Space519 Holiday Trunk Shows

Mallory Einstein, whose mre jewelry mre, is favored by some of Hollywood's top celebrities including Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, Winona Ryder, Eve, Paris Hilton and Mandy Moore, presents two holiday trunk shows 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 13-14 at space519 at The Shops of 900 N. Michigan. Items will include earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings priced from $50-$750. space519

Paris Hilton wearing mre jewelry's Fleur de lise pendant (coolspotter.com)

Bow & Stern Oyster Bar Opens This Month

West Town's Bar & Stern Oyster Bar, 1317 W. Chicago, is set to open Dec. 19. Brian Greene, most recently at The Savory, mans the establishment's kitchen. Chef Greene will execute a fishing and farm-to-table menu with more than 60 per cent of the menu devoted to seafood. Highlights include a raw bar with fresh shucked oysters. The restaurant will offer brunch and dinner. bowandsternoysterbar

David Burke's Primehouse's NYE Dinner

Executive Chef Rick Gresh of David Burke's Primehouse, 616 N. Rush, rings in the new year with a special dinner, with menus designed for both steak and non-steak fans, Dec. 31; $82. Pastry chef Jove T. Hubbard adds the crowning touch with a dessert menu that includes his Peruvian chocolate tart; Tahitian vanilla panna cotta with peach Prosecco sorbet and mango sponge cake and Meyer lemon sorbet with crystallized blueberries and raspberry mint marmalade. davidburkesprimehouse

Delish Diner Host Pop-up Garlic Dinner

Chef Alan Lake author of The Garlic Manifesto presides over a six-course dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at Delish Diner, 2018 W. Division; $70. Chef Lake, a three-time winner of of the Delray Beach Garlic Festival's Professional Chef Competition, presents six of his award-winning dishes (see menu below). delishdiner

Chef Alan Lake

Menu:

First
Frisse, Mache, Arugula Herbs with pomegranate, pistachio, honey goat cheese, aged black garlic Dijon vinaigrette
Second
Umami Barleysotto
roasted portobello, parsnip, asparagus, zucchini, yellow squash, tomato, red onion, caramelized cauliflower, elephant garlic
Third
Habibi's Levantine Lamb Kibbe Tartare
(bulgar, Aleppo pepper, mint, garlic confit za-atar crisps, homemade labneh
Four
Scampi
(roasted potstoed, porcini, browned garlic, lemon, cavolo nero, butternut squash, toasted almonds)
Fifth
Lobsang Souchong Tea Smoked Duck Breast
(Japanese eggplant-roasted garlic mousse, braised fennel, charred Brussels sprouts, tangerine-carrot-cinnamon oil, verde coulis)
Sixth
Warm Port Poached Pear
(dried fruit compote, vanilla bean ice cream Stilton-caramelized garlic tuille and iced homemade lemoncello 2011

The Glunz Tavern Champagne Tasting

Sample more than 40 varieties of Champagne and sparkling wines during The Glunz Tavern's, 1202 N. Wells, 10th Annual Champagne Tasting 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 6; $65. Bottles of wines and Champagnes sampled will be available for purchase at discount prices. Food samples, which includes sushi and caviar, will be available for purchase in larger serving sizes. theglunztavern

Timothy O'Toole's Bad Santa-Ugly Sweater Event

Don your tackiest most atrocious sweater for Timothy O'Toole's, 622 N. Fairbanks, ugly sweater party 8 p.m. Dec. 13. Activities include a photo op with Bad Santa and themed giveaways. Seasonal brews (see list below), $5 each and specialty drinks like the Santa shot (Fireball  and Bailey's, $3) will be available. timothyotooles

Christmas Beer List 
Great Lakes Christmas 
Founders Breakfast Stout
Hoppin' Frog Frosted Frog
Goose Island 6th Day
Lagunitas Sucks Holiday Ale
Delirium Noel
Leinie's Vanilla Porter
Green Bush Ursus Old Winter Ale
Scrumpy Winter Solstice
New Holland Cabin Fever
Revolution Fistmas
3 Floyds Alpha Klaus

Delightful Pastries Cookie Extravaganza

December 4 is National Cookie Day. Drop in any Delightful Pastries here for a selection that includes:

§  Linzer Cookies
Buttery cookies sandwiched with either raspberry or apricot jams

§  Mexican Wedding Cookies
Delicious nut cookies that melt in your mouth, dipped in powdered sugar.

§  Viennese Almond Crescents
These melt-in-your-mouth cookies contain no eggs. They are very fragile & hand shaped.

§  Raspberry Kolaczki 
Flaky yeast dough filled with locally made raspberry preserves

§  Apricot Kolaczki
Flaky yeast dough filled with locally made apricot preserves

§  Cheese Kolaczki
Flaky yeast dough filled with delicious cheese filling

§  Pistachio Shortbread
Egg free crunchy Irish shortbread with pistachio

§  Pecan Sables
Buttery French cookies made with delicious pecans

§  Sugar Cookies 
Butter cookies cut in different animal shapes and topped with sugar.

§  Italian Rainbow Cookies
Marzipan layers filled with raspberry and apricot jams, topped with chocolate layer.

Abbey Brown Soap Artisan Salutes Chicago Neighborhoods

Abbey Brown Soap Artisans located in Chicago French Market, 131 N. Clinton, have created three neighborhood inspired olive oil-based soaps: West Town; Gold Coast and West Loop ($5 each). The retailer also has a new seasonal scent: chocolate mint $8.50. abbeybrown

Found's Moveable Feast Dinner Series Continues

Found chef Nicole Pedereson and proprietor Amy Morton hosts an even of pagan ritual and crafted spirits during the third installment of their Moveable Feast dinner series beginning 6:30 p.m. Dec.17 at  Ward Eight, 629 W. Howard, Evanston; $80, plus tax and gratuity. Proceeds benefit Connections for the Homeless. Tarot card readers join in the evening's adventure. Click here for tickets.

Air

Parsnip Soup with Basil and Pistachio Foam

Water

Butter-Poached Sturgeon with Celery Root and Sweet Potato

Fire

Grilled Spicy Goat Sausage with Pumpkin Seeds

Earth

Roasted Beef with Mushrooms, Potatoes, and Raclette

Dessert

Pudding Cake with Blood Orange, Coconut, and Lime

Municipal Bar Turns One

Municipal Bar + Dining Company, 216 W. Ohio, invites guests in to help celebrate its first anniversary beginning at 10 p.m. Dec. 12. Drink specials include $8 Russian Standard cocktails. municipalbar

Two And Goose Island Tie One On

Two Restaurant, 1132 W. Grand, and Goose Island Brewery hosts a free tasting of seasonal brews beginning 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11. Featured beers: Bourbon County Stout; Two More Weeks; Lolita Belgian-style wild ale; Gillian Belgian-style farmhouse ale and Bourbon County Coffee Stout. two

Sunda's Holiday Sweets and Sides

Sunda, 110 W. Illinois, offers unique holiday sides and sweets including chocolate Hawaiian bread pudding, turkey shephard pie and Brussels sprout salad. sunda

The Drawing Room's New Chef and NYE Menu

The Drawing Room, 937 N. Rush, rings in the new year with a menu created by new executive chef Tommy Sheean. The five-course dinner ($85) is listed below; $85. drawingroom

Amuse:

Heart of palm, tangerine, black pepper

1^st Course

Beet Tartare - cucumber, horseradish, crème fraiche, fennel puree

Ahi Crudo - jalepeno, pomegranate, cilantro

2^nd Course

Duck Confit - ravioli en brood, turnip, hazelnut

Roasted Brussels Sprouts - spaghetti squash, preserved lemon, thyme, parmesan

3^rd Course

Halibut - pancetta braised cabbage, maitake mushrooms, charred scallion vinaigrette

Beluga Lentils - roasted winter squash, pickled pearl onion, Romesco, goat cheese

Petite Tender - braised endive, sunchokes, carmelized onion puree, mustard demi

Dessert

Chocolate Crème Brulee, raspberry compote

Bread Pudding, kirsch brandy, cherry, pistachio features