THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

—In honor of Columbus Tap's 1st anniversary—which also happens to be National Beer Day ( April 7 )—Columbus Tap, 200 N. Columbus Dr., is offering its classic Tap That Burger with their exclusive house brew, Bohemian Rye-City, for $20 for the entire month of April. The Tap That Burger is regularly $19 and the Bohemian Rye-City is regularly $8.

—Werewolf Coffee Bar, the first-ever coffee concept from DMK Restaurants, is now open at 1765 N. Elston Ave. Dubbed an "agnostic coffee shop," Werewolf Coffee Bar features blends from Dark Matter ( Chicago ), Stumptown ( Portland, Oregon ) and Metropolis ( Chicago ). In addition to grab-and-go beverages such as Metropolis Cold Brew bottles, Harmless Harvest Coconut Water and Brew Doctor Clear Mind Kombucha, Werewolf offers hot-drip coffee, draft cold brew coffees on tap, and made-to-order espresso drinks with Redline Metropolis, available hot or iced. See DMKRestaurants.com .

—In celebration of the Cubs home opener on Monday, April 10, all Kanela locations will feature a Cubby French toast. The special will be available for $11.49 and features French toast stuffed with sweet cream cheese, blueberry jam and raspberry jam, then garnished with a powdered sugar "W." See KanelaBreakfastClub.com .

—Evanston's NaKorn urban Thai restaurant, 1622 Orrington Ave., will celebrate the weeklong celebration of Songkran ( Thai New Year ) with special food and drink menu items as well as half-off Thai beer selections on April 13-23. Food specials include crab-cake bites, braised chicken and the NaKorn 75 cocktail. See NaKornKitchen.com .

—Roanoke Restaurant, 135 W. Madison St., will debut an intimate sidewalk patio this spring. The patio ( available Fridays 4-8 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays 11 a.m.-2 p.m. ) features seating for 25 and full food and drink menus are available for al fresco dining. Specials include $6 Absolut Vodka cocktails, $7 margaritas, $5 glasses of Canyon Road wine ( cabernet, chardonnay and pinot grigio ), $3 Roanoke chips ( hand-cut salt and vinegar chips ), $6 sliders and buffalo wings ( $6 for a half-dozen, $12 for a dozen ). See TheRoanokeRestaurant.com .

—French restaurant Bistronomic, 840 N. Wabash Ave., will offer a prix fixe menu for both Passover and Easter Sunday. The three-course Passover menu will be offered from Monday, April 10, to Tuesday, April 18, in honor of the Jewish spring festival for dinner; the cost is $39 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity. The three-course Easter Sunday brunch menu will be offered on Sunday, April 16, 10:30 a.m-2:30 p.m. for $42 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity, or $56 with bottomless mimosas. Reservations are recommended and may be made via Open Table on the website.

—La Mez Agave Lounge—a mezcal lounge located downstairs at Mercadito Chicago, 108 W. Kinzie St.—is bringing back its Mixology Academy on Saturday, April 15, 3-5 p.m. The course, led by Beverage Director Paul Tanguey, will feature Dustin Miller with Maestro Dobel Tequila and cost $45 per guest. To RSVP, call 312-329-9555 or visit www.mercaditorestaurants.com .

—Fig & Olive, 104 E. Oak St., will be offering an Easter prix fixe menu. For $40 per person, enjoy a three-course brunch menu complete with a live jazz band at 12-3 p.m. ( Some of the menu options include avocado toast, French omelet, Riviera salmon and chocolate pot de creme. ) Guests can also elevate their brunch with the Carrot Ginger Mimosa for an additional $12. See FigAndOlive.com .

—On Easter Sunday, Remington's, 20 N. Michigan Ave., will offer a special brunch menu featuring a rotisserie leg of lamb sandwich with feta-yogurt sauce, marinated peppers and herbed focaccia ( $16 ); bone-in ham with braised greens, jalapeno-cheddar corn bread and mustard sauce ( $19 ); and strawberry rhubarb crepes with ricotta, mint and Grand Marnier ( $14 ). Brunch is 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Call 312-782-6000.

—Northbrook's Prairie Grass Cafe, 601 Skokie Blvd., will offer Easter brunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on April 16. Each guest starts with the restaurant's signature "PGC Benedict," featuring a poached egg on top of spinach and served with a roasted tomato Hollandaise sauce. The price is $49.50 for adults and $18 for children 10 and younger. Reservations are strongly recommended; call 847-205-4433.

—The Estate by Gene & Georgetti—the upscale events venue adjacent to the Gene & Georgetti restaurant in Rosemont, 9421 W. Higgins Rd.—will celebrate Easter Sunday with special brunch seatings at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., as well as dinner seatings at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring the whole family and pose for a photo with the Easter Bunny between 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Estate's Easter brunch and dinner costs $39 for adults, and $19 for children ages 11 and younger, plus tax and gratuity. Complimentary valet service is also available. Call 847-653-3302 or visitGeneandGeorgetti.com .

—At Michael Jordan's Steak House, 505 N. Michigan Ave., Chef Craig Couper will present a special dish for Easter featuring a petite filet with roasted lobster, asparagus, morels and spring onion butter ( $49 ), which will be available all day. Reservations are highly recommended; call 312-321-8823.

—For Easter, BBQ joint Smoke Daddy, 1804 W. Division St., will be smoking its apple and cherrywood smoked ham with a sweet mojo glaze. Add side dishes such as beans, mac 'n' cheese and cornbread. Ham options include a 17-pound, whole ham that serves 20-25 guests for $129, or a nine-pound ham that serves 10-15 guests for $69. Orders must be placed on or before Friday, April 14, at 5 p.m. and are available for pick-up only. To place an order, visit TheSmokeDaddy.com or call 773-772-1697.

—Hilton Oak Brook Hills Resort has announced the return of its longstanding community tradition, Easter Brunch in the Grand Ballroom. On Sunday, April 16, two seatings ( 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. ) will give way to a family experience featuring modern farm cuisine, a petting zoo, a children's cookie craft area, a complimentary family portrait and a visit from the Easter Bunny. See Eventbrite.com .

—For Easter, Acadia, 1639 S. Wabash Ave., will have a special brunch buffet. Brunch, offered at 10 a.m-2 p.m., includes a raw beer, live seared foie gras presentation, lobster eggs Benedict, and more. The event is $85 per adult and $35 per child ( with a $25 deposit ); ticket prices exclude beverage, tax and service. Reservations can be made by visiting acadiachicago.tocktix.com .

—SafeHouse Chicago, 60 E. Ontario St., will be offering its special Undercover Happy Hour at 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, for spies who have grown weary from all the number-crunching ( i.e.., tax time ). Agents can indulge in $4 domestic beers, $5 well drinks and $6 house wines. The Fried C4 Cheese Cruds, RQ-1 Rings, Camp Stanley Nachos and Bird Watcher Wings appetizers are all available for $6. See SafehouseChicago.com .

—After filing and wrapping up the work day, patrons can head to Brando's Speakeasy, 343 S. Dearborn St., for a Tax Day Happy Hour at 5-7 p.m. on April 18. Specials include $5 Makers Mark Boiler Makers, $4 Bulleit Rye Old Fashioneds, $3 Absolut Moscow Mules, half-off all Revolution beers, $3 flatbreads and small pizzas, and $5 cheese and meat trays.

—Sable Kitchen & Bar, 505 N. Michigan Ave., will team with beverage talent from Bad Hunter, Broken Shaker and Lot No. 40 to kick off WhiskyFest Chicago on Monday, April 17, 5-8 p.m. Each guest will also enjoy a complimentary Lot No. 40 sample pour as well as a complimentary menu of pimento cheese fritters, chicken liver mousse crostini and winter radishes provided by Executive Chef Shane Graybeal. ( WhiskyFest actually occurs Friday, April 21. ) See SableChicago.com .

—Chicagoans looking for a little Tax Day relief on Tuesday, April 18, will enjoy several specials at Hakka Bakka, 1251 W. Fullerton Ave. With a purchase of $15 or more, guests will receive a free side of six mini-veggie samosas ( normally $3.50 ) as well as a complimentary cup of Masala Chai ( Indian tea ). See HakkaBakkaRolls.com .

—In honor of author Ronni Lundy's new book Victuals: An Appalachian Journey with Recipes, Big Jones, 5347 N. Clark St., invites guests for an evening of culinary items from the Southern mountains. Chef and Co-Owner Paul Fehribach welcomes the author with a featured Piggybank Dinner at the restaurant on April 20, 6-9:30 p.m. This event is $75 per person or $125 per couple and includes a personalized, signed copy of Victuals and a $50 per person donation to the Southern Foodways Alliance. Visit bigjoneschicago.com; RSVP by calling 773-275-5725.

—The Chicago Artisan Chocolate Festival will take place April 22-23 at Plumbers Hall, 1340 W. Washington Blvd. The event will feature chocolate tastings from local vendors, celebrity chef demonstrations, an event with 40+ vendors, charity wine tasting, artisanal food exhibits and much more. See https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-chicago-artisan-chocolate-show-artisanal-foods-charity-wine-tasting-tickets-19281683033.

—Kings Bowl Lincoln Park, 1500 N. Clybourn Ave., will be the site of Chef Bowl 2017 on Sunday, April 30, at 2 p.m., when former Chicago Bear Rashied Davis will host the event. Emceed by Ji Suk Yi of ABC 7's Windy City LIVE and chaired by Chef Tony Priolo of Piccolo Sogno and Nonnina, the event will bring Chicago chefs together for a day of bowling, food and festivities to support Saturday Place. Other participating chefs include Kevin Cuddihee ( TWO ), Dick Flanigan ( Il Congilio ), Kevin Hickey ( Duck Inn ), Brian Jupiter ( Frontier ), Cory Morris ( Ronero ), Todd Stein ( Formento's ), Giuseppe Tentori ( GT Prime ) and Tom Valente ( Lucille ), among others. Tickets are $65 each; visit SaturdayPlace.org .

—Common Threads announced the launch of Common Threads Chef Takeover Fueled by Circuit of The Americas. The pop-up dinner series consists of five one-night-only ticketed events throughout the country, beginning with Chicago on Sunday, April 30, at Prime & Provisions, 222 North LaSalle St., 5-8:30 p.m. The event will feature chefs Fabio Viviani, Brad Kilgore, Anita Lo, JJ Johnson and Dana Cree. Tickets are $175-$250 each; see CommonThreads.org/cheftakeover.

—Brindille, 534 N. Clark St., will be offering a Mother's Day tea on Sunday, May 14, 2-5 p.m. The tea service will feature Chef Carrie and Pastry Chef Craig's creations. Among the slated items will be crumpets, sandwiches, sweets, confections and, of course, tea. It will be $65/person, and there's limited seating. RSVP at info@Brindille-Chicago.com .

—On Sunday, May 14, Lake View's PR Italian Bistro will host a Bowen Arrow Diamonds & Designs trunk show at 11 a.m.-3 p.m. There will also be bottomless mimosas ( $12 ) being offered. The event is free, but reservations are being taken. Visit PRItalianBistro.com or call 773-404-8955.

—The National Restaurant Association ( NRA ) announced the lineup of the nation's top celebrity chefs to share their culinary know-how on the World Culinary Showcase stage at the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show®, taking place at Chicago's McCormick Place on May 20-23. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn the latest cooking practices and trends from Top Chef Masters winner Rick Bayless, Worst Cooks in America host Anne Burrell and Top Chef All Stars competitor Fabio Viviani; others slated to appear include Stephanie Izard, Ming Tsai and Robert Irvine. The World Culinary Showcase demonstrations run all four days of the NRA Show.

—The West Loop Community Organization, StarEvents and Silver Wrapper have announced the music and restaurant lineups for the 21st Annual Taste of Randolph Festival, taking place June 16-18 at 900 W. Randolph St. Some of the musical headliners include Dawes, Moon Taxi and Emancipator Ensemble; and some of the participating restaurants include bellyQ, Nando's Peri-Peri Chicken, La Sardine, Grange Hall Burger Bar and Bar Siena. See www.starevents.com/event/taste-of-randolph/ .

—The fifth annual Chicago Hot Dog Fest, presented by the Chicago History Museum, will take place Aug. 11-13 in Lincoln Park, 1701 N. Stockton Dr. Admission is free, although a $5 donation is suggested that will benefit educational programming at the Chicago History Museum. See ChicagoHotDogFest.com .

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