It's Never Too Cold For Something Frosty!

Black Dog Gelato photo via UrbanSpoon.com.

Like most summer-focused spots, Black Dog Gelato is observing winter hours. For the next few months, it's only open noon-9pm Friday-Sunday.

But in the meantime, owner Jessica Oloroso has come up with a couple of creative ways to get her addictive, hand-crafted frosty treats to her fans on the regular.

Restaurants Giving Back During Holidays

Love it or hate it, this is the time of year when folks feel the most generous. And since all that brotherly love is in the air, you can't blame restaurants and bars for getting in on the action.

If you're looking to give back or lend a helping hand to those in need, the roving underground supper club Clandestino is requesting guests to bring an unwrapped toy or winter coat for the last Eating Vincent Price dinner of the year. As always, the location is unknown until the day of the event, but it will be held in the South Loop. The BYOB event is $55 and inspired by Price's travels to Old Mexico. 6:30pm Dec. 19. You can RSVP here. Donations will benefit Family Focus.

Through Dec. 25, Custom House Tavern is holding a canned-food drive to benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Those who bring non-perishables will receive a complimentary "thank you" lunch or dinner course during their meal.

Fishbar gets into the holiday spirit by supporting Toys for Tots through Dec. 22. The Lakeview seafood restaurant will give a side of tater tots to those who donate an unwrapped toy in its original packaging. No stuffed animals accepted.

Duffy Reveals Name For West Loop Resto

(Photo: Curtis Duffy)

Way back in July, Curtis Duffy made a shocking announcement that he was leaving his post as chef de cuisine at the now-shuttered Avenues at the Peninsula Chicago to open his own restaurant.

At that time, and the months following, he only disclosed a few details about his new project, including that it would open next spring in the West Loop. He also told the Chicago Tribune he's aiming for "food that will be more refined. We're going to pull back just a bit and push forward at the same time. We want to have a bit more control with the food, and push forward in terms of flavor combination."

He's had us waiting on pins and needles for all these months without even giving a hint of the name or exact location.

But now that's about to change.

When You Need To Get Away

You love your family like a fat kid loves Krispy Kreme, but you can handle only so much of them on Christmas.

So just in case you need something stronger than that home-made spiked egg nog or box wine, I've compiled a list of bars open Dec. 25:

Butch McGuire's: You'll still be in the Christmas spirit at this long-time Division Street watering hole that takes the holiday pretty serious. It's all decked out in seasonal splendor, with tinsel and trains choo-chooing all over the space. Surprisingly, the spot is full around 6pm, likely with those like-minded folks trying to escape. And touristy types.

Art Smith, Stephanie Izard Make PeekScore's Top 20 List of Celeb Chefs

When it comes to clout on the web for celebrity chefs, only two Chicago-based stars cracked the Top 20, according to PeekScore.

Stephanie Izard (Girl & The Goat) and Art Smith Table Fifty-Two) got the props for their high web presence.

Woman Used Match.com For Free Dinner Dates

Is she in it for the dude or the free dinner and drinks?! (Photo via thedish.restaurant.com.

She's supposedly in a serious, committed relationship now, but when Abbie Boudreau was single, she deliberately used Match.com to use well-to-do dudes for expensive free dinners. Boudreau claims she saved $1,200 a month from going on these dates.

She told her story to Good Morning America, and I really hope other women don't do this.

It's just not cool.

WhiskeyFest Tickets Selling Out Fast!

Uh, oh.

Just got this message from the folks who put on the annual WhiskeyFest at the downtown Hyatt:

"Chicago VIP tickets SOLD OUT this morning! Regular tickets are still available (for now). Buy them while you can!"

Ummmm, the event doesn't even happen until March 23. I suggest you get on this one ASAP. Get them right here.

Tuman's Staff Told To Look For New Jobs

Tuman's photo via Time Out.

Everyone's favorite dive bar may be on everyone's shit list now that word is out about what's going on over at the temporarily shuttered spot in Ukrainian Village.

An Ultimate Insider tells 312DD that the new owners of Tuman's told all the employees "to look for other jobs."

Says my source: "A guy I play football with is friends with [redacted], one of the (now former) employees there. He says that they told him the day they closed for renovations to look for another job."

Wow.

The new owners have only been in place for a few months and are already making enemies . . .