Incredibly Cool Spots To Check Out

Frontier's 2,500-square-foot beer garden is one of the newest hot spots to hit up in West Town. (Photo: Frontier)

Food trucks and Fido?! That's the theme behind Truckin' Thursdays, a new event at Ethyl's Beer & Wine Dive in the West Loop.

A number of the city's most popular food trucks gather in the parking lot, and one also offers gourmet goodies for your pooch. Fido To Go is doing hand-crafted canine cookies & doggy ice creams. Other trucks include the likes of Taquero Fusion, Gaztro-Wagon, Tamale Spaceship, Slide Ride, 5411 Empanadas, More Cupcakes and Alexander Beetle Bakeshop. It's 6-9pm.

Additional fantastic food-focused events you don't want to miss:

Frontier's had a pretty sweet time since opening earlier this year. A 2,500-square-foot beer garden debuted over the weekend, and we expect it to be mad packed with a neighborhood crowd.

There's seating for about 100 guests, a fireplace and signature cocktails that you can share with friends. They're doing pitchers of red and white sangria, Hurricanes, plus a punch of Sailor Jerry Rum, pineapple juice, coconut milk, ginger liqueur and fresh pineapple. Those range $20-$30.

Monday should be a pretty fun day with two tasty going-ons. Sprinkles celebrates its first-year anniversary by giving away 1,000 cupcakes a day July 11-24. Just follow the Sprinklemobile here for exact times and locations.

Also going down Monday is the annual Halsted Tastes Better festival in Lakeview. For $25 ($35 at door), you'll get to sample fare from 10 of the area's most popular spots, including the likes of DS Tequila Company, Halsted's Bar & Grill, HB Home Bistro, Hearty, Kit Kat Lounge and SupperClub, Chicago Diner and Yoshi's Café. 6-9pm.

And Rhapsody continues its Summer Camp For Adults through September.

Don't worry, you won't be subjected to scary campfire stories and s'mores, but you will get some pretty cool cocktails and cuisine during the sessions. We're particularly excited about Bubbles & Cheeses, Italian-style (July 14) for Prosecco, Bellinis, Italian sodas and appetizers.

And on July 28, they're throwing a Classic Umbrella Drinks bash, where you'll get to enjoy Mai Tais, Pina Coladas, Daiquiris and Margaritas. That'll be paired with Pigs in a Blanket and Swedish Meatballs.

The events happen 5:30-7:30pm Thursdays on Rhapsody's patio. Cost is $45 for each class or $175 for the entire series. Make a reservation at the restaurant right here.