III Forks Sommelier for a Day wine tasting

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III Forks Prime Steakhouse, 180 N. Field, will hold a "Sommelier for a Day" wine tasting 5 p.m. August 1; $25.

Sommelier Anton Licko walks guests through a sampling of six different selections from France, paired with hors d'oeuvres crafted by executive chef Hans Aeschbacher; $25. RSVP at 312-938-4303.

Sommelier for a Day Selections

White

Joseph Drouhin ‘Macon-Villages’ 2016

Domaine Gilles Noblet ‘Pouilly Fuisse' La Collonge 2015

Red

Joseph Drouhin, ‘Laforet' Bourgogne, 2015

Justin Girardin, Bourgogne 2016

Domaine Amiot Guy, Bourgogne, 2015

Joseph Drouhin, ‘Cotes de Nuits-Villages’ 2014

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Bon Appetit presents Chicago Gourmets' Hamburger Hop and more

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Bon Appetit presents Chicago Gourmets returns September 26-30 in Millennium Park. Tickets for the highly anticipated and always sold-out Hamburger Hop, taking place 8-9 p.m. September 26, Harris Theater rooftop, 205 E. Randolph are available.

Participating chefs include: Louie Alexakis (Avil Restaurant); Matt Ayala (Cochon Volant Brasserie); Kevin Cuddlhee (TWO); Alisha Elenz (mfk); Corey Grupe (Timothy O'Toole's); Tony Priolo (Piccolo Sogno; Nonnina and Maillard Tavern); Joe Rossi (Miller Pub); Nathan Sears (State and Lake Chicago Tavern) and Jose Sosa (Gibsons Italia). View all scheduled events and tickets.

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HopCat salutes National IPA Day along with new arcade game launch

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HopCat, 2577 N. Clark, salutes National IPA Day August 2 with a $2 discount on all IPA beers.

In addition the venue introduces its new arcade game—Cosmotrons, which integrates a retro feel with modern technology, allowing up to four players to engage in spaceship battle.

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Connie's Lasagne Day special

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Connie's Pizza, 2373 Archer, salutes National Lasagna Day (July 29) with a $5.50 discount off it's Mama Sue's lasagne. The discount reflect the 55th anniversary of the dish's creation.

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Wrigleyville Summer Series' inaugural party kicks off @Moe's Cantina

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Wrigleyville Summer Series' inaugural party kicks off 6:30-9:30 p.m. August 1, Moe's Cantina, 3518 N. Clark, on its new rooftop area. 

Tickets are $10; $5 for Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce members. Or, with the promotional code NEWSLETTER. Purchase.

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Replay's "Office " party

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Replay Lincoln Park, 2833 N. Sheffield, launches its latest television pop-up concept, "The Office,"themed pop-up will be featured July 27-August 20.

Special events include;  "The Office" trivia (July 27 and August 2); Office bingo (August 1); Flonkerton Office olympics (August 3), and the Dundees (August 10).

Themed cocktails include:  Orange-Vod-Juice-Ka (vodka and orange juice); Michael Scott’s "One of Everything (equal parts scotch, absinthe, rum, gin, vermouth, Triple sec, and two packs of Splenda); Cialis-in-Wonderland (Seven and Seven with eight maraschino cherries and sugar on the rim); Scotch and Splenda (tastes like Splenda, but gets you drunk like scotch) and Benihana’s Frozen Margaritas.
                                       
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Shakou Sake Appreciation Night

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Shakou Barrington, 121 Main Street, hosts Sake Appreciation Night, 6:30-8 p.m. July 26. 

Signature cocktails such as TyKu! Fire & Ice martini; Happiness martini; Gingertini, sake mojito will be featured. The first drink is on Tyku.

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Found Kitchen, Sketchbook Brewing and The Talking Farm partner for a super Sunday Supper event

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Found Kitchen and Social House, Sketchbook Brewing and The Talking Farm hosts a Sunday supper built around local ingredients, 5-9 p.m. July 29 at Talking Farm's 2.5 acre Howard Street Farm, 3669  Howard W. Street, Skokie: $150 (inclusive).

Chef Brad Phillips' "Summer of Love" menu will be partnered with Sketchbook selection of brews made exclusively for the dinner pairing. 

Courses include: Passed Appetizers (marinated squash and speck wraps chilled Sun Gold tomato and corn chowder shooter). First Course: (roasted pepper hummus with cucumber salad and grilled pita with Greek yogurt and smoked paprika; Sun Gold tomato and apricot salad with basil, mint, anise hyssop, almond, fregola sarda and frisee). Second Course: grilled pork loin, smoked onion, patty pan squash, dill and farro). Dessert is pound cake with thyme ice cream, stone fruit and whipped cream.

All proceeds benefit The Talking Farm's mission of urban agriculture and farm development projects. Tickets.

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Alice's Table and Artango partner for flower arrangement/cocktail making class

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Kelli Thies hosts a flower making/cocktail tasting event hosted by Alice's Table and Artango Bar & Steakhouse, 4647 N. Lincoln, 6:30 p.m. July 26; $65, includes summer floral arrangement guests can take home. Tickets.

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Portsmith's oyster takeover series kick off

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Executive chef and partner Nate Henssler of Portsmith, 660 N. State, launches a curated Oyster Takeover series featuring a weekly rotation of area chefs beginning July 23.

The restaurant, located in the dana hotel and spa, will offer a rotation of hand-selected seasonal oysters priced $5 per specialty item kicking off with Justin Diglia's, Joe's Stone Crab, (raw Savage Blonde Oyster, pickled green tomato vinaigrette, creme fraiche and radish sprouts, available July 23-29). 

Other chefs include: Brian Enyart, Dos Urban Cantina, (raw Wellfleet oyster with fermented hot sauce and trout roe, available July 30-August 5); Stephen Gillander, S.K.Y. (raw Karama Bay oyster with basil vinegar, migonette and olive oil, available August 6-12; Bill Montagne, Nico Osteria (raw Island Creek oyster, fermented green tomato and caviar, available August 13-19); Christo Vlahos, Portsmith (raw Wianno oyster, makrut lime, cucumber and candied ginger, available August 20-26); and Mark Steuer, Funkenhausen (roasted Barnstable oyster, smoked tomato jam, bacon lardons and buttermilk aioli, available August 27-September 2).

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Long Grove's Muttersholtz Festival

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Buffalo Creek Brewing, 360 Historical Lane, Long Grove, salutes it's one-year anniversary carrying crafted beer, as well as its Bavarian root with a big bash noon to 10 p.m. July 21. 

The event, "Muttersholtz Fest," features brews, barbecue and bluegrass music. Food participants include: BBQ'd Productions; Steamboat BBQ and Chicago Culinary Kitchen. 

Music lineup: Grateful String Band (12 p.m.); Fox Crossing String Band (2:30 p.m.); Anderlik, Otto & Church (5 p.m.) and Henhouse Prowlers (7:30 p.m.). 

A bit of local folklore according to the town's history Long Grove, settled by German immigrants, was originally named Muttershotz (Mother's Wood) for the trees in the area that reminded them of Germany. Tickets are $30, includes admission; one plate of barbecue and one beer; $40, at the door. Purchase.

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Taste of River North July 20-22

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The 17th Annual Taste of River North takes place July 20-22 , Ward Park, 630 N. Kingsbury. 

Food and beverage vendors include: Fogo de Chao; Da Lobster; Big & Little's Restaurant; Pink Taco; SafeHouse Chicago; Maggiano's Little Italy; Hutch American Cafe; Bar Cargo; True Food Kitchen; Wildfire; Texican; Bella Luna Bar and Pizza; The Guiltless Garden; El Campeon Pina Colada and The Lifeway Keifer Shop.

Music lineup includes Friday (July 20): Chick Norris (5 p.m.), Chicago Loud 9 (6:15 p.m.) and Rod Tuffcurls and the Bench Press (8 p.m.); Saturday (July 21): The Shades (noon), Sneezy (1:30 p.m.), Senn Alan Band (2:30 p.m.), The Ars Nova (5:30 p.m.), Sixteen Candles, pictured (7:30 p.m.) and Sunday (July 22): Gramps the Vamps (noon); Marina City (1:30 p.m.); Family Groove Company (3 p.m.) AM Taxi (4:30 p.m.) and Masked Intruder (6 p.m.) 

Hours are 5-10 p.m. (July 20); noon to 10 p.m. (July 21); 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (July 22). A $5 donation at the gate is requested.

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Paws Chicago Beach Party

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The 16th Annual Paws Beach Party fundraiser takes place 6 p.m. July 19, Castaways at North Avenue Beach, 1600 N. Lake Shore Dr.. Sumer cocktail food and dance music, open bar and dog-centric events.  Tickets.

Radio host Lisa Dent from BIG 95.5 emcees the event. Online bidding going on now. Raffle tickets available for purchase.

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Nelson Mandela's Birthday gift

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On July 18 Nando’s Peri-Peri Chicken will donate the first 67 (11 a.m. to 12:07 p.m.) minutes of proceeds from all of its U.S. locations to charitable organizations. The event is in honor of what would have been Nelson Mandela's 100^th birthday. The number stems from the years Mandela gave in his fight for social justice.

Chicago's support effort will benefit Inspiration Corporation, which helps people who are affected by homelessness and poverty improve their lives and increase self-sufficiency.

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Carnavale presents Samba Dance Night

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Carnivale, 702 W. Fulton, kicks off Samba Dance Night 8:30 p.m. July 18. Live DJ provides music while professional dancers will be on hand to share tips. On dance night magaritas, mojitos and sangria will be available for $5.

Dance session is 8:30-10:30 p.m. Upcoming dates are August 15 and September 19.

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Cantina Laredo's nod to National Tequila Day

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Cantina Laredo, 508 N. State, salutes National Tequila Day (July 24) with a round of flights, 3 for $15 available July 20-24.

Choices include: Mezcal (Del Maguey VIA Joven; Los Amantes Joven; Montelobos Joven); Anejo (1800; Cabo Wabo; Cazadores; Corralejo; Don Julio; Gran Centernario; Herradura; Milagro; Patron; Sauza Tres Generaciones); Reposado (1800; Avion; Cabo Wabo; Cazadopres;  Corralejo; Don Julio; Herradura; Hornitos; Maestro Dobel; Milagro; Patron) and Joven (1800; Altos; Avion; Cabo Wabo; Casamigos; Casa Noble; Cazadores; Don Julio; Herradura; Hornitos; Jose Cuervo (Gold); Milagro; Patron; Sauza; Sauza Tres Generaciones; Tanteo Jalapeno ).

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Windy City Smokeout ends today

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Windy City Smokeout, 560 W. Grand, comes to a close today, but there's still a lot fun and food to be had. The event opens at noon.

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Third Annual Tacos y Tamales Festival

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The Third Annual Tacos y Tamales Festival, takes place July 20-22 at 16th and Peoria in Pilsen.

Vendors include: Yvolina's Tamales; Taqueria Los Camales; L'Patron; Dia de los Tamales; Don Pedro Carnitas; Churro Factory; Decolores; La patorna; Aztec Dave's Food Truck; El Campeon and Cemitas Puebla.

The event includes tequila tasting sessions throughout weekend. Tickets.

Hours are 5-10 p.m. (July 20); noon to 10 p.m. (July 21-22). A $5 suggested admission benefits Frida Kahlo Community Organization.

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El Tapeo Modern's Tour de Spain returns

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El Tapeo Modern Spanish Kitchen, 2100 Spring Road in Oak Brook, launches its Fall "Tour de Spain" series 7 p.m. September 13. 

Executive Chef Matthew Cappellini guides guests through the five-course dinner and wine pairing. Tickets for the very limited 8-seat gathering are $85. A $50 non-refundable deposit is required to secure a reservation. Additional dinners in the series are 7 p.m. October 4 and November 15. Reservations can be made at eventbrite.

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