Replay's "Office" pop-up bar returns with holiday themed parties

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The Office pop-up returns to Replay Lincoln Park, 2833 N. Sheffield, featuring weekly themed holiday parties beginning December 6-12 with the Classy Christmas. Subsequent events are:  The Ugly Sweater party, December 7; Moroccan Party, December 13-19; Dwight Christmas party; December 20-27 and The Ultimate New Year's Eve Celebration, December 31.

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Wow Bao partners with Marine Corp's Toys for Tots

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Wow Bao, participating locations, have partnered with Marine's official Toys for Tots organization. Guests who bring in an unwrapped toy (through December 13), will receive a free meal, valued up to $10. Guests must present the toy the cashier or tech concierge at a location listed below.

Chicago area locations are: Michigan Avenue (200 N Michigan Ave), Lakeview (2806 N Clark St), Gold Coast (1 W Division St), Near North (46 E Chicago), Theater District (1 W Upper Wacker Dr), and Michigan Plaza (225 N Michigan Ave).

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National Coquito Festival

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National Coquito Festival takes place 6-9 p.m. December 5, Puerto Rican Art Alliance (PRAA) Center, 3000 N. Elbridge; $75. 

Guests will enjoy an open beer and wine bar; 3 cocquito tasting stations; food and live music. A portion of the proceeds will benefit PRAA's Chicago For Puerto Rican Artist Vitality Fund, an effort to help rebuild post Puerto Rico's music industry post Hurricane Maria. Tickets. 

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Slurping Turtle's holiday ramen bowl

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Slurping Turtle, 116 W. Superior, has introduced a specialty holiday dish—Festivus Ramen bowl (braised turkey, shio broth, buttered corn, togarashi green beans, potato wedges, scallions, spicy tonkotsu gravy with cranberry chutney); $15, available through December 24. Pair it with the Feats of Strength hot apple toddy (whiskey and apple cider); $9.

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IO Godfrey rooftop lounge gets winterized

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The Godfrey Hotel, 127 W. Huron, launches it's Winter Wonderland at IO Godfrey rooftop lounge. The outdoor holiday adorned rooftop area is as cozy as the indoors with heat lamps, heated clear igloo-style domes (rented).

The venue will feature a special celebration 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. December 24. Guested will enjoy a DIY hot coca station; bunch items; hot cocktails, outdoor fire pits will be available for for toasting s'mores  and live music. A play room will be offered for kids. Special guest Santa makes the rounds from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $39, adults; $12, children. Reservations: 312-374-1030.


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Binny's Hyde Park hosts Champagne tasting

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Binny's Hyde Park, 1240 E. 47 Street, hosts a Champagne tasting event 1-3:30 p.m. December 1.

Ten percent discount on all Champagne orders December 1. Also, Binny's will donate $1 from the sale of each Clark and Sheffield wine purchase. 

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TheWit's winter pop-up shop features holiday-themed sweets for purchase

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TheWit Hotel, 201 N. State, is offering her exclusive holiday sweets available for purchase at theWit’s Winter Wonder Pop-Up Shop, beginning December 1. 

Executive Pastry Chef Toni Roberts's holiday lobby display this year is an Edible Ice-Skating Holiday Gingerbread Village, atop a six-foot table. The gingerbread display will have a few items available for purchase such as peanut butter penguins and passion fruit coconut polar bears, along with holiday-themed treats such as Get Lit! hazelnut holiday lights and Gingerbread mocha macarons. 

Packaged treats will be available for purchase at the pop-up shop (daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ) Or, at www.abitofthewit.com. Orders can be picked up at the hotel.

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Undergrounds throws a Repeal of Prohibition party

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Underground, 56 W. Illinois, hosts a 75th anniversary of the Repeal of Prohibition Fine Whiskey and Spirits Tasting beginning 8:30 p.m. December 6. Early sales are $17.50 (regular price $35), with the promotional code REPEAL through December 3. Tickets. 

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Cantina Laredo offering holiday tamales trays to-go

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Cantina Laredo, 508 N. State, is featuring holiday tamales to go; $16.95 per dozen. 

Selections are beef tamale (spiced shredded beef wrapped in corn masa, served with mild chili sauce and chicken tamale (chicken simmered in a spiced verde sauce, wrapped in corn masa and served with tomatillo sauce. Orders must be placed at least six hours in advance, now through Christmas Eve and will be available for pick up at the restaurant. Orders can be placed at 312-955-0014. 

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The Barn Steakhouse kicks off its winter wine dinner series with Brewer-Clinton Winery

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The Barn Steakhouse, 1016 Church, Evanston, kicks off its winter wine dinner series with selections from California's Brewer-Clinton Winery, 6:30 p.m. December 5: $100 (excludes tax and tip).

Special guest Greg Brewer will be on hand for a meet-and-greet. Evening selections include the winery's award-winning Chardonnay and Pinot Noir varietals paired with some of the restaurants most popular dishes. Tickets.

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Virtue Restaurant & Bar now open in Hyde Park

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Chef Erik Williams formerly of MK, heads up kitchen duties at Hyde Park's newly opened Virtue Restaurant & Bar, 1462 E. 53rd Street.

Under Williams' helm the restaurant offers traditional southern cooking developed from family recipes. Menu items, which range from small bites to large entrees and sides include: biscuits with homemade butter and pimento cheese, gumbo, gizzards and mustard greens. Large plates include: pork chops, beef short ribs, roast half chicken and catfish blackened with Carolina gold rice and barbecue carrots.

Cocktails a crafted drink menu include: Patience is a Virtue (Pierre Ferrand 1840 Original Formula Cognac, Averna, pear liqueur and barrel-aged bitters); Nana's (gin, lemon, rosemary and orange bitters) and the the Duke of Earl (earl grey tea, star anise, lemon and egg white). Reservations are available.

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Caffé Umbria launched gift-giving program benefitting Friend of the Children

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Caffé Umbria, Logan Square (2545 W. Armitage) and River North (346 N. Clark) locations launched a a gift-giving program benefitting Friends of the Family, November 23 and continues through December 12. 

Customers donating a gift for the Friends of the Children gift drive will receive a complimentary espresso. Gift donations can be in the form of food, clothes, toys, books, family board games, blankets gift cards and a host of family related items. Learn more about Friends of the Children, a nonprofit organization working toward breaking the cycle of poverty.

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Pop-up "Golden Girls" dinner

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Chef Stephen B presents "Dinner on the Lanai, a Golden Girls themed pop-up dinner, 7 p.m. December 7, Get in the Kitchen 3617 N. Broadway; $79. 

The television show's inspired dishes include: Rose's Sr. Olaf salad (Gotham greens, smoked herring); Sophia's Little Slice of Sicily orecchiette with smokey blue cheese and walnut; Big Daddy's beef short rib with squash puree and fall succotash and Golden Miami cheesecake with strawberry glaze, Key lime curd and millefeuille crunch.

Jason Bas will demo the Stanley Zbornak toasted pierogi (butternut squash, braised pork and bourbon maple sauce). Tickets.

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