The 'Cheap' First Date Dilemma . . .

Photo via runninginheels.com

I posed what I thought was a simple question on Facebook Sunday and received more than 60 responses:

A good girlfriend just informed me that a guy asked her on a first date for dinner at foodlife. What should she do?!

Now, before you react, know that this is a guy she met randomly a few months ago at a Starbucks in her neighborhood. For some reason, it took him this long to ask her out.

Here are some of the best responses from Facebook:

So Very, Very Hot Right Now.

North Shore Distillery photo via Chicago Sun-Times

Next week is all about local pride.

Of course there's the Bears—and Blackhawks—but officially it's the second-annual Chicago Craft Spirits Week, which takes place Sept. 23-28.

Lite Bites: What Your Favorite Chefs & Mixologists Are Up To Around Town This Week

It's officially fall in a few days.

• There's never a bad time to drink French wine, yet French-focused Sofitel Chicago dedicates an entire week to the luscious grape. French Wine Week runs Sept. 23-30, and its purpose is to celebrate a new program promoting top French wines selected by French wine authorities Bettane & Desseauve.

Both Le Bar and Café des Architectes get in on the action with a series of promotions and events during the week. One of the highlights is the Les Amis du Chef dining series on Sept. 26.

Executive Chef Greg Biggers and pastry chef Leigh Omilinsky pair a multi-course dinner with some of the juiciest grapes in the region. The communal-style dinner is $150 and includes tip and tax. Call Café des Architectes for additional information.

For a more casual outing that's ideal for after work, Le Bar's hosting a French wine tasting 5-8pm Sept. 24. Guests get to enjoy pre-selected flights paired with cheese. It's $35 per person.

Veteran Chicago Bar Owner's Rant On 'Fake' Chicago Bar Owners

I've read a lot of rants, but nothing quite like this one I received from a local bar owner. He's pretty much fed up with other bar owners who he thinks are not in the business for the right reasons:

"Let me first start by saying I'm blessed for having seen several revered industry operators practice their craft and owners/entrepreneurs that I look up to who continue to amaze me with their innovative ideas alongside of their perfectionist approach to growing their venues.

"This rant is for the opposite end of that spectrum and the people who abuse their positions. Let's be honest, shall we?? Some people in our business are out to get things the easy way. Some say they own or manage places without actually doing it or going through the REAL hardcore journey respected operators have traveled to make that claim.

Michael Ruhlman Lunch At Balena

(Photo: Chronicle Books)

What are you doing for lunch on Sept. 17?!

Forget about heating up those usual leftovers and instead head over to Balena for an intimate lunch with author and media personality Michael Ruhlman.

So Very, Very Hot Right Now.

The Chicago Cabaret Project's "The Soiree Series" is an underground live performance/party taking place in fabulous Chicago homes. (Photo: Chicago Cabaret Project)

The Soiree Series heads to the South Side!

Put on by the invigorating Chicago Cabaret Project, the interactive cocktail party/live performance event this time around pays tribute to the great Judy Garland. Friends of Dorothy takes place in an architectural landmark home in the Kenwood neighborhood, which we hear is a shockingly short stroll to the President's house.

Lite Bites: What Your Favorite Chefs & Mixologists Are Up To Around Town This Week

GT Fish & Oyster partners Kevin Boehm (left) and Giuseppe Tentori (Photo: GT Fish & Oyster)

• It's not every day Spiaggia offers something this budget friendly, so I'd jump on it if I were you. The team's joining forces with GT Fish & Oyster's Giuseppe Tentori for a "funk & fish" edition of Stuzzi & Spritz. Head over 7-10pm Sept. 16 for swordfish and snacks as funk serves as background music in the bar area. It's $20 per person, with 50 percent off wines by the glass and specialty cocktails. Get advance tickets right here or pay at the door.

• Another awesome collaboration consists of Lee Wolen (Lobby at the Peninsula Chicago) and Ryan Poli (Tavernita). This one's a reunion of sorts because Wolen used to serve as Poli's sous chef back in the Butter days. They'll cook a multi-course, Mediterranean-inspired dinner at Lobby. It's $85 per person with optional wine pairings for an additional $25, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Common Threads. 6:30pm Sept. 16.

'Transformers 4' Party Commences At Parliament

Parliament's rooftop offers a great view of Chicago's skyline. (Photos: 312 Dining Diva)

I'm not much of a movie buff, so when I got a last-minute invitation to the private cast/crew party for Transformers 4: Age of Extinction, the only reason I accepted was because of its location. It was held Monday night at the hot new River North champagne lounge Parliament.

Of course I was excited about the possibility of meeting director Michael Bay (Who we met!), as well as stars Mark Wahlberg, Kelsey Grammer and Stanley Tucci, but I was even more excited about another bubbly bar in the area. The former home for the grimy Griffin Lounge had been successfully transformed into a luxury night spot that I could easily see myself hanging out in on a regular basis.