Photo: Courtesy Foodease

Paula Haney will be signing The Hoosier Mama Book of Pie here at Foodease on Michigan Avenue Thursday afternoon.

Monday, 8/26 through Monday, 9/1: In order to get in shape for the national Nugget Rib cook-off, the team at Sweet Baby Ray’s Smokehouse, Bourbon & Beer (3478 N. Clark St., 773-975-7427) fires up a week of smoked specials. The 'cue extravaganza offers multiple styles of ribs, a sampler platter for $25, and drink specials.

Wednesday, 8/28: Frontier (1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-772-4322) pushes the envelope with its next “So You Think You’re A Foodie" dinner. Llama will be the featured ingredient in the five-course meal. If you want to sample the unique fare, tickets are $65 with an option to add on a wine or beer pairing for $15 more. Dinner starts at 8 p.m.

Wednesday, 8/28: If meat isn’t your thing, another midweek option is Slow Food Chicago’s vegetarian dinner at the Edgewater location of Uncommon Ground (1401 W. Devon Ave., 773-465-9801). The event will be held on the restaurant's organic roof top farm, one of the first certified locations of its kind, with a menu spotlighting produce harvested on site. Tickets are $65; dinner starts at 6 p.m.

Thursday, 8/29: Gourmet food market Foodease Market (832 N. Michigan Ave., 312-335-3663) hosts Paula Haney for a signing of her recently released cookbook The Hoosier Mama Book of Pie. Meet with the Hoosier Mama herself, pick up a copy of the book, and sample some fresh-baked snacks from the pie shop (4 to 6 p.m.). 

Friday, 8/30: Timed perfectly for the end of summer, Geja's Cafe (340 W. Armitage Ave., 773-281-9101) celebrates National Toasted Marshmallow day with one last campfire. From 5 to 10 p.m. patrons are invited to roast marshmallows on the patio; local Girl Scouts will be present to help with s'mores construction. A donation of $5 for adults and $2 for children is requested, and all funds go to the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana.