Monday, October 19
Yesterday marked the start of Pumpkin Fest, an annual celebration of the gourd in the form of a four-course prix-fixe menu at Chez Moi (2100 N. Halsted St., Lincoln Park, 773-871-2100). The $39 meal includes pumpkin soup, pumpkin ravioli, and pumpkin crème brûlée, and you can order it through October 31.
Wednesday, October 21
Want to watch the Cubs but avoid the Wrigleyville mess? Chop Shop (2033 W. North Ave., Wicker Park, 773-537-4440) will project the game on a 30-foot screen on their rooftop patio, and you can chomp on $5 Chicago-style hot dogs and a $15 burger-and-beer combo while you cheer. If the series stretches to Thursday, the restaurant will do the same then, too.
Thursday, October 22
Find out just who’s making the cheese at the Sofitel (20 E. Chestunt St., Gold Coast, 312-324-4000) during the hotel’s Meet the Artisans event. There will be samplings from the in-house charcuterie and dairy maker Chestnut Provisions, bread from La Fournette, and more. Tickets to the event, which runs from 6 to 8 p.m., are $25 and available here.
The latest edition of From Good Stock, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it one-off dinner series from Land and Sea Dept. (Cherry Circle Room, Longman & Eagle), will spotlight the Broken Shaker, the bar in River North's Freehand Hotel, with chef Jonathan Meyer (from Chicago) and drinkmaster Gui Jaroschy (from the original Miami location) running the show. The four-course meal with drink pairings sells for $100 (tickets here), and in addition to dining in Land and Sea’s studio space (3124 W. Carroll Ave., Garfield Park), you’ll get to see custom-made serving and dining pieces from local ceramicist Leah Ball and works from Berlin-based artist Marius Glauer.
Saturday, October 24
Find your new favorite autumn brew at the Chicago Fall Beer Festival at Union Station (225 S. Canal St., Loop), where dozens of breweries, including Lagunitas, Bell's, and Founders, will proffer their seasonal suds for the samplings. Tickets to either of the two sessions (1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m.) are $45 and include 40 taster vouchers—grab yours here.