Weekend Planner: Seafood Festivities at Frontier, Pastoral Anniversary, Vapiano's First Anniversary

 

Seven Seas Charity Feast and Oyster Shucking Contest

This is a big weekend for Frontier, what with their Seven Seas Charity Feast and 4th Annual Supreme Mother Shucker Oyster Shucking Contest taking place August 17. The day begins with the charity feast from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. The $55 event benefits Chicago Blackhawks charities and includes seafood dishes created by a bevy of local chefs, a raw bar curated by Frontier, cocktails from Wirtz Beverage, and beer from Abita. Chefs include Cory Morris of Mercat a la Planxa, Bill Kim of Urban Belly, Tom Van Lente of TWO, Mike Lacson of Union Sushi, and more. Tickets can be purchased here. This is immediately followed by the Supreme Mother Shucker Oyster Shucking Contest from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. There's no cover for this event, sponsored by Supreme Lobster and packed to the gills with local chefs vying for oyster supremacy. Shucking gets underway at 5:00 p.m., featuring chefs from the likes of Tavern on Rush, The Publican, RIVA Crab House, GT Fish & Oyster, CH Distillery, and lots more. There will be four rounds of head-to-head shucking, with the ultimate winner taking home a $700 cash prize and Blackhawks tickets. Specials during the event include a dozen chef's choice oysters for $15, $7 char-grilled oysters, $6 Abita beers, and $6 cocktails. 

Pastoral Celebrates 10 Years in Chicago

Hard to believe it's been 10 years since Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine has been in our lives. It feels like just yesterday we were blessed with their presence. The Pastoral brand has progressed to become Chicago's preeminent destination for cheese, bread, wine, and gourmet provisions, extending into the full-service restaurant format with Bar Pastoral adjacent to their original Lakeview location. Now as Pastoral turns 10, that original location is hosting a free anniversary party on August 17 from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. There will be cheese-adorned pizzas, blue cheese popcorn, bubbly, cheese tastings, raffles, live bluegrass, a cash bar, cheesecake, and more. Plus, $10 deals will be available at all stores throughout the month, along with 10th anniversary T-shirts. 

 

 

Vapiano's First Anniversary

 

No better way to finish the Air & Water Show this weekend then with a trip to Vapiano in the Loop. Especially considering the restaurant is celebrating its first anniversary on August 16 and surprise-comping random entrees, drinks, and desserts off random bills. Guests order as usual, enjoy their meal, and upon checkout find out if certain items have been removed from the bill. Fun! Also, Vapiano will be featuring live music from 3:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m., raffling gift certificates, doling out gifts for the first 100 guests, and providing goodie bags for the first 500. 

- Matt Kirouac