Harvest Moon Host April Fool's Party

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The April 1 International Renedzvous Saturdays at Moon Harvest, 1805 W. Division, is an April Fool's Party, kicking off at 10 p.m. 

Drinks specials for the occasion include: $3 PBR beer; $6 Jamo shots; $150 vodka bottle and a three-bottle special (Grey Goose, Mini Patron Tequila or Jameson bottle and Champagne); $300. The kitchen will be open into the wee hours with the party going on until 3 a.m.

Ladies, in groups of five, receive a complimentary bottle of Champagne and round of Harvest moon shots before the bewitching midnight hour hits. No cover with password: moon.

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NaKorn Thai New Year Celebration

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NaKorn, 1622 Orrington, Evanston celebrates Songran, the Thai New Year April 13-23, with food and drink specials including half-priced Thai beer selections during dinner only. 

Food dishes include crab cake bite (crab meat, pork, taro and water chestnuts, wrapped in soy paper and served with beet infused lotus root, plum, spring greens and house made plum gastrique); braised chicken with spicy roasted chili curry, kaffir lime leaf a 65 degree egg with tamarind-palm sugar dressing, crispy shallot chips, cilantro and spring veggies.

The specialty drink is the NaKorn 75 (lemongrass-infused Blaum Bros. Lead Mine Moonshine, fresh lemon, palm sugar, coconut-lemongrass tincture and Prosecco, served in a flute).

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Urbanbelly Offers Complimentary Dessert

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Urbanbelly, 1400 W. Randolph, offers the perfect complimentary dessert to diners on National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day (April 2): soft-serve vanilla ice cream topped with peanut butter crunch and berry compote, free with entree purchase.

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Bar Lupo's Business Catering Service

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Bar Lupo, 217 W. Huron, is now offering restaurant-style business catering an array of meatball dishes, including Cheese-stuffed crispy meatballs (pictured) and other variations including spaghetti and meatballs, meatball hoagies. Also available pasta and truffles, classic chicken parmesan and various hoagies. Orders placed here.

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Kanela Partners with La Colombe Coffee and Mighty Leaf Tea

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Kanela Breakfast Club, (Andersonville, Lakeview, Old Town, Wicker Park and Streeterville) has entered a joint venture with La Colombe Coffee Roasters and Mighty Leaf Tea. 

The partnership kicks off April 18 with free coffee (dine-in guests only). Visitors on kick-off day will be entered in a raffle to win a gift basket (one per location) of La Colombe and Kanela swag that includes a 12-ounce bag of La Colombe coffee, a Draft Latte 4-pack, one travel and one diner mug, a selection of teas and a $25 Kanela gift card.

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Fig & Olive Launches Sunday Jazz Brunch

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Fig & Olive, 104 E. Oak,  launches a French Riviera-inspired jazz brunch beginning April 2. 

The brunch, featuring crostini selections such as crab cake with horseradish, preserved lemon may and cilantro; quinoa salad with red cabbage, squash, pomegranate, orange, Brussels sprout with citrus dressing, Riviera poached egg and cured salmon, horseradish, hollandaise sauce, mixed salad and French toast with fig cinnamon jam, seasonal fruit, vanilla whipped cream, will be available noon to 3 p.m. Sundays.

Also look for the F&O burger (beef burger, tomato, pickled onion, choice of cheese, chef's sauced served on a bun) and grilled smoked hangar steak with baby kale, arugula, pine nut, romesco, almond and hazelnut on the menu. 

A rotating music lineup kicks off with Dave Rice.

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Sunda Expands to Nashville

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Sunda, the popular Billy Dec eatery in River North, is opening a Nashville location fall 2017.

The Rockit Ranch Inc. property partnered with Nashville-based Fresh Hospitality for the venture. Current Sunda chef de cuisine and partner Michael Morales will relocate to Nashville to serve as executive chef at the new location at 595 12th Avenue South in the Gulch community. Look for new menu details as opening date nears.

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Coconutz Spring Break Beach Party and Trip Giveaways

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Can't make it to any of the hot spring break destinations, no worry. Coconutz Chicago, 13 W. Division, hosts four days of Spring Break beach parties March 29-April 1. 

March 29-30 guests will be feted beach bingo and the ukulele tunes of Johnny Lono, King of Tiki Music, 8 p.m. to midnight. 

March 31-April 1 DJ led dance luau party kicks off at 10 p.m. carrying into the wee hours of the morning (4 a.m.) with plenty of  Tiki cocktails, floral leis and beach balls. A body painter will be on hand. 

A best dressed contest takes place each night. Drinks specials, including $1 Coronitas, will be available from 8-10 p.m. nightly.

In addition a giveaway for an Apple Vacation for two will be held during each party. All guests attending the parties will receive a raffle ticket for the drawing taking place a the stroke of midnight. The lucky winners head off to Cancun, Mexico for a three-night stay. 

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GreenRiver to Host Benefit Dinner

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GreenRiver, 259 E. Erie, hosts a benefit dinner featuring Chicago chefs and mixologists April 2. 

The event, Food Gives Me Hope, benefiting Hope for the Day, a non-profit organization specializing in suicide prevention and education, will offer multiple seatings for its six-course dinner. The the first seating is 5 p.m.; the last is 9 p.m. 

Participating chefs and mixologists include: Brian Ahern (Boeufhaus), Andrew Brochu (Roister), Abe Conlon (Fat Rice), Aaron Lirette (GreenRiver), Micah Melton (The Aviary/Office), Noah Sandoval (Oriole), and Freddie Sarkis (formerly of The Broken Shaker). Tickets are $250. One hundred per cent of the will be donated to the organization. PHOTO: ABE CONLON, FAT RICE, (CHICAGO EATER)

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Osteria La Madia Closing

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Osteria La Madia, 59 W. Grand, after nearly ten-years in River North is closing. Under the helm of Jonathan Fox the restaurant was among the first establishments in Chicago to serve wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza The restaurant is set to close it's door after dinner service March 25.

Chef/proprietor  Jonathan Fox, said his focus will be building up the Firecakes Donuts brand, along with the company's restaurant consulting business, 3Sixty.

"Our goal was to create a modern Italian restaurant that would allow Chicagoans to thoroughly enjoy a contemporary Italian experience, and we are pleased that we made so many people happy. We're glad that Osteria La Madia was a casual and fun place to relax and enjoy," Fox said.

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Tallboy Taco Chip and Dip Day Special

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Tallboy Taco, 325 W. Huron, celebrates National Chip and Dip Day 5-10 p.m. March 23 with half-off all dips that include selections such as house made chips and salsa (regularly $3); mild or spicy guacamole (regularly $6); corn fundido (corn, queso, lime, cilantro and beer queso, regulary $6.75) and beer queso (pepper jack and chihuahua queso, shishito peppers, regularly $7). 

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Tuscany Wheeling Rodney Strong Wine Dinner

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Tuscany in Wheeling, 550 S. Milwaukee, hosts a wine dinner 6:30 p.m. March 31 spotlighting vintages from Rodney Strong Vineyards, Sonoma Valley. 

Wine representative Jim Donato leads guests through an evening of wines selected for the five-course dinner pairing; $70 (applicable taxes/fees apply). 

Executive Chef Bolla Loza, menu is listed below:

MENU:

STUZZUCHINI

Chef's selected passed hors d'oeuvres

Paired with: Maschio Prosecco

ANTIPASTO

Tartara di Tonno

Ahi tuna tartare, avocado, green onions, lemon juice, Italian parsley, evoo, with fried capers

Paired with: 2015 Rodney Strong Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County

IL PRIMO

Risotto alla Parmigiana con Quaglia

Acquerello rice, parmigiano cheese, and quail

Paired with: 2014 Rodney Strong Pinot Noir, Russian River

IL SECONDO

Rotolino di Manzo

Beef braciole, prosciutto, Fontina cheese, mushrooms, Taggiasca olive, onions, touch of tomato, creamy organic polenta

Paired with: 2014 Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County

IL DOLCE

Millefoglie

Thousands layers puff pastry, pastry cream, fresh berries, drizzled with homemade creamy Limoncello

Space is limited. Reservations required by calling 847.465.9988

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Nacional 27's March Madness Margaritas

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Nacional 27's, 325 W. Huron, March Madness margaritas will be around through March 31. Along with the regular cocktail menu the restaurant has added  three specialty libations: Peaches & Dream (Casamigos Tequila Blanco, Grand Marnier Raspberry Peach Liqueur, raspberry puree, white peach puree, lime); Tequila Thyme Casamigos (Tequila Reposado, anejo rum, triple sec, strawberry puree, thyme, lime, grapefruit bitters) and Orange-U-Hot (Casamigos Tequila Anejo, anejo rum, peach schnapps, agave, habanero, orange juice, available through March 31 ($10 each). 

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Jerry's International Whiskey Day Salute

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Jerry's Sandwiches, Lincoln Square (4739 N. Lincoln) and Andersonville,(5419 N. Clark) toast International Whiskey Day (March 27) with a 20 percent discount on all glass pours (2 oz.) and taste (1.25oz) all day. The menu curated by Kentucky Colonel Trey Elder, features more than 50 different varieties of American whiskey.

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Vermilion's New Dosa/Frankie Brunch Bar

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Vermilion, 10 W. Hubbard, has launched a Dosa/Frankie brunch bar available Friday through Sunday. Dosas, rice lentil crepes (made with the restaurant's own batter)  are traditionally served with a potato filling, hot sambar and coconut chutney. Vermillion features traditional, along with eight other Indian-Latin fusion fillings.

Frankies (popular Bombay street fare) are kabob-stuffed grilled paratha with layered  with egg, pickled onions and chutney. 

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McQ's March Sauce Madness

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McQ's Bar & Grill's, 730 N. Bolingbrook Drive, Bolingbrook, annual Sauce Madness is back through April 3, a new match-up of 16 of their sauces on their crispy popcorn chicken kicked off March 16 with "Butter Buffalo Parmesan" against the "Orange Teriyaki." The March 17  match-up pits Smoked Pineapple Jalapeno against Mole. 

Other match-ups include: Salsa Roja vs Thai Peanut (March 18); Carolina BBQ vs Sweet Onion Balsamic (March 19); Dr. Pepper BBQ vs "Wild Curry (March 20-21) and Sweet Honey Mustard vs Mango Jerk (March 22). Visit for complete lineup. Winning sauces will be announced April 23.

McQ's will offer an extensive lineup of  domestic and craft beer along with game day food specials.

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III Fork Host Marchesi Antinori Wine Dinner

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III Forks Prime Steakhouse, 180 N. Field, hosts a Marchesi Antinori wine dinner 7 p.m. April 12; $125. The evening gets underway with a welcome reception at 6:30 p.m. RSVP: 312-938-4303 

Antinori representative Chris Smarto  leads participants through the history of the estate as well as the characteristics of Antinori wines, including 2013 Tignanello. 

Executive chef Cedric Harden's menu: 

Course One

2014 Castello Della Sala San Giovanni Della Sala

Charred Octopus Salad with grapes, watermelon radish, champagne vinaigrette

Course Two
2013 Cabernet Sauvignon

Braised Rabbit Ravioli with rabbit sugo, grana padano, pea shoots

Course Three
2013 Tignanello

Dry Aged Ribeye with escarole, huckleberry reduction

Course Four
Guado al Tasso Bruciato

Chocolate Extravaganza  

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Bang Bang Pie's "Perfect American" Salute

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Chicago Opera Theatre and Bang Bang Pie and Biscuit Shop join for a venture saluting the theater's production "The Perfect American," pie party, 7:30 p.m. March 27, Bang Bang Pie and Biscuit, 4947 N. Damen. Tickets. 

The event salutes the theater's production of "The Perfect American" the last three months of Walt Disney's life, 7:30 p.m. April 22; 3 p.m. April 30, Harris Theater of Dance, 201 E. Randolph. Tickets.

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