Don’t miss Chicago’s August summer festivals

Festival season continues in Chicago, with Taste of Little Italy, Northalsted Market Days and the Air and Water Show.

Liberté, égalité, fraternité! Bastille Day Chicageaux-style

On July 14, 1789, revolutionary troops stormed the Bastille, a medieval fortress and prison in Paris, bringing down harsh rule of France’s Bourbon monarchy. The first Fete de la Federation, on July 14, 1790, celebrated the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in France. France — and Francophiles — have been toasting the day ever since. Here are a few events around Chicago.

The Green Festival comes to Chicago May 22 and 23

Learn to live and eat greener Saturday and Sunday, May 22 and 23, when Chicago hosts the Green Festival at Navy Pier.

Cranking it out at the Hideout tonight

Head to the Hideout in Bucktown tonight at 9 p.m. for “The Wine Cycle,” an intimate evening with Theater Oobleck’s Dave Buchen and Chris Schoen, who’ll be cranking out music and images.

Chicago Chef Week brings more dining discounts

Chicago Chef Week is coming, March 22 through 28. Like last month’s Chicago Restaurant Week, this is a period of prix-fixe dining deals, with $20 lunches and $30 dinners, this time from local chef-driven restaurants.

Night out: In the ‘Garden of Eatin’ ’

Food is on the table when n.u.f.a.n. ensemble offers another of its quirky, short-run theater festivals at 8 p.m. tomorrow and Wednesday, March 16 and 17, at Prop Thtr in Avondale.
“Garden of Eatin’” covers aspects of food culture from obnoxious food channel divas to unwanted guests at an upscale restaurant, with an assortment of [...]

20 ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago

 

Celebrate the ‘Celtic Muse’ at Davenport’s, Wicker Park, 8 p.m. tonight and Friday, March 19, $15 plus two-drink minimum. Gillian Kelly and Claire Bigley perform Irish favorites such as “The Nightingale,” “Finnegan’s Wake,” and “The Rising of the Moon.” $3 Harps and Guinness, too.

Visit the Irish American Heritage Center, Irving Park, through March 20. Events begin [...]

Has bacon jumped the shark?

It’s been nearly four years since I first wrote about the sizzling trend of bacon, and presenting — only slightly tongue-in-cheek — my signature recipe for bacon-wrapped bacon. That was just after John Scalzi taped bacon to his cat.
Bacon was still going strong more than a year later, when Pilsen Chef Justin Hall (Fig Catering) [...]

What will Groundhog Day predict for Chicago?

 
UPDATE: Tumbleweed and Woodstock Willie predict an early spring.
 
Will the groundhogs see their shadows Tuesday, Feb. 2, and give us six more weeks of winter? Or can we expect an early spring?
While you’re waiting to find out, head for northwest suburban Woodstock. The historic village, where the 1993 movie, “Groundhog Day,” with Bill Murray was [...]

Chicago Restaurant Weeks offer dining deals

 
Have you participated in a Restaurant Week? Did you think it was a good deal?
Through Jan. 31, during Chicago Originals Restaurant Week member restaurants offer special three- and four-course menus for $29.10. Participating restaurants include Cafe Bernard in Lincoln Park, Co-Si-Na Grill in Edgewater, Dinotto Ristorante in Old Town
Oceanique in Evanston and others.
During the third [...]