Shedd Aquarium and Aurelio's Partner for Valentine's Day Treat

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Make it a family affair Valentine's Day with a visit to the Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore.  Guests purchasing a Total Experience Pass can continue the day with a stop at Aurelio's Pizza (South Loop location), 1212 S. Michigan, for a complimentary deep-dish cookie dessert with your purchase (one per table). Must present pass. Offer valid Feb. 13-14. Too cold to come out order Aurelio's pizza online Valentine's Day.

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Fish Fry Fridays at Dive Bar

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Dive Bar, 3445 N. Halsted, observes the Lenten season with an all-you-can eat Wisconsin-style fish fish Fridays 5-11 p.m. Feb. 12-March 25.

Guests will be feted to all the premium fried fish, house made tartar sauce and curly sea salt fries as they wish ($9.99). Other offerings to choose from include lobster bisque, calamari, crab cake, boom boom shrimp, grilled oysters, seared tuna nachos, shrimp po'boys, lobster roll, seafood boils (clams; mussels; peel and eat shrimp; snow crab; king crab; crawfish), bourbon-infused seared salmon, Asian black bean sea bass and grilled lobster tail. 

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De Noche Mexicana Margarita Day Salute

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De Noche Mexicana, 2714 N. Milwaukee, celebrates National Margarita Day (Feb. 22) with half-priced margaritas including the De Noche Rita (El Charro Silver tequila, orange liqueur, De Noche's fresh mix of citrus juice, regularly $9), $4.50. Available all day. PHOTO SOURCE: YELP

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River Shannon's Cause for PAWS

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The River Shannon, 425 W. Armitage, hosts "Puppy Love," a Valentine's Day eve pet event benefitting PAWS Chicago, 3-5 p.m. Feb. 13. Professional keepsake pictures will be taken of you and your pet ($1 donation suggested goes directly to PAWS animal rescue efforts). 

Guests will be feted to drinks specials that include $3 Mimosas, $4 Goose Island bottles, and $4 Bloody Mary cocktails. Fresh water and doggie treats will be available for pups. 

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Geja's Still #1 Destination For Romance

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Geja's Cafe, 340 W. Armitage, long regaled as Chicago's most romantic dining destination, has made Open Table's 2016 Most Romantic Restaurants in America list. The restaurant was one of only two Chicago restaurants to make the list. The restaurant kicked off a week of romance Feb 7-15. Valentine's eve and Valentine's Day dinner seatings are sold out. 

However, drop in other days during the week to experience a romantic dinner in one of the world's top romantic dining destination as named by The Culture Trip. 

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Tribes Brewery 7th Annual Oyster Fest

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Tribes Brewery, 11220 W. Lincoln, Mokena, hosts its Seventh Annual Oyster Fest Feb. 11-13. 

Owner Niall Freyne (born in Galway, Ireland) brings the tradition of  the Galway Oyster & Seafood Festival (one of the oldest in the world) to his adopted home, featuring fresh oysters flown in from the east and west coasts daily. Eight selections have been hand-selected by Freyne for the occasion. 

Guests can choose their favorites from a raw bar that will be available throughout the celebration ($2.25 -3.25 a piece). Crew will be on hand to shuck selections on the spot. Homemade mignonette sauce (a traditional, spicy sauce made with shallots and vinegar) will be served with every order. Event hours are 4-9 p.m. Feb. 11; 2-9 p.m. Feb. 12; noon to 9 p.m. Feb. 13.


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Fat Tuesday Headquarters

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There's only one place to celebrate Fat Tuesday (Feb. 9) and that's the original Heaven on Seven, 111 N. Wabash, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For the biggest and best New Orleans style party join in the festivities 5:30-10 p.m. 

Chef/owner Jimmy Bannos has the perfect ingredients for celebrating the decadent day of feast, fun and foolery New Orleans style. In addition to award-winning dishes the restaurant will feature drink specials (the Hurricane is not to be missed). Boisterous party-goers having fun, great food and a live band jamming Dixie style. It doesn't get any better. 

Food specials include fried oysters and slab bacon with pepper Meuniere sauce ($16.99); chicken and andouille sausage tamales steamed in banana leaves with Jorge's mole sauce ($13.99); whole roasted shank, red beans and rice with ham broth ($15.99); boudin sausage on smothered greens with black eyed peas, honey Creole mustard sauce ($14.99); seared pork tenderloin on dirty rice, pork debris sauce () and pan seared lemon fish on crab cakes with warm remoulade sauce ($17.99). Taking limited reservations.

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LPZ's Wine & Wildlife Series

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Lincoln Park Zoo's  Valentine's Day themed Wine & Wildlife Series is  6-8 p.m. Feb. 10, held in the Regenstein Center for African Apes, focuses on how the zoo's veterinary staff are conferring with  human-heart specialists to better improve animal health. Cash bar includes hors d'oeuvres. Click here for details.

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III Forks Steak and Potato Martini

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III Forks Prime Steakhouse, 180 N., Field, beefs up its cocktail menu with the Steak & Potatoes martini (Chopin vodka, Vya extra dry vermouth and skewered filet mignon and potato garnish; $13), available beginning Feb. 16. Perfect bar menu pairings include the cheese and charcuterie, ahi tuna, lamb meatballs, beef croustades, steak tartare and sliders. 

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Chicago Retro Ski Lodge Bar Crawl

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The Division Street Chicago Retro Ski Lodge Block Party is 11 a.m. Feb. 6. Bar stops include: She-Nannigan's (official check-in); Butch McGuire's (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.); Coconutz, The Lodge, McFacdden's and Mother's Too (1-3 p.m.); Hangge Uppe and Hopsmith (3-5 p.m.). 

The crawl comes to an end with a closing round of cheer 5-6 p.m. at the Original Mothers. Click here for more information.

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Hart Davis Hart Wine Auction at TRU

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Hart Davis Hart wine auction beginning 8:30 a.m. Feb. 19-20 at TRU, 676 N, St, Clair. Spotlighted items include a range of Burgundy and Bordeaux vintages as well as lots of California wines and rare Madeira. See lot numbers and descriptions below. 

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LOT

16 1982 Château Lafite Rothschild (12 bs) $22,000-32,000

96 1990 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, Case Basse (G. Soldera) (5 bs) $3,800-5,500

137 1997 Opus One (12 bs) $2,200-3,200

500 & 501 1989 Château Pétrus (12 bs) $26,000-38,000

529 & 530 1990 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Assortment (12 bs) $35,000-55,000

719 2000 Musigny, Domaine Leroy (3 bs) $7,500-11,000

1130 1846 Terrantez Madeira, Borges (1 b) $2,000-3,000

1149 & 1150 1860 Bual Madeira, Blandy’s (3 bs) $2,200-3,200

1309 1985 Vosne-Romanée, Cros Parantoux, Henri Jayer (4 bs) $28,000-42,000

1321 1985 Chambertin, Clos de Bèze, Armand Rousseau (5 bs) $10,000-15,000

1327 1985 Clos de la Roche, Domaine Dujac (2 bs) $4.500-6,500

Dine at The Drake

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There's a few days left to dine at Coq d'Ord at The Drake, 140 E. Walton, featuring a Chicago Restaurant Week special of starter choice of market salad or seasonal soup and a second course choice of roasted leg of lamb sandwich or shrimp and fried clam po' boy (pictured) through Feb. 4; $22. 

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The Northman Opening Soon

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The team behind Fountainhead is set to open The Northman, 4337 N. Lincoln, hailed as Chicago's first cider pub, in February.  

The bar has been hosting pop-up events (photo from a pop-up dinner) by way of introducing itself to Chicago's food scene. Under the leadership of cider director Brian Rutzen Northman will feature more than 80 varieties of cider; over 20 craft beers and 18 cider drafts.

Chef Cleetus Friedman's menu spotlights French and English-inspired bistro fare such as house smoked ham and Marie Hare Camembert baguette and cider-braised onion soup with Grand Cru gruyere and toasted rosemary crouton (both found on the lunch menu).

Dinner items include escargot aux Normande with cider butter and a goat milk biscuit; rabbit and prosciutto roulade over corn grits and Yorkshire pudding with braised short rib gravy. 

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