The Andersonville outpost of Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine retail and its sister business, Appellation Wine Bar & Restaurant, will close after three years on Sunday, Oct. 21. In a Facebook post, co-owner Greg O'Neill stated, "Please know that this was a difficult but necessary decision and was internally-driven." The other locations ( in Lake View and the Loop, and at the Chicago French Market ) will remain open.
Wine Riot presented by Delta Amex Perks will return to Chicago Oct. 19-20 at Revel Fulton Market, 1215 W. Fulton Market, offering a line-up of educational programs designed to take the intimidation out of building one's wine wisdom, along with wine selections from exhibitors like St. James Winery, Fincas La Moras, Blu Nun 24K, Michele Chiarlo and more. Wines will be paired alongside dynamic bites from some Chicago's top restaurants. See WineRiot.com .
Replay Lincoln Park, 2833 N. Sheffield Ave., has unveiled a "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" pop-up bar experience that will join the South Park pop-up, currently up in a separate area of the bar. Replay's new Buffy pop-up bar will transform the space into Sunnydale, allowing guests to 'live a day in the life of a true vampire slayer,' complete with doing ( dreaded ) research at the Sunnydale High Library, enjoying a night out at The Bronze nightclub, and even getting the chance to patrol the cemetery, all while sipping on appropriately-themed cocktails. To continue the fandom costume fun, Replay will host a Halloween Costume Buffy Bash on Saturday, Oct. 27, and a South Park "Satan's Super Sweet 16" party on Wednesday, Oct. 31.
Chicagoland City Barbeque ( Citybbq.com ) locations have partnered with the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition for a local, restaurant-wide fundraiser. On Thursday, Oct. 25, all five City Barbeque locations in the Chicago area will donate 25 percent of their sales, dine-in or take-out, to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, when patrons mention the organization when ordering.
Craft-cocktail lounge Tinker to Evers has opened at 3473 N. Clark St., just below Union Full Board. Seating about 40, guests can grab a seat at the walnut-and-brass bar or at one of the custom-made velvet tufted banquettes. The drink menu includes a wide range of unique local spirits, as well as 14 unique craft cocktails with playful names that offer subtle nods to baseball and all things Americanaincluding the Empress of Blues ( a tribute to singer Bessie Smith that includes Yama Japanese whiskey, amontillado sherry, Drambuie and lavender syrup. Visit http://unionpizza.com/tinker-to-evers.
ZED451, 739 N. Clark St., will host a Koval Distillery pairing dinner on Thursday, Oct. 25, at 6 p.m. Culinary items will include grilled sea scallops, chicken thighs, top sirloin and cranberry cobbler. Tickets are $70 each; email chicago@zed451.com or call 312-266-6691.
Francesca's Restaurants on Wed., Oct. 17, will celebrate National Pasta Day with select pasta dishes for $12.95 each. Fettuccine al Funghetto and Rigatoni con Scarola, among others. See www.miafrancesca.com .
The James Beard Foundation's Taste America will present an inaugural kick-off reception on Thursday, Oct. 25, 6-9 p.m., at The Lakewood, 1758 W. Lake St. "Raising the BarJames Beard Foundation Celebrates Women Shaking Up Chicago's Beverage Scene," will welcome mixologists such as Julietta Campos ( The Whistler ), Natalia Cardenas ( Breakthru Beverage ), Jarmel Doss ( Aviary ), Julia Momose ( Oriole, Kumiko ) and Alpana Singh ( Master Sommelier and Host of Check Please! ) while launching the full weekend of Taste America events. Tickets are $100 each; visit https://www.jamesbeard.org/events/taste-america-chicago-kick-off.
The Trotter Project is presenting its Second Annual Excellence Gala on Saturday, Oct. 27, at 5:30 p.m. at at Revel Fulton Market, 1215 W. Fulton Marketand the evening celebrating the achievements of culinary scholarship recipients as well as the legacies of Chefs Charlie Trotter and Homaro Cantu will feature headlining Chef Andoni Luis Aduriz. Andoni's visit is supported by a team of alumni from both Charlie Trotter's restaurant and Chef Homaro Cantu's Moto, as well as The Trotter Project culinary supporters; this all-star team is led by host of Cooking Channel's Carnival Kings and Top Chef's Richie Farina. Tickets are $500 each; visit TheTrotterProject.org/excellence-gala-2018/ .
Baptiste & Bottle, 101 E. Erie St., is encouraging guests to dress up for brunch on Oct. 27-28 for a chance to win a free Baptiste Dinner ( $100 gift card ) each day. Guests must post a photo next to the bloody mary bar and tag @baptistechicago on Instagram to be entered into the contest. ( In addition, Halloween-themed Bottomless Bloody and mimosa bars are $26 for each. )
Real Good Stuff Co. has opened its first corner food hall, at 701 N. Wells St. The place will feature a hot bar, grab-and-go items, a matcha bar and local and organic menu items from farmers the company has been supporting since being founded in 2014. See realgoodstuffco.com .
Travelle at The Langham, Chicago ( 330 N. Wabash Ave. ) has unveiled its fall menu. Chef Jeff Vucko's newest items include uni cacio e pepe; 16-oz. prime-aged bone-in ribeye with black truffle butter and confit garlic; beet stacks with hickory-smoked goat cheese; Icelandic cod with summer beans, legumes, and capers, served in a lemon dill herb broth; and more. See TravelleChicago.com .
Schubas Tavern is relaunching its acoustic brunch ( 12-2 p.m. ), after a two-year break, starting Oct. 28. Presented in partnership with the Old Town School of Folk Music, Schubas Tavern's iconic stage will feature a diverse set of musicians, including Lukas Simpson and Blake Korte, Pickin' Ponies, Jenny Bienemann and more. Also, to coincide with the relaunch, Chef Debbie Gold will present a new Schubas Tavern brunch menu.
Z Bar, the rooftop lounge at The Peninsula Chicago, has planned two days of "Z is for Zombie" festivities on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 26-27. DJ and producer Alyson Calagna, who curated the bar's global playlists, will spin from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Oct. 26, followed the next night by Chicago DJ Cloudstomper. Also, there's the Zombie cocktail ( $13 ), featuring overproof rum, grenadine, cinnamon, falernum and a lime-candy "eyeball" garnish. There is no cover charge and there will be complimentary face-painting. More details on the costume contest and prizes can be found at www.facebook.com/events/251416168854871/ .
The River North spot Jake Melnick's Corner Top, 41 E. Superior St., is celebrating Halloween all month long with its Nightmare on Superior Street Burger ( $16.95 ). Jake's half-pound fresh beef patty is hand-packed with habanero and cheddar; topped with lettuce, tomato, crispy jalapeno bottle caps, pepper jack cheese and XXX mayoas well as a dash of ghost pepper dust. There's also The Detroit Pan Pizza ( $15.95 ), which features a squared crust with caramelized cheese; variations include pepperoni or spicy Italian sausage.
Commonwealth Tavern, 2000 W. Roscoe St., will host a Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 27. Guests will enjoy a $30 per person package from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. that includes call drinks, Miller Lite drafts, wine and an appetizer buffet. Halloween costumes are highly encouraged. For tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/commonwealth-tavern-halloween-party-tickets-50712955816.
The Halloween dumplings at urbanbelly, 2400 N. Damen Ave, sport an orange-colored filling, thanks to pumpkin and sweet potato. Served with green papaya, they're $1.75 a piece and available Monday, Oct. 29 through Saturday, Nov. 3.
On Tuesday, Oct. 30, 7-10 p.m., HopCat-Chicago, 2577 N. Clark St., will host its Ravinia Beer Dinner, featuring fall comfort foods with specially selected beers from Highland Park-based Ravinia Brewing Company. Guests can enjoy a five beer, four-course menu for $40 per person; visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beer-dinner-w-ravinia-tickets-49153105261.
Celebrating the legacy of Le Francais, six chefs are uniting for one evening to pay homage to the famous French restaurant at Winnetka's Restaurant Michael, 64 Green Bay Rd. On Tuesday, Nov. 6, 6-9 p.m., guests can join Chef Michael Lachowicz ( George Trois and Restaurant Michael ), Chef Patrick Chabert ( 20 year Chef-de-Cuisine at Le Francais ), Chef Roland Liccioni ( Les Nomades ), Christopher Koetke ( saucier at Le Francais; dean of culinary education at Kendall College ), Chef Mark Grosz ( Oceanique ) and Chef Matt McMillin ( Cooper's Hawk Restaurants ) for a five-course menu. Admission is $150 each for the menu only ( including a $25 nonrefundable deposit ); wine is additional. See RestaurantMichael.com .
Yes, Thanksgiving will be here soon. To that end, Fairmont Chicago-Millennium Park, 200 N. Columbus Dr., is offering a chef-made "Thanksgiving at Home Dinner." Diners can order, pick-up and experience a holiday spread prepared by Fairmont Chicago Executive Chef Sean Curry, complete with an American Bronze turkey, a variety of side dishes, dessert and more, on Thursday, Nov. 22. The Thanksgiving at Home Dinner package costs $275 plus tax and serves eight; people can visit fairmontchicago.wufoo.com/forms/z169kzka15atqzv/ and place orders through Friday, Nov. 16.
Send items to Andrew@WindyCityMediaGroup.com, or follow on Twitter @Azygous60610 or on Instagram at azygous333.