Weekend Planner: Upside-down Tea, Gingerbread Decorating Class, Holiday Happenings at theWit Hotel

Upside-down Tea at The Commons Club

The holidays are high time for high tea. Or in the case of the Virgin Hotel, upside-down tea. The offbeat afternoon tea tradition takes place at The Commons Club on the second floor of the Loop hotel, on Saturdays and Sundays from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Teas are made with Rare Tea Cellar products, available boozy as tea cocktails if you're feeling saucy. Outfitting the spread if an assortment of sweet and savory bites like shortbread cookies, smoked salmon on rye, cucumber on brioche, and blueberry-lemon scones.

 

 

Gingerbread Decorating Class

It's mid-December, have you made your gingerbread house yet? If not, you'd best get on it by participating in the gingerbread house decorating class held at Ceres' Table this Saturday, December 19. Led by pastry chef Christine McCabe, the class is geared towards kids and the young at heart, as she teaches attendees how to decorate their own house. Hot cocoa will be on hand, as well as homemade egg nog for the adults. A holiday elf will also be on hand, to help deliver any wish lists to the North Pole. Anyone who brings new, unwrapped toys for donation to Toys for Tots will receive a voucher for complimentary dessert on their next visit to the restaurant. The cost for the class is $22 per house. Reservations are limited and can be made by calling Ceres' Table. 

Holiday Happenings at theWit Hotel

It's easy to get into the holiday spirit when ugly sweaters and Christmas beers are in place. On December 19, theWit Hotel celebrates the holidays with a duo of events at State and Lake Chicago Tavern and ROOF. Downstairs at the restaurant, they'll be tapping Revolution Brewery's Fistmas ale, which is an apt precursor to the ugly sweater party taking place on the roof. The 4th annual holiday party at ROOF starts at 9:00 p.m. The best sweater will receive a bottle of Belvedere RED and a $100 gift card. 

- Matt Kirouac