Fashion(able) plates

The Pinto Box, named after local fashion designer Maria Pinto, can be found at Sepia. (Photo: Lara Kastner)


Sepia teams up with new next-door neighbor designer Maria Pinto (peep her threads on muse Michelle Obama) for the Pinto Box, which they're saying is "for those fashionably on the go, an all-in-one stylish lunchbox."

Custom-made for Sepia, the hand-crafted Pinto Box was designed by Brent Rourke, a cabinet maker and creator of Canadian-based Shaker oval boxes and carriers.

Executive Chef Kendal Duque and Pastry Chef Cindy Schuman will offer rotating menus with three seasonal choices (appetizer, entree, dessert), like a daily flatbread, Amish chicken with apples, as well as a sweet potato spice cake bread pudding with caramel thyme ice cream. Available Monday - Friday 11:30am-2pm for $18.

Province ready to open?!

Randy Zweiban's Province had its "friends and family" sneak preview event last night, so it looks like it should be opening this weekend as scheduled.

Working on getting more info on what went down . . .

UPDATE: In the meantime, Zweiban's released his opening menu, which is surprisingly very budget friendly. It offers "small," "big" and "bigger" entrees, including a spice-rubbed grilled Ahi tuna taco with serrano chile tartar salsa ($8), slow-roasted Gunthorp Farms pork with rice beans and braised greens ($10/$19) and 10-hour braised lamb with eggplant, chorizo and cornbread ($12/$22).

UPDATE 2: It opens today!

UPDATE 3: A tipster who was there last night tells me: "The steak was delicious. . . baby pork taquitos were fairly small and were only $3 . . . pretty room, nice service, price points were perfect for this challenged economy." He loved the shrimp & grits with manchego cheese, and the grilled beef tenderloin drizzled with housemade steak sauce was also a big hit.

Debbie Sharpe of Cru Wine Bar & Cafe was also in the house.

Give me some sugar

Katherine Anne Confections' truffles will be featured at Crimson's "Sweetest Singles Party" tonight. (Photo: Katherine Anne Confections)


Why wait for Saturday to celebrate Sweetest Day?! Tonight's all about the singles as Crimson Lounge is hoping to gather the city's sexiest crowd. They're wooing them with $5 Kilo Kai rum cocktails and desserts courtesy of Katherine Anne Confections. Proceeds benefit LIFT. 8pm-midnight. No cover.

Whether you come tonight or this weekend, Chaise Lounge's new exec chef Cary Taylor—who was the star at the recent Chicago Gourmet event—is offering 312DiningDiva.com readers 10 percent off their total bill until Nov. 1. We hear the crabcakes are to die for.

Southport's Galleria Liqueurs hosts its annual grand champagne tasting. You'll get to sample more than 10 top brands, including Moet and Chandon and Veuve Clicquot. 6-8pm. $10.

It's time for Marche's 15th anniversary, and they're doing it up by bringing back all those wacky events for which they've become infamous. Look for S&M artists, mod burlesque performances and Dr. Seuss characters strolling through the space as guests nosh on signature dishes by former Marche chefs Michael Kornick, John Bubala and Paul Wildermuth. They'll be joined by current chef Matt Tobin. Fifteen raffle prizes will include gift certificates for Marché, Opera, Gioco and Red Light. 8pm-2am. $20 ($5 goes to Perspectives Charter Schools).

Attention, single gals: A host of hot, eligible bachelors will be up for grabs—oops, I mean up for charity auction—at Martini Park. Bankers, lawyers and a frat boy (?!) will strut their stuff to raise money for the Sealed with a Wish Bachelor Auction to benefit The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois. Ten dollars gets you a free cocktail ticket (first 50 arrivals only), appetizers and $7 specialty martinis. Check out the talent here. 6-9pm. $10.

And the Inspired By Pink Party happens at Townhouse Restaurant & Wine Bar, raising money for breast cancer research. Event includes an open bar and appetizers. 5:30-7:30pm. $10 donation.