Official 'Purple After Jam' Set For Three Big Nights

Didn't get tickets for any of the three sold-out Prince residency shows next week at United Center?! You may get a few more chances to see The Purple One Monday night at an after-hours concert at the House of Blues.

UPDATE: Here is more information and tickets go on sale at NOON Friday, Sept. 21. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the doors open at 10pm and tix are $75 and $150 (for a seat in the Foundation Room).

There are also special late-night shows Sept. 25 and Sept. 26.

First-Ever 'Craft Spirits Week' Debuts in October

(Photo: Koval Distilleries)

This is insanely cool and finally an opportunity to showcase some of the best!

As the Independent Spirits Expo hits Chicago for the second year in a row in early October, the first-ever Chicago Craft Spirits Week will debut as well.

Spearheaded by local distillers FEW, Koval and North Shore, the week-long festivities will include a number of tasting events, seminars and dinners that will showcase craft distilleries in the Midwest, country and beyond. The week culminates with open houses at each of the distilleries.

Just a taste of what you'll get:

There's Nothing Wrong With Sticky Fingers: 'Rib-a-Que' Returns To Wicker Park

It's supposed to be chilly, windy and rainy Saturday, but I found something to warm you down to the bones: the fifth-annual Rib-a-Que Smoke-Out, going down at Moonshine in Wicker Park.

It's the spectacular competition where amateur cooks go up against seasoned pros for the title of Smoke-out Champion and the coveted Gilded Grill trophy.

For $25 ($35 at the door), you'll get to sample ribs from all 16 contestants, which includes the likes of Joe's on Weed Street, Boundary, Moonshine and Ja' Grill. SmallBar and Socca return to defend their titles (they won the people's choice and judges' vote, respectively, in 2011).

Top Chicago Chefs Kick Off Music Exhibition With 'Rock Your Palate' Pop-Up Dinners

Spiaggia's Sarah Grueneberg and Boka/GT Fish & Oyster's Giuseppe Tentori (center). (Photos: Caroline Dixey)

So, this was pretty cool.

To kick off a celebration of Chicago's music heritage through December, MasterCard recently hosted a couple of Rock your Palate pop-up dinners featuring chefs Sarah Grueneberg (Spiaggia), Giuseppe Tentori (Boka/GT Fish & Oyster) and Dirk Flanigan (The Gage/Henri) at Lincoln Park's Floating World Gallery.

Behold The First Look at the Scorsese-Themed Menu at iNG

Here is the 10-course "Directors" menu for iNG's Scorsese theme. There is also a six-course menu available. (Photo: 312 Dining Diva)

The Scorcese-themed menu finally debuted Tuesday at iNG.

Available through November, the six- and 10-course menus at the edgy, Warehouse District eatery have been inspired by director/producer Martin Scorcese's most famous films.

What also sets the mood are the staffers dressed up in gangster-era gear, intense scenes projected on one wall (from "Gangs of New York" to "Goodfellas") and familiar music from Scorcese soundtracks pumping through the dining room.

Did Rockit Partner Really Neglect To Tell Partners He 'Bought Another Bar'?!

Rockit partner Billy Dec apparently purchased a new venue in River North, but his business partner Arturo Gomez claims on Twitter he had no clue.

Could this be a hoax?! I just don't believe this would happen.

Andrew Brochu is OUT at Graham Elliot

Andrew Brochu (Photo via StarChefs.com)

312DD broke the story Monday that something was going down over at Graham Elliot.

Now, Eater Chicago details the full story, including a statement from owner/chef Graham Elliot himself.

This is too bad because only in late January—Elliot announced excitedly this about Brochu coming aboard on Feb. 1:

INVITE: Swanky Cointreau Cocktails & A Party You Don't Want To Miss

What are you doing this Sunday?!

I've got five pairs of tickets to a swanky little soiree at Untitled that I'm dying to give away.

Hosted by Michigan Avenue magazine, The Audition Event will send one lucky local mixologist to the Cannes Film Festival in 2013 where he/she will compete for the title of Cointreau Ambassador of Libations.

Now, here's where you come in: