friday24

Timothy O’Toole’s Pub celebrates the U.S. release of Guinness 250 Anniversary Stout (which is carbonated, rather than nitrogenated like traditional Guinness) by giving away free pints. 8:30-10 PM, 622 N. Fairbanks, 312-642-0700.

saturday25

Champion of local and organic food Alice Waters will sign The Edible Schoolyard—her new book about the landmark gardening program she founded at a Berkeley middle school—at the Green City Market from 10:30 to 11:30 AM, then tour the market. Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Eco-lot, 2430 N. Cannon.

For those without a designated driver for Dark Lord Day at the Three Floyds Brewery in Munster, IN, both Drinks Over Dearborn and Lush Wine and Spirits have chartered buses. Because of the new Three Floyds system for buying Dark Lord, only Golden Ticket holders will be guaranteed the ability to buy bottles, but anyone can buy it by the pint, along with Popskull and other brews. There’s also live music and food. The Drinks Over Dearborn coach will leave Chicago at 10 AM (from 650 N. Dearborn, 312-337-9463) and leave Munster at 3 PM for a 4 PM arrival; bring beer to drink on the bus (cans or plastic only) and to trade. The Lush vehicle is a yellow school bus, which will leave the store at 11 AM (1306 S. Halsted, 312-738-1900) and will depart Munster at 7 PM to arrive in Chicago at 8; snacks will be served on the bus. Both trips are $30.

 

The Greenheart Shop hosts “Living la Vida Verde,” an Earth Month event with a tasting of fair trade and organic coffee and tea, a cooking demo with seasonal, local, and organic food, a workshop on how to be become more energy efficient, and a guide to socially and environmentally friendly Chicago businesses. 746 N. LaSalle, 312-264-1625, free.

The Wine Consortium hosts a tasting of champagnes paired with french fries prepared in styles from around the world, such as fries with tartar sauce (Netherlands) with Casa Boher Brut and fries with bearnaise sauce (France) paired with Maurice Vesselle. 4-6 PM, 110 E. 23rd, 773-575-5410, $25.

ChicaGourmets hosts a spring luncheon with food from the Parrot Cage and a talk on Washburne Culinary Institute by provost William Reynolds. The menu includes shrimp and chicken etouffee and flourless chocolate cake. Noon, South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr., 401-301-2805, barbarakuck@yahoo.com, $55, $45 members.

wednesday29

Uncommon Ground presents a Goose Island Brewmaster dinner to benefit Slow Food Chicago, featuring two new Belgian-style ales, Juliet and Sofie, and the new Night Stalker Stout. On the menu: house-made chicharrones, crispy duck leg with mushroom barley ragout, and Russian stout chocolate cake. 6-10 PM, 1401 W. Devon, 773-465-9801, $75 plus tax and tip.

Food historian Bruce Kraig lectures on the history of hot dogs and signs his new book, Hot Dog: A Global History; hot dogs will be served. 4:30-6 PM, Roosevelt University, Congress Lounge, 430 S. Michigan, 312-322-7142.