Monday, January 5, 2009

'Eat It Up Chicago' returns

Photobucket
Naha is one of many returning participants in "Chicago Restaurant Week…eat it up!," happening in February.


312DD told you exclusively last month about the second-annual Chicago Restaurant Week…eat it up! returning in Feburary.

And, as promised, we've got more deets:

Host Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau just unveiled the official site for the weeklong fest here, which is taking place at more than 130 restaurants around town, including newcomers The Drawing Room, Lux Bar, Le Colonial, La Madia, Topolobampo, Prosecco and others offering some great deals. River North's swanky Naha is one of many returning participants.

Look for Chicago Restaurant Week to happen Feb. 20-27, with three-course prix-fixe menus of $22 for lunch and $32 for dinner (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity).

What's happening next?!

Photobucket
Tiny Lounge photo courtesy of Urban Daddy Chicago.


Stars to watch in early 2009:

We've been waiting for two years for the return of Tiny Lounge, and now word comes down that it's back on Wednesday. New home is in North Center/Lincoln Square, and in addition to the extensive cocktail menu, they'll offer small bites.

The guys behind Bon V bang out their second project at the end of the month. Look for Faith & Whiskey, a hard-rockin' joint with whiskey as the poison of choice, to open in the old Ta'too space in Lincoln Park.

Bar DeVille's been around since November, but they haven't officially unveiled what's going to set it apart from all the other 'hood spots in Ukrainian Village. A room way in the back holds a "speakeasy"-type lounge complete with deejay and a bar hidden in the wall. They're working on opening it by February.

Remember iCream?! That futuristic ice-cream parlor that opened in Wicker Park late last summer, then closed like two weeks later because something supposedly happened to the liquid-nitrogen tanks responsible for cranking out more than 31 flavors? Well, it's planning to reopen by the end of the month. Great timing, guys.

Purgatory Pizza's been around for a few months, but we're excited about the Sunday Hip-Hop Brunch Series starting on Feb. 8. For $13, you'll get MCs, deejays and an all-you-can-eat-and-drink fiesta. 11am-3pm.

River North's upscale sports lounge Bull & Bear, which had a few setbacks and was supposed to open on New Year's Eve, aims again for a mid-January opening. The same guys also own Stone Lotus and they're assuring us that they're on target this time.

Sunda, the highly anticipated Asian concept by Rockit Ranch Productions, debuts in late February in River North, right down the street from its celeb magnet Underground.

And we'd almost given up hope that Loft Six Ten would ever open in the old Paje space in Wicker Park. So much drama going on over there, but they're really, really working on opening in the next few weeks.