'Ride For AIDS,' 'West Town Pup Crawl' & Other Fun Charity Events To Support In June

June is National Pride Month, which celebrates the LGBT community, and there are plenty of events happening all month long.

To kick off the festivities, Ride for AIDS happens at 7:30pm Friday, June 7 at Flywheel Chicago. It's a chance to get your workout in with an intense, 45-minute spin class while socializing with those who believe in the cause. Madly popular Flywheel instructor Candy Morales teaches.

The event also includes a post-class reception that's generously sponsored by Halsted's, Hydrate and Replay Beer & Bourbon. It's $25 per person (or $10 if you're only attending the reception). Sign up for the class right here.

Dale Levitski Goes 'Glamping,' No More Dover Sole At Brindille Until Fall & Foie Gras Gate At Next?!

Chef Dale Levitski (Photo: Sprout)

Don't expect to see Dale Levitski around these parts for a few months. The executive chef/partner of Frog N Snail and Sprout tells 312DD exclusively that he's going "glamping" (glamour camping) all summer at The Resort At Paws Up in Montana.

Now, what exactly does that mean?!

So Very, Very Hot Right Now.

Benjamin Schiller's "Ghost Sign" of tequila, Pimm's, kumquat and lemon (Photo: Homestead)

Homestead is back!

West Town's only rooftop restaurant returns May 31 with the exciting team of chef Chris Curren (Blue 13, Stout Barrel House & Galley) and beverage director Benjamin Schiller (Boka, Girl & The Goat, GT Fish & Oyster). What's even more exciting is that we've got the first-ever look at the drinks menu.

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

Barrelhouse Flat's top level (Photos: Barrelhouse Flat)

Diana Ross says there's a cure for this.

• BIG swingin' props go out to the talented bar staffs at The Aviary and Barrelhouse Flat, which were the only Chicago spots to make Esquire's annual Best Bars In America list. The section comes out in the June/July issue and here's what they had to say:

On Aviary, which clocked in at #12: "... if you're willing to put aside your 'This ain't a bar' instincts, an evening at the Aviary can be a blast. The drinks are fascinating and delicious. At the end of the evening, you feel as if you've had a fun night at a top restaurant, only to get this buzzed at one of them would cost you ten times more."

And Barrelhouse Flat, which came in at #13: "... this one specializes not in new drinks with a farm-to-table ethos or in updates on the classics wherein the update consists mostly of replacing tried-and-true ingredients with hit-or-miss ones made in the basement, but in simply making the many classic drinks on its enticing list as good as possible, with minimal ego."

Fantastic!

Blackbird Chief Mixologist Lynn House Set To Leave In June; Heads to Bourbon Country

Well, here's a bombshell you didn't see coming: Blackbird's chief mixologist Lynn House is leaving her prestigious post on June 15.

The award-winning bartender, who has worked at the hot West Loop restaurant for more than three years, will join the Bardstown, Ky.,-based Heaven Hill Distilleries as the first-ever national brand ambassador for PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur (one of the company's brands).

House told 312DD over the weekend that she will continue to be based in Chicago, but her new duties of brand awareness and schmoozing with big wigs will take her all over the country.

Tippling Tuesday: It's National Negroni Week!

Barrel-aged Negroni photo via starchefs.com.

Through June 3, a few Chicago restaurants and bars are taking part in National Negroni Week, sponsored by Imbibe magazine.

It's not only an opportunity to indulge in the classic Italian cocktail (made with gin, Campari and sweet vermouth), but for every Negroni sold, $1 goes to the venue's favorite charity. More than 70 restaurants and bars across the country are participating, but here's where you can join in on the fun in Chicago:

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

Giuseppe Tentori, partner/executive chef at BOKA. (Photo: BOKA)

The wind will blow you away!

• Boka executive chef Giuseppe Tentori (also of GT Fish & Oyster fame) has teamed up with chefs Rick Gresh (David Burke’s Primehouse) and Cleetus Friedman (Fountainhead) for the second-annual CigarBQue. The event takes place at 6:30pm June 21 and it's exactly what you think: people chowing down on chef-driven BBQ dishes and smoking cigars. The trio's invited a bunch of colleagues to help them whip up vittles, including the likes of Matt Troost (Three Aces), Jimmy Bannos Sr. (Heaven on Seven), Mike and Patrick Sheerin (Trenchermen), Rey Villalobos (Table Fifty-Two), David Blonsky (Bull & Bear/Public House), Heather Terhune (Sable Kitchen & Bar), Chris Macchia (Coco Pazzo) and Willie Wagner (Honky Tonk BBQ). Mixologists Thaddeus Dynakowski (Northside Bar and Grill), Ben Schiller (Berkshire Room) and Mike Ryan (Sable Kitchen & Bar) will be serving up cocktails, which are included in the $150 ticket price. A portion of the evening's proceeds will be donated to the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation. Get those tickets right here.

May 25 Is 'National Wine Day'; Where To Drink & Be Merry in the City

Photo via Uptown Magazine

All my favorite winos should be very happy with this news.

May 25 falls on a Saturday this year and that also happens to be National Wine Day. And because this weekend's all about celebrating Memorial Day, there will certainly be a lot of wine pouring going down.

If you're out and about, these spots rule, in my book:

Bar Pastoral. An extension of Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine, Bar Pastoral is a great choice for those seeking smaller, boutique wines. Diners may choose their selections from the retail shop and consume in the restaurant.