—Several restaurants have specials related to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For example, Bottleneck Management's Chicagoland locations ( such as Howells & Hood and Old Town Pour House ) will donate $1 of every Founders Brewing Rubaeus sold to the Lynn Sage Foundation. Also, $1 from every Grosella cocktail sold at Pearl Brasserie will go to support the Lynn Sage Foundation as part of the In Good Taste fundraising campaign. In addition, Lawry's The Prime Rib will donate $2 with the sale of each bottle of Carol's Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, and $3 with the sale of each bottle of Carol's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.
—In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, theWit Hotel, 201 N. State Street in Chicago is donating a portion of proceeds from State and Lake Chicago Tavern and ROOF on theWit to the Lynn Sage Foundation throughout October. State and Lake Chicago Tavern will donate 10 percent of all craft can sales, while ROOF on theWit will donate 10 percent of all Perrier Jouet Blason Rose sales.
—The Lunatic, the Lover & The Poet, 736 W. Randolph St., will donate $1 from every glass of award-winning 2013 vintage Mas de Daumas Gassac Rose sold during Breast Cancer Awareness Month; see thelunaticloverpoet.com . Also, Gurnee's The Chocolate Sanctuary is offering a miniature assortment of four housemade chocolates ( pink of course ) and donating $1 from each purchase to The Lynn Sage Foundation; visit TheChocolateSanctuary.com .
—Naha ( 500 N. Clark St. ) offers lunch on Thursdays and Fridays at 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Guests can opt for a $25 prix fixe lunch, or get items such as chicken wings or a burger. See naha-chicago.com .
—Chicago's first cat cafe has opened. The Catcade, 1235 W. Belmont Ave., combines felines and an arcade. The cat lounge area features two nooks with oversized cushions, along with three free play '80s-style arcade games. The theme carries over to two empty arcade cabinets-turned-into cat trees that the animals ( all up for adoption ) can nuzzle themselves into at their leisure. See thecatcade.org/ .
—The Duck Inn, 2701 S. Eleanor St., is donating 100 percent of the proceeds from sales of its Daiquiri Alivio ( "alivio" meaning "relief" ) to LIPA, Ltd., which is chartering a plane to the town of Aguada, Puerto Rico, to deliver aid and help rebuild the island. The cocktail ( $10 ) is a mix of Palo Viejo Gold Rum, lime, turbinado gomme and angostura bitters. See theduckinnchicago.com .
—KINGS Dining & Entertainment will renovate the full-service restaurant at its Rosemont location. The 2,775-square-foot area will be transformed into "The Draft Room," an evolved sports bar concept for the modern fan. Scheduled to open in November, The Draft Room will feature three 14-foot HD LED display panels for optimum sports viewing alongside made-from-scratch cuisine and a selection of 40 draft beers.
—The Loop's Kimpton Gray Hotel, 122 W. Monroe St., has announced new culinary leadership at Vol. 39, the literary cocktail lounge tucked away on the second floor, and Boleo, the lively South American-inspired rooftop restaurant and bar. Industry vet and Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants alumnus, Executive Chef Brian Millman is the new executive chef. Also, Boleo's new Chef de Cuisine Cory Morris ( Ronero, Rural Society, Mercat a la Planxa ) joins creative forces with Millman in creating a new menu that complements head bartender Jess Lambert's cocktail program.
—Jake Melnick's Corner Tap, 41 E. Superior St., is offering season specials. Guests can try the Pumpkin Chipotle Wings ( $13.95 ) on National Pumpkin Day, Oct. 26; and there's the burger known as Nightmare on Superior ( $15.95 ), a hand-packed habanero-and-cheddar beef patty topped with cheddar, pepper jack, fried jalapeno bottle caps, roasted jalapeno ketchup and avocado garlic lemon aioli.
—Marriott Marquis Chicago, 2121 S. Prairie Ave., has announced the opening of its new restaurant concept, Woven & Bound. The hotel and restaurant's culinary vision is helmed by Executive Chef Joshua Murray, who most recently served as executive chef at Phoenix Renaissance Downtown. Dishes include house-smoked pork belly made with a Koval bourbon date glaze, candied pistachios and pickled watermelon rind; and the Vice District Burger, made with grass-fed beef, avocado, pork pate, fried egg, tomato, Wisconsin cheddar and black garlic aioli on brioche. See MarriottMarquisChicago.com .
—Sable Kitchen & Bar, 505 N. State St., has announced the appointment of new Executive Chef Amber Lancaster. Among past accomplishments are working as a private chef in Paris and holding positions at the Michelin-rated French dining destination Restaurant Guy Savoy and the historic luxury spot Hotel de Crillon; she has also worked at Chicago's Alinea and Sur La Table.
—The Gwen, 521 N. Rush St., has unveiled the property's new brunch menu, offered on Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Menu highlights include smoked salmon toast, mascarpone pancakes, and the fried chicken-and-egg sandwich, along with a variety of additional bunch favorites. Guests can also enjoy a bottomless Bloody Mary bar for $18. See TheGwenChicago.com .
—Staytion, 1 W. Wacker Dr., has several events planned for October. They include "Chi-Town Oktoberfest" on Wed., Oct. 11, 5-7 p.m.; "Movie Night" on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 7-10 p.m., with a pumpkin or chocolate beverage as well as Garrett popcorn; and "A Change of Color" on Saturday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., in which a guide from the Navigator Team will lead groups to explore local parks—followed by fall cocktails upon returning to Staytion. See http://www.marriott.com/hotel-restaurants/chisr-renaissance-chicago-downtown-hotel/staytion-market-&-bar/5732263/home-page.mi.
—Umami Burger is introducing its famed "Impossible Burger" to its Chicago locations in partnership with Impossible Foods. Priced at $16, Umami's Impossible Burger ( which is plant-based ) is served with two patties, caramelized onions, American cheese, miso-mustard, house spread, dill pickles, lettuce, and tomato.
—The 17th annual Kohler Food & Wine Experience will take place Oct. 19-22 in Kohler, Wisconsin. The chef line-up includes Richard Blais, Alex Guarnaschelli, Stephanie Izard, Jeff Mauro and cast members from America's Test Kitchen. See KohlerFoodandWine.com .
—At Chez Moi, 2100 N. Halsted St., Chef Dominque Tougne will celebrate Sweetest Day ( Oct. 21 ) with a a special prix fixe menu for two. Items will include pumpkin soup served in a pumpkin bowl, a special surf-and-turf and "Bleeding Heart" for Two. The three-course menu for two is $150; see ChezMoiChicago.com .
—Argo Tea is embracing the fall season by bringing back its signature pumpkin chai—a sweet and spicy, caffeine-free blend made from all-natural ingredients. On Thursday, Oct. 26, all Argo Tea cafes in Chicago will be giving out FREE pumpkin chai at 2-6 p.m. ( FYI, Argo also offers other seasonal favorites, like Caribou Coffee Pumpkin Lattes and pumpkin-flavored muffins. )
—South Water Kitchen, 225 N. Wabash Ave., will close after dinner service Dec. 3 to begin construction on a new concept slated to open in spring 2018. The new concept will continue to be operated by Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, the boutique hospitality company that currently operates Hotel Monaco Chicago, Hotel Palomar Chicago, Sable Kitchen & Bar, Hotel Allegro, 312 Chicago, Bar Allegro, The Gray, Boleo and Vol. 39. See SouthWaterKitchen.com .
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