—To mark National Burger Month, Jake Melnick's Corner Tap, 41 E. Superior St., is offering three different burgers only in May. The Que burger ( $16.95 ) is a bacon-wrapped burger patty dusted with BBQ spice and smoked, and topped with cheddar, pulled pork, crispy onions, and a final drizzle of BBQ. The Smoke & Fire Burger ( $16.95 ) is Jake's beef patty topped with 16-hour smoked brisket, smoked three onion relish, smoked gouda cheese and XXX Cole Slaw. Lastly, there's the Philly Steak Burger ( $14.95 ).
—Antique Taco will celebrate the seven-year anniversary of its Wicker Park location ( 1360 N. Milwaukee Ave. ) on Wed., May 15. At 5-8 p.m., guests can check out the new vintage mail truck, where people will be serving free blueberry basil margaritas on the patio; also, $7 house margaritas will be offered all day.
—The Wine on 99: Willis Tower Wine Tasting Event will take place Wed., May 22, 5-7 p.m. at Willis Tower Chicago, 233 S. Wacker Dr. Guests can enjoy tastes of three City Winery Wines with the opportunity to purchase additional glasses of wine and bottles while enjoying 360-degree views of the city from the 99th floor. Tickets are $30 each; visit citywinery.com/chicago/wine-on-99-5-22-19.html .
—Well Done Hospitality—the group behind the newly opened Taureaux Tavern ( 155 W. Van Buren St. ) and Loop spot Cochon Volant Brasserie ( 100 W. Monroe St. )—announced plans to open its newest venture, Francois Frankie, this summer in partnership with The John Buck Company. To be located at 222 W. Randolph St., Francois Frankie will offer French cuisine; the focal point of the 6,500-square-foot space is a custom-made Carousel Bar inspired by the bar located within Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans.
—Janitor's Closet, the speakeasy on the lower level of eclectic boutique hotel FieldHouse Jones ( 312 W. Chestnut St. ), is open to the public. The intimate space, featuring just 15 seats, carries the hotel's fieldhouse motif. The bar pays homage to what the space used to be—a fully functioning janitor's closet when the building housed the old Borden Dairy Depot. Drinks include The Brown Line, The 9 Mile and the Cafe Con Leche Flip, among others.
—Equality Illinois' Pride Kickoff Brunch will take place Sunday, June 2, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Venue West, 221 N. Paulina St. There will be a brunch station as well as Bloody Mary, coffee and mimosa bars. Tickets are $35 each; visit eqil.org or https://act.myngp.com/Forms/-3292466685398545664.
—The nonprofit Rogers Park Business Alliance ( RPBA ) has announced the 10th season of its Glenwood Sunday Market, with a new initiative Giving Sunday to fortify its Food Access Program. The market takes place on every Sunday from June 2 to Oct. 27, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Glenwood Avenue between Morse and Lunt Avenues, on the west side of the CTA Red Line. For more information and special event updates, visit GlenwoodSundayMarket.org .
—OPALGA ( the Oak Park Area Lesbian & Gay Association ) will make and sell donuts at the Oak Park Farmer's market on Saturday, June 8. ( PFLAG will partner with the organization. ) Slots begin at four in the morning, and last through 1:30 p.m. Visit OPALGA.org or email seangus67@gmail.com, or sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090d4daeab22a5f85-donut.
—Windy City Smokeout will be held July 12-14 at a new location right outside of Chicago's United Center. Hosted by Bub City and Joe's Bar, the event is the first official outdoor music festival to take place at the West Loop arena's 250,000-square-foot parking lot along Madison Street. Some of the country acts slated to perform are Old Dominion, Jessie James Decker, Parker McCollum, LANCO and Muscadine Bloodline.
—The 21st Annual Ribfest Chicago will now take place on Father's Day weekend, June 14-16. A few of the event's vendors will include City Barbeque, El Campeon, Wrigley BBQ, Porkchop, Famous Dave's and Blowin' Smoque BBQ. Tickets are $10-$50 ( VIP ) each; visit Ribfest-chicago.com .
—Band of Bohemia, 4710 N. Ravenswood Ave., has a new executive chef, Soo Ahn. Ahn joined the Band of Bohemia team following experiences in Texas, Korea, California, the District of Columbia and Illinois, as well as in kitchens at the Ritz Carlton, Grace, El Ideas and Roosters.
—Fisk & Co., 225 N. Wabash Ave., is offering Executive Chef Ashlee Aubin's new spring menu items. The restaurant is known for its mussels, and there are now items like salmon gravlax, spaghetti with lobster and crab, sauteed gnocchi and steak frites.
—Dough Bros Pizzeria & Sub Shop has debuted its brand new Chicago Cast Iron Pizza, which will be offered in addition to its New York, Detroit, Grandma and Sicilian style pies. Created by Burt Katz of Pequod's Pizza, the Chicago Cast Iron includes a lard-fried crust coated with cheese edge to edge in a round cast iron pan, creating a fried crown around the pie.
—Flight Club, 111 W. Wacker Dr., has debuted new lunch, dinner and oche ( social darts playing area ) menu items by James Beard Award winner Rick Gresh. For guests seeking a sit-down meal before heading upstairs to the darts area, new lunch and dinner items include 55-day dry-aged prime rib sandwich, pepperoni meatball sliders, roasted sea bass, bucatini pasta and more. Lunch, dinner, and social-darts reservations can be made at us.flightclubdarts.com/chicago/ .
—Lockwood Restaurant and Bar—the signature restaurant within Chicago's historic Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel—has officially launched a brand-new menu and concept under the expertise of Executive Chef Jason E. Schroeder and Pastry Chef Walleska Cianfanelli. The new menu is even bringing back the original Friday Fish Fry with the authentic recipe that was first served in the height of the Depression.
—CBD is on the rise—and 20 East inside The Talbott Hotel will be rolling out a new cocktail menu with CBD starting May 16. With the Four Corners Old Fashioned ( $13 )—basil hayden's, demerara, angostura bitters—guests can add 15 ml of CBD for an extra $5. In addition to the Old Fashioned, guests can add CBD on to any of the specialty cocktails on the menu for an additional $5.
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