—Congrats!: Northbrook restaurant Prairie Grass Cafe was honored for its Sensory Friendly Hour program at the 18th Annual Disability Matters North America Awards held in Milwaukee on April 4.
Victoria's Secret & Co., Walt Disney Imagineering, and JP Morgan Chase & Co were among the other award recipients. Prairie Grass Cafe was the only small business to be honored. "On behalf of my staff, my partner George Bumbaris and consultant Hannah Rose Higdon, we are honored to have Prairie Grass Cafe recognized by Disability Matters for this prestigious award," said Prairie Grass Cafe co-owner Sarah Stegner in a statement.
Sensory Friendly Dining Hour at Prairie Grass Cafe, 601 Skokie Blvd., started last fall and continues on the last Saturday of the month through Saturday, June 29, at 3:45 p.m. To make a reservation, call 847-205-4433.
May shift: May reservations for The Aviary, 955 W. Fulton Market, have been released.
There is a seven-course kitchen table experience—a cocktail and food tasting menu presented by the chefs inside the Aviary Kitchen ($175-$185/person). However, some may opt for the five-course cocktail tasting menu with paired food ($145/person); you create your own cocktail progression by handpicking three alcoholic or non-alcoholic cocktails from The Aviary's list with a la carte food that is also available from the menu on site.
See theaviary.com .
—Marking a million: The Mexican eatery Tacombi announced a significant milestone in its philanthropic journey—the donation of more than 1 million meals through The Tacombi Foundation since April 2020.
In celebration of this achievement and in continued support of its mission, Tacombi will donate all proceeds from sales on Cinco De Mayo to its foundation for the fourth consecutive year. The foundation aims to advance Mexican communities through food, accessibility, education and employment. People can help the foundation by dining at any Tacombi restaurant on Cinco De Mayo or making a donation online at https://donorbox.org/cinco-de-mayo-2024-fundraiser.
—Making a Getaway: The Getaway, 4530 N. Lincoln Ave., has become the newest bar to open in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood.
Set in the former space of the Grafton Pub & Grill, The Getaway is the seventh Chicago project for the Four Entertainment Group (4EG). The Getaway will be open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Friday and 4 p.m. until 3 a.m. on Saturday. The spot will feature a signature cocktail menu, local and international beers, and happy hour Monday through Friday at 4-6 p.m., featuring $8 house cocktails, $5 select drafts and $4 domestics.
There will be 12 cocktails presented in playful glassware that will rotate seasonally along with a variety of local and international beers. Highlights include the Smoke 'em if You Got 'em (rye whiskey, Cynar liqueur and Benedictine herbal liqueur, served in a chilled glass with a spritz of Laphroaig); the Cocorococonut (vodka, lemongrass sake, lychee liqueur, coconut syrup and lemon juice); and The Getaway (rum, coconut liqueur, pineapple run, apricot liqueur, lime juice, pineapple juice, orange juice and grenadine served in a pineapple glass with a cocktail umbrella, orange slice and a Luxardo cherry).
Check out www.thegetawaychicago.com/ .
—Joint celebrations: Several spots are marking 4/20 with pot/CBD-related events.
Bodega Taqueria y Tequila, 407 N. Clark St. and 912 W. Randolph St., will have a "Let's Be Best Buds" special offer that includes $5 off all your orders, all day long. Simply use the code "HIGH5" when ordering online or through the Bodega app.
Of course, Wake 'n Bacon—which usually offers the option of adding CBD to most of its dishes and drinks—is celebrating. Up to 420 diners at the spot at 420 W. Belmont Ave. (get it?) will receive complimentary CBD add-ons (normally $3.50) available with any drink or food menu item at brunch or dinner (limit one dose per person).
And Central Park Bar, 2924 N. Central Park Ave., has partnered with Hopewell Brewing to host a special party on Saturday, April 20, from 4:20 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event will feature a tie-dye station (while supplies last) along with Hopewell Brewing's new Choom Lite, a sparkling beverage infused with 3 mg CBD and THC, that is available for $9 each.
—Pop life: Don't forget my column "Pop-Eds: My takes on pop culture." Thank you so much to the people who've already subscribed. Among other things and people, my latest entry discusses Angelina Jolie and a Chicago shooting case, and has my review of the Beyonce album Cowboy Carter. Subscribe to andrew449.Substack.com (for less than $5/month) to get all my thoughts.
