Weekly Planner: Oyster Fest, Aperitivo Hour, The Whistler Jam and More

Oyster Fest Grand Finale Party

Rounding out its annual Oyster Fest, Shaw’s Crab House is sending things off in style with a lavish grand finale party on October 15. From 4:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m., the River North restaurant welcomes guests for an extravagant fete filled with Oyster Fest dishes, wine, beer, specialty cocktails, live music and more. An oyster roast will take place in the Oyster Hall of Fame Room, and the oyster slurp-off finale will crown one winner the champion of the 29th-annual event, taking home $1,000 in prizes. Grand finale tickets are $70 per person and can be purchased here. 

 

Fall Dinner Series at Raised

On the heels of a successful summer season, Raised is gearing up for fall with a fresh new dinner series starting October 14. Set to run once a month, each event allows diners to enjoy live music and featured menu items along with cocktails. The inaugural dinner takes place from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., with music from local Chicago artist Bailey Dee, and a menu featuring warm corn pudding, onion-kale-sumac flatbread, smoked BBQ lamb sliders and cocktails like an Americana 2.0 with rye, angostura, fresh peach compote and rosé. Dishes and drinks are all priced a la carte. 

The Whistler Jam

At The Whistler, music is as important as mixology. Carrying on its nearly decade-long tradition as an incubator of burgeoning musical talent, the Logan Square cocktail bar has instated a new weekly series called The Whistler Jam. Taking place every Monday at 9:00 p.m., sets kick off with Whistler fixtures Matt Ulery and Quin Kirchner leading a house band, followed by an open jam session where jazz musicians are invited to join in. 

 

Aperitivo Hour at Coda di Volpe

The latest restaurant to roll out happy hour puts an Italian spin on the leisurely tradition, with Coda di Volpe’s brand new “aperitivo hour.” Unlike most happy hours around town, which typically run on weekday afternoons, this one is offered on weekends from 2:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. Affordable wines, spritzes and Italian dishes are all on deck, including arancini, mortadella and prosciutto meatballs, smoked hummus and vegetable antipasti. All drinks are $8 off the aperitivo hour list, including Marchese Montefusco Pinot Grigio, Cantina Cellaro Nero D’Avola and a passion fruit aperol spritz.