Falgship's Ugly Sweater Event

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Flagship Bar & Grill's, 1622 W. Belmont, Ugly Christmas Sweater party is 7 p.m. Dec. 23. Guest are encouraged to wear the appropriate attire (ugliest holiday sweater in your closet). Holiday drinks, peppermint hot chocolate, eggnog and glog (spiced wine), will be priced $5 each. Activities include an ugly sweater contest; holiday movies and DJ.

*The 3-D sweater pictured is available for purchase at Amazon.

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Hearth Restaurant's Toys For Tots Event

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Hearth Restaurant, 1625 Hinman, Evanston,  hosts a Toys for Tots Drive 5-9:30 p.m. Dec. 20. Guests bringing an unwrapped toy will receive a 40 percent discount off their total bill.

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Coconutz Joins Division Street Venues

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Another new eatery dots Chicago's food skyline. Coconutz, 13 W. Division, featuring island-inspired food and drinks opened today (Dec. 11). The bar is offering specials such as the 1-2 Punch happy hour 4-6 p.m. Deals include $1 off food bites; $2 off wine and $2 off the bar's signature punch (a house-made white rum punch infused with tropical fruits, herbs, and spices mixed with a blend of fresh squeezed juices served in a Thai coconut). During the opening weekend  a select number of people will receive a twenty percent off coupon on a return visit.

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Oyster Bah Now Open

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Oyster Bah, 1962 N. Halsted, a joint venture between Lettuce Entertain and Shaw's Crab House, opened Dec. 9. The seafood-driven eatery, is a mix of East Coast and New Orleans that includes creative items such as stuffies (stuffed clam dish baked with chorizo). The restaurant's Crab Cellar, located on the lower level, features more East Coast oriented items including Alaskan king crab legs; crab cakes and fish and chips.

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Bang Chop Opens Dec. 10

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Bang Chop Thai Kitchen, 605 W. Lake, part of the Saigon Sisters Group, opens Dec. 10 in the West Loop, for dinner service only (lunch will be available beginning Dec. 16).

Executive Chef Matt Riordan and kitchen manager Amy Gajewski bring dishes such as, Holy Thai basil chicken with jasmine rice (pictured); Bang Chop fried rice; krabi pad Thai; and smokin' pad see ew, to the table. 

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Izakaya One-Year Anniversary

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Izakaya Mita, 1960 N. Damen, serves up fan favorites for its first anniversary celebration including: sakura shrimp with egg sauce ($10) and Izakaya family favorite-- sakamushi (Middleneck clams steamed in sushi, dashi, garlic and butter ($18). Guests receive a complimentary glass of Hana Fuga sparkling sake.  

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mk's New Tasting Menu

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mk, 868 N. Franklin, new "tis the season to indulge" tasting menu includes: 

crudo: fluke, turnips, bee pollen, preserved lemon, sourdough crumbs, rosemary sea salt, 2013 Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Gris, Dundee Hills

soup: cumin scented parsnip bisque, boar bacon, charred Fuji apples, 2014 Jane Ventura Blanc Seleccio, Penedes

scallop: maine diver scallops, roasted romanesco, celery puree, red wine syrup, petite swiss chard (pictured), 2011 Domaine Badoz Grains de Poulsard, Côtes du Jura 

squab: roast squab breast, squab leg confit, black trumpet purée, fried salsify, baby leeks, bordelaise,
2013 Minimus ‘Johan Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Willamette

chocolate: dark chocolate cremeux, passionfruit caramel, cashews, crystallized ginger, passion fruit & coconut sorbet, 2008 Samos ‘Anthemis’ Late Harvest Muscat, Greece

Click here to view menu and pricing.

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Begyle Beer Holiday PJ Party

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As part of its Brewery of the Month event Bar on Buena, 910 W. Buena, partnering with Begyle Brewery hosts an ugly pajama party, 7 p.m. Dec. 15.

Featured beers are: Nitro Freebird Pale Ale; Nitro Neighborly Stout; Flannel Pajamas, Imperial Flannel Pajamas and Begyle Christmas Ale (draft of the month).

Pajamas and other nightwear: onesies, robes and moo moos are encouraged, but not required.

For those with mad baking skills a Holiday cookie contest takes place at 8 p.m. Inside tip extra points scored for those using a Begyle brew in the recipe.

round of action movies with holiday themes is also on tap for the occasion, including: "Die Hard," "Batman Returns" and "Lethal Weapon." Gremlins will also be screened. Click here for details.

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Firecakes' Seasonal Selections

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Chef Jonathan Fox of Firecakes, 68 W. Hubbard, has launched four seasonal-inspired holiday donuts available through Dec. 31. Varieties are:

Eggnog (yeast raised donut filled with whipped eggnog mousse, topped with a light eggnog frosting and finished with a touch of ground nutmeg, $2.15); Sugar Cookie (yeast raised donut topped with a sugar cookie frosting and finished with a sprinkle of red and green sugar, $2.15); Chocolate Peppermint Bark (Valrohna chocolate cake donut topped with white chocolate, dark chocolate ganache and crunchy house made peppermint bark: pictured, $2.37) and

Sufganiyot (traditional Hanukkah donut filled with house made raspberry and blood orange jelly, topped with powdered sugar, $2.15).  

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N27 and Tallboy Taco's Sangria Day Salute

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Nacional 27, and Tallboy Taco, both located at 325 W. Huron, salutes National Sangria Day with six specialty blends (red; white; sparkling; passion-ginger; mango-lime; and raspberry-peach) of crafted sangria made with house-infused wine, fruit, liqueurs, spices and brandy, available Dec. 21-23; $5 a glass. In addition Nacional 27 will offer a complimentary salsa lesson 7:30 p.m. Dec. 23.


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Baconfest Tix on Sale Dec. 7

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Early bird tickets for Baconfest, one of the most highly anticipated foodie events, go on sale noon Dec. 7. The tickets will be available for a limited time. The Eighth Annual Baconfest takes place April 30-May 1, UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt. Click here for ticket information. PHOTO: The Cuban Pig's velvet taco: Anne Petersen

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Shaw's NYE Crab Special

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Shaw's Crab House, 21 E. Hubbard, host a two tier NYE celebration in the Oyster Bar, first come first served basis until 9 p.m. Dec. 31, reservations required thereafter. 

The Oyster Bar will offer a crab tower ($100) featuring King crrb bites; Stone crab claws, Empress crab claws; Peeky Toe crab; Golden King crab and two mini bottles of Moet Chandon. Complimentary Champagne toast and oysters will be served when the clock strikes midnight. Big Dog Mercer helps guests rock in the new year.

Reservation for dinner in the main dining room available from 4:30-11 p.m. featuring an a la carte menu of their popular items. The Complimentary Champagne and oysters will be served at midnight as well.

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Geja's Annual Champagne Festival

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Vintages from the Roederer Estates are the highlight of Geja's Cafe, 340 W. Armitage, seasonal salute to the bubbly during its 36th Annual Champagne Festival beginning Dec. 1-Feb, 29 (Leap Day also Sadie Hawkins Day, ladies). 

Highlights of the festival include a Louis Roederer tasting 1 p.m. Dec. 6 and a Roederer winemaker dinner Dec. 7 (sold out). Click here for more details on events.

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