North Mayfair Cider and Slider Festival

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The first annual Cider and Slider Festival takes place noon to 10 p.m. September 3-4, in North Mayfair at Lawrence and Elston. Crowd-pleasing gourmet burgers and a variety of ciders will be available for sampling. In addition live music and family activities will take place. Music includes: Wedding Banned; Hello Weekend; Fletcher Rockwell; 97 Nine; Stache; boy Band Review; Run Forest Run and Girl Power Night. 

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III Forks Spanish Wine Event

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III Forks Prime Steakhouse, 180 N. Field, hosts a "Sommelier for the Day" wine tasting featuring Spanish wines, 5-7 p.m. September 7; $20. 

Featured selections include: Poema Cava Brut NV, Cava Spain; Torres Verdeo 2013, Rueda Spain; Faustino VII Blanco 2012, Rioja Spain; La Atalya Garnacha 2011, Almansa Spain; Conde Valdemar Crianza 2011, Rioja Spain; Montecillo Reserva 2011, Rioja Spain. 

RSVP required: 312.938.4303.

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Brews Fest @Beverly Arts Center

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The Beverly Arts Center of Chicago hosts the third annual Beverly Brews Fest 7-10 p.m. September 3, Beverly Arts Center, 2407 w. 111th Street.  

Participating brewers include: Arcade Brewing, Around the Bend Beer Company, Band Of Bohemia, Blue Island Beer Company, Brickstone Brewery, Evil Horse Brewing, Flossmoor Station, Half Acre Brewery, Horse Thief Hollow, Noon Whistle Brewing, Pollyanna Brewing, Southbridge Brewery, Ten Ninety, Twisted Hippo and Vice District. 

Featured music by Blue Fish Fellows and Caliente. Food trucks will be on site to complement the evening’s festivities. General admission tickets ($35) include unlimited tastings from more than 25 vendors and a personal sampling glass with this year’s logo. Purchase tickets.

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Ironside Bar & Galley Opening in River North

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Ironside Bar & Galley, 546 N. Wells, a neighborhood sports bar opens in River North in the former Cryano's Farm Kitchen space, 4 p.m. August 31. The eatery, with chef Jim August at the helm, spotlights Chicago crafted bar food with an emphasis on seafood and made-from-scratch fare along with crafted beverages. Earlier food teasers included the Ironside burger with aged cheddar cheese, apple wood smoked bacon, Parmesan-crusted red onion rings, roasted tomatoes & house ketchup) and the lobster corn dog (pictured). 

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Fountainhead's Mexican Beer Event

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Fountainhead, 1970 W. Montrose, hosts an evening of south of the border brews during the Mexican Standoff event 6-11 p.m. August 30. Guests will be feted to an evening of domestic Latin inspired brews including Mexican Logger (Ska Brewing); Beerito Lager (Oskar Blues Brewery); El Gose (Avery Brewing Company); Margarita Gose (Maplewood Brewery & Distillery) and Prickly Pear Paletas (5 Rabbit Cerveceria).

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Ampersand's Late Summer Menu

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Ampersand Wine Bar, 4845 N. Damen, has launched a late summer menu. Executive Chef Darren McGraw, along with Chef de Cuisine Tim Havidic (formerly of iNG), created the menu to make use of late summer produce such as Heirloom tomatoes, sweet summer corn and eggplant. 

Dishes include starters: Campanella pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, eggplant, fava beans and mint ($15); seared scallops over oxtail, chick peas and red pepper jus, pictured ($16) and Heirloom tomatoes with cous-cous salad and burrata mozzarella ($12).
 
Entree highlights include: beef cheeks, braised with charred tomatillos and fresh corn pudding ($20); roasted & marinated eggplant, with baba ghanoush, cucumber and toasted pita ($15); 

Side dishes include: roasted shishito peppers with smoked sweet pepper cream ($7); cherry tomato salad with arugula, herb oil and semolina gnocchi ($7) and sautéed sweet corn with kochujan butter and shaved Parmesan ($7).
 
Two new desserts are the millefeuille, a caramelized puff pastry, summer berries and whipped vanilla cream ($9) and the rustic tart with stone fruit, toasted granola and honey caramel yogurt ($9).

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HogFight 2016 @Mahoney's

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The producers of Chicago's WingFest present HogFight, an end-of-summer whole-hog competition for charity pitting area chefs in a heat to be declared Hogmaster, 3 p.m. September 4, 2016, Mahoney's Pub & Grille, 551 N. Ogden. Proceeds benefit the Variety: The Children's Charity of Illinois.

Pitmaster Dave Anderson will serve as the master of judging ceremonies. Anderson, of Famous Dave's, will be joined by members of Chicago's Culinary Fight Club and other pitmasters. Purchase tickets.

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Don't Miss Rockit Bar's Blackened Salmon Sandwhich

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Catch it while you can. Rockit Bar & Grill's, 22 W. Hubbard, weekly rotation of lighter fare offerings include the fresh blackened salmon sandwich with baby arugula, tomato and avocado spread on a harvest wheat bun; $16, available through the end of the week.

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Sweetgreen Opens First Chicago Location

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Sweetgreen, 623 N. State, opens in its first Chicago location 10:30 a.m. August 23. The venue, the brainchild of Georgetown grads Nicolas Jammet, Jonathan Neman and  Nathaniel RU, features made from scratch dishes created from locally-sourced sustainable farms. Proceeds from opening day will go to support Growing Power's effort to transport fresh foods to Chicago's south and west side communities via an old CTA bus transformed into a portable market.

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Forno Rosso: Raffling Pair of Airline Tickets to Italy

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Forno Rosso Pizzeria Napoletana, 1048 W. Randolph, celebrates the launch of their brunch program by giving one guest the opportunity to win two airline tickets to Italy (one entry per guest, dine-in brunch customers only) Sundays through September 11. 

The winner will be announced during brunch September 11.

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Bears Brunch Begins at Timothy O'Toole's

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Timothy O'Toole's Pub, 622 N. Fairbanks, kicks off its Football Season Brunch 10 a.m. September 3. Chef Corey Grupe's selections include pretzel French toast, breakfast burrito, breakfast nachos,  ride and shine burger along with a bloody Mary bar, mimosa bar and a selection of 48 brews on tap. Swag bags will be raffled off during games.

In addition ticket holders, for an addition $10, can receive transportation to the game, the fee includes "road sodas."

As an additional treat a former Bears player will host a meet and greet September 22. Stay tuned. Brunch will be available 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday (opens 9:30 on Bears home games) through the season. Reserve a spot at  312-642-0700.

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Britney Experience at Kit Kat

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Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club, 3700 N. Halsted, hosts a Britney Spears Brunch 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. August 28, in support of her new album "Glory." 

Diva Madame X performs Spears songs during the event. Specials of the day for the Britney-themed brunch include the "It's Britney, Bitch" cocktail (Cruzan Citrus rum, elder flower liqueur, squeeze of lemon, splash of champagne and orange garnish; $7).

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Merlo on Maple's Weekend Special

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Chef/owner Luisa Silvia of Merlo on Maple, 16 W. Maple is featuring a weekend special (August 19-21) of squid ink spaghetti with baccala (homemade spaghetti with squid ink tossed with a ragout of cubed baccala (salt cod) loin, seared with clarified butter and white wine); sautéed vegetables; fresh porcini, tinctured with cloves, nutmeg, lemon zest and pinenuts). 

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Zorn Brewery Event @Historic Barker Mansion

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Hop the Cosmos: Stargaze & Brews event, featuring beers from Zorn Brewery, takes place 7:30-9:30 p.m. August 26, hosted by the Dunes State Park at the famous Barker Mansion gardens, 631 Washington St., Michigan City, IN. Purchase tickets.

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Charlie Trotter Day

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Chicago and chefs across the country join in celebrating the legacy of chef extraordinaire Charlie Trotter on "Charlie Trotter Day," August 17.

Participating restaurants will offer Trotter-inspired dishes August 17-21, proceeds will benefit the Pillars of Excellence Mentor Program, a Trotter Project youth mentorship program which seeks to educate, train, and offer opportunities for the next generation of aspiring chefs and hospitality professionals. Find complete list of participating restaurants here. 

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Chance to Win Springteen Tickets

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Tribes Alehouse & Beer Company, 11220 Lincoln Hwy, Mokena, hosts Taste of the East Coast, 5-10 p.m. or while supplies last, August 25.

The event, featuring food specials and East Coast inspired music, is in honor of New Jersey-born Bruce Springsteen's arrival for a concert August 28, United Center. One lucky guests will have the opportunity to win a pair of tickets to the Springsteen concert. Must be present to win.

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Kick's Labor Day Brunch

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Kick Restaurant, 1943 W. Byron, hosts a Labor Day Brunch, available 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. September 5. Chef Tim Lavelle has added three special items to the menu for the occasion: Cookies and Cream French Toast (Cocoa Puffs-crusted french toast, chocolate cream filling, topped with hot fudge and whipped cream $12);  Candied Bacon Burger (aged white cheddar, chipotle BBQ, candied bacon, haystack onions $14) and Mimosa Bucket (bottle of sparkling wine with choice of two juices $25). 

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Aurelio's in the South Loop Anniversary Celebration

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Former Cubs and White Sox pitcher Steve Trout plays celebrity bartender 5-7 p.m. August 24 at Aurelio's Pizza, 1212 S. Michigan. The former major league player joins in the party as the pizzeria celebrates its first anniversary at the South Loop location. Activities include spin the pizza man wheel and a drawing for dining discounts. The franchise celebrated its 57th anniversary this month as well. 

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Cantina Laredo's Rum Day Offering

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Cantina Laredo, 508 N. State, saltes National Rum Day (August 16) with the specially concocted Desert Pear Mojito (Don Q Cristal Rum, fresh mint, squeezed lime and Desert Pear syrup, $10.25), available 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

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Izakaya Mita: Shochu 101

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Izakaya Mita, 1960 N. Damen, hosts Shochu 101,  special izakaya-style dinner introducing Japan's distilled spirit shochu, August 22; $16. 

In addition two shochu flights will be available for an additional cost, the Fundamental Flavors; $13 and the Expressions of Technique; $18.

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Ninth Annual Chefs on the Grill

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The 9th Annual Chefs on the Grill returns 5:30-9 p.m. August 18, Park Grill, 11 N. Michigan; $85. 

Chefs will be pairing their featured dish with a summertime cocktail. Participants include: Park Grill, Tesori, Acanto, Remingtons, Chicago Yacht Club, South Branch Tavern & Grille, Streeterville Social, Kitty O'Sheas, Roy's, Phil Wingo-Pork Mafia, Bruno Abate-Recipe for Change.

Proceeds will be donated to Recipe for Change, a culinary and cultural organization providing support, mentoring, and guidance to individuals in the Cook County Jail, through culinary education and reinforcing the value of work and personal responsibility. Must be over 21 with valid identification. Purchase tickets. 

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River Shannon 70th Anniversary Celebration

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Iconic Irish pub, River Shannon, 425 W, Armitage, celebrates its 70th anniversary 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. August 14. The bar, which was the 28th recipient of a liquor license in the city, will feature food and drink specials along with giving away prizes such as a year's worth of freebies from River Shannon to the person who can name all or the most of the 27 liquor license holders prior to River Shannon receiving its license.

In a nod to the period the bar was founded (1946) the establishment will giveaway a special gift to the guest dressed in the best period (1940s) garb.

In addition the bar is raffling off a trip to Ireland. Tickets for the Ireland get-away can be purchased in advance at the pub. Portion of the evening's proceeds benefit The TLC Foundation's efforts to research on often-overlooked and debilitating repetitive behavior disorders.

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Tesori's Panchetta Palooza

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Tesori Trattoria and Bar, 65 E. Adams, pays homage to Bacon Lovers Day (August 20) with a special "PancettaPalooza" menu, available August 15-20.

Featured dishes are: Pancetta Tuscan Bean Soup (traditional Tuscan been soup infused with pancetta $6), Pancetta Caprese Pizza (hand-tossed signature pizza dough topped with basil pesto, mozzarella di Bufalo, pancetta and heirloom tomatoes $12), Pancetta Fettuccine (fettuccine tossed in shallots, garlic, mushrooms, oregano and pancetta $15, pictured) and Pancetta Wrapped Beef Tenderloin (beef tenderloin wrapped with pancetta and served with pancetta fingerling potatoes and asparagus in a red wine sauce $28). Pair the pancetta dishes with specialty cocktails or craft brews. 

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Ixcateo Grill First Anniversary Celebration

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Chef Anselmo Ramirez, Ixcateco Grill, 3402 W. Montrose, celebrates the restaurant's first anniversary with a menu of customer favorites.

Named the city's best new restaurant of 2016 by Chicago Magazine the eatery shares, for a limited time (through August 14), a menu inspired the eatery's most popular dishes among patrons, including: Carne Asada (wood grilled skirt steak tomato molcajete sauce, black beans and guacamole), pictured; Ensalada de Betabel (roasted beets, pumpkin seeds, parsley, spinach, grapes, vinegar, pea shoots and sesame seeds. The dessert menu features Tres Leches cake.

             

The menu also includes a housemade margarita mix for guests bringing their own liquour to the BYOB establishment.

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Chango Loco Correction

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Chango Loco, located at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand, celebrates National Rum Day (August 16) with $2 off pina colada and daiquiri drinks (16-oz, normally $11). 

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Forbidden Root Hosts Ping Pong Night

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Forbidden Root, 1746 W. Chicago, hosts a Ping Pong night 8-11 p.m. August 24. Guests are invited to challenge Forbidden Root's founder, Robert Finkel, who is a ping pong master. 

Visitors who take the rootmaster down will win Forbidden Root merchandise. In addition $5 Forbidden Root beers will be available during the event. Additional tables available for open play.

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