—Fulton's on the River, 315 N. LaSalle St., is offering a variety of still and sparkling rosé wines by the glass for the duration of the summer. The selections include Sparkling Brut Cava pinot noir (Spain) and Sparkling Mumm (Napa Valley, Calif.), among others. Also, Fulton's pitcher of July is the rosé sangria ($25). See www.fultonsontheriver.com or call 312-822-0100.
—Blue Bayou Bar & Grill, 3734 N. Southport Ave., is hosting "Dating for Queer Nerds" Sunday, July 22, 4-7 p.m. Attendees bond over board games and trivia while enjoying drink specials such as the Tatooine Sunset (tequila, orange juice, grenadine and twin cherries). Admission is $30; registration is required. See www.NerdsAtHeart.com or call 855-NERD-LOVE (855-637-3568).
—The Roscoe Village Burger Fest will take place Saturday-Sunday, July 21-22, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., at Belmont and Damen avenues. In addition to the burgers, there will be two music stages (with acts such as Liquid Soul and Rusted Root), arts and crafts, and a "Kids' Zone" activity area. Burger vendors will include Hamburger Mary's, Rockit Burger Bar, Cortland's Garage and others. See www.ChicagoEvents.com .
—In conjunction with National Hot Dog & Grilling Month (July), several restaurants are holding specials. Carmine's, 1043 N. Rush St., will feature its signature sausage-and-peppers starter (spicy Italian fennel sausage with sweet peppers; $13.75) on the outdoor patio. At Gioco, 1312 S. Wabash Ave., Chef Gaetano Ascione will feature lighter fare utilizing an authentic Oak Wood grill. Quay, 465 E. Illinois St., will offer a special grilled grass-fed ribeye sandwich and a Bell's Oberon Ale draft for $14 every Monday.
—The 4th Annual Taste of the Gold Coast, benefiting The Israel Sports Center for the Disabled, will take place Thursday, Aug. 16, 6-9 p.m., at the Sofitel, 20 E. Chestnut St. More than 15 restaurants will participate, including Saloon Steakhouse, Gaylord, Hendrickx Belgian Bread and Bar Toma, among others. Tickets are $75-$250; see www.TasteOfTheGoldCoast.com .
—Four sister pubs—River Shannon, Pippin's Tavern, Streeter's Tavern and Mahoney's Pub & Grille—will "Pour on the Knowledge" with eight upcoming wine-tasting and -education nights, all free to participants when they RSVP. Events will run at one of the aforementioned pubs on Wednesdays through Oct. 17; RSVP and see more info at www.rushanddivision.com .
—Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is offering "Summer Sundays" prime-rib dinners through Labor Day Weekend. The dinner is a three-course meal that costs $29.95, excluding tax and tip. See www.flemingssteakhouse.com .
—Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse presents Silver Oak Cellars 40th-anniversary wine dinners at all three Chicagoland Gibsons locations (Chicago, Oak Brook and Rosemont) Tuesday, July 10, at 6 p.m. The seven-course menu, created by Executive Chef Daniel Huebschmann, begins with passed appetizers like Gibsons shrimp cocktail, USDA Gibsons prime Angus beef tartare and more. Dinners are $225 (all-inclusive); reservations are required.
—Greg Mohr and Scott Weiner will open Homestead—their fourth restaurant that will serve farm-to-table cuisine—by mid-July. Chef John Wayne Formica (an opening sous chef at Sunda under Rodelio Aglibot and an opening sous chef at C-House under Marcus Samuelsson) will helm the kitchen at Homestead, 1924 W. Chicago Ave. The rooftop features 85 outdoor seats with full view of the L-shaped 1,000-square foot organic rooftop farm and two massive vertical hanging gardens. See www.twitter.com/Homestead_Chi and www.facebook.com/HomesteadChicago.
—This July, Carnivale University Summer School will begin with Artisanal Cheese 101. Carnivale Executive Chef David Dworshak and sommelier Rebecca Green will lead a tasting featuring artisanal cheeses paired with Spanish and South American wines Wed., July 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Carnivale is at 702 W. Fulton Market, and the school is $25 per person. See www.CarnivaleChicago.com or call 312-850-5005.
—Yoshi's Cafe and Jack's on Halsted are offering deals in conjunction with Blue Man Group. Yoshi's (3257 N. Halsted St.; www.yoshiscafe.com ) has a $24.95 prix fixe dinner consisting of an appetizer, entree and dessert ($12.95 for Sunday brunch). Jack's (3201 N. Halsted St.; www.jacksonhalsted.com ) offers a $25.95 dinner package with appetizer, entree, dessert, and coffee or tea. Then, diners present their dinner tickets at the Blue Man box office as payment. Dinner packages are available up to three days prior to the Blue Man Group performance date.
—Michael Jordan's Steak House pastry chef Hillary Rikower has presented her summer dessert menu. Items include lemon-poppyseed goat cheesecake, milk chocolate peanut butter pie, carrot cake and mascarpone terrine, and strawberry and rhubarb shortcake—and there are dessert wines and cocktails as well. See www.mjshchicago.com .
—Tavern on Rush Executive Chef John Gatsos announces the restaurant's first ever Lobster Fest. In honor of Independence Day, the celebration will take place Wed., July 4. For $55 per person, guests will enjoy a Maine lobster boil, which includes one and a half pounds of lobster, sweet corn, baby red potatoes, cornbread and Gatsos' firecracker sauce, a spicy blend of peppers and spices. See www.tavernonrush.com .
—Southport & Irving, 4002 N. Southport Ave., offers a wine pairing dinner menu for special occasions. For example, the "Stone" pairing involves seared sesame tuna, Asian slaw and ginger gastrique with Tariquet Chenin Chardonnay 2010, Gascogne, France. Meals are $125, plus tax and gratuity. See www.SouthportAndIrving.com .
—The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group is marking summer with the introduction of its new menu features at its nine locations. (In Chicago, it's at 318 N. State St.) Among the array of new starters include the "Salmon Three Ways"—gravlax marinated in Gosling's Rum and citrus, pastrami salmon with a spice rub and ceviche with lime and red onion; and the "Jumbo Lump Crab Cake," which is served with cognac mustard and ginger sauces. See www.smithandwollensky.com/sw-chicago.
—Frontier, 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., has announced its line-up of "Odd Bit Monday" specials for June. Items will include lamb neck gyro (June 25). See www.FrontierChicago.com .
—Fulton's on the River, 315 N. LaSalle St., is bringing back its "Get Baked On The River" Summer Clambake Series—an all-you-can-eat clambake with two ice-cold libations for $35. The series will continue July 10 and Aug. 7, 5-8 p.m. Items include assorted clams with brown butter bread crumbs, mussels, corn on the cob, roasted potatoes, shrimp, chilled watermelon salad, boursin potato salad and honey jalapeño cornbread. Call 312-822-0100 or visit www.fultonsontheriver.com .
—Shaw's Crab House is celebrating Maine lobsters this summer at its annual Lobster Festival. Stop by a Shaw's location (Chicago or Schaumburg) through July 31 to enjoy lobster specials, such as Shaw's New England lobster boil ($36.99 per person, plus tax and gratuity, minimum two people). See www.shawscrabhouse.com .
—Vivo, 838 W. Randolph St., has opened its patio for spring and summer outdoor dining. The longtime Italian restaurant has a wine list with European items, and Vivo has private dining rooms that can accommodate 10-150 guests. Call 312-733-3379 or visit www.vivo-chicago.com .
—Carmine's, 1043 N. Rush St., is now open for brunch Saturdays and Sundays, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Items will range in price from $5 to $14. Offerings will include peppercorn-smoked salmon, breakfast quesadillas, white chocolate raspberry French toast, sausage Benedit and various omelet. See www.rosebudrestaurants.com/rest2.php or call 312-988-7676.
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