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.

'Recycle Your Ex' at Lumen-sponsored event

Slade and Jo from "Date My Ex." (Photo: Bravo TV)


"Going green" goes to the extreme with this latest effort planned to drum up some publicity for new Bravo TV reality series "Date My Ex: Jo & Slade."

The silly show features "The Real Housewives of Orange County" alum Jo De La Rosa, who is looking for love, and has enlisted the help of ex-fiance Slade Smiley.

It debuts on July 21, and Lumen gets in on the action by hosting a pre-party where guests are encouraged to recycle their exes by putting them up for auction here. All auction proceeds benefit the Natural Resources Defense Council. The event happens on July 15 and includes an open bar from 7-10pm when you RSVP here.

The secret to a red-hot summer?!

Here's something to toast to: The Chicago Tribune reports that watermelon contains an ingredient called citrulline that can trigger production of a compound that helps relax the body's blood vessels, similar to what happens when a man takes Viagra.

So drink up this weekend with these watermelon-infused cocktails (you may need two or three!) at several local hot spots:

Adobo Grill: You'll want to drink several of these WateRita de Sandia, made with Tequila Dos Lunas Reposado, watermelon juice, Cointreau and mint.

The Chopping Block: This special Girls' Night event is for women to learn how to make Watermelon Mint Mojitos for their men. Sign up now for classes taking place at the Lincoln Square location (4747 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-472-6700) on August 7 and August 23 at 7pm or at the Merchandise Mart location (312-644-6360) on August 2 and August 28 at 6pm. $40 for classes that include snacks.

DeLaCosta: The Watermelon Muddle at this sexy Latin supperclub is an offshoot of a mojito with vodka, fresh watermelon, lime juice, soda water and crushed ice.

Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club: Sit on the garden-like outdoor patio right off bustling Halsted Street and sip the Watermelon Martini, made simply with vodka and watermelon liqueur.

one sixtyblue: Guests can settle in at the bar for BARBQ for special summer dishes and end the night with fresh, cooling desserts like iced watermelon with a selection of spiked sorbets.

Plan B Bar + Kitchen: The hip Wicker Park bar and eatery offers two watermelon-flavored drinks. Do a Melon Drop shot (with Watermelon vodka, fresh lemon juice and a touch of sugar) or sip on the Watermelon Martini (a Jolly Rancher-style drink with Watermelon Pucker, Ketel One Citroen vodka and garnished with a watermelon slice steeped overnight in Van Gogh melon vodka).

Sushi Samba rio: Get down with some Samba Juice, which explodes in a burst of raspberry-infused rum, watermelon-flavored rum, acai, passionfruit, crème de banana and guava.