Executive Chef Victor Martinez brings new vision to Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills

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The Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center's, 3500 Midwest Road, Oak Brook, new executive Victor Martinez, is bringing a attitude to suburban hotel dining with his farm-to-table culinary expertise. Chef Martinez, a native to the Chicago area, has implemented a food program resourcing ingredients from the resort's Chef's Garden. 

"I see through ingredients, into their soul,” said Martinez. “Where they came from, what they’re intended to be. My cooking philosophy is to tell the ingredients’ story."

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HVAC serves of blue beer and other goodies for Cubs home opener

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Cubs home opener is April 8 vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates and if you can't make it into Wrigley Field there will be a lot of action outside the park at neighboring venues including HVAC's, 3530 N. Clark, where the venue will feature a Blue Beer Bar and Brunch Party 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Featured items will be hot dogs, eggs, potatoes, peanuts, and Cracker Jacks. 

In addition all-day drink specials include: $100 coolers with either 30 Natural Light Naturdays or alcoholic sparkling seltzer coolers ($100). Other specially priced items include: mimosa, bellini, rosé and sangria towers ($60); 72 canned beer options as well as a lemonade stand serving vodka lemonade and Lynchburg lemonades. Tito's Vodka and Jack Daniels will also be available on tap. In addition live music begins after the game. All attendees must be 21 and over with valid identification. Super early bird tickets are available now. Tickets. 

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Uppers & Downers Chicago 2019

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Uppers & Downers Chicago 2019 one-day break-out event takes place March 30, Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport. Two sessions: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. 

Visitors to the beer, coffee, cocktails and chocolate mixer will be feted with an array of unique food and drink combinations. Must 21 and over to attend. Tickets.

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Brunch with the Bunny @900 North Michigan Shops

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Brunch with the Bunny at Aster Hall at 900 North Michigan Shops 6th floor, takes place 9 a.m. to 7 a.m. April 7. Activities include: one-on-one visit with the bunny and photo session. A second brunch will take place April 14.  Tickets.

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The Fajita Factory is now open in Lakeview

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The Fajita Factory, 3445 N. Halsted, is now open for business. The venue's Latin-inspired menu includes an array of chips & dips (roasted red salsa; salsa verde; jalapeno ranch; house made guacamole), selection of savory empanadas (beef and cheese; smoked chicken; Hawaiian; smoked BBQ brisket; kale and chickpea; buffalo chicken; loaded potato), classic fajitas (chicken; steak; shrimp; veggie), specialty fajitas (kickin' Korean chicken; "don't be a jerk" shrimp; opa! Greek chicken).

Dessert empanadas include: Fruity Pebbles cheesecake; s'mores; bananas foster cheesecake and Oreo cheesecake. Classic and specialty fajitas may be prepared as a salad, or served on a kitschy, compartmentalized silver tray.

Items found on the bar program, served in 20-oz. portions, include: frozen, traditional and fruit-forward margaritas; sangria; blushing Paloma; vodka yuzu caipirinha. Also available is  20-oz. Cervezas on draft and other selections by the bottle.

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III Forks salutes National Oyster Day with $1 oysters

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III Forks Prime Steakhouse, 180 N. Field, salutes National Oyster Day with $1 oysters in the lounge area from 4-7 p.m. March 31.

 In addition flutes of Gratien & Meyer Cremant de Loire Sparkling Rosé will be available for $6, all night. 

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Chicago Donut Fest is April 6

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Chicago Donut Fest 2019 takes place 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 6, Old Crow Smokehouse, 149 W. Kinzie.

Participants include: Allegretti's Bakery; Firecakes; D&D's Place; Dinky Delights; Dip and Sip Donuts; Donut Slut; Krispy Keremes; Mariano's; Moe's Cantina; Old Crow; Roeser's Bakery; Scafuri Italian Bakery & Cafe; Somethin' Sweet Donuts; Stan's Donuts; Westown Bakery; Wishing Well.

Tickets ($30-$35) include donut tasting and 3 drink tickets for beer or mimosas only. In addition to sampling some of the best donuts in town there will be a photo contest and giveaways. Some restrictions apply. All gusts my be 21 and over with valid identification.

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March madness heads to Cantina Laredo

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Cantina Laredo, 508 N. State, serves up four specialty dips during the NCAA March Madness tourney. 

Chef Daniel Espinoza's specialty dips, available through April 6, include: black bean with red pepper and elote relish, $12.50; roasted tomato and pumpkin seed tomatillo pico de gallo, $12.50; traditional guacamole (avocado, charred jalapenos, tomato, red onion, cilantro, fresh lime juice queso fresco, $10.50 and queso con chorizo with jalapeno and tomato, $10. Table reservations. Or, call 312-955-0014.

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Staytion Market and Bar announces spring mixology classes

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Staytion Market & Bar, 1 W. Wacker, launches its spring mixology classes with C2E2 Super Hero Cocktails inspired by The Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (March 22-24, McCormick Place). Cocktails will be made with Few and Rhine Hall brands 5 p.m. April 4.

Other sessions are Star Wars Festival (April 11); Spring Wine Time (April 18) and Aprils Flowers (April 18) featuring cocktails edible flowers. All sessions are 5-7 p.m. The cost is $14 (the price of the cocktail) and offers easy to duplicate at home recipes/

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Rockit Bar & Grill Friday Night Live Event

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Rockit Bar & Grill's, 22 W. Hubbard, Friday Night  Live event March 22 features Wedding Banned, billed as the greatest wedding band on earth. 

Performance begins at 10:30 p.m. Drink specials are $5 PBR and $5 Jameson shots.

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Cantina Laredo salutes National Tamale Day

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Cantina Laredo celebrates National Tamale Day (March 23) with Chef Daniel Espinoza's Tamal Pie with tinga de pollo, crispy tamal crust, choriqueso and red onion cabbage slaw; $11. 

Along with In addition, the modern Mexican restaurant offers spiced seasoned pulled beef tamales topped with roasted red bell peppers, tomatillo sauce, cilantro, queso fresco and roasted chorizo corn (pictured; $9), as well as a la carte tamales ($3.75 each). 

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Saba Italian Bar + Kitchen's new chefs and new menu

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Saba Italian Bar + Kitchen, 2715 North Milwaukee, has two new chefs Executive Chef Jesus Castillo and Chef de Cuisine Juan Ramirez at the he helm along with a new lunch, dinner and brunch menus under their direction.

The menu items include: burrata insalata and a Portobello panini at lunch; pan seared scallops with micro greens, parsnip puree and crispy prosciutto); two 3-oz filet mignon over sautèed spinach, baked potato; fontina fondu reduced barolo  and cipollini onions a and crispy as well as potato gnocchi, grilled chicken pine nuts, calabrian peppers and arugula pesto (pictured) during dinner. The new brunch menu includes items such as banana waffles topped with cookie butter and Nutella and eggs Benedict on prosciutto.

The restaurant also features a kid-friendly menu. Reservations can be made here.

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Taco Tuesday @High Saloon

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High Noon, 1560 N. Milwaukee, hosts Taco Tuesday, with music by Kevin Burns, 7-11 p.m. March 19. Specials are $2 tacos; $3 tequila shots; $20 margarita bowls. 

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Baconfest returns April 5-6

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Baconfest Chicago returns April 5-6, UIC Dorin Forum, 725 W.  Roosevelt. Events include dinner 7-10 p.m. April 5; lunch noon to 3 p.m. April 6; dinner 7-10 p.m. April 6. Early admission tickets are available for all sessions.

Returning participants include:  Atwood; Bangers and Lace; Bistro Champagne; The Chicago Firehouse Restautant; The Dearborn; Duck Inn; Honey Buttered Fried Chicken; NoMi; Smack Dab; Travelle at the Langham; Wrigley BBQ;

New participants include: 90 Miles Cuban Cafe; About Last Night; Blue Door Kitchen and Garden; The Broken Barrel Bar; Bull Dog Ale House; Chicago Artizan; Crio; Gather; Location;
Soul Kantina; Split Rail; The Swill Inn; Taureaux Tavern; Twain; Vinci and VU Rooftop.  Complete list of all participants. Tickets.

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Irish Stroll Bar Crawl

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Irish Stroll St. Patrick's Day Bar Stroll, March 17. Register at Franks Bar, 2503 N. Clark, 1-8 p.m.  

Venues include: Frank's Bar, 1-10 p.m. ($3 PBR & Hamms, $4 shot & drink specials); Matisse Tavern, 674 W. Diversey: 1-10 p.m. ($4 Green Beer, $5 Guinness, $5 Jameson Shot, $5 Shamrock Shot); Marquee Lounge, 1973 N Halsted, 1-10 p.m. ($5 Domestic BH's); George Street Pub, 2858 N Halsted, 2-10 p.m. (TBD); Hubbard Inn, 110 W. Hubbard, 5-10 p.m. (TBD); Public House, 400 N State, 1-10 p.m. (TBD) and Bounce Sporting Club, 324 W. Chicago (TBD). Must be 21 and older to attend. Tickets.

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More St. Patrick's Day festivities

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The Chocolate Sanctuary, 5101 Washington Street, Gurnee, serves up Irish-inspired dishes  that include salmon with mixed green salad (6-oz pan seared brown butter salmon over walnut guacamole. Served with a mixed green salad with radishes, cucumbers and toasted walnuts tossed in balsamic vinaigrette; $22; fish sandwich (tempura whitefish with lettuce, tomato, coleslaw and Dijon tartar sauce, served on a house-made bun, $14); corned beef (braised corned beef served with cabbage, cocoa and butter roasted carrots, potatoes, and whole-grain mustard, $18 and Shepard's pie (ground lamb with peas, carrots, corn, celery, onions, and chocolate shake Porter, topped with garlic mashed potatoes, $16). 

Other specialty items: Dulce chocolate pots de creme (caramel, Peruvian dark chocolate ganache center, topped with whipped cream and sea salt toffee popcorn, ($6, pictured) and Sham-tini (chocolate vodka, crème de menthe, Bailey’s and cream, topped with whipped cream and shaved chocolate, ($6)

Other St. Patrick's Day weekend events:

Bracket Room, 1315 S. Halsted, hosts a Southern Creole brunch and party 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 16. Beats by Criag E. and Joe Kollege.

High Noon, 1560 N Milwaukee, hosts St. Patrick's Day Funday Sundayparty takes place 2-8 p.m. March 17. Specials include: $5 green beer; $6 Jameson shots and $7  Guinness drafts. DJ Joe Kollege

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Binny's March Madness open house

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Binny's Depot, 213 W. Grand, hosts Hop Tour Madness Open House from 6-8 p.m March 15. Featured brews include: Hopsolution Ale (Double India Pale Ale); Official (Hazy India Pale Ale) and Two Hearted Ale (American IPA). Samples and giveaways while supplies last.

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St. Patrick's Day events

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The traditional dyeing of the Chicago River begins at 9 a.m. March 16. The official city-sponsored St. Patrick's Day Parade, kicking off at Balboa and Columbus, begins at noon.

One of the day's biggest events is the Chicago River Crawl takes place 8 a.m. to noon March 16. Bars include: Old Crow Smokehouse; Point and Feather, Theory, 10 Pin, AceBounce, Bar Cargo, Boss Bar, Fat Baby Tacos, Ironside, Social Twenty Five, Jojo's Milk Bar, Moe's Cantina, Moxy Hotel, Old Crow, Pink Taco, Rock Bottom (2nd floor), Tunnel and Underground (subject to change); $50-$75. Tickets.

Other St. Paddy's Day celebrations:

Apogee, 2 W. Erie, hosts a rooftop party 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 16.  Tickets.

Bar Louie, 333-35 N. Dearborn, hosts a morning party, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. March 16; $35-$50, includes breakfast and green beer. Tickets.

Divine Lounge, 233 E. Ohio in the Ivy Hotel, features green drinks and bites available beginning noon March 16. Food and drink items include: Green Beer ($6); Irish mules ($12); sour apple cocktails ($10); mint mojitos ($12); green pancakes ($12); avocado toast ($13) and spinach smoothies ($7). For more details call, 312-335-5444.

Five Saints Bar Crawl, five neighborhoods (Division Street; Lincoln Park; Logan Square River North and Wicker Park) 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Some locations sold out. Tickets.

Park Grill, 111 N. Michigan, salutes St. Patrick's Day parade goers with delectable specials such as corned beef sandwich made with Manny's corned beef with beer mustard on marble rye (can be converted to a Reuben with the addition of Swiss cheese, beer infused kraut, 1000 Island dressing ) The Chipper, 312 beer battered Atlantic cod, remoulade; lemon and fries ; Pot 'O Gold (fried beer battered Wisconsin cheddar cheese curds with honey mustard) and Irish Mule (Jameson, ginger beer and lime juice. The restaurant opens at 11 a.m. March 16.

Timothy O'Toole's Streeterville Weekend Celebration, 622 N. Fairbanks, begins it's celebration 8 a.m. March 16 (festivities begin 10 a.m. March 17) with an Irish-inspired menu and drink specials, live music and that includes a DJ spinning music all day and night; Joe the Leprechaun will be on hand starting 10 a.m. and the Shannon Rovers Irish Bagpipe Band will perform from 2 to 7 p.m. each day. Beer tubs, body painters and a Guinness bar will round out the festivities. Prizes and giveaways include a flat screen TV, t-shirts, crazy St. Pat's hats, blow-up dolls, gift cards, happy hour parties and more. On March 17, the NCAA tourney "Selection Sunday" will be shown on 72 screens. A $5 cover charge will be collected at the door on both days ($10 includes a t-shirt). A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Chicago Veterans charity, ChicagoVets.org. 

St. Patrick's Day Booze Cruise, 9:30 p.m. March 15, Anita Dee II; $40-$60. Boards at DuSable Harbor, 200 N. Breakwater Access. Tickets. 

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State and Lake Chicago Tavern salutes National Pi Day

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Pastry Chef Toni Roberts, State and Lake Chicago Tavern at theWit Hotel, 201 N. State, is featuring $1 slices of chess pie beginning at 4 p.m. March 14 in honor of National Pi Day.

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Punch Bowl Social and Goose Island beer event

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Punch Bowl Social and Goose Island Brewery partner for a dinner 6-9 p.m. March 14 at Punch Bowl Social, 310 N. Green: $50, includes 4 8-oz. pours, buffet of appetizers and commemorative pint glass. Tickets. 

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Kizuki Raman and Izakaya go green for St. Patrick's Day special

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Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya, both Lincoln Park and Wicker Park locations, is featuring $1 sake bomb offer with any ramen purchase March 11-17.  Guests can also upgrade to green (kale) noodles, normally $1.50, for free. PHOTO: Vanessa Vu Designs.

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Midnight Pig Tap Room's Bell's beer and Bingo event

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Midnight Pig Tap Room, 1557 Sherman Road, Evanston, hosts Bingo with Bell's Brewery, 7 p.m. March 13. Four brews, to be determined, will be features. Bingo battles kick off at 7 p.m. Prizes to be awarded.

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