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/ .
Esteemed restaurant mk, 868 N. Franklin St., closed June 13, according to an Eater Chicago article. Michael Kornick blamed a landlord dispute for the end of the spot's 18-year run. Kornick told the Chicago Tribune that the restaurant's building has a new owner and there was a disagreement over how much the landlord should pay for infrastructure upgrades. The Tribune also reported that mk Executive Chef Erick Williams will help Kornick reopen County Barbecue in August.
Also, 42 Grams, one of Chicago's 26 Michelin-starred restaurants, announced its immediate closure, Eater noted. This ends a three-and-a-half-year run in Uptown for chef Jake Bickelhaupt and his ex-wife, GM Alexa Welsh. So far, it is unknown why the restaurant closed.
Chicagoans can treat Dad to a beach party this Father's Day at Castaways. The North Avenue Beach hotspot will feature live entertainment by DJ Jem 1-7 p.m. Saturday, June 17 and Sunday, June 18. Also, there will be cocktails such as the Castaways Island Ice Tea with a Malibu Red floater, Bacardi Mai Tai and Chicago Breeze ( Captain Morgan White Rum, cranberry and pineapple juices, club soda ), or frozen sensations like Barcardi pina and strawberry coladas, and the Mango Margarita.
Cooper & Thief Red Blend is available as a Father's Day gift for $24.99. This ex-bourbon barrel-aged wine consists of dark and jammy fruits as well as bourbon-inspired aromas. The brandnamed after the craftsman who hand-makes the wooden barrels ( Cooper ) and the tool of trade for "stealing" a taste from the barrels ( thief )is available nationwide.
Commonwealth Tavern, 2000 W. Roscoe Ave., will open at 10 a.m. on Father's Day and offer brunch until 2 p.m. Golf fans can catch all the 2017 U.S. Open action on 12 TVs including a 70-inch plasma. While dining, patrons can enjoy a $3 Build-Your-Own Mimosa Bar and $6 Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary Bar. See CommonwealthChicago.com .
RPM Italian, 66 W. Kinzie St., is celebrating Father's Day with special holiday hours, the full dinner menu and a special gift for dads. It will be open 12-11 p.m., with house specialties like lobster caprese with Buffalo mozzarella and basil, Maine lobster ravioli with spinach pasta and chili flakes or prime dry-aged bistecca Fiorentina. RPM Italian will also be sending every dad home with a jar of RPM seasoning salt, a recipe for grilling the perfect steak and a $25 gift card off his next visit. See rpmrestaurants.com/rpmsteak/chicago/ .
French restaurant Bistronomic, 840 N. Wabash Ave., will offer a prix fixe menu for Father's Day on Sunday, June 18. The two-course Father's Day brunch menu will be offered from 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. The cost is $26 per person, or $41 with the addition of bottomless mimosas, exclusive of tax and gratuity. See Bistronomic.net .
On Sunday, June 18, Hakka Bakka, 1251 W. Fullerton Ave., will serve a Father's Day meal combo featuring a lamb shammi burger, fries and a drink for $10. The burger patties are handmade with high quality minced lamb and Hakka Bakka's house blend of spices to give it an authentic taste. The burger will be served on a toasted Brioche bun, with onions, tomatoes, lettuce, sweet mango chutney and cilantro aioli.
For Father's Day, Hub 51 will offer brunch classics ( e.g., Brioche French toast ), more modern takes like chilaquiles and a sushi station. In addition, each trip to the craft Bloody Mary/mimosa bar is $8. Call HUB 51 at 312-828-0051 to make Father's Day reservations. ( Brunch is $36 for those older than 12, and $15 for children 12 and younger, plus tax and gratuity. )
On June 16-18, STK Chicago, 9 W. Kinzie St., will treat fathers to an STK original SWAG bag that includes items like the Famous STK signature rub. Dads can enjoy a dry-aged steak ( up to 32 ounces ) and pair it with a specialty cocktail; in addition, there are chops, seafood, creative side dishes, desserts and more. Call 312-340-5636.
Patrons who bring their fathers to Roanoke, 135 W. Madison St., can enjoy special Father's Day prix fixe menu for $33 per person, available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Diners can choose one starter, entrée and dessert with options including porchetta eggs Benedict, supper club prime rib, Faroe Island Scottish salmon and more. Featured brunch cocktails include the Toast & Jam ( Knob Creek Rye, hibiscus syrup, fresh grapefruit, lime juice; $11.50 ), Blood Orange Mimosa ( Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, prosecco; $11 ), and Bloody Mary ( Absolut Peppar, Zing Zang, salumi fontina skewer; $11.50 ).
AMK Kitchen Bar, 1954 W. Armitage Ave., will serve brunch at 10 a.m.-2:45 p.m. and dinner at 5-11 p.m. on Father's Day weekend. Options include AMK original cocktails with favorites such as biscuits & gravy, chicken and waffles and chilaquiles and huevos for brunch, and the AMK Classic Burger ( double patty, horseradish Dijonnaise and fried pickles ) and Nashville Hot Chicken for dinner. See amkchicago.com .
A Father's Day Brew Cruise will take place on the Mystic Blue on Sunday, June 18, 4:30-6:30 p.m. There will be 20 beer samples from featured breweries, light bites, a dance floor and bar games ( foosball, giant Jenga, etc. ). All passengers must be at least 21 years old. Prices start at $49.90 each; visit https://www.mysticbluecruises.com/chicago/cruises/holiday/fathers-day.
Shaw's Crab House, 21 E. Hubbard St., is offering a Father's Day brunch buffet priced at $75 for adults and $20 for kids 12 and younger. The buffet will feature a Grand Hot Buffet line with classic breakfast fare, plus Shaw's specialties, an omelet-and-waffle station with 13 available ingredients, and the surf-and-turf station, including lobster bisque, king crab legs and hand-carved beef. There will also be a cold seafood Bar with sushi, oysters, shrimp and smoked salmon.
PR Italian Bistro will mark Father's Day with a fully stocked dried pasta craft table for kids of all ages. In addition, on Thursday, June 22, the spot will offer "Swine & Roses"a swine-of-all-kinds charcuterie board and free wine tastingat 6:30-8:30 p.m. Lastly, for Pride Month, PR is offering a Rainbow Sherbet Champagne Float.
Goddess and the Baker is celebrating Pride Month ( June ) with a few different rainbow items that will be offered at all three locations ( Navy Pier, 33 S. Wabash Ave. and 225 N. Lasalle St. ). They include a rainbow cake latte, rainbow cake, heart rainbow Pride sugar cookies, rainbow sherbet punch and rainbow cupcakes.
Geja's Cafe, 340 W. Armitage Ave., has launched its FIRE and ICE Fridays, featuring Moet & Chandon's Ice Imperial. FIRE and ICE Fridays will offer guests a discounted glass of ICE Imperial for $10 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Visit gejascafe.com .
Michael Jordan's Steak House, 505 N. Michigan Ave., is celebrating National Steak House Month, and Executive Chef Craig Couper is debuting the Captain's menu, a monthlong celebration of rare cuts. A couple of the cuts include The Cowgirl ( 18-oz. Iowa Premium USDA 40-day, dry-aged "ribeye filet," priced at $49 ) and the Tomahawk ( 36-oz. Slagel Farms Long Bone 45-day, dry-aged cut; $89 ).
Italian Village Restaurants, 71 W. Monroe St., has unveiled seasonal dishes. Items include Insalata di Cavolo con Pesca alla Griglia ( baby kale, grilled peach, orange segments, melon, pine nuts, grilled Ricotta Salata, tossed in melon vinaigrette ) and Pasticcino di Granchio ( seared jumbo lump crab cakes, frutta di mostarda puree, calabrian pepper aioli, micro greens, apple jicama slaw ), among others. Visit italianvillage-chicago.com .
Chop Shop, 2033 W. North Ave., recently debuted a brand-new brunch menu. Available in the bar, second-floor dining area and the rooftop patio every Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m.-3 p.m., the menu has traditional brunch items with special touches from Chop Shop's in-house butcher and deli, including homemade sausages, bacon, steak and prosciutto.
Latin-fusion spot Carnivale, 702 W. Fulton Market, has announced a new lounge menu. Items include smoked chicken croquettes ( with flavors like a roasted spicy buffalo aioli ) and a blueberry Sno-Cone ( featuring Bulleit bourbon with blueberry lavender limoncello ). Carnivale's new lounge menu will is available Monday through Thursday at 4:30-6:30 p.m. for the after-work crowd, and from 9 p.m. till the kitchen closes for the after-hours crowd.
National Martini Day is Monday, June 19, and SafeHouse Chicago will celebrate by serving its classic "spytini" for $5 at 11 a.m.-7 p.m. SafeHouse Chicago, a spy-themed spot, features an Austin Powers-themed bathroom, a covert entrance, spy-film memorabilia and other items. See SafeHouseChicago.com .
Seven Lions, 130 S. Michigan Ave., is launching a featured burger and cocktail in conjunction with the Art Institute of Chicago's opening of the "Paul Gauguin: Artist as Alchemist" exhibit on Sunday, June 25. There are the Gauguin Burger ( single beef patty, housemade country pate, pork belly, crispy plantains, grilled pineapple, and a coconut and red cabbage slaw ) and Noa Noa Cocktail ( dark rum, Tahitian vanilla-infused vodka and fruit juice ). The items will be available June 25-Sept. 10.
Windy City RibFest in Uptown ( on Broadway at Lawrence Avenue ) returns for its ninth year on Friday-Sunday, June 30-July 2. In addition to slabs, drinks, music ( from acts such as JC Brooks Band and The Remedy ) and sides, there will also be arts and crafts as well as a kids' area ( art, games, inflatables, etc. ); also, visitors will be able to vote for their favorite ribs. See WindyCityRibfest.com .
The Roscoe Village Burger Fest will take place July 8-9 in Roscoe Village at Belmont and Damen avenues at 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Some of the acts slated to perform include Kongos, Marty Casey, Wedding Banned, 16 Candles and Cassettes on Tape. Burger vendors will include Kuma's Corner, Billy Goat Tavern, Mrs. Murphy & Sons and VPT, among others. See ChicagoEvents.com .
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