BYOB, Baby!

There's no excuse not to be out this weekend.

The weather's amazing . . . it's Easter weekend and you've got a few extra $$$ in your pocket.

Since you don't want to spend it all, this is a good time to check out the city's amazing BYOB scene.

For instance, we're pretty psyched about the brand-new brunch at Sabor Saveur in Ukrainian Village.

Bring bottles of bubbly, and they'll supply all the fresh juice mixers as you chow down on French-Mexican-inspired dishes such as Chicharron and Black Beans Crepas served with mushrooms, corn, asparagus and pumpkin flower and Huevos Trufados (poached eggs served over a bed of figs, bacon and black truffle oil topped with Rober sauce).

Sabor Saveur's brunch is 11am-3pm Saturdays, Sundays. Entree prices range $9-$17; no corkage fee.

More BYOBs offering you more bang for your bucks . . .

April is National Grilled Cheese Month!

April 1, of course, is April Fool's Day, but it's also the start of one of the best occasions of the year: National Grilled Cheese Month.

As a self-described grilled cheese fanatic, I'd be happy to munch my way through any of these sandwiches:

Meet the 10th Season 'Check, Please!' All-Stars

WTTW's hit citizen restaurant review show, "Check, Please!" celebrates its 10th-year anniversary by bringing back its most memorable guests.

From the President of the United States to a sex-shop owner, the show's seen quite a cast of characters during its run. Peep the lid to see who just might be on for the 10th season this fall:

STAGE BITES: The Weekly Dining & Drinking Guide

Up-and-coming soul star Janelle Monáe performs at Schubas Tuesday.


Every Monday look for the week's top performances paired with the best deals before and after the show:

Cougars! The Musical at Greenhouse Theater Center. Don't let the white hair and church clothes fool you. These grannies can git down with the best of them, sip Cosmos faster than any of those chicks on "SATC," and hunt down fresh young meat. This is obviously a comedy. 10:30pm Saturdays through May 22. Get tickets here.

Gemini Bistro: A $31 three-course, prix-fixe menu is 5-6:30pm nightly at this trendy neighborhood joint. Must-gets include the risotto with roasted mushrooms, signature burger, and Amish chicken that comes with crispy breast, braised thigh and mashed potatoes.

Liar's Club: You're certain to be revved up after the show's over around midnight, so we suggest hanging out here for a few cheap cocktails and dancing to music you haven't heard in years.

Kingston Mines: If you're in the mood for the blues, Larry McCray is the headliner Saturday. Plus, the bar's open until 5am so you can wiggle your hips until they almost fall off.

Happy Anniversary, Chicago Diner!

The pasta and vegetarian meatballs at Chicago Diner. (Photo: Chicago Diner)


Lakeview vegetarian gem Chicago Diner boasts that it's been "meat free" since opening in 1983.

They're celebrating 27 years in business with a weeklong event where prices will be rolled back to original prices.

Solstice Showcases Seafood, Local Chefs

Thankfully this little fishy won't be on the menu during the party at the Shedd. (Photo: Supreme Lobster & Seafood Co.)


Maybe this little bit of news will warm you up . . .

A collective of local all-star chefs teams up with Supreme Lobster & Seafood Co. for the Solstice at the Shedd to spotlight the Right Bite program.

Oh, How Perfectly Dandy!

HALO [FOR MEN]'s Bob Patrizi (left), Celebtv.com's Kelli Zink and Nick Hansen of Nicholas Joseph Custom Suits. (Photo: Marcus Riley, NBCChicago.com)


Every girl loves a well-groomed guy, but not so much that we have to fight for mirror space as we're getting ready to hit the town.

We're talking about the type of man who'd attend tonight's party, The Modern Gatsby, at The Underground.

Hosted by HALO [FOR MEN], a male-oriented salon with several city locations, the party puts an updated spin on F. Scott Fitzgerald's iconic novel on high society during the Roaring Twenties.

The event, of course, is also open to women (and we expect a ton of them to attend!), but geared toward guys. The highlight of the night is a midnight fashion show featuring hot spring looks from Nicholas Joseph Custom Clothing, hats from Goorin Bros. and Soulmates Chicago. Male guests will also be treated to shaves, massages and hand waxes.

Doors open at 9pm, with a hosted bar 10-11pm.

RSVP at travis@theundergroundchicago.com for free admission.

There's so much more going on this weekend for the modern man—so the women who love them know where to be:

This is No April Fool's Joke . . .

Now that he's not in training I wonder if he'll actually eat this stuff.

Olympic gold medalist and speedskating star Shani Davis is the guest of honor at Morton's on Wacker, which just happens to be taking place on April Fool's Day.