel Calvados, fresh blood orange cordial, Luxardo Maraschino, egg white and hibiscus. Visit mezcalerialasflores.com .
—For Cinco de Mayo, Moneygun ( 660 W. Lake St.; MoneygunChicago.com ) has a strawberry margarita available for $10.75 that is mixed with tequila blanco, pink curacao, fresh strawberries and lime.
—State and Lake Chicago Tavern at theWit, 201 N. State St., will host a Kentucky Derby celebration on Saturday, May 7, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. There will be food and drink specials as well as prizes for those who choose to sport appropriate Derby Day attire. Festivities include food specials such as crispy chicken thighs with mustard slaw, bourbon honey and pepper vinegar ( $11 ). Drink specials will include Large Format Mint Juleps ( $100 ) and Mint Julep ( $12 ). Guests are encouraged to enter the Best Dressed Instagram Contest for a chance to wine a $150 Wit gift card.
—Clark Street Dog Bar, 3040 N. Clark St., will offer a Kentucky Derby special on Saturday, May 7. There will be $7 Maker's Mark mint juleps. The entire food menu will also be available, with items like the Italian beef sandwich, pizza puffs and chili cheese fries. See ClarkStDog.com .
—At Tavern on Little Fort, 4128 N. Lincoln Ave., guests will enjoy $7 Buffalo Trace Mint Juleps and $6 Kentucky Mules ( Moscow Mule with bourbon ) on Saturday, May 7. Large groups are invited to book parties in the beer garden, which accommodates up to 68 guests. See LittleFortTavern.com .
—This Mother's Day, French-inspired patisserie Vanille is celebrating mom with a first-of-its-kind photo contest. Through Sunday, May 8, mothers and children of all ages who stop by one of Vanille's three Chicago locations can snap a photo of themselves enjoying any of Vanille's artisanal specialties for the chance to win an Afternoon Tea party for 10 people inside the luxurious Vanille Salon located at the Lincoln Park location, 2108 N. Clark St. ( To enter the Mom, Me & Vanille Photo Contest, guests need to post their photo on Facebook or Instagram using #MomMeVanille. They must also tag Vanille at @VanilleChicago on Instagram or "Vanille Patisserie" on Facebook. ) Visit VanillePatisserie.com .
—At 312 Chicago, 136 N. LaSalle St., Chef Luca Corazzina and his mother will be in the kitchen for Mother's Day brunch, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. She will be delivering complimentary slices of her homemade pasta to all moms who join them for brunch. Also, the regular brunch menu will also be served along with specials. Reservations can be made at 312chicago.com or 312-696-2420.
—Earls Kitchen + Bar, 1538 N. Clybourn Ave., will offer a Mother's Day brunch with items such as Croque Madame, goat-cheese frittata, spicy sausage + mushroom hash, and sweet Virginia benny. See https://earls.ca/locations/lincoln-park.
—This Mother's Day, Shaw's Crab House, 21 E. Hubbard St., is hosting a Sunday brunch buffet priced at $75 for adults and $20 for kids 12 and younger. The buffet will feature a Grand Hot Buffet line with classic breakfast fare, plus Shaw's specialties. The brunch buffet will also include the Omelet and Waffle Station with 13 available ingredients, and the Surf and Turf Station, including lobster bisque, king crab Legs, and hand-carved beef. Moreover, the Sweet Table will have creme brulee, raspberry tartlets, key lime pie, Shaw's mini cupcakes, and assorted fruits and candy. Plus, all moms will receive a special $25 Shaw's Crab House gift certificate for future use at lunch or on carryout at either Shaw's location. See ShawsCrabHouse.com .
—LUXBAR, 18 E. Bellevue Pl., will have a Mother's Day meal at 11 a.m.-3 p.m. where patrons can dine al fresco on the patio and find a spread of brunch favorites like the vlassic Benedict, country corned beef hash and Denver omelet. Specialty items are also available, like the LUXBAR mescal cured salmon Benedict plus breakfast delicacies like the glazed apple fritter. See LUXBAR.com .
—GreenRiver, 259 E. Erie St., will start weekend brunch service on Mother's Day at 10 a.m.-3 p.m. There will be items such as whitefish tartine, with egg, radish and celery ( $13 ); eggs Benedict, with crab, country ham and asparagus ( $24 ); cheddar biscuits with sausage gravy and fried chicken thigh ( $19 ); and a daily seasonal omelet ( $16 ) and French toast ( $17 ). See GreenRiverChi.com .
—Dolce Italian, 127 W. Huron St., celebrates mom with its special Mother's Day Brunch menu featuring a distinctive Italian twist. Items include house poached tuna and shrimp with hearts of romaine, fingerling potatoes, roasted pepper, baby green beans, and asparagus; and piccolo filet mignon, with poached eggs, sea salt ciabatta crostini, asparagus and Barolo sauce. For reservations, call 312-754-0700 or visit http://www.dolceitalianrestaurant.com/#!chicago/ctiu.
—On Sunday, May 8, at 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., the three-course Mother's Day Brunch Menu will be available at Bistronomic, 840 N. Wabash St. The price is $42 for adults and $20 for children 10 and under. Some of the choices include asparagus veloute, short-stack pancakes, deviled eggs, eggs Benedict, house-cured duck confit, Belgian waffles, baked Alaska and crispy hazelnut bars. ( Bottomless mimosas are an additional $16.95. ) Visit Bistronomic.net .
—Howells & Hood, 435 N. Michigan Ave., is offering a gourmet Mother's Day for $39 per person at 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; call 312-262-5310. Also, River Roast, 315 N. LaSalle St., is offering a brunch package for four ( $140 excluding tax and gratuity ), including favorites like the whole roast chicken, a small Hogan's charcuterie board, biscuits & gravy, Hogan's peas and a hot apple crisp for dessert; call 312-822-0100.
—For Mother's Day, River North's Hub 51 will have brunch classics ( think Brioche French toast ) and more modern takes ( like chilaquiles ) as well as carving, sushi and seafood stations. It's also offering a trip to the Bloody Mary & Mimosa Bar for $10. Brunch is $45 per person and $18 for children 12 and under ( plus tax; gratuity not included ). Call 312-828-0051.
—Riva Crab House on Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Ave., will host its Mother's Day brunch buffet on Sunday, May 8. Chef Luigi Garcia will showcase an omelet station, carving station, raw bar, fresh fruit buffet and a dessert display. See RivaNavyPier.com .
—Geja's Cafe, 340 W. Armitage Ave., will treat all moms to a complimentary five-minute massage and glass of bubbly on Sunday, May 8. Moms will step away from the table to receive pampering in a secluded relaxing atmosphere with licensed massage therapists from Lincoln Park Massage Spa while they dine. The restaurant will open at 1 p.m. on Mother's Day. For reservations, call 773-281-9101 or visit GejasCafe.com .
—On Sunday, May 8, Devon Seafood Grill, 39 E. Chicago Ave.,¯is offering a special Mother's Day Brunch available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a three-course prix fixe dinner menu available at 4-9 p.m. Devon Seafood Grill's Mother's Day Brunch Buffet costs $38 for adults and $17 for children ages 4-12; children under 4 eat free. The Mother's Day prix fixe menu costs $45. Call 312-440-8660 or visit¯www.devonseafood.com .¯
—On Wed., May 11, The Boarding House's all-female team ( Chef Tanya Baker, Pastry Chef Julia Fitting and owner/proprietor Alpana Singh ) gets bigger for a one-night-only collaborative dinner featuring the culinary talents of Zoe Schor ( of the soon-to-be Split-Rail ) and Diana Davila ( most recently of Cantina 1910 and in the process of opening her own restaurant ). The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m., and tickets to the exclusive event are $145. See http://theboardinghouse.ticketleap.com/wonder-women-in-whites/details.
—DryHop Brewery, 3155 N. Broadway, and Corridor Brewery & Provisions, 3446 N. Southport Ave., will hold Chicago Craft Beer Week events May 19-29. Some of the planned events include the Women of DryHop Beer Release Party ( May 20 at 6 p.m. at DryHop ), the DryHop/Big Star Beer Collab Release Party ( May 23 at 6 p.m. at DryHop ) and the Corridor/The Commons Brewery Beer Collab Release & Tap Takeover Party ( May 25 at 6 p.m. at Corridor ). See www.dryhopchicago.com/chicago-craft-beer-week-2016-schedule/ and www.corridorchicago.com/ccbw-2016/ .
—City Lit Theatre, is hosting its annual spring tea Saturday, May 21, at 2 p.m. at the Edgewater Beach Cafe, 5545 N. Sheridan Rd. The tea will feature a high tea, a silent auction and a signature reading of The Nightingale and the Rose, by Oscar Wilde. Tickets are $35 for one person and $55 for two; visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2532159.
—Held on May 22-23, the Chicago Cocktail Summit ( at the Logan Theatre, 2646 N. Milwaukee Ave. ) brings together bar and restaurant professionals as well as consumer and home cocktail enthusiasts for two days packed with seminars, demos, tastings, panel discussions and networking events hosted by a wide array of Chicago industry professionals. Advance premium tickets are $125 per day and include full access to one day of seminars and tastings; $75 four-session passes and single-session tickets available for $25 are on sale now. See CocktailSummit.com .
—Travelle Kitchen + Bar, 330 N. Wabash St., announced the appointment of Chef de Cuisine Ricardo Jarquin and launches menus for spring, including a transformed dinner menu, new desserts from Pastry Chef Scott Green, and cocktails from Beverage Director Priscilla Young. Prior to joining Travelle Kitchen + Bar at The Langham, Jarquin held the role of executive sous chef at the Hilton Bayfront in San Diego. For the full dinner menu, visit bit.ly/1Thg4Za. Also, see TravelleChicago.com .
—In celebration of National Burger Month this May, Clark Street Dog and Bar, 3040 N. Clark St., will feature a new Red Hot Burger on special for $5.99 ( $6.55 with cheese ). The quarter-pound fresh seasoned burger is topped with an open-faced Vienna Beef natural-casing hot dog, grilled and served with ketchup, mustard, onions, lettuce, tomatoes and crinkle-cut pickles on a grilled bun. See ClarkStDog.com .
—Also in celebration of National Burger Month, MAK: Modern Asian Kitchen, 1924 W. Division St., invites guests to enjoy two new MAK Burger specials available for $10 each throughout May. The MAK Burger is a half-pound of Angus beef hand-pattied, marinated and topped with lettuce and cucumbers; the Spicy MAK Burger consists of a half-pound of Angus beef hand-pattied, marinated and topped with a jalapeno cilantro paste, Swiss cheese and lettuce. See MAKRestaurant.com .
—Sunda, 110 W. Illinois St., is marking Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with specials. Items include Chinese lotus buns ( through May 8 ), Filipino lumpia sariwa ( May 9-15 ), Korean duck breast scam ( May 16-22 ) and Thai quail satay ( May 23-29 ). See SundaChicago.com .
—Piccolo Sogno, 464 N. Halsted St., is offering its spring menu. Chef/Partner Tony Priolo is offering dishes such as cavolo nero ( Tuscan kale, radishes and croutons, tossed with lemon Parmesan dressing ), halibut al forno ( wood-roasted halibut, farro, spring vegetables, green onions, carrot and ginger puree ) and fava e pecorino ( fava beans, pecorino DOP and olive oil ). See PiccoloSognoRestaurant.com .
—Oyster Bar, 1962 N. Halsted St., will now opening its doors beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Fridays. New menu additions include oyster po'boy, seared yellowfin tuna sandwich and smoked trout melt. See OysterBah.com .
—Earls Kitchen + Bar noted that it's the first restaurant chain in North America to serve 100-percent Certified Humane Beef®—raised without the use of antibiotics or steroids and no added hormones. Earls has 66 locations on the continent, including one in Chicago at 1538 N. Clybourn Ave.
Send items to Andrew@WindyCityMediaGroup.com or follow on Twitter @Azygous60610 .
