CHIGuide
7 Exciting Things To Do & Eat In Chicago This Week
photo credit: Sandy Noto
We’re doing a lot this week - like rating endless Met Gala looks from our couches and coming to terms with the fact that it’s almost fall. On top of all that, there are also tons of fun new things to do and eat right now, including openings, new bottomless brunches, and special dinners happening across the city.
The Things
photo credit: Megan Sontag
This spot is Permanently Closed.
On September 18th, Funkenhausen will be starting its Funktoberfest celebration. Along with special Octoberfest beers (like Pfungstädter Festbier, Maisel’s Amber Hefeweizen, and Hirter Morchl Munich dunkel) they will also have food specials, live music, and pop-up acts from now until October 25th.
For more Octoberfest-in-September fun, head to The Publican. This Sunday, the 19th, they’re serving an eight-course Oktoberfest dinner, which includes things like Bavarian pretzels with beer cheese, sausage, schnitzel, and more. There will also be lots of beer and lederhosen, and you can make your reservations online.
From September 14th through the 25th, Wherewithall’s wine pairing for their prix-fixe menu will highlight Latina and Latino winemakers. $5 from every wine pairing will go to The Resurrection Project, which helps underdeveloped Chicago neighborhoods with issues like affordable housing and immigration services. The four-course dinner is $85, and the wine pairing is $55. Make reservations here.
The Ace Hotel has a new bottomless brunch special that has nothing to do with booze. It’s $45 and comes with your a choice of entree and - this is where we get excited - a bottomless snack cart with small bites like blini with smoked trout roe, feta butternut squash crostini, doughnuts, and a brunch tower that includes pastries and a smoked salmon platter. And for an extra $20, you can get unlimited mimosas or beer.
This new Italian restaurant in the Gold Coast will begin serving brunch on Sunday. Adalina’s brunch will be from 10am - 3pm, and will have dishes like avocado toast topped with crescenza and smoked trout roe, and wagyu with eggs, caviar, and hollandaise.
This week a new Italian restaurant opened in the West Loop in the former Bellemore space. Alla Vita is from the same chef as Boka, and the menu has handmade pasta, a variety of pizza, and entrees like chicken parmigiana. Visit their website to make reservations.
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
September 16th is the last concert of the Millennial Park Summer Series. The event is free of charge, and will have musicians like Eighth Blackbird, Karim Sulayman, Tarrey Torae, Jamila Woods, and more. The concert starts at 6pm and you can check here for more details.
