lizseymour
02-21-2008, 12:34 AM
Chicago Restaurant Week: Eat it up! That’s your new mantra, beginning Friday, Feb. 22, as Chicago kicks off its first annual Restaurant Week (http://www.choosechicago.com/eatitup). The celebration offers savory experiences, compliments of Chicago’s remarkably talented chefs, for residents and visitors alike. Forty local restaurants will offer three-course prix-fixe lunches for $21.95 and three-course prix-fixe dinners for $31.95 (excluding all beverages, tax and gratuity). Chciago Restaurant Week runs through Friday, Feb. 29. A week just scratches the surface, too, considering SAVEUR magazine named Chicago “America’s New Culinary Star” and devoted its October 2007 issue to Chicago’s world-class dining – the first time the magazine has ever dedicated an entire issue to any city. Participating restaurants include: 17/west at the Berghoff, Aigre Doux, Alhambra Palace Restaurant, Aria, Atwood Café, Bluewater Grill, Bistro 110, Brazzaz, Bucca di Beppo, Café des Architectes (Sofitel Chicago Water Tower), Carnivale, China Grill (Hard Rock Hotel), David Burke’s Primehouse (The James Chicago Hotel), Devon Seafood Grill, Dine Restaurant, The Drawing Room at Le Passage, Fogo de Chao, Fulton’s on the River, Kiki’s Bistro, Landmark Grill & Lounge, The Lobby (The Peninsula Chicago), NAHA, Nick’s Fishmarket Grill, one sixtyblue, Park Grill, Phil Stefani’s 437 Rush, Prosecco, Pump Room (Ambassador East Hotel), Riva (Navy Pier), Republic Pan-Asian Restaurant & Lounge, Roy’s, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Seasons Café & Lounge (Four Seasons Hotel), Shor (Hyatt Regency McCormick Place), Shula’s Steak House (Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers), Smith & Wollensky, Sullivan’s Steakhouse, SushiSamba rio, Viand (Courtyard by Marriott Chicago Downtown), Zest Restaurant (InterContinental Hotel Chicago). Instant online reservations are now being accepted in partnership with http://www.OpenTable.com.
Brunch with Beat(les): Sunday morning is a great time to just let it be – and leave the cooking to someone else. Dick’s Last Resort (http://www.dickslastresort.com) has your ticket to ride in someone else’s kitchen with the Sunday Beatles Brunch, an all-you-can-eat brunch and live music by Beatles tribute band The Cavern Beat. Menu items include: assorted salads, waffles, pasta, smoke-glazed salmon, glazed ham and roasted turkey, made-to-order eggs and omelets, Canadian bacon, crab cakes, desserts and more. A Bloody Mary bar is also available. The brunch begins at 11 a.m., and costs $19.99; $6.99 for kids under 12.
Primary Laughs: Between polls, press and votes, there’s plenty of fodder for laughs. The Second City (http://www.secondcity.com) has mined these for its revue Between Barack and a New Show. Between Barack and a New Show presents the best of The Second City’s hit revue Between Barack and a Hard Place while mixing in original scenes and songs reflecting the current state of the union. The cast of Between Barack and a New Show includes Joe Canale, Ithamar Enriquez, Shelly Gossman, Brad Morris, Amber Ruffin, and Emily Wilson. The show schedule and ticket prices are as follows: Friday and Saturday: 8 p.m. & 11 p.m., $25; Sunday: 7 p.m., $19.
A Toast to Magnificence: Corks are popping along the Magnificent Mile this month during TOAST on the Magnificent Mile (http://www.themagnificentmile.com/SeasonalEvents/Winter/default.cfm). Moët & Chandon will bring luxury champagnes to the North Michigan Avenue area for a month of indulgence and celebration. Adding more buzz to the event is an impressive fireworks display, illuminating the sky every Saturday at 6:30 p.m. over the Chicago River. The champagne experience takes place in many Magnificent Mile hotels, restaurants, and retail locations. Check the website for a complete list of celebrations and exclusive offers.
Salute the Seas: Set sail indoors at the Chicago History Museum’s Chicago Maritime Festival (http://chicagohistory.org/planavisit/upcomingevents/special-events) Celebrate Chicago's diverse marine community and heritage on Saturday, Feb. 23. Daytime activities include seminars, workshops, films, and exhibitions on underwater archeology, the Eastland ship, lighthouses, model shipbuilding, diving, voyaging, and tall ships. The evening brings the Maritime Music Concert, which brings together musicians from around the country and across the sea, including Dick Holdstock and Allan MacLeod, Debra Cowen, Walter Askew, Tom and Chris Kastle, and the Northern Neck Chantey Singers. Tickets $25 for both festival and concert, $10 festival only, $20 concert only, Children under 12 free. The festival kicks off at 10 a.m., and the concert runs from 7–10:30 p.m.
Brunch with Beat(les): Sunday morning is a great time to just let it be – and leave the cooking to someone else. Dick’s Last Resort (http://www.dickslastresort.com) has your ticket to ride in someone else’s kitchen with the Sunday Beatles Brunch, an all-you-can-eat brunch and live music by Beatles tribute band The Cavern Beat. Menu items include: assorted salads, waffles, pasta, smoke-glazed salmon, glazed ham and roasted turkey, made-to-order eggs and omelets, Canadian bacon, crab cakes, desserts and more. A Bloody Mary bar is also available. The brunch begins at 11 a.m., and costs $19.99; $6.99 for kids under 12.
Primary Laughs: Between polls, press and votes, there’s plenty of fodder for laughs. The Second City (http://www.secondcity.com) has mined these for its revue Between Barack and a New Show. Between Barack and a New Show presents the best of The Second City’s hit revue Between Barack and a Hard Place while mixing in original scenes and songs reflecting the current state of the union. The cast of Between Barack and a New Show includes Joe Canale, Ithamar Enriquez, Shelly Gossman, Brad Morris, Amber Ruffin, and Emily Wilson. The show schedule and ticket prices are as follows: Friday and Saturday: 8 p.m. & 11 p.m., $25; Sunday: 7 p.m., $19.
A Toast to Magnificence: Corks are popping along the Magnificent Mile this month during TOAST on the Magnificent Mile (http://www.themagnificentmile.com/SeasonalEvents/Winter/default.cfm). Moët & Chandon will bring luxury champagnes to the North Michigan Avenue area for a month of indulgence and celebration. Adding more buzz to the event is an impressive fireworks display, illuminating the sky every Saturday at 6:30 p.m. over the Chicago River. The champagne experience takes place in many Magnificent Mile hotels, restaurants, and retail locations. Check the website for a complete list of celebrations and exclusive offers.
Salute the Seas: Set sail indoors at the Chicago History Museum’s Chicago Maritime Festival (http://chicagohistory.org/planavisit/upcomingevents/special-events) Celebrate Chicago's diverse marine community and heritage on Saturday, Feb. 23. Daytime activities include seminars, workshops, films, and exhibitions on underwater archeology, the Eastland ship, lighthouses, model shipbuilding, diving, voyaging, and tall ships. The evening brings the Maritime Music Concert, which brings together musicians from around the country and across the sea, including Dick Holdstock and Allan MacLeod, Debra Cowen, Walter Askew, Tom and Chris Kastle, and the Northern Neck Chantey Singers. Tickets $25 for both festival and concert, $10 festival only, $20 concert only, Children under 12 free. The festival kicks off at 10 a.m., and the concert runs from 7–10:30 p.m.