21 freebies for Mother’s Day in Chicago

You could take your mom out for the usual Mother’s Day brunch this Sunday, May 9, but why not go where she’ll get a little something extra?

The best Chicago restaurants ever? Really?

What would you add to the list? What would you leave off?

Chicago commences month-long Greek Independence Day celebration

Thursday, March 25, marks Greek Independence Day, the 189th anniversary of the Greek Declaration of Independence. Although the annual Chicago Greektown parade commemorating the date has been moved to April 25, some celebrations take place this week.
In 1821, Greek patriots rose up against 400 years of occupation by the Ottoman Turks, starting an eight-year revolutionary [...]

Night out: Moran or Morris? Tough choice for music fans

Heather Moran
Audrey Morris

Tomorrow night presents a conundrum for cabaret fans.
You can go hear legendary Chicago cabaret diva Audrey Morris in a celebration of “The Great American Songbook.” Morris’s career dates back to the 1950s, when she was a regular performer at places like the Capitol Lounge and Mister Kelly’s.
Or you can catch vocalist Heather [...]

Chicago Asian-American Jazz Festival mixes it up this weekend

The 14th annual Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival kicks off Thursday with the first of three CD-release concerts. The fest showcases the best of Chicago’s contemporary Asian American music and collaborations, bringing together the modern sounds of American-born jazz with the traditional music of the artists’ Asian heritage.
“Through music,” says saxophonist Francis Wong, “I envision [...]

Drink up, Chicago! October wine events offer global flavors

The October harvest of wine events continues.

Osteria Via Stato Autumn Harvest Wine Tasting, River North, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, $20.
Master sommelier and host of “Check Please!” Alpana Singh leads a tasting of 20 autumn harvest wines that pair well with fall ingredients, such as brussels sprouts, apples, pears, squash and pomegranate, exemplified [...]

Nine wine times: A harvest of tastings and dinners across Chicagoland

Quaff your way across Chicago and the suburbs in October with a variety of fall wine events.

Village Vintner Friday Night Wine Down, Carpentersville, 6–10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, no cover.
The first of a series of twice monthly events for wine lovers, featuring live music, food and wines for sale by the glass or bottle. [...]

Leah’s Notebook: Ethnic adventures around Chicago

¡VIVA PILSEN! Mexican Independence Day is tomorrow, and more than 25 restaurants in Pilsen celebrate during the second annual ¡Buen Provecho! Participating eateries, such as Mundial Cocina Mestiza, Ristorante al Teatro, Honky Tonk BBQ and Nightwood, show off the community’s range of cuisine. You can try any of them between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m. [...]

10 things you should know about Greek wine

 
Greek wines are Louie Alexakis’ passion. The enthusiastic owner of the new Avli Estiatorio in Winnetka says Greece is rising on the world’s vinicultural stage.
At Avli, Alexakis pairs a menu of contemporary Greek cuisine with an all-Greek wine list that goes far beyond the roditis and retsina most people think of when it comes to [...]

Opaa! Chicago Taste of Greece flies this weekend

Greektown is gearing up for the 2009 Taste of Greece, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, and Sunday, Aug. 30.
The free fest fires up with live music on two stages, including the Hellas 2000 and Hellenic Five Greek bands, ethnic dancing by three Illinois Greek dance troupes and belly dancers, Greek acrobats, the [...]