Jay-Z still planning to expand 40/40 Club to Chi

Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z is selling his recently opened 40/40 Club in Las Vegas, but he's still talking about bringing the brand to Chicago next year. Hmmmmmmm.

This is simply beyond the usual

Truffles and champagne?! Blah. So boring.

It's time to step it up a notch, and one of the city's top local mixologists, John Kinder (Spy Bar, mk), wants to get you there with Chocolate + Cocktails…a secret love affair, happening Thursday at Vosges Haut-Chocolat.

This exclusive, guided tasting pairs Vosges exotic chocolate confections with Kinder's customized "culinary cocktails." One of the highlights: Bourbon blended with sugar snap peas and fresh lemon juice, paired with Vosges' Bacon + Chocolate Candy Bar. The $60 ticket includes five custom culinary cocktails (made with fresh squeezed juices and infusions) paired with Vosges' luxury chocolates, small bites and a chocolate-filled gift bag. 7:30-9:30pm. Call 773-296-9866 for tickets.

That's tomorrow, but here's what's on tonight:

The Chicago Jazz Fest happens this weekend, and you should kick it off in style with the Jazz Institute’s 22nd Jazz Club Tour, occurring all over town. Sponsored by the Chicago Trolley Company, the event will make stops at iconic jazz spots like Jazz Showcase, Green Mill, Buddy Guy's Legends and Backroom. 6-10pm. $30.

It's the last Wednesday of the month, which means that it's time for Quartino's popular wine tasting event. This time, they're exploring vino from Greece. The event includes five wines, light appetizers and a cool, friendly crowd on the top level. 7-9pm. $20.

More vino is on tap at Broadway Cellars, for the 20 Wines 20 Dollars wine tasting. They're pouring something they're calling "patio wines," which are lively whites and robust reds that should be ideal for Labor Day weekend. They're also serving up a good old-fashioned backyard BBQ with ribs, brats and chicken. 6-9pm. $20.

"Project Runway," everyone's fave fashion reality show, is on tonight, and if you want to watch it with an energetic crowd, head to the Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club. They're showing it on jumbo screens with local fashion designer and Season 4 alum Steven Rosengard. Guests will also indulge in themed food and drink specials, and compete in a design-your-own-martini contest for a chance to win a $250 Absolut gift basket during the show's season finale. 8pm. No cover.

And Rebirth of the Cool is back at Sonotheque, featuring those cool-ass lounge sounds of the 1960s and 1970s. Joe "The Groove Merchant" Bryl spins. 9pm-2am. $5.

iCream still on ice . . . until further notice

Just tried to stop by iCream for a cool-out treat, and yes, it's still closed until they can fix those hi-tech, liquid-nitrogen, ice-cream machines.

Voice mail says: "We will re-open as soon as it's humanly possible."

Y'all must've worn that place out on its first weekend!

Backstreet Boys love Berry Chill

Berry Chill founder Michael Farah (second from right) surrounded by Backstreet Boys Howie Dorough (from left), Brian Litrell and A.J. McLean. (Photo: Berry Chill)


Should we add the Backstreet Boys to the long list of fans of Berry Chill, the River North froyo fave?!

Founder Michael Farah seems to think so, as he brought the Boys a round of the healthy sweet treats, following a special performance Monday at the Draft FCB offices in Streeterville.

Who knows who you'll spot . . .

Actress Rachel McAdams recently checked out Le Colonial for lunch while in town filming "The Time Traveler's Wife."


. . . at lunch today. Guests recently dining on the terrace at exotic Gold Coast eatery Le Colonial were lucky enough to be seated next to movie star Rachel McAdams, who's in town filming "The Time Traveler's Wife" with co-star Eric Bana. She was only seen sipping martinis, but that terrace is an ideal spot to indulge in the price-conscious business lunch menu for $22.50. Order a first-course item like the Cha Gio (Vietnamese spring rolls with shrimp, pork and mushrooms) or Banh Cuon (steamed Vietnamese ravioli with chicken and mushrooms), and follow that up with the popular Ga Xao Cari (sautéed diced chicken with eggplant, mango, string beans & cashew nuts in a curry sauce). The meal also comes with coffee. 11am-2pm.

Other deals happening today:

Between Café and Lounge in Wicker Park launches Benefit Social Tuesdays, a series of events held tonight, Sept. 30 and Oct. 21. You'll be treated to complimentary, small global sharing plates by Executive Chef Radhika "Rad" Desai, half-price bottles of wine and specialty culinary cocktails. A number of silent auction items and raffle prizes on hand include tickets to the Gorilla Tango Theater; opening night to the Goodman Theater with Chicago Dramatists’ Resident Playwright Rebecca Gilman; tickets to Collaboraction’s show, "Heroes and Villains;" and autographed items from boxer Oscar de la Hoya and actor Freddie Rodriguez. 6-9pm. The suggested donation at the door benefits the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

Head to the launch of Chicago-based website Third Coast Preppy on Citizen Bar's rooftop patio. The party includes cocktails, appetizers and "exclusive" shopping deals from local neckwear company Bird Dog Bay, shirts from Salmon Cove and needlepoint belts from Tucker Blair. 5:30-8pm. The $5 donation benefits the Junior League of Chicago.

It's the second day of the Democratic National Convention and Juicy Wine Co. observes with its ode to Sen. Barack Obama. Every Tuesday, guests pay half-price on all American wines (by the bottle and glass), plus they're offering the ObamaBurger, a char-grilled mound of Kobe beef piled with Benton's hickory-smoked country bacon, gooey Wisconsin cheddar, caramalized onions and a "secret" South Side sauce. Guests are encouraged to enjoy them on the back deck or in the upper-level lounge.

R.I.P. Iggy's 3

This just landed in my inbox about Iggys3:

UNFORTUNATLY IGGYS THE THIRD WILL BE NO MORE AS OF SEPT 2ND... THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT . . .

What's with all the hatin'?!

New ChuffPo columnist, Steve "The Hungry Hound" Dolinsky.


Steve "The Hungry Hound" Dolinsky, the newly crowned dining columnist for ChuffPo, wrote one little line in his Urban Belly "review" that started a war with Time Out Chicago:

"I try to stay away from the arms race in food coverage currently being waged by Time Out, Metromix and a host of other bloggers, all of whom seem to be descending upon restaurants as soon as they open."

He went on to give the new Logan Square noodle joint a glowing review, and as far as I could tell, he was only making an observation about the current competitive climate of dining media coverage.

Who knew he'd elicit such a nasty response from TOC's David Tamarkin:

"But for a journalist with so many years of experience, his reporting is frighteningly shoddy. So before he slings another arrow, let me assure the public that not only do we give a restaurant adequate time to get off its feet, we also pay for our own meals and visit all restaurants anonymously. That last point precludes us from handing out signed headshots to every restaurant we visit, but hey, that’s the price of credibility."

What's with all the personal attacks lately, Time Out?! Is it not enough that the dining writers there spew such hatred toward anything they deem too "high end," "trendy" or "sceney?!" Or that their idea of a dining or nightlife review is to have some (*&^%$#@!@* snark in every other line?!

In their online rant, they claimed to visit restaurants after the third week or so after opening—which, in my opinion, is still too early to visit as menus are still not finalized—but interviews with several high-profile restaurant publicists prove this wrong.

I was told by four out of five of the publicists that TOC's reviewers have come into their clients' establishments as early as the first week of opening. I've also been told in the past that some staffers attempt to pressure publicists into giving them exclusives and first shot at photographing a new venue.

They also had these choice words to say about the TOC restaurant and bar reviews:

"If a place is too upscale, and not 'hipster' enough, they're always tough. . . . As soon as it appeals to a higher-end demographic, they get snarky in their reviews."

"They tend to favor the more 'underground' spots to make themselves look like the heroes . . . . they obviously have way too much opinion of themselves."

"I know for a fact that they've come in the first week; also the first or second day of opening."

"Sometimes I feel like they never find good in anything."

Also, what I think is the biggest problem here with the Dolinsky slam is just plain jealousy. Dolinsky is an established, well-respected, award-winning food personality who is recognized for his food coverage in Chicago and beyond. And for that, he's gonna always get some hater trying to come up.

Make your vote count

Voting is underway, beginning today, for the Barack Attack (from left) or McCain Terrain maki roll at RA Sushi. (Photo: RA Sushi)


The Democratic National Convention is officially underway, and just because it's in Denver doesn't mean you cannot get in on the action right here at home.

RA Sushi wants you to participate in the election process by voting on your favorite new maki roll—the Barack Attack or McCain Terrain.

A small group of media types got a sneak preview of these rolls last week, and the McCain Terrain, filled with tangy spicy tuna, crab, crunchy red tempura bits and finished with a sweet eel sauce and chile mayo, was the overwhelming winner. The Barack Attack was aight, but no where as flavorful as the candidate. It was layered with smoked salmon and cream cheese, topped with crunchy blue tempura bits, and finished with a sweet eel sauce and wasabi mayo.

Both rolls come on a "campaign platter" for $10; $3 from every sale benefits Rock the Vote. The winning candidate’s roll will be "inaugurated" onto the menu at all three Chicagoland RA Sushi restaurants through Oct. 3.

Also happening today:

New industry night AK47 Mondays continues at Angels & Kings, with DJ Paul Blair spinning with special guests. Also, deals on Effen drinks. 9pm-2am. Free.

The No-Tax Lunch is happening at BIN 36 through October. This should be an extra special deal for those Loop lunchers having to pay the extra food and beverage tax for the downtown area. 11am-2pm.

Limited tickets are still available for the wine event occurring at Whole Foods Market (3300 N. Ashland Ave.): A Taste of the Pacific Northwest. Husband-and-wife team Sam and Sunny McDaniel will guide guests through some of the region's best wines and cheeses. 7-9pm. Call 773-244-4200 for the $10 tix.

Who knows who you'll catch at Monday Night Live, the big industry night over at Petterino’s. Established and emerging singers—even cast members touring with "Wicked," "Phantom of the Opera" and more!—have been known to grace the stage for cabaret and show-stopping performances. Those wishing to sign up are required to get there by 7pm and provide their own sheet music. 7:30-10pm. $15 per person dining minimum.

And summer's winding down, so it's finally time for a Chill—as in Berry Chill. Get ready for the second location—in the Loop at 132 N. LaSalle St.—which opens on Tuesday, Sept. 2. To celebrate the launch, they're giving away free Berry Chill to all 312 Dining Diva subscribers! All you have to do in order to receive your small yogurt (with up to three toppings) is to send me your name for the 312DD Guest List. Then you're ALL good! Offer is only good on Sept. 2 at the LaSalle location and an ID is required to claim your treat.