Columbia Yacht Club's Chowdah Fest

The Columbia Yacht Club of Chicago, 111 N. Lake Shore, hosts Da Lobsta at Chowdah Fest event 6:30 p.m. March 31; $55. Judging the chowder contest will be Ina Pinkney, Jimmy Bannos, Sr. and former Blackbird mixologist Lynn M. House. dachowdah

Sunda Wine Dinner

Sunda New Asian, 110 W. Illinois, is hosting a five-course educational wine dinner featuring Far Niente Wines 6:30-8 p.m. April 9; $150. Courses include Japanese Waygu ribeye with Okinawan potato salad paired with 2010 Nickel & Nickel Napa Cabernets, Hayne Vineyard. sundachicago

"Blackhawk's Live" at Old Town Pour House Oak Brook

WGN's Chicago Blackhawk's Live broadcast with coach Joel Quenneville returns 7 p.m. April 1 at Old Town Pour House's new Oak Brook location, 8 Oak Brook Center. Tickets, starting at $75 (includes dinner), go on sale at noon March 27. oldtownpourhouse

Ay Chiwowa! Hosts a Mexican Beer Dinner

Ay Chiwowa!, 311 W. Chicago, partners with Crown Imports to host a Mexican beer dinner 6:30 p.m. April 3; $40. The four-course pairing includes pork tostada with braised achiote pork meat, pickled onions and cilantro partnered with Modelo Especial. aychiwowa

Koi's New Dim Sum Brunch Menu

Chef/owner Sandy Chen of Koi Fine Asian Cuisine and Lounge, 624 Davis, Evanston, launched a dim sum brunch mid month. Selections include short rib with black bean sauce; shrimp and chive dumplings; red bean sesame balls; rice rolls and tofu custard. Items (nearly 60 in total) range from $3.50-$5. koi

Plein Air Cafe Opening

Hyde Park's newest eatery-- Plein Air Cafe, 5751 S. Woodlawn, opens March 24. pleinaircafe

Rack House's New Menu

Chef Nester Soto of Rack House Kitchen & Tavern, 222 E. Algonquin, Arlington Heights, is now offering a new spring menu featuring 20 items under $10 menu that includes ginger soy steak skewers, smoked peel 'n eat shrimp and gluten-free whiskey barbecue rib fingers. rackhouse

Mercadito Spring Cooking Classes

Chef Patricio Sandoval of Mercadito, 108 W. Kinzie, holds two "Spring Awakening" cooking classes 6:30 p.m. March 24-25 at Double A; $55 per session. Chef Sandoval demonstrates how to use seasonal fruits and vegetables in Mexican dishes. The price includes a five-course lunch and cocktails. mercadito

JW Marriott Serves Up Complimentary Cupcakes

Spring is in the air and in anticipation of its arrival executive chef Michael Reich and pastry chef Kimberly Junior of JW Marriott Chicago, 151 W. Adams, will hand out complimentary lavender white chocolate cupcakes in celebration of the change of season 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 20. There's only one catch visitors must be guests at the hotel, Facebook fan or follower on Twitter (proof required). jwmarriott

Mario, Make Me a Model Semi-finalists Unveiled

Online voting begins March 19, 2014 for the next round in the Mario, Make Me a Model 2014 competition sponsored by Mario Tricoci Salons & Day Spas. The public can vote through mid-April for their favorite model. Five of the seven semi-finalists listed below will move on to the finals, a runway competition on May 16, at the Museum of Broadcast Communications.

Desiree White, 22 (Chicago IL)

Julia Swibes, 16 (Munster, IN)

William Lott, 19 (LaPorte, IN)

Ashley House, 17 (Philo, IL)

Kaitlyn Kush, 17 (Oak Forest, IL)

Joseph Dolecki, 21 (Villa Park, IL)

Aireal Boyd, 24 (Fargo, North Dakota)

III Forks Dunn White Sox Burger

The boys of baseball return soon and Chef Billy Caruso of III Forks, 180 N. Field, salutes the season with the Dunn burger (16oz USDA prime beef, three-year aged Hooks Wisconsin sharp cheddar, Raisin River slab bacon with fries; $24.95) for Sox third baseman Adam Dunn. For an addition charge a fried egg ($2.95) and foi gras ($19.95) can be added. The specialty burger is on the bar bites menu. 3forks

Franklin Tap Hosts a Revolution Brewing Event

Franklin Tap, 325 S. Franklin, hosts a Revolution Brewing tapping event 5-7 p.m. March 27. Brews include: A Little Crazy (Belgian-style pale ale) $5, 16oz; T.V. Party (rye IPA) $7, 16oz; 4th Year Beer (Belgian-style quad) $10, 12oz; Bean Gene (barrel-aged Porter with coffee) $9, 10oz and Rise (American stout) $8, 12oz. franklintap

Himalayan Restaurant's Holi Celebration

Himalayan Restaurant and Bar, 8265 W. Golf, Niles, celebrates the India's Holi holiday noon-3 p.m. March 16. The restaurant's lunch buffet will be priced $10.95. Activities include a family-oriented garment tie-dying party. T-shirts will be provided. http://www.himalayanrestaurant.com