City Winery's Bubbly-Q Event

Chandon presents the Third Annual Bubbly-Q: Bluegrass, Barbecue, Bubbly event beginning 2 p.m. Sept. 1 at City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph; $15. citywinery

The Pony Express to Garth Brooks Concerts

The Pony, 1638 W. Belmont, is offering round-trip bus service to Garth Brooks World Tour (Sept. 4-14) concerts at Allstate Arena. Register at The Pony before each concert; $25, does not include concert ticket. ponychicago

Venetian Night Firework Cruises

Chicago cruise lines (Odyssey, Mystic Blue, Spirit of Chicago and Seadog) sail to the lullaby of Broadway during the Venetian Night "Broadway on Parade" Firework cruises Sept. 6. The fireworks spectacular is presented by Broadway in Chicago. Check sites for cost and departure times.

Mercadito Counter Opens Aug. 25

Mercadito Counter, 738 N. Clark, opens Aug. 25. The menu, created by Executive Chef Patricio Sandoval, offers Mexican deli-style dishes such as mole-q dog (smoked and fried pork dog with mole barbecue sauce, jalapeno slaw, mustard and crispy onion springs); Mexican onion rings (chipotle-battered Vidalia onions) and the Mercadito Counter Burger (rib eye and short rib burger with jalapeno emulsion, manchego cheese and grilled scallions). mercadito

Bow & Stern Labor Day Crawfish Boil

Bow & Stern Oyster Bar, 1371 W.Chicago, says goodbye to summer with the Cajun Crawl, all-you-can-eat crawfish boil, 4-8 p.m. Aug. 31: $30. Special-priced Abita pours will be available. The Royal Hustlers Brass Band and Brother John Kettke perform live. The restaurant also hosts lobster roll night, featuring New England lobster roll and fries, Aug. 28; $18. bowandstern

SausageFest Chcago

SausageFest Chicago kicks off 5 p.m. Aug. 22 at St. Michael's in Old Town, 1633 N. Cleveland. Weekend festivities include the Medieval Times SausageFeast and Tournament (noon-4 p.m. Aug. 23-24; $12), the Sausage King of Chicago contests (proceeds will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project); and live music. Hours are 5-10 p.m. Aug. 22; noon to 10 p.m. Aug. 23; noon to 8 p.m. Aug. 24. A $5 donation is suggested for entry. Other activities might include an additional fee. sausagefestchi

Bacon, Sports & Beer Celebration

Bacon-inspired dishes, crafted beers and sports, what more can one ask, how about a fun-filled afternoon?
Enjoy all the above during Bacon, Sports & Beer Celebration 2014 3-6 p.m. Aug. 23 in the Great Hall at Union Station. Tickets are $55. baconsportsbeer

Green City Market Fulton Now Open

Green City Market's Fulton district location opened Aug. 9. The market is open 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through October at the corner of Halsted and Fulton. greencitymarket

GCM board co-chair Sarah Stegner
PHOTO CREDIT: Cindy Kurman, Kurman Communications, Inc.

Frontier's Charity Feast & Annual Oyster Shucking Contest

Frontier, 1072 N. Milwaukee, hosts Seven Seas Charity Feast benefitting the Chicago Blackhawks Charities, 1-4 p.m. Aug. 17; $55. Followed by the restaurant's Fourth Annual Oyster Shucking Contest 4-7 p.m. The contest features 20 chefs up to their elbows in a heat with guests judges deciding the winner. Participating chefs includes host chef Brian Jupiter, Cory Morris (Mercat a la Planxa), Bill Kim (Urban Belly),  Tom Van Lente (TWO), Mike Lacson (Union Sushi). frontierchicago

Two Sparrows Closing Briefly For Renovations

If you pass by 2 Sparrows, 553 W. Diversey, next week and see a "Closed Sign," don't despair. The restaurant is undergoing interior renovations and will be closed Aug. 11-15. Gearing up for its new dinner service, starting later in the summer, the restaurant will offer a more intimate setting with a toned-down decor. 2sparrow

Ani Wine Dinner

Ani, 3056 N. Lincoln, hosts a wine dinner featuring Tenzing Spirits, 6 p.m. Aug. 9. Proceeds from Chef Shin Matsuda's "Ichi-go, Ichi-e" event benefits Japan House at the University of Illinois. The cost is $225; $425, couples. ani

Langham's Tea for Tots

Tea time for tots has arrived at The Pavilion at the Langham Chicago, 330 N. Wabash. Services are available at 3; 3:30 and 4 p.m.Thursday through Sunday in August; $30, ages 12 and under; $40 adults. Kids under age 12 will receive a special commemorative gift. A portion of the proceeds benefit Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation. langham