Monday, September 28
There are still a few tickets left for tonight’s GT Collective Dinner at GT Fish & Oyster (531 N. Wells St., River North, 312-929-3501), which will have Balena chef Michael Cote joining up with the GT team for a five-course dinner with beer and wine pairings for $75. If you’re available for a 5:30 p.m. seating, call the restaurant to save your spot.
Tuesday, September 29
If you want a pumpkin spice latte without any Starbucks shame, swing by Beatrix (519 N. Clark St., River North, 312-284-1377) for National Coffee Day today—you can get their take on the fall treat using extra-caffeinated Nitro cold brew coffee (gourd haters, there’s also a caramel cream version) for $3 and use your receipt from that day’s purchase to get a dollar off coffee purchases Wednesday through Friday.
Get to know the Wicker Park and Bucktown dining scene during the annual Fall Dinner Crawl, which offers multiple itineraries of samplings through some of the neighborhoods’ favorite restaurants. There are multiple routes to choose from—you can choose your own adventure here.
Wednesday, September 30
One year after the closing of Hot Doug’s, a somber event from which the city still has not fully recovered, Honey Butter Fried Chicken will be featuring a concoction known as the Doug Sohn from today through Sunday. It’s a fried chicken sandwich with all the trappings of a Chicago-style dog, from celery salt to pickled peppers, and it’s available for $8 (and if you drop by between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. today, you can rub elbows with the sandwich’s namesake.) A dollar from each sandwich sold will go to the Shriver Center.
Sunday, October 4
Watch bartenders and cocktail class graduates duke it out in a Bloody Mary competition at Autre Monde Café (6727 W. Roosevelt Rd., Berwyn, 708-775-8122). Talent from several area bars, including the Violet Hour and Villains, will face off against students from Autre Monde mixologist Becci Visconti West’s drink courses for recognition, and attendees can get samples of the entrants and lots of eats for $10. The event starts at noon—buy tickets here.