Weekend Planner: Black Friday Edition

Black Friday Shopping Break

If you're brave and/or masochistic enough to go shopping downtown on Black Friday, you deserve a nice lunch bread. Do so at River Roast, where diners can partake in a discounted soup and cider special to help soothe their retail wounds. The combo features red kuri squash soup with ham hock paired with Vander Mill's Totally Roasted Cider, all for just $10. So you still have plenty of money in your wallet to go stampede people for shopping deals. The special is available November 28 through November 30. 

Bourbon County Brand Stout Release

Forget Thanksgiving and Christmas. The true magic of the season comes in the form of Goose Island's feverishly anticipated annual Bourbon County Brand Stout release. Beer aficionados gather en masse at Goose Island Clybourn at 1720 N. Marcey Street to be among the first and few to experience the splendor of the stout. This year's lineup of Bourbon County Brand Stout varietals include Coffee, Vanilla Rye, Barleywine, and Original. Doors open at 9:00 a.m. and the event will also feature partnerships with Stan's Donuts & Coffee and Intelligentsia. The first 200 in line receive Goose Island gifts as well.

(Warm your wintry soul with Vin Brule at 312 Chicago)

Christkindlmarket Merriment at Atwood and 312 Chicago

It's that time of year again. Christkindlmarket is out in full force at Daley Plaza, marking a wintry wonderland through December 24 in the heart of downtown Chicago. One of the most notable fixtures of the market each year is Glühwein, the festive German mulled wine served in special mugs and boots. Hopping aboard the seasonal merriment, nearby Loop restaurants Atwood and 312 Chicago are offering complimentary refills of their own housemade mulled wine with dinner when guests bring in their Christkindlmarket mugs or boots to dinner. The version at 312 Chicago, for instance, is dubbed Vin Brule, a bracing medley of warm wine with lemon, orange, cinnamon, clone, and star anise. 

Black Fryday at Honey Butter Fried Chicken

Honey Butter Fried Chicken puts the "fry" in Black Friday with one-day-only french fries. Seeing as the Avondale restaurant has a way with fried foods, this is a big deal. Skip the discount shopping deals and head over to Honey Butter for fries with six different dipping sauce options. 

- Matt Kirouac