Special delivery for Ne-Yo!

R&B superstar Ne-Yo at a recent party at Lumen. (Photo: Lumen)


Celebrities have all the luck.

This time it's R&B super star Ne-Yo, who's in town for a performance at Taste of Chicago.

Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique owner Teresa Ging tells 312DD exclusively that her South Loop shop delivered four of her luscious Red Velvet cupcakes to the musician's room at Sax Hotel Tuesday night.

But this is nothing new for her. Ging says she's had a special relationship with the hotel for about two years, and that she's always delivered cupcakes to their VIP guests, including the likes of Kanye West, Spice Girls and Ellen DeGeneres.

Everyone seems to especially love the Red Velvet cupcakes ($3.50 for regular size; $1.50 for minis), but other popular pastries include the Chocolate Milk Chocolate and Black & White cupcakes.

Go Beats, Go BBQ, Go Bang!

What's more American than rock 'n' roll, 40oz-es, fireworks and the Fourth of July?!

Not much, so if you're sticking around town this weekend, 312DD's got you covered if you plan on heading out and about:

WEDNESDAY

Blue 13 debuts a series of rock-focused, five-course feasts tonight and every Wednesday through August 27. Executive Chef Chris Curren's serving up his favorite tunes accompanied by signature dishes. Tonight's all about Weezer, and the dinner begins promptly at 7:15pm. You'll get his Steak and Egg on Acid to the soundtrack of We Are All On Drugs. Now those are beats we can eat to. $50.

Speaking of wacky dinners, how 'bout a match with malt liquor?! As part of its National 40oz Week, The Fifty/50's doing 4 Courses To Freedom 40oz Dinner, a tasting menu of stuffed mushrooms, cheese fries, fried chicken and Baby Back ribs paired with different pours selected by a sommelier (who is it, Snoop Dogg?!). Don't forget to pour out a little to our famous dead homey, Michael Jackson. Starts at 7pm. $25.

Speaking of MJ, Ne-Yo's in town for an after-party at The Shrine, following his show at Taste of Chicago. The likely heir to The King of Pop's throne may pick up a mic, but we're hearing that he'll definitely be hangin' in VIP. 8pm-2am. Cover varies.

Start you BBQ eating a few days early at Just Grapes's annual grill out party with steaks, seafood and hot dogs paired with summer wines. 5:30-7:30pm. $25.



Ne-Yo performs at Taste of Chicago Wednesday, then heads to South Loop hot spot Shrine for the after-party.


THURSDAY

Grammy Award-winning producer/arranger and world-famous deejay Frankie Knuckles returns for his infamous holiday party. Happening indoors and outdoors at Green Dolphin Street, this is the party not to miss. Get there early to mark your spot on the dance floor. 10pm-4am. $10 before midnight; $20 after.

Get ready for an all-out 1980s-themed benefit bash (can you say non-stop MJ?!) at The Silver Room (1442 N. Milwaukee Ave.). Deejays Ruin and Spin perform, chef Radika Desai (Top Chef) whips up signature dishes, and you get to BYOB. All donations for the night benefit Randomly Selected, a non-profit community organization. 7pm-midnight.

It's a three-day blowout at HUB 51/SUB 51, with deejays spinning upstairs and downstairs tonight through Saturday. They'll also have a number of drink specials and BBQ Baby Back ribs all weekend. 9pm-2am Thursday, Friday; open until 3am Saturday. $10 cover Thursday benefits Children's Memorial Hospital.

FRIDAY

Enjoy this Latin spin to Independence Day at Nacional 27. Get there early for the comped tapas tasting (3:30-5pm), then stay for BBQ, Beertails and exotic beats. Also, the Latin BBQ menu is $27 (two person minimum) with three courses, including Gaucho BBQ grilled 30-inch skewers. Deejays will spin for the Friday night Miami Nights party. 3:30pm-2am.

OMG. This sounds good to me: Fried Chicken & Bubbles at Lush Wine and Spirits on Halsted. It's $75, so that buttermilk fried chicken better be damn good! 6-9pm.

SATURDAY

Thirsty?! Head over to Schoolyard, Kirkwood or WestEnd for a number of "fishbowl" drinks served in 1.25 gallon glasses. Our faves? Puff the Magic Dragon (Dragonberry-flavored rum and Hawaiian Punch) and The Shooter McGavin (sweet tea vodka and lemonade). $15 each.

Green Dolphin Street continues to be one of the city's biggest party spots this weekend as Sippin on Saturday returns for its holiday edition. The late-night party includes deejay performances by Mark Fullaflava and Joe Kollage. 10pm-5am. $10 before 11:30pm.

SUNDAY

And it's gonna be an amazing day Sunday, so why not hang out on the river at the Bossa Nova Brunchat Flatwater? A live band performs; the eats are classic American. Interesting, but you're going for the view, right?! 9am-3pm.

NY Times tours local beer hot spots

If you're a self-described "beer geek," man, do I have a story for you!

In a New York Times travel piece, local writer Ari Benderski drinks his way through Chicago's new wave of microbrews.

From standbys Hopleaf and Maproom to the hot new shiny things (State and Lake, Bar DeVille), you'll learn all you need to know whether you're a visitor or local.

John Manion on sweet street eats

New to the menu at Goose Island Clybourn is chef John Manion's fancified version of elote, the mayo-slathered, spiced corn-on-the-cob street food popular in Mexican neighborhoods.

About a decade ago, Ashland Avenue in Wicker Park was nicknamed "corn cob alley." Street vendors smeared mayo, chile, lime juice and cheese on the cob and sell to hungry passers-by—including John Manion. Now he's serving his own elote as a bound corn-mayo salad, mixed with shredded cheese, chile and lime and served alongside chile-marinated grilled quail.

Introducing Park 52's hot new exec chef!

New Park 52 Executive Chef Renee Everett (Photo: Park 52)


Hyde Park native Renee Everett takes over the helm in Park52's kitchen as its third executive chef since opening in spring 2008.

Everett began her culinary career for the Gibsons Restaurant Group (Gibsons Steakhouse, Hugo's Frog Bar, Luxbar, Quartino) and later served as sous chef at Mike Ditka's Restaurant, where she developed a fond appreciation for fish and seafood.

Everett graduated from Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago and received the Charlie Trotter Scholarship by the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. She was also formerly the press secretary for the Illinois Senate President's Chicago Office.

Michael Jackson tribute parties . . .

... will be on and popping all weekend, but 312DD uncovered some of the very best going down around town:

FRIDAY

House music and hip-hop enthusiast DJ Vince Adams was up all night Tweeting about his extensive MJ record collection, so expect him to drop some rarely heard tunes during his set at Green Dolphin Street. Head here after work for Bliss Fridays, which also includes a live performance by The Soul People. 5-11pm. $5 before 8pm.

Through July 3, theWit Hotel (201 N. State St.), home to Roof and Cibo Matto, will incorporate one song per hour into their music rotation from the catalog of Jackson's work. They also have on display a portrait-size black & white photo of Michael Jackson on a table, which is draped in black cloth and located in the lobby. Surrounding the table are 20 votive candles where visitors can pay their respect. The shrine will be on display for 24 hours.

Legendary house music vocalist Byron Stingley (Ten City) was supposed to be the big headliner at tonight's show at Shrine, but now organizers have decided to dedicate a big portion of the night to The King of Pop. Tone B. Nimble spins music throughout the 1970s to present, with an extended tribute to Jackson. 9pm-2am. $20.

There's a Red Dog Reunion Party happening at Martini Ranch, which is certain to bring out some old schoolers. Deejays promise to bring you house music throughout the night, highlighting some of the very best of the MJ catalogue. Deejays Lil John, Psycho Bitch, Just Joey and Andre Harris spin. Also, drink specials and discounted food. 9pm-4am. $5.

Last night the resident deejay at Underground did 45 minutes of straight-up MJ music, and they plan on doing it again every night through Sunday. Also, on Sunday Flosstradamus performs during a new industry night. 9pm-4am Friday, Sunday; 9pm-5am Saturday. Cover varies.

An "old-skool," after-hours Chicago-style house party happens at 1635 W. Washington Blvd. Local favorites Roy Davis Jr., Bear Who?, Andre Hatchet, Julio Bishop and Charles Matlock work in their tributes to MJ, plus expect deep soul house and deep Latin beats. 10pm-6am. $10.

SATURDAY

Long-time NYC nightlife impresario BJ Murray has always been a huge Michael Jackson fan, so look for him to dedicate a part of the night to the Man in the Mirror for his party at Prosecco. The party occurs in the lower-level La Cantinella Wine Cellar Lounge and the kitchen will be open until 11pm. 10pm-3am. No cover.

SUNDAY

Deejay Jesse de la Pena spins an all-night set dedicated to the music of Michael Jackson and James Brown at Crocodile. 8pm-2am. No cover.

And, last year's post-Pride Boom Boom Room party at Avenue Tavern attracted more than 800 folks, so expect even more to show up as some of the city's hottest deejays spin underground house and personalized tributes to MJ. Spin stars include Diz, Lego, Just Joey, Uncle Milty and Michael Serafini. 3pm-midnight. Free.

R.I.P. King of Pop!

Every club in the world will be rockin' this weekend with the hits of Michael Jackson. Rest in Peace, dude, you were a GREAT one!

Pick A Fest: Pitchfork or Lolla?

Chicago attracts fans from all over who come to see Lollapalooza and the Pitchfork Festival. But now it's time to decide, which is the better festival? (Photo: Getty Images)


Our buddies over at NBCChicago.com just hooked up a poll to determine the fly-est local music festival, Pitchfork or Lollapalooza.

Check the stats, lineups, crowds, etc., then sound off on who you think is the best right here.

FYI, Lolla's winning right now!