Treat yourself . . .

. . . to a well-deserved weekend of fun. Whether you're interested in checking out Cocktails and Conversation with Salman Rushdie or a number of other notable happenings, we've got it goin' on:

THURSDAY

The first-ever Go Green Day, hosted by GO Green Management, happens at Butterfly Social Club. Guests will get a sneak peek of the city's only organic lounge with complimentary, organic cocktails. 8-11pm. No cover.

Flirty Girl Fitness is in the spotlight for the weekly Diva Series at Jbar. All female guests receive a free Flirtini, pink boa and class at Flirty Girl Fitness. Snow Queen Vodka features drink and bottle specials, as well as legendary deejay Jesse de la Pena spinning his special brand of flavor. 8pm-2am. No cover.

Alhambra Palace is the place to be if you're into R&B. Songstress Syleena Johnson is the guest of honor for a listening party for her upcoming album "Chapter 4: Labor Pains" that's due out in September. Deejays Sean Mac and Timbuck2 spin. 8pm-2am. Free.

FRIDAY

Crust offers one of the most welcoming, coziest patios in the city, and guests can enjoy their specialty organic flatbread pizzas, salads and sandwiches in this relaxing setting. If you get there around midnight, there's free pizza until close every Friday and Saturday.

Baseball fans get lucky every time Chicago Cub player Kosuke Fukudome hits a homerun. All three locations for RA Sushi will offer a 12 oz. Sapporo for only a penny (you've gotta already be in the restaurant!) during Friday games (home or away). And if he hits more than one homer, guests will receive a free appetizer.

SATURDAY

Last year's Volleywood Beach Bash was super hot with DJ AM as the guest super celebrity, so expect an even larger crowd to turn out when it goes down this afternoon. The lineup includes DJ Jumpin James, The Beach Bum Band, DJ White Shadow and a guest appearance by Mix Master Mike of The Beastie Boys. All-day party takes place at North Avenue Beach (south of boathouse) with a volleyball tournament, interactive games, VIP cabanas and more. Go here for more info on event. Noon-7pm. Free.

Party with purpose at Imerman Angels 2nd Annual Rooftop Party, which supports the one-on-one cancer support group. The ticket price includes food, dessert, cocktails and also live entertainment. 6-10pm at Lake Shore Athletic Club (1320 W. Fullerton Ave.). Post party happens at Martini Park. $30 in advance; $40 at door.

Looks like HotHouse is without a permanent home again, but until they find another spot they're partying on. This time, they're doing an all-Colombian theme at South American-flavored eatery Las Tablas in Irving Park. Grupo Rebolú performs. 8:30pm. $30.

SUNDAY

Get into the Bastille Day spirit a day earlier at Stan Mansion (2408 N. Kedzie Ave.) in Logan Square. Globally Intrepid Gourmets hosts the celebration with authentic Parisian street food prepared by executive chef Vincent Colombet of Cook Au Vin. That $40 ticket ($50 at door) includes an open bar, crepes (!!), hors d'oeuvres and charcuterie. 6-9pm. Get those tickets here.

No one seemed to mind that Paris Hilton wasn't there

Benji Madden of alt-rock band Good Charlotte putting down some fire behind the turntables at Manor on Tuesday. (Photo: darkroomdemons.com)


Usually when I hear about celebrities trying their hand at deejaying, I just roll my eyes. Of course I had the same reaction when I got word that Benji Madden of Good Charlotte fame—and more recently for being the object of Paris Hilton's affection—was going to spin a set at Manor, but I got over that quickly once he jumped behind the turntables.

He wasted no time getting to the good stuff, cranking out some solid classic rock tunes, followed up seamlessly by some heavy-hitting hip-hop. I was especially impressed when he dug deep into his crate for some NWA and Too Short.

As all this was going down behind the deejay booth, Manor managed to have one of its best nights in a long time, with every spot in the venue crammed with people, especially a steady stream of Paris Hilton clones. Sponsored by Snow Queen Vodka and hosted by Outfit Events, the Tuesday night parties here get my vote for being one of the best industry events in town.

And speaking of industry, we finally got to meet the guy behind new drink sensation A:M (After Midnight), the premium cocktail in a can that's a blend of premium vodka, all-natural caffeine and rarified taurine. Don Deubler, CEO of Atomic Brands, convinced us (yeah, right!) to sample it in black raspberry, which just might finally knock Effen Black Cherry Vodka right off its effing throne. And I have a confession: It was so good that we popped a few of the little cans in our bags to go. Just call me Sticky Fingers!

It's a gorgeous day . . .

. . . make the most of it!

At 404 Wine Bar, onephiles can relax on the back patio that feels like an old-school crash pad. It's quiet and cool, and guests may order refreshing wines by the flight, glass or bottle to pair with salads and sandwiches.

Avenue M's appeal is also its spacious back patio, which is like a beautiful zen garden. The fabulous after-work hangout attracts neighborhood types as well as those who live in the nearby West Loop for sliders, pizzas and hand-crafted martinis.

Andersonville's sceney sidewalk spot is at Charlie's Ale House, where fashionable locals come for nightly drink and food specials. Also, it's hard to snag a seat on weekends, so get there early!

And nothing beats a lazy afternoon at the rockin' Five Star Bar & Grill, where guests come for the extensive bourbon selections and neighborhood-friendly prices. If you miss out on the sidewalk seats, they keep the floor-to-ceiling windows open so everyone gets to enjoy the nice weather. Wednesdays feature 10 cent wings.

Pack a perfect picnic basket . . .

Anybody can pack a picnic basket and fill it up with their favorite treats, but don't you want to be just a little more creative?!

If you can plan the perfect outing to Ravinia or Audio Picnic, then you can put something in that basket beyond the usual suspects:

Chicago Outdoor Film Fest kicks off on July 15 with classics ranging from "All About Eve" to "The Blues Brothers." Order a pre-made picnic basket for two from Vong’s Thai Kitchen that includes shredded salad, shrimp summer rolls, chicken pad Thai and chocolate beignets. $22.95.

New summertime series Audio Picnic happens at Millennium Park, featuring electronic music artists, deejays and hip-hop impresarios. Party happens every Monday 6-9pm through August 18, and it's free. Indulge yourself, and your friends, with Lavenilla (a sensuous infusion of French lavender and Madagascar vanilla, bathed in white chocolate) or the Cran-Orange Passion (with dried New England cranberries and California orange oil, covered in dark chocolate and dotted with sea salt) from Terry’s Toffee. Both are $8.99 per one-fourth pound. Or, if you have a larger craving (or a larger crowd), head to Sweet Thang and pick up some delicious homestyle pastries. Fabulous picnic picks include fresh fruit tarts ($17 for 9”), orange chocolate mousse ($12 for 6”) or the flourless chocolate cake ($15 for 6” cake).

Impress your friends who are joining you for live music at Ravinia with the skills you acquired at The Chopping Block. Both locations will offer lessons for delicious gourmet bites like a Gazpacho salad, Nicoise salad sandwich, blueberry crisp, and an asparagus, mushroom and watercress salad with Dijon vinaigrette. These how-to classes will take place in Lincoln Square (4747 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-472-6700) on July 17 at 7pm and Merchandise Mart (312-644-6360) on July 19 at 10am. $40.

Oak Park Festival Theatre is running Shakespeare's romantic comedy "Much Ado About Nothing" through July 19 in the beautiful Austin Gardens. Make your meal super special with recommendations from August A Grocery Store, where the chef prepares dishes with seasonal ingredients that are perfect for people on the pulse. Meals vary $10-$12.—Additional reporting by Suzy McMillen

Cocktails & Conversation with Salman Rushdie

What a shock for me to find a random email about controversial author Salman Rushdie making a rare appearance at Vermilion this week.

But what's even more random is that "Top Chef" co-host and model Padma Lakshmi—who just happens to be Rushdie's ex-wife—told me that Vermilion was her favorite Indian restaurant in the country.

Anyway, Rushdie's only going to be there 8:30-9:30pm Thursday for an event they're calling Cocktails & Conversation. No tickets, cash bar. Get there early and check out the food that Lakshmi lusted after.

Two chefs, one question, two answers . . .

Michael Tsonton, executive chef/owner of Copperblue.


Chefs are used to answering questions about all things food, but what happens when they're asked to give their favorite drink recipe?!

Michael Tsonton (Copperblue): "Buy a case of bottled Miller High Life, 'The Champagne of Bottled Beers.' Get a tub large enough to hold all 24 bottles and place them in the tub. Recycle the box. Cover the beer in ice and cold water and place in the walk-in. After getting your ass kicked on Saturday night where 2/3 of the dining room ordered dégustation menus, and two tables forget to tell you they had theater tickets, twist the top from an icy bottle and enjoy. Repeat until the tub is empty. Move to vodka."

Tony Priolo (Piccolo Sogno): "Blood orange juice, vodka and a splash of Campari with a blood orange twist."

After Taste

Thank God food writers finally have stuff on their minds other than the Taste of Chicago:

The Stew gets scoop on Rick Bayless' next project that's right next to his legendary Frontera Grill/Topolobampo.

Gapers Block rocked out at Freshii.

And Zagat gives props to 312 Chicago's "Locavore" night.

A foreign affair . . .

. . . is something you've always wanted, so why not go for it?! It's prime time tourism season in the city, so whether an Aussie accent makes you weak in the knees or a curvy Caribbean turns your head, you don't have to travel far to meet someone:

Andy's Jazz Club is famous for its lunchtime music fare, but most folks don't know about its appeal to outsiders. A strong Euro fan base usually can be found here on the weekends.

At Cafe Iberico, recent foreign transplants, especially from Latin America, come for authentic tapas and pitchers of strong sangria. The front room bar is like the United Nations, with guests communicating gleefully in their native languages, including Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and French.

While Cubs fans and frat boys frequent The Wild Hare, you'll find a room full of Islanders across the street at Exedus II. The live-music venue specializes in Caribbean music, and they get down 'n' dirty on the dance floor.

Girls interested in finding eligible Englishmen (or Aussies, Scots and Irishmen!) should have luck at Globe Pub, a Northwest Side spot where they go to watch soccer and rugby matches. The neighborhood-friendly bar offers a traditional English breakfast as well.

From Afro-Cuban to Latin jazz, HotHouse continues to wow music lovers from all backgrounds. Once a month, ethnically diverse bands perform during events that turn into all-out dance parties. Events rotate to various venues on the North Side.

Upscale Euro types head to Le Bar at Sofitel for cocktails and a light bite before they hit the town. Even though most hotel lounges get their share of foreign travelers, this one is especially popular for its sleek, tech-y vibe that probably reminds them of home.

More tapas are on tap at People Lounge in Wicker Park, where an international crowd congregates. In addition to nightly live music and occasional deejays, they're coming for the budget-friendly food and drink specials.

Folks of all ethnicities come to Sonotheque for its eclectic beats and dynamite peeps. But for a real feel of exotica, go once a month for Braziliance, when co-owner Joe Bryl pays tribute to Latin American culture. The next one is actually going down July 10 (it's usually the first Thursday of the month), featuring cutting-edge Brazilian beats, hand-crafted mojitos and Caipirinhas, and a beautiful Latin crowd coming to dance all night. 9pm-2am. No cover before 10pm; $5 after.