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Cover illustration for Hed Kandi by Jason Brooks
Now that you've gotten over the shock that you won't be getting into any of newly crowned
Top Chef Master Rick Bayless's restaurants anytime soon (
opentable.com has no reasonable reservations available until well into fall), it's time to move on.
If you've got a big appetite for soulful, electronic house music, indulge in some
Hed Kandi, the glamorous U.K.-based deejay collective that's on its way to new West Loop lounge
Theatro tonight. Hed Kandi deejays
Airloom and
Funky Couture kick off the monthly residency with a blow-out bash featuring comped cocktails and light bites from
Sushi X until 10pm, plus a visit from lingerie-clad football team
Chicago Bliss.
Party happens 8pm-2am Thursday. Cover varies.
Benefits, beats and eats to keep you happy all weekend long: THURSDAYHopefully the bad weather will hold off for the
Mile-High Cocktail Club, taking place on
C-View's rooftop lounge.
SVEDKA Vodka created an "in-flight" cocktail menu just for the occasion, plus the "cabin crew" will serve comped appetizers from
C-House. 6-9pm. Free, but RSVP necessary at Chris@expagency.com.
A number of fabulous women in media, PR, fitness, fashion and beauty (including yours truly!) will be honored during
Maven's
Diva Series Reunion at
BOKA. This party benefits
PAVE, a nonprofit focusing on the awareness of sexual violence. 8-11pm. $20 with comped appetizers and $8 specialty cocktails.
The
St. Jude Summer Sipper's a favorite of the supporters of the venerable children's hospital, and tonight's event happens at
Maeve in Lincoln Park. 6-9pm. The $40 ticket includes wine tastings and appetizers.
Every kid needs proper school supplies and books, and
WITS is doing its part to make that happen. Their next benefit happens at
WAVE, where guests will be treated to summer-focused cocktails and appetizers prepared by Executive Chef
Kristine Subido. 7-10pm. One hundred percent of the $55 benefits WITS.
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"Cigar Sunday" happens this weekend on Peninsula's fabulous outdoor terrace. (Photo: Peninsula Chicago)
FRIDAYIf you don't make it to
Glamorama, Chicago's top fashion event of the year, head to the after-after-party at
Underground where R&B super star
Ne-Yo is scheduled to make an appearance. Look for him to show up around 1am, but I wouldn't count on him singing. 10pm-4am. $20.
Here's your chance to get a taste of
Frontera Grill after all! The award-winning Mexican restaurant, along with the likes of
Hot Chocolate,
Santorini and
Bluebird, caters a benefit for
StreetWise, the magazine providing an income to homeless Chicagoans. The party also includes an open bar and goes down at the
Rooftop Sculpture Garden (117 N. Jefferson, fourth floor). 6-9:30pm. Get the $100 tickets
here.
A
Taste of Provence continues through Saturday at
Kiki’s Bistro. The French-focused eatery's paying homage to
Julia Child with regional wine and cuisine specials, including monkfish with Ratatouille and tomato coulis.
SUNDAYInstead of the usual brunch, why not partake in
Red Light's delicious BBQ benefit for farmers
Tracey Vowell (a former
Topolobampo chef) and
Kathe Roybal of
Three Sisters Garden?! Participating chefs include
Giuseppe Tentori (
BOKA) and
Sarah Stegner and
George Bumbaris (
Prairie Grass Cafe),
Mark Mendez (
Carnivale),
Jolene Worthington (
Eli's Cheesecake) and chefs from
Frontera Grill/Topolobampo. Noon-3pm. $50 (tickets not available at door; must be purchased at participating restaurants).
Here's one for the cigar enthusiast:
Cigar Sunday returns to the terrace at
Peninsula, where you can smoke stogies, sip single-malt scotch and bond with other like-minded luxaholics. 5-10pm. No cover; RSVP required at diningpch@peninsula.com.
MONDAY And
McDonald's Filet-O-Fish will have nothing on
C-House's new
C-Wich, now available on the lunch menu. It's stacked with house-made crab cake between a brioche bun with coconut gribiche, and served with a side of seasonal apple slaw and tomato-corn salad. Today through Aug. 28, you can get it for $5 (regularly $15). Other $5 offerings during the promotion include C-House fries with housemade ketchup; decadent chorizo mac & cheese with local goat cheese; and white wine spritzers.