Heaven on Seven's Fat Tuesday Celebration

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When it come to Fat Tuesday Jimmy Bannos of Heaven on Seven, 111 N. Wabash, does it up in a big way. This year's celebration is 5:30-10 p.m. February 28, featuring live music and a special menu to be announced on Facebook next week. Limited space make reservations, 312-263-6443.

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Baconfest 2017 Looking for a Few Good Judges

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Baconfest 2017, March 31-April 1, UIC Pavilion, 725 W. Roosevelt, is featuring a new element, offering guests the opportunity to serve alongside the professionals to be judges responsible for awarding Baconfest chefs The Golden Rasher Awards covering categories that include Most Creative Use of Bacon and Best Front of House Decoration. 

Candidates should post pictures of themselves eating bacon on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram with the hashtag #FutureBaconfestJudge @Baconfestchi through February 22. Three judges will be selected (one for each award segment). Winners will also receive a VIP ticket for a guest to attend. Tickets and more contests details available here.

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Coco Pazzo Cafe and Tres Soldi Concept Merger Complete

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Coco Pazzo Café is now open in its new location at 212 E. Ohio. The popular eatery merged operations with sister restaurant Tre Soldi Trattoria, opening in its spot with a revamped look and joint concept featuring a merged menu of the most popular dishes from both the Tuscan-inspired cafe and Roman-influenced trattoria. Jack Weiss opened the original cafe in 1996.

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aliveOne Bell's Brewery Tapping and New Comedy Night

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aliveOne, 2683 N. Halsted, hosts a Bell's Brewery Hopslam Ale tapping beginning at 5 p.m. February 22. Hopslam beers will be available throughout the evening for $7. In addition guests can enjoy the venue's half-price everything happy hour from 5-7 p.m.

Also, beginning February 19, the bar introduces Living Room Sessions, an open mic comedy platform 6-9 p.m. on Sundays.

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For the Love of Chocolate Annual Fundraiser

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For the Love of Chocolate Foundation's annual scholarship fundraiser, "Floc Noir: An Evening of Mystery and Mayhem," takes place 7:30 p.m. February 25, Union League Club of Chicago, 65 W. Jackson; $150. 

The menu  includes: char sui bbq pork belly; charcuterie, local artisan cheeses and country plate with assorted breads and fruits; cold smoked salmon tartare; Nicoise salad; winter harvest blend of cooked baby vegetables; mini cassoulae; mini million dollar trice baked potato with truffle creme fraiche, caviar and chive; coq au vin and gourmet frites. Also, in partnership with Connie's Pizza the menu will also feature: gluten free pasta and fresh hand made rigatoni  with marinara vodka sauce; Italian beef flatbread and petite cheese calzones. 

Purchase tickets.

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Bunny Slope Opens

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If you can't get to a ski resort hop on over to Bunny Slope, 15 E. Ohio, a new cocktail bar designed like a tradition ski lodge that includes,log cabin timber walls adorned with vintage skis. If you really miss the small there's snowflake tile floors. If you do't feel comfy cozy enough you can always slip into a fuzzy robe to sip your libation.

Christian Hetter, behind the programs of The Berkshire Room and Bodega, has created a list of ski lodge theme drinks that include: Chalet Frappe (cognac, Amer, lemon); Snow-wein (German red wine with mulling spices); Freeze-ling (frozen Alsatian Reisling) and  Apres Ski (blonde rum, Creme de cocoa, averna and dairy)

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Park Grill's Valentine's Day Menu

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Park Gill, 11 N. Michigan in Millennium Park, has designed a special five-course Valentine's Day menu ($45 per person), featuring a main course choice of roasted Amish chicken, whipped Yukon Golds, chicken au jus and woodland mushrooms; petite filet mignon, butter poached asparagus and Hasselback Yukon Gold potato or Hiddenfjord salmon miso glazed, baby bok choy and ponzu.

In addition, all wine bottles under $100 will be offered for half price. 

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Geja's Cafe Valentine's Festival

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Geja's Cafe, 34o W. Armitage, renowned as one of the most romantic restaurant's in the country, extends it's Valentine's Day special February 10-20, offering guests 11 days of romance. Couples can enjoy the restaurant's exquisite fondue along with sipping sparkling rose wines and Champagne. 

Entertainment includes live flamenco dancing and a classical guitarists. 

The Valentine’s festival concludes with the Celebration of Marriage Night, where couples receive an added discount based on the years they have been married. Reservations for the Valentine's Dinner Packages are available now. Photo keepsakes will be available. For more information or to book a reservation, call (773) 281-9101. Valentine's Day (February 14) seatings are currently sold out, waitlist available.  

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Mercadito's Amor Por Favor Dinner

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Mercadito Chicago, 108 W. Kinzie, holds a special Valentine’s Day event. "Amor Por Favor Experiential Dinner," 6-9 p.m. February 13. 

Corporate chef Aldo Ayala's dinner begins the romantic evening with tostada de pulpo enamorado (slow-braised with love and spiced octopus, heart-shaped tostada, tomatillo pico de gallo, roasted garlic aioli, habanero, Serrano chile and micro cilantroaa). Courses to follow are: vientre de puerco (herb-marinated dry roasted pork belly, roasted sweet potato, honey, cinnamon, chile guajillo, piloncillo glaze and micro greens); callo de hacha ( pan-seared diver scallops, stir-fried “fideo” noodles, short rib ragu, garlic mojito and crispy red onions) and carne y ostras (pan seared rib eye steak for two, chile rubbed oyster mushrooms, leek fondue, Seranno osyter scream sauce and crispy oysters. Dinner concludes with Fundido de chocolate (Mexican chocolate fondue, mini churros, homemade marshmallows, strawberries and cinnamon passion fruit whipped cream. 

Dishes will be paired with Jose Cuervo cocktails. Special guest Dustin Miller of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits will be on hand. The cost is $75 per guest. Reservations required.

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Links Taproom's 3 Sheeps Tap Takeover

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Links Taproom, 1559 N. Milwaukee, hosts a 3 Sheeps Brewing Co. tap takeover during its "Baa-lentine's Day" celebration, beginning 6 p.m. February 14. 

Featured beer selections from the Sheboygan-based brewer are: Veneration (13.0% ABV Belgian-style quad with figs and molasses that's aged in rye whiskey barrels); First Kiss (8.2% ABV imperial IPA with honey); Baaad Boy (5.5% ABV black wheat ale) and NitraBerry (3.2% ABV tart blackberry wheat ale on nitro). Beers are priced. $6-$9.

In addition select food and beers will be offered at 20 per cent off. The evening also included a Valentine's Day themed trivia event, prizes and giveaways.

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Forbidden One Year Anniversary Event

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Join in Forbidden Root's, 1746 W. Chicago, first anniversary celebration 5 p.m. to midnight February 17. 

Beer and food specials will be featured throughout the evening. 

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Chicago Firehouse Restaurant Reopens Feb. 3

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The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant, 1401 S. Michigan, reopens, under the kitchen direction of John Caputo, for dinner service 5 p.m. February 3. The restaurant closed after a fire in December 2014. A former south loop firehouse, the historic building was erected in 1905, housing Engine Company 104. The firehouse was turned into a restaurant in 2000. The building was designated a Chicago Landmark in 2003.

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2 Towns Tapping @Macs Wood Grilled

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Cider Summit Pre-party & Tap Takeover, featuring 2 Towns Ciderhouse limited edition releases. Head cider maker Dave Takus will be on hand 7-9 p.m., February 8, Mac's Wood Grilled, 1801 W. Division. Tapping begins at 4 p.m.

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