The Winner of Green City Market's Contest!

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Maple-Marshmallow Cream Filling photo via Bon Appetit.

Christina Gace's inspiration for her Pumpkin & Apple Whoopie Pies came from the October 2009 issue of Bon Appetit that featured a recipe for Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Maple-Marshmallow Cream Filling.

Her idea won her two tickets to Green City Market's first-ever Masquerade del Mercado, taking place 4-8pm Oct. 30 at Carnivale.

Alas, I have no more free tickets to give away, but they're still available right here. Prices are $65-$90, and through Wednesday each ticket purchase gets a bonus of five live drawing vouchers (which will be held at will call at the event).

Here are the prizes for the live drawing:

Pucker Up For 'Give Me Some Sugar'

I know what you're thinking—and likely with a groan—that we don't need any more pastry spots around town, but this one's a bit different. And I think you'll love it.

Give Me Some Sugar, a unique new sweets shop from chef Alekka Sweeney, opens in Roscoe Village on Nov. 5. She's been in business since 2006, mostly working the in-house party circuit, but this is her first storefront. She previously staged with Gale Gand at Tru, Vosges Haut Chocolates and the pastry teams at the Hotel Inter-Continental.

And The Doughnut Craze Continues . . .

(Photo: The Doughnut Vault)

Letizia's Fiore Vino Bar & Ristorante owner Fabio Sorano has this to say about the doughnuts at his just-opened spot in Logan Square:

"They are homemade, all natural and made from scratch here. After our 32nd reformulation since opening, we believe we have that dough where we want it. Making doughnuts without hydrogenated shortenings and other stabilizers was a lot more challenging than we has thought.

"The four main kinds are glazed, chocolate glazed, raspberry glazed and a plain Italian doughnut rolled in coarse sugar (my favorite). They are big, they are square and we usually make them at 7ish (am) and then again at 10ish (am)—until the dough runs out."

Get 'em while they're hot!

A Cocktail Lounge From Violet Hour Alum

Barrelhouse Flat interior shot. (Photo: Thrillist)

Stephen Cole made a name for himself at The Violet Hour, but now it's time for him to do his own thing.

So he's stepping out with a new project called Barrelhouse Flat, which is opening in Lincoln Park next Monday.

Our friends at Thrillist got an exclusive sneak preview and here's what they had to say about it:

Zombie Strippers & Food Trucks

I stayed up way too late one night watching some ridiculous movie called Zombie Strippers. Laughed the entire way through.

But never did I think someone would bring it to life, but then again it is Halloween season.

Well, the infamous Admiral Theatre (3940 W. Lawrence Ave.) plans to feature their own "undead" exotic dancers, but instead of eating brains and guts, they just might be eating some of the best tamales and naan-wiches in town.

That's because the club is jumping on the food-truck bandwagon by teaming up with Gaztro-wagon and Tamale Spaceship for a week-long event.

Your Tix To Hottest Halloween Bash in Town

Photo via thebestmasquerademasks.com.

Now's the time to start planning your Halloween costume because it's only a couple of weeks away. And if you don't already have parties to hit up that weekend, man do I have the event for you. . .

So I've got a pair of complimentary tickets for the Green City Market Junior Board's first-ever Masquerade del Mercado, taking place 4-8pm Oct. 30 at Carnivale.

Vivo Fetes 20th Anniversary By Giving Back

Vivo's gorgeous dining room has not changed in 20 years. (Photo: Vivo)

It's hard to believe that West Loop pioneer Vivo celebrates its twentieth birthday on Nov. 1.

To mark the special occasion, the still very trendy Italian restaurant is offering an incredible three-course deal for $20 from Nov. 1-15. But what's even better is that a percentage of proceeds from the celebration menu will be donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, in honor of owner Dan Krasny's mother, who was a Holocaust survivor.

Rick Gresh Goes Haute Casual

Chef Rick Gresh's "The Hangover Dog" (Photo: America's Dog) and Gresh. (right photo: David Burke's Primehouse)

David Burke's Primehouse's Executive Chef Rick Gresh may be a fine-dining culinary star, but he always seems to get more pleasure when he's putting his spin on comfort-food dishes.

In his latest collaboration with America's Dog, he's created a signature dog for the monthly program featuring high-profile local chefs.