Tag: pop-ups

Get wicked at 12 Halloween pop-ups in DC-area bars and restaurants – WTOP News

As Halloween approaches, D.C. will transform into a playground for the spooky with bars and restaurants across the city conjuring up thrilling pop-ups that embrace the eerie and the extravagant. In this roundup, WTOP has gathered 12 of the most exciting Halloween bar and restaurant pop-ups in the D.C. area.

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This D.C. Halloween pop-up is perfect for Tim Burton lovers

As Halloween approaches, D.C. will transform into a playground for the spooky with bars and restaurants across the city conjuring up thrilling pop-ups that embrace the eerie and the extravagant.

These ghostly retreats are pulling out all the stops, offering festive experiences that blend creative decor, themed menus and immersive atmospheres. In this roundup, WTOP has gathered 12 of the most exciting Halloween bar and restaurant pop-ups in the D.C. area.

Whether you’re in it for the Instagrammable moments, the spooky vibes or the seasonal cocktails, these pop-ups promise to deliver an unforgettable experience.

Get ready for a hauntingly good time as we explore where to eat, drink and be scary this Halloween season. For more spooktacular events to consider in the D.C. area, head over to WTOP’s Things to do in the D.C. area guide.

The Nightmare Before Bar

918 F Street NW, D.C.

The historic National Union Building is hosting an immersive, themed pop-up experience inspired by Tim Burton’s movies and horror classics. Here, guests can enjoy a complimentary themed welcome drink (both alcoholic and nonalcoholic options available), plus access to a Halloween-themed menu. The experience runs through Nov. 3.

Black Lagoon

1346 4th Street SE, D.C.

Grab a costume, and come get spooky at Trouble Bird’s Halloween pop-up. Through Nov. 2, this D.C. bar is offering several spooky cocktails as well as tarot readings on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

McClellan’s Retreat

2031 Florida Avenue NW, D.C.

For your next Monster Mash party, head to this Kalorama bar for its Monster Mash-themed cocktail list. With drinks like “Coffin Banger” and “Transylvania Twist,” guests should expect all treats and no tricks on its menu.

Never Looked Better

130 Blagden Alley NW, D.C.

Be transported to Diagon Alley at this Blagden Alley pop-up. The underground bar Never Looked Better is launching a Wizarding World-themed pop-up with potion cocktails included.

Urban Roast

916 G Street Northwest, Suite C-2, D.C.

Bask in autumnal decor at this family-owned cafe and cocktail bar. Be sure to make a reservation for a chance to enjoy pumpkin-spiced martinis and other themed drinks.

Morris American Bar

1020 7th St NW, D.C.

With tickets that cost $20, the Halloween-themed masquerade ball planned at Morris American Bar on Oct. 25 will include a live DJ, a custom cocktail menu and a complimentary Lillet spritz upon arrival.

HEIST

1802 Jefferson Place NW, D.C.

This Dupont Circle club has three parties ready to treat the public in honor of Halloween. First, on Oct. 25, Freaky Friday at HEIST encourages guests to don a Lindsay Lohan-inspired outfit that fits well with a Y2K theme. On Oct. 26, the space will transform into a Beetlejuice-themed costume party. Finally, on Halloween evening, starting at 10 p.m. on Oct. 31, HEIST Horror Night invites guests to come dressed in outfits inspired by classic horror films. All events are for those ages 21 and up.

Hallowine

2200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 300R, D.C.

Sixty Vines in Foggy Bottom is making spooky season even sweeter with several pop-ups over the course of October where rotating wine flights are paired with Halloween candies. Find out which treats pair best with rosé from Oct. 14-20 and cabernet sauvignon from Oct. 21-31.

Beetlejuice Bash

1301-A 4th Street NE, D.C.

Expect the dive bar Last Call to be decked out in Halloween decorations and Beetlejuice-themed cocktails this year.

Harry Potter Bar

1250 Half Street SE, D.C.

For those witchy/wizardly folks looking for a Harry Potter-inspired retreat, head to Tap99. The Wizard’s Pour pop-up at this bar includes butterbeer and enchanted house cocktails. At this bar, guests can pour as much or as little as they want without the need to flag down a bartender.

Nightmare on Q Street

1624 Q Street NW, D.C.

The Dupont Circle location of Hank’s Oyster Bar is serving up special cocktails for the Halloween season as part of its Nightmare on Q Street pop-up. This location is also hosting a special Halloween drag brunch Oct. 20.

Nightmare on the Avenue

2312 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, Va.

In Alexandria, Virginia, the Del Ray neighborhood’s premium pop-up bar has turned its seasonal space into a Halloween wonderland. Expect tons of ghoulish cocktails and treats, including monster sliders. The pop-up runs through Nov. 4.

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Michelle Goldchain

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October 11, 2024
For Halloween, Pretty Cool Ice Cream Will Transform Into a Scoop Shop

Before Dana Salls Cree opened Pretty Cool Ice Cream six years ago in Logan Square, she assumed she’d open a scoop shop. As pastry chef at One Off Hospitality Group’s Publican and Blackbird, she became well known for her unique ice cream flavors. She turned that passion into a book, Hello, My Name Is Ice Cream: The Art and Science of the Scoop, published in 2017.

Her plans for a scoop shop changed after a pastry chef friend made machines that make ice cream bars available for sale. Salls Cree found herself attracted to this “new uncharted creative territory.” She turned her attention toward specializing in handmade ice cream bars, ice pops, and other creative cold treats

“I went in thinking I would open a scoop shop that brought the recipes in my book to life and instead I found the door to Pretty Cool,” says Salls Cree.

Halloween presents a unique opportunity for Pretty Cool Ice Cream. Restaurants have embraced Halloween costumes in recent years. Le Bouchon, the beloved Bucktown French restaurant, dressed up as the Olive Garden last year. In 2015, Wieners Circle in Lincoln Park dressed up as McDowell’s, a fictional McDonald’s rip-off featured in the movie Coming to America.

For the holiday, Salls Cree will dress her two pop shops up as scoop shops inspired by her book. On Saturday, October 26, and Sunday, October 27, Salls Cree will fulfill her dream when Pretty Cool’s two locations offer eight flavors of ice cream chosen from recipes in her book. To get into the Halloween spirit, the Pretty Cool employees will be dressing up in Hello My Name Is Ice Cream shirts. Pops will still be available for those two days.

“Every Halloween we rename ourselves something spooky and offer holiday treats, but I always thought it would be cool if the shop itself dressed up in costume,” Salls Cree says. “Well, what does an ice cream shop dress up as? A different ice cream shop.”

While a long time in the making, this isn’t the first time Salls Cree has offered her ice cream for sale. Back when she worked for One Off, she would make a limited series of Hello My Name Is Ice Cream pints and sell them at Publican Quality Meats. The Fulton Market cafe and butcher shop was where a lot of the recipes for her book were developed.

It was also around that time that Salls Cree discovered she had celiac disease, a diagnosis that put her pastry-making career in jeopardy. While she admits she probably always had the disease, it was when she started sharing kitchen space with the company’s bread-making production that her symptoms became intense. “It was the first time I was in the flour cloud that a bread bakery generates and that pushed me over the edge,” she says. There was a silver lining. “It also pushed me into ice cream.”

All the Halloween ice creams are gluten-free as are the cones. Salls Cree and her team sat down with her book to talk about what flavors they wanted to make, focusing on composed scoops — “the real showstoppers,” she says, rather than the single flavor recipes. Once the eight flavors were chosen — mint chocolate chip cookie dough; chocolate peanut butter brownie crunch; gooey butter bake; pumpkin butterscotch pecan; rainbow sherbet; kids play (goat cheese); lemony lemon crème fraiche; and cookies, cookies, and cream — the ingredients were ordered and the team got busy.

The ice cream will be $6 a scoop, and $7 for a split scoop. Anything left over from the 5,000-scoop production will be available for sale in pints at the shops. Salls Cree’s award-winning book will also be available for sale.

“As much I love everything that we make, I miss making scooped ice cream so much,” says Salls Cree. “There’s this whole world of flavors and textures that I developed and have worked with that we don’t get to dabble in because we don’t do scooped ice cream. This is our chance to bring some of that into our repertoire even if it’s just for a short period of time.”

And should there be enough public demand, well, Salls Cree isn’t opposed to the idea of a scoop shop that’s open throughout the year, not just on Halloween.

Pretty Cool Ice Cream Halloween scoop shop pop-up, Saturday, October 26; and Sunday, October 27 at 2353 N. California Avenue in Logan Square and 709 W. Belden Avenue in Lincoln Park.

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Lisa Shames

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October 10, 2024
The Ultimate Guide to Halloween 2024 in Chicago

The Buffy pop-up in Wicker Park is among 20 great Halloween pop-ups. | Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

These bars and restaurants have plentiful tricks, treats, and spooky scares

No, it’s not just you. It does feel like it’s way too early for Halloween to be right around the corner (Thursday, October 31). We suggest you get into the spirit and have plenty of ways to do it. From a hotel rooftop where horror movies come alive to a haunted house that comes with a warning, this year’s festivities aren’t for the faint of heart. Those looking for something a little less scary — specialty drinks and upscale Halloween-themed food at a fancy-pants cocktail lounge where costumes are required, perhaps? — we have you covered, too.

Lisa Shames

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October 9, 2024
‘Buffy’ Pop-Up Deploys Candy Corn Malort for a True Chicago Nightmare

The Bronze ranks high among fictional TV teen hangouts. The adolescent club, depicted from 1997 to 2003 on Buffy The Vampire Slayer, was anti-establishment compared to the diner scene at Arnold’s from Happy Days or the Max’s wholesome vibe from Saved by The Bell. While the popular kids would frequent those places, the Bronze wasn’t for everyone. It was dark and moody. Bands no one had heard of would play there. This wasn’t a Peach Pit After Dark situation, the 90210 club was strictly for adults. The Bronze served coffee, juice, and soda. Not even Chicago’s famous all-ages bowling alley and punk club, the Fireside Bowl, never had NA options (though the Fireside had a Hammer, advantage: Fireside).

The Bronze is the foundation for the Buffy: The Slayer Experience, a pop-up that debuts today, Friday, September 27 at the Wicker Park location of Cheesie’s Pub & Grub, 1367 N. Milwaukee Avenue. The pop-up extends next door to Cheesie’s sibling, Whiskey Business, utilizing the bar’s rooftop deck where designers have tapped into the horror aspect with a faux graveyard and a DJ booth. Unlike TV’s Bronze, the pop-up is 21+.

The Vampire Bitters contains candy corn-infused malört.

Whiskey Business/Cheesie’s has become the de facto home for holiday pop-ups from Bucketlisters, a company with roots in the Saved by The Bell pop-up that premiered eight years ago near Wicker Park’s Six Corners intersection. That pop-up earned a reputation for fan service and Easter eggs. Expect the same level of love when it comes to the gang from Sunnydale High School.

The pop-up also leans into Doublemeat Palace, the fictional fast-food spot where Buffy Summers briefly worked. The menu features a burger, a sausage pizza puff with a side of ranch, chicken tenders, loaded tots, and fried pickles. Be assured that all the items have witty names tied to the show.

DMP is a fictional fast-food chain.

From tenders, the pizza puffs, the menu is simple.

Drinks include a welcome cocktail, called Spike’s Bloodbag. There are six themed drinks, but take a closer look at Vampire Bitters. Candy corn might be the most polarizing Halloween candy. But is it as polarizing as Jeppson’s Malört? The drink features candy corn-infused Jeppson’s Malort, lime juice, and hibiscus syrup, topped with prosecco. No, it’s not the first time candy corn has been mixed with Chicago’s bitter liquor. Let’s avoid any hurt feelings.

Wander through the space below. The pop-up runs through the end of October.

Buffy: The Slayer Experience, 1367 N. Milwaukee Avenue, now through Sunday, October 27.

The pizza puff

Loaded tots

The burger on a brioche bun.

Five of the six signature drinks.

Sunnydale High football rules!

Giles’ study.

The Bronze was an all-ages hangout.

Spooky.

The path toward upstairs.

The stairs to the roofdeck.

A DJ booth is set up upstairs.

It’s mandatory that the Misfits be mentioned in all Halloween pieces.

Restfield is one of many cemeteries featured in the show.

What could go wrong?

Yes, Buffy did die.

The Alpert Mausoleum was named for a show producer.

Ashok Selvam

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September 27, 2024
Michelin-Starred Atelier Will Offer Weekend Takeout as the Restaurant Waits for Repairs

Atelier, the Michelin-starred restaurant in Lincoln Square, has been closed since August 24 as staff contends with a broken air conditioner and wall and ceiling damage caused by heavy rain late last month. As founder Tim Lacey and chef Christian Hunter wait for a new unit to arrive, the small business needs a way to continue in the short term. That’s why they’re offering a special five-course takeout menu from Friday, September 6 through Sunday, September 8.

Lacey admits that his staff is having flashbacks to the start of the pandemic when fine dining restaurants across the country did the unthinkable in offering carryout meals as government officials kept dining rooms closed to curb the spread of COVID. Many fine chefs never thought they would be in the position of creating takeout meals. Chicago’s restaurants leaned into comfort foods which travel well in bags and to-go containers. Even Ever chef Curtis Duffy began selling burgers in December 2020. Atelier, which replaced another Michelin-starred restaurant, Elizabeth, had been blazing its own path and was named a 2024 James Beard Award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant.

The takeout menu — no substitutions — consists of a pita and mezze course (baba ghanoush, pickled summer squash, fermented garlic scape tapenade, rhubarb chutney); grilled Korean pork sausage Bibb lettuce wraps (sea beans, kohlrabi/kimchi slaw); root vegetable fasolada (diced parsnips, celery root, sunchokes, rutabagas); lasagna in lamb neck ragu with ricotta and sourdough garlic knots. and a nectarine and pear galette with caramelized whey, allspice-cinnamon gelee, and spruce chantilly cream.

Hunter and Lacey are hopeful the air conditioning can be fixed by Tuesday, September 10, and that they’ll be back open on Wednesday, September 11. Check their Instagram for updates.

Atelier’s five-course takeout menu is available Friday, September 6 through Sunday, September 8 with pickup between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Order via Tock.

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Ashok Selvam

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September 4, 2024
Gov. JB Pritzker Crowns Malört the DNC’s Unofficial Shot in Chicago

Politics can be bitter, but no one was prepared for over the weekend when Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker declared Jeppson’s Malört “as the unofficial shot of the Democratic National Convention.”

The governor announced his unofficial declaration on Saturday after appearing in a video segment with former White House press secretary Jen Psaki. The bitter and yellowish spirit is both reviled and beloved in Chicago where passionate opinions have made it a divisive topic.

“If you come to Chicago, every Chicagoan knows you got to have a shot of Malört,” Pritzker tells Psaki. “This is a liqueur that Chicagoans take — I’m not saying it’s the best-tasting liqueur, I’m just saying that it’s the one that if you want to prove your mettle, you got to have a shot.”

The two proceeded to ham it up while enjoying the infamous shot with the governor high-fiving Psaki and praising her, “Well done!”

Psaki pauses as her tastebuds realize what she has done: “Whoo! That has an aftereffect.”

This leaves an uneasy feeling for Chicagoans. There might be a portion happy to see naive politicians and journalists suffer while trying to stomach that first shock shot. But watching Pritzker’s segment, recorded in the lobby of the Hotel Zachary — with the Wrigley Field’s famous marquee in the background — it’s not hard to wonder if Malört is beginning to jump the shark. This used to be a working-class drink, one that survived tough times over nine decades. Dive bar owners were the only ones stocking the drink, often dusting off old bottles in storage for only a handful of fans who enjoy the unusual beverage once marketed as medicine. A few blocks away, Nisei Lounge — one of the few dives that survived after the Hotel Zachary opened in 2018 and remade the area — specializes in Malört infusions. It’s the kind of dimly lit tavern where Malört is best enjoyed. It’s quite a juxtaposition to the huge windows that soak up natural light at the hotel across from the Friendly Confines.

A private pop-up, the CNN/Politico Grill, is opened during the DNC in Chicago outside the United Center.
CNN

The scene is particularly confusing considering that the Cubs are owned by the Ricketts family, who aren’t exactly known as allies of the Democratic party.

Of course, dozens have chimed in with their hot takes on Malört over the years, and Chicagoans themselves even turned to the drink to celebrate Biden’s victory over Trump outside of Trump Tower in 2020. To combat Pritzker, Republican campaign strategist Kory Wood dared to call Malört “weird,” trying to appropriate a phrase the Democrats have used to attack Republicans.

Music writer Josh Terry writes: “Jeppson’s Malört is perilously close to becoming the next culture war football.”

The reality is Malört isn’t carried at DNC venue the United Center, confirms Tremaine Atkinson, owner of CH Distillery. That’s the company that now owns Jeppson’s Malört. Outside the arena, CNN and Politico have teamed up on a private pop-up restaurant. It’s open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. during the convention, set up just inside the United Center’s security perimeter, only accessible to DNC attendees. It’s called the CNN/Politico Grill. They’ve run these restaurants for 20 years outside of both Republican and Democratic national conventions, according to a rep. One popped up earlier this summer outside of Milwaukee at the RNC. They feature local vendors and food.

The Chicago edition will feature Portillo’s Italian beef, Jay’s potato chips, and Marconi’s giardiniera. Vienna beef hot dogs, selections from Publican Quality Bread, and celebrity chef Stephanie Izard’s This Little Goat chili crunch are also available, according to a CNN rep.

Alas, while Big Shoulders Coffee, beer from Haymarket Brewing, and boozy cider from Right Bee Cider are also available, Malört is nowhere to be found: “Damn! It would certainly liven up the conversations!” Atkinson texts.

Coincidentally, CH — which has designs on making Malört a national brand — had already launched a marketing campaign promoting “I voted” stickers, with shirts and decals reading “I Malörted” stickers available at bars and stores.

As Chicago has increasingly become a culinary Las Vegas — where anxious coastal elitists visit and enjoy Midwestern comfort foods without shame, without worrying about their beach bods or judgment — Malört has become part of that ritual. This is a city that embraces craft beer and breweries, cheap beer and shots at dives, and fancy drinks at cocktail lounges. What happens in Chicago stays in Chicago.

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1901 West Madison Street, , IL 60612

Ashok Selvam

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August 19, 2024
Lula Cafe Will Celebrate 25 Years in Logan Square With Star-Studded Pop-Up Series

The summer season kicked off with a bang for chef Jason Hammel, who in June took home a James Beard Award for Outstanding Hospitality at his iconic 25-year-old farm-to-table restaurant Lula Cafe in Logan Square. It was the sole medal awarded to a Chicago restaurant this year, but Chicagoans’ outpouring of joy over the win has taken Lula Cafe to new heights of popularity.

Rather than resting on his laurels, Hammel and his wife, singer and songwriter Amalea Tshilds, are preparing to unveil their hotly anticipated new project, Loulou. Located a short walk from Lula in the long and narrow former home of Mini Mott and Second Generation at 3057 W. Logan Boulevard, Loulou won’t be a traditional restaurant, Hammel says. The couple have long dreamed of a space that blends food with other art forms like literature and music, where they can host pop-ups, special meals, chef and vendor panels, and other gatherings.

Lula has been a linchpin in the community since ’90s and used to host similar events several nights a week. Hammel admits there was some fear when retail chains and others began arriving along Logan Boulevard, but the neighborhood has kept its spirit. “Logan Square remains fiercely independent. owner-operated, and new things are opening all the time,” Hammel said during a June interview with Eater.

Loulou marks a bit of a return to those roots with performers and visiting chefs holding court while the kitchen prepares food based on the event. “That’s why we’ve been thriving for 25 years, because we really care about the stories and the depth of experience,” he added. “We want to do that for the public [at Loulou].”

Now, as the opening approaches, Hammel and Tshilds are setting the stage for future collaborations with 25 for 25, a series of five pop-up dinners featuring some of the city’s most celebrated chefs to raise funds for local nonprofits. Slated to run over the five days leading up to Lula Cafe’s 25th anniversary – Monday, August 26, through Saturday, August 31 – the Resy-sponsored events will feature a distinct menu with a portion of proceeds from the $250 per person tickets going to a different charitable organization.

Check out the lineup below.

Monday, August 26

Chefs: Erick Williams (Virtue), Lee Wolen (Boka), Jonathan Zaragoza (Birrieria Zaragoza), Paul Virant (Gaijin), and Stephanie Izard (Girl & the Goat).

Menu items: Wolen’s bluefin tuna marinated in strawberry, black garlic, and tomato; and Zaragoza’s smoked potato taco with ceviche a la Mexicana, jocque, salsa roja, and peanut salsa matcha.

Charity: Virtue Leadership Development Program

Tickets available via Resy.

Wednesday, August 28

Chefs: John Shields (Smyth, the Loyalist), Sarah Stegner (Prairie Grass Cafe), Giuseppe Tentori (GT Prime), Sarah Gruenberg (Monteverde), Joe Frillman (Daisies) and Leigh Omilinsky (Daisies).

Menu item: Tentori’s wagyu beef with miso pomme puree and fennel.

Charity: The Evolved Network

Tickets available via Resy.

Thursday, August 29

Chefs: Jason Vincent (Giant, Chef’s Special Cocktail Bar), David Posey (Elske), Anna Posey (Elske), John Manion (El Che, Brasero), Diana Dávila (Mi Tocaya Antojería), and Sandra Holl (Floriole).

Menu items: Vincent’s eggplant lahmacun with phyllo, tomato, onion, parsley, and grated bresaola; David and Anna Posey’s cured tuna with smoked tomato, sunflower, and marigold.

Charity: The Abundance Setting

Tickets available via Resy.

Friday, August 30

Chefs: Carrie Nahabedian (Brindille), Joe Flamm (Rose Mary), Paul Kahan (The Publican, Avec), Oliver Poilevey (Le Bouchon, Obilex), and Mindy Segal (Mindy’s Bakery).

Menu items: Flamm’s rabbit mortadella tortellini in brodo; Segal’s Ode to Lula carrot cake.

Charity: Impact Culinary Fund

Tickets available via Resy.

Saturday, August 31

Chefs: Matthias Merges (Mordecai, Billy Sunday), Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill, Topolobampo), Zach Engel (Galit), Andrew Zimmerman (Sepia, Proxi), Tim Flores (Kasama), and Genie Kwon (Kasama).

Menu items: Bayless’ camote blanco tamal with Oaxacan green mole, confit fennel, and grilled chayote; Engel’s cucumber salad with melon, ramps, shmaltz, gribenes, and kaluga caviar.

Charity: Pilot Light

Tickets available via Resy.

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Naomi Waxman

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July 26, 2024
A Halal Barbecue Rib Fest in the Burbs and More Chicago-Area Pop-Ups

At long last, summer temperatures have arrived in Chicago, which means locals are eager to hit the pavement and savor every moment of the all-too-brief season. That means it’s a great time to explore the city’s many bar and restaurant pop-ups to keep things interesting and preview up-and-coming hospitality talent. Follow along for a sampling of the best the city has to offer in Eater Chicago’s pop-up round-up.

Have a pop-up that should be listed? Email information to chicago@eater.com.

July

Lombard: Annual touring event Halal Ribfest is back in town for a meaty, family-friendly celebration of halal-certified barbecue and street food from Friday, July 12 through Sunday, July 14 in suburban Lombard, according to a rep. Attendees can snag samples from competitors in a BBQ Showdown and vote for the top contenders in categories like “best ribs,” “best sauce,” and “people’s champion.” There’s also a special zone for kids with free activities like magic shows and inflatables. Tickets (prices vary) and more details are available online. Halal Ribfest Illinois 2024, Friday, July 12 through Sunday, July 14, 203 Yorktown Shopping Center in Lombard.

Fulton Market: Celebrity chef Stephanie Izard (Girl & the Goat) will team up with James Beard Award-winning chef Jonathon Sawyer (Kindling) and fellow Top Chef alum Joe Sasto on Thursday, July 18 for a rooftop party at Cabra, her Peruvian-style spot atop the Hoxton hotel, according to a rep. Party people can expect “seasonal eats,” tequila-based cocktails, frozen drinks, and sweeping city views. Tickets ($125) are available via OpenTable. A portion of each ticket sale will be donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Hot to Goat! at Cabra, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 18, 200 N. Green Street.

Fulton Market: Izard will keep the party going on Friday, July 19 with a 14th birthday celebration of Girl & the Goat, her famed restaurant with James Beard Award-winning Boka Restaurant Group. Tickets ($85) include passed appetizers and two drink tickets, and are available via OpenTable. Birthday Bubbles & Bites Happy Hour at Girl & the Goat, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, July 19, 809 W. Randolph Street.

Avondale: Heavy metal-themed burger mini-chain Kuma’s Corner will hold a launch party on Saturday, July 20 for the Stella’s Burger, a new burger creation designed to raise funds for a 13-year-old Chicagoan who is recovering from a physical assault in 2023 at her middle school, according to a rep. The Angus beef burger features its namesake’s favorite toppings: spicy dijonnaise, mushrooms, fried pickles, Muenster, and avocado, and $2 from each burger sold will go to a GoFundMe campaign to help cover Stella’s medical expenses and assist in a search for a more accessible home. It will remain on the menu until the teen’s GoFundMe campaign reaches its $25,000 goal. Release party festivities will include a raffle, a silent auction, and limited edition t-shirts available for purchase. Stella’s Burger Release Party at Kuma’s Corner, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 20, 2900 W. Belmont Avenue.

River North: Chef Brian Baxter of lauded fine dining spot The Catbird Seat in Nashville will join Chicago chef Sujan Sarkar and his team at Michelin-starred Indienne for a collaborative one-night-only pop-up on Monday, July 22 in River North, according to a rep. Baxter and Sarkar promise an eight-course tasting menu ($190 per person) and optional wine pairings ($120 per person) from Indienne sommelier Tia Polite. Reservations are available via Tock. Indienne x The Catbird Seat, Monday, July 22, 217 W. Huron Street.

The Loop: Seoul nightlife-inspired cocktail bar Miki’s Park is bringing back its K-Pop fireworks boat party for the second year running on Wednesday, July 24 aboard the “Summer of George” boat. Attendees will have access to two cash bars throughout the three-hour ride on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan with tunes from Miki’s Park’s resident K-Pop DJ Dorian Westwood, a fireworks show from the boat’s top roof deck, and entry to the bar’s late-night afterparty. Tickets and more details are available online. Miki’s Park K-POP Fireworks Boat Party, 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, Departs from River City Marina at 900 S. Wells Street.

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Naomi Waxman

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July 12, 2024
Next: Bobby Flay Gives Chicago a Unique Glimpse of the Chef’s Formative Years

Since late April, Next Restaurant, run by the Alinea Group, has celebrated Bobby Flay’s first restaurant and channeled the ‘90s spirit that made Mesa Grill a hit in New York City. The restaurant opened in 1991 when Flay was 25.

Alinea Chef Grant Achatz has touted Flay as one of his influences. Mesa Grill was where Achatz first dined during a maiden trip to Manhattan. A Las Vegas location would open in 2004 inside the Caesars Palace casino; it closed in 2020. Achatz hails Flay as one of the first chefs, along with Brendan Walsh, the chef at New York’s Arizona 206, to bring Southwestern cuisine to the masses.

“Looking back now, nearly 30 years later, it is easy to see the similarities of approach our food at The Alinea Group has with that out-of-the-box, risk-taking, new style that chef Flay (helped) introduce to the American culinary scene,” Achatz writes to Eater.

Achatz adds: “Pre-Internet and culinary globalization, most Americans had never been exposed to the ingredients and techniques featured in his dishes, as French was still the dominating cuisine in American fine dining. The deeply flavored layering of chilies, blue corn, tamales, empanadas, mole — and even margaritas — were still not common.”

Flay dined at Next earlier in May and enjoyed the trip down memory lane. 2024 is the year of the tribute for Next, which honored Julia Child in January. Chicago’s own Charlie Trotter will be featured from September through the end of the year. Next will embrace the Mesa Grill motif until September 1. The common thread for the trio is TV and food.

While Child may have pioneered the role of TV chef, Flay’s presence shows an evolution with the birth of Food Network. He’s brought Next a different sort of attention — Flay’s fans flying into Chicago from across the country for another taste of Mesa Grill. Achatz mentions Flay’s role in “educating and influencing so many home cooks at a critical time in American eating.”

The Alinea Group’s co-founder Nick Kokonas tells Eater that Flay was flattered and graciously gave them his blessing. They considered titling their effort “Next: Mesa Grill” but weren’t sure if most Americans make the connection to the celebrity chef without Flay’s name in the title.

“We emailed him and had a conversation about Mesa Grill and the fact that it was hugely impactful for the industry, but a bit lost to history because of all of the TV work he has done,” Kokonas writes. “He said he was honored that we wanted to focus on his cuisine and he’d let us do the menu without any strings attached — and he’s been very generous with his time, opinions, and historical documentation of the Mesa Grill recipes and ideas.”

Achatz says Flay encouraged the staff at Next to “take some liberties” with their menu: “It was important to both of us that we show some of TAG’s fingerprints within the foundation of his food,” Achatz says. “We were very careful to make sure the flavor profiles and backbone of all the dishes represented on the menu had all the touchstones of the originals.”

The menu provides opportunities for fans to enjoy nostalgia while giving younger diners a chance to see what made chefs like Flay household names.

“I would say that all food and travel-related TV programs raise awareness, education, and create passion within the viewers for food and beverage,” Achatz writes. “This creates and continually builds the group of people that make traveling to dine out a hobby, thereby making our restaurants busier.”

“Getting people curious, educated, comfortable and excited to experience restaurants through TV is a fantastic commercial for all hospitality regardless of the specific theme of the show.”

Next: Bobby Flay, now through November 1, Reservations via Tock

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May 24, 2024
Pequod’s Partners With a Charity Pop-Up Dynamo on Its First-Ever White Deep-Dish Pizza

In the 54-year history of Pequod’s Pizza, a white pie has allegedly never appeared on the menu. The deep-dish pizzeria, with locations in Lincoln Park and suburban Morton Grove, is known for its savory caramelized rings of crust that surround the pie. The sausage and pepperoni are the top sellers, but no matter personal preference — even pineapple — the popular pizzeria has never regularly offered a pie without tomato sauce, according to Pequod’s management.

Home cook Billy Zureikat is about to change that, offering a deep-dish version of his Tripping Billy pizza every Wednesday in May at Pequod’s in Lincoln Park. Zureikat, known in Chicago’s culinary circles as “Billy Z,” has raised $50,000 to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association through various Tripping Billy pop-ups at Chicago restaurants like Paulie Gee’s, Bang Bang Pie, and Pizza Matta. Those he’s deviated from pizza — he’s sold sandwiches at Tempesta Market, for example — he incorporates a creamy shishito pepper sauce, corn, mozzarella, cheddar, and pickled jalapeños into a special with proceeds going to MDA.

Billy Zureikat (right) and Pequod’s assistant general manager Brian Kaminski.

Tripping Billy is a kind of alter ego for Zureikat. It took doctors eight years to provide a proper reason for why he would trip and fall while playing basketball. Healthcare professionals would later diagnose him with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. A rabid sports fan unable to play basketball due to the rare disease, Zureikat poured his passion into baking. The idea for the pizza came after a few summer visits to farmers markets where he came away with a horde of shishitos. He turned them into a cream sauce which serves as a base for his pizza. He held a pop-up at Paulie Gee’s Pizza in Logan Square in 2021 and has been rolling since, tapping into his contacts from his former gig working radio for ESPN Chicago, WMVP 1000.

Customers wanting to taste the Tripping Billy at Pequod’s can stop by or call the pizzeria on Wednesdays starting on May 1 to make a carryout order. The two parties are hopeful of expanding their partnership on other days, but that depends on the demand. Check Zureikat’s Instagram page for more updates.

Pequod’s x Billy Z pop-up for carryout, every Wednesday through May.

A shishito cream sauce, corn, and cheddar power the pizza.

A pizza takes about 25 minutes to bake.

This is the second deep-dish pie on the Tripping Billy tour; Millie’s Pizza in the Pan was the first.

The pizza is garnished with green onions and a pepper.

There aren’t a lot of white deep-dish pizzas.

Billy Zureikat wants to use his platform to help those with accesibility issues.

The pizza is available for carryout every Wednesday through May.

Ashok Selvam

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April 18, 2024
Where to Find Solar Eclipse Specials in Chicago and Other April Pop-Ups

Millions of Americans, including Chicagoans, will have a chance on Wednesday, April 8, to see a total solar eclipse — a rare opportunity that won’t return for 21 years. The celestial phenomenons have a way of evoking strong feelings (and generating beaucoup bucks), so it’s not surprising that Chicago chefs are getting in on festivities around the so-called life-changing event.

Meanwhile, there are plenty of other pop-ups to keep diners and chefs from descending into Third Winter doldrums. Follow along for a sampling of the best the city has to offer in Eater Chicago’s pop-up round-up.

Have a pop-up that should be listed? Email information to chicago@eater.com.

April

River North: Tokyo Last Call, a month-long pop-up series inspired by Japanese listening bars, will kick off on Thursday, April 4 in partnership with Three Dots and a Dash and a lineup of guest bartenders from several acclaimed Japanese cocktail spots. These include Brooklyn’s Bar Goto (Thursday, April 4 through Sunday, April 7), Manhattan’s Katana Kitten (Thursday, April 11 through Sunday, April 14), as well as Tokyo’s Bar Trench (Thursday, April 18 through Sunday, April 21) and SG Club (Thursday, April 25 through Sunday, April 28). The Three Dots team will play vinyl 45s and play music from a “retro jukebox” on the bottom floor at 51 W. Hubbard Street. Tokyo Last Call, Thursday April 4 through Sunday, April 28 at Hub 51. Reservations via OpenTable.

The Loop: It seems the whole city is talking about 2024’s Very Big Deal solar eclipse, so Downtown’s Raddison Blu Aqua Hotel is serving two specialty cocktails for the occasion. The team will offer the Sunbeam (mango-pineapple vodka, pomegranate, pineapple) and the Solar Flare (tequila, prosecco, grenadine, Cholula) Friday, April 5 through Sunday, April 14. The Sunbeam and the Solar Flare at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Friday, April 5 through Sunday, April 14, 221 N. Columbus Drive.

Total Eclipse of the Heart (Bacardi Ocho Rye Cask Rum, Rhum Clément Creole Shrubb, orgeat, lime, fire bitters, tajín).
The Gwen

The Loop: Astoria Cafe & Bakery, a suburban spot that specializes in Balkan food, is popping up off the Mag Mile at Venteux, the French restaurant inside the . The bakery had a location on Irving Park road that debuted in 2017, but it’s since closed and they’ve moved to Lisle. Owner by the mother-and-daughter duo of Suzi and Tanja Jeftenic, a news release states customers can expect items like krempita (a vanilla custard slice made with puff pastry & Chantilly cream), burek stuffed with cheese, spinach, or beef, and knedle, a potato dumpling made traditionally with plums, but also made with Nutella and fruit. Astoria Cafe at Venteux, 9 a.m. Sunday April 14 at Venteux.

West Loop: San Francisco-based chef David Yoshimura of Michelin-starred Nisei will pop up for one night with acclaimed chef Noah Sandoval for a collaborative tasting menu on Saturday, April 6 at Sandoval’s fine dining restaurant Oriole. Tickets ($325) are already sold out, but optimistic diners can add their names to the waitlist. Oriole x Nisei, Saturday, April 6 at Oriole. Waitlist via Tock.

Magnificent Mile: Downtown hotel terrace bar Upstairs at the Gwen is marking the solar eclipse with a punny Total Eclipse of The Heart cocktail (Bacardi Ocho Rye Cast Rum, Orgeat, Fire Bitters) available Saturday, April 6 through Monday, April 8. Total Eclipse of The Heart at Upstairs at the Gwen, Saturday, April 6 through Monday, April 8, 521 N. Rush Street, 5th Floor.

Avondale: Minahasa, veteran chef John Avila’s (Duck Inn, Gibsons Italia) rambunctious regional Indonesian spot, will make its triumphant return on Monday, April 8 for Reader pop-up series Monday Night Foodball. More than a year has passed since Avila shuttered Minahasa’s stall at Revival Food Hall in the Loop, but he’s made good on his promise to return and continue honoring the vast diversity of Indonesian cuisine — particularly that of mountainous Tomohon, his mother Betty’s hometown. Avila’s Foodball menu will lean into “Indonesian American twists,” per Mike Sula, such as an Indo fried chicken sandwich (green papaya slaw, acar pickles) and beef rendang animal fries (sambal aioli, crispy shallots), along with Mama Betty’s beloved egg rolls. Minahasa x Monday Night Foodball at Ludlow Liquors, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, April 8, 2959 N. California Avenue.

Avondale: Lauded South Indian restaurant Thattu is planning two “once-in-a-blue-moon” specials for the eclipse: an egg appam with chili crisp, and a moon pie from chef de cuisine Danny Tervort. They’ll be available for one night only, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, April 8. Solar eclipse specials at Thattu, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, April 8. Reservations via OpenTable.

Logan Square: Chicago chefs Palita Sriratana (Pink Salt) and Chanita Schwartz will host a festive pop-up celebration for Songkran, or Thai New Year, on Tuesday, April 14 inside indie flower shop Exfolia Botanical, the duo announced on Instagram. Self-avowed prawn fans, Sriratana and Schwartz worked them into the seven-course menu with dishes like tod mun goong (prawns, coriander) and khanom jeen nam prik (prawn-infused curry, rice noodles, seasonal vegetables). Other courses include yum som o (grapefruit, lemongrass, coconut, cashews) and gai haw bai toey (pandan leaf-wrapped chicken, sweet sesame sauce). Tickets ($120) and more details are available via Eventbrite. Songkran Thai New Year, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, April 14 at Exfolia Botanical. Tickets via Eventbrite.

East Garfield Park: Virtual Lao mega-hit Laos to Your House will host its second annual Lao Pi Mai, or Lao New Year, a family-friendly celebration with an abundant buffet-style spread from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 13 at hospitality business incubator the Hatchery, according to co-founder Byron Gully. The team promises a vast array of dishes including spicy khao poon moo, chicken and vegetarian laap (or larb), crispy kanom dok bua (lotus flower cookies), Lao barbecue, and much more, as well as cocktails and beer. Attendees can also shop for retail items like Lao textiles, beauty products, and packaged goods. Tickets ($50) and more details are available online until Tuesday, April 9. Laos to Your House Lao Pi Mai celebration at the Hatchery, 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 13, 135 N. Kedzie Avenue. Reservations via Laos to Your House.

Rolling Meadows: Chicago chefs including Yuka Funakoshi (Tengokyu Aburiya), Takashi Iida (Lawrence Fish Market), Paul Virant (Gaijin, Petite Vie), and Shinji Sugiura (Ramen House Shinchan), will host a Japanese and French kaiseki-style dinner on Monday, April 22 in suburban Rolling Meadows. A fundraiser to support survivors of a New Year’s Day earthquake on Japan’s Noto Peninsula, the event will feature Chicago Koto Group and local J-pop music group Orihana, as well as a six-course meal that includes tare-marinated salmon with French lentils and seafood terrine with yuzu kosho jelly. Reservations ($125) are available online until Monday, April 15. Together for Noto Japan: Disaster Relief Fundraising Dinner at LaMirage Banquet Hall, Monday, April 22, 3223 Algonquin Road in Rolling Meadows. Reservations via Google Form.

May

Bridgeport: Chef and owner Won Kim of raucous Korean restaurant Kimski isn’t wasting any time in preparing for its eight-year anniversary party on Saturday, May 11, announcing a “stacked” lineup of food vendors and DJs around two months ahead of time. Attendees can expect food from Seoul Taco, Pizza Friendly Pizza, Pretty Cool Ice Cream, Omarcitos, and more (plus a few surprise entries), as well as drinks from Bronzeville Winery, Maria’s, and Standard Meadery. “Come eat, drink, celebrate and help kick summer off the proper Bridgeport way!” Kim writes on Instagram. Kimski Eight Year Anniversary Party, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 11 at Kimski.

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April 4, 2024
Mi Tocaya’s Birthday With Grant Achatz, Beverly Kim, and Company, Plus Six More Pop-Ups

Now that 2024 is underway and holiday preoccupations are a thing of the past, Chicagoans can at last return to matters of serious import, like restaurant and bar pop-ups. A fun opportunity for chefs and patrons to shake up the norm, these events are also important economic drivers for an industry that inevitably slows each winter. Follow along for a sampling of the best the city has to offer in Eater Chicago’s pop-up round-up.

Have a pop-up that should be listed? Email information to chicago@eater.com.

March

River North: March is Women’s History Month, so Chicago-based initiative Let’s Talk Womxn will mark the occasion with its fourth annual celebration on Friday, March 1 at Moe’s Cantina. The group, founded by Vermilion owner Rohini Dey, says this year’s theme is “More Than March” — in essence, that one month is insufficient to celebrate the achievements of women in hospitality and the world at large. Advertised as a “Black & Bling Bash,” the event will feature tasting stations and cocktails from more than 30 local members of Let’s Talk Womxn, including Ashley Ortiz (Antique Taco), Clodagh Lawless (The Dearborn), Nicole Nassif (Imee’s Kitchen) and Carol Cheung (Jade Court). Attendees can also count on guest speakers, a DJ, a drag show, and dancing. Black & Bling Bash with Let’s Talk Womxn, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, March 1 at Moe’s Cantina River North. Reservations via Tock.

Avondale: Chef Rick Spiros, formerly of Bucktown’s shuttered Bento Box, will launch a new pop-up series called Sushi Riki with a prix fixe menu of inventive maki and handmade gyoza at Trogo Kitchen and Market, 2545 W. Diversey Avenue. Sushi Riki will open at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays throughout March, with only 20 seats available each evening. Tickets ($65) and more details are available online. Sushi Riki, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from March 1 through March 29 at Trogo Kitchen and Market. Reservations via Trogo Kitchen.

Avondale: Canadian chef Craig Wong, the fine dining veteran behind Toronto’s Jamaican-Chinese restaurant Patois and casual sister spot JunePlum, will pop up on Saturday, March 9 at Ludlow Liquors. Customers who order a Ludlow burger will get a free Jamaican patty, Wong’s signature at JunePlum based on an original family recipe, while supplies last. JunePlum pop-up, 5 p.m. Saturday, March 9 at Ludlow Liquors.

River North: The Julia Child Foundation will hold a 10th Anniversary Celebration of its awards on Tuesday, March 19 at celebrity chef Rick Bayless’ decorated restaurant Topolobampo. The event is part of a nationwide fundraising series to support the Smithsonian Food History Project at the National Museum of American History. A menu isn’t yet available but attendees can expect a four-course dinner and should arrive in party attire. Tickets ($250) and more details are available online. Julia Child Award 10 Year Anniversary Celebration benefitting the Smithsonian Food History Project, 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 19 at Topolobampo. Reservations via One Cause.

Logan Square: Mi Tocaya Antojeria and James Beard-nominated chef Diana Dávila, are celebrating the restaurant’s seventh birthday with a series of events, headlined by a fundraiser for the Abundance Setting, a nonprofit that supports working mothers in the restaurant world, founded by Beverly Kim of Parachute and Anelya. This seven-course dinner is from seven chefs, including Dávila: Erick Williams (Virtue), Giuseppe Tentori (GT Prime), Grant Achatz (Alinea), Mindy Segal (Mindy’s Bakery), Bo Fowler (Bixi Beer), and Derek Serrano. Palita Sritatana of Pink Salt is additionally making food for the reception. Mi Tocaya’s Annual Birthday benefitting the Abundance Setting, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16 at Mi Tocaya Antojeria. Reservations via Resy.

West Loop: Celebrity chef Stephanie Izard will also lend a hand to the Abundance Setting with a “Steph + Friends Brunch” event in honor of Women’s History Month. She’ll host Chicago chefs Beverly Kim (Parachute, Anelya), Christine Cikowski (Honey Butter Fried Chicken), and Jessie Oloroso (Black Dog Gelato) as well as Boston’s Karen Akunowicz (Fox & the Knife) on Sunday, March 24 at her lauded restaurant Girl & the Goat. Tickets ($125) include a family-style dish from each chef and a copy of Akunowicz’s new cookbook, Crave. Steph + Friends Brunch benefitting the Abundance Setting, 11 a.m. Sunday, March 24 at Girl and the Goat. Reservations via OpenTable.

April

West Loop: San Francisco-based chef David Yoshimura of Michelin-starred Nisei will pop up for one night with acclaimed chef Noah Sandoval for a collaborative tasting menu on Saturday, April 6 at Sandoval’s fine dining restaurant Oriole. Tickets ($325) are already sold out, but optimistic diners can add their names to the waitlist. Oriole x Nisei, Saturday, April 6 at Oriole. Waitlist via Tock.

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February 29, 2024
Food Network’s Jeff Mauro and 3 Little Pigs Compose an ‘Italian-Chinese Symphony’

Sandwiches around the world excite Jeff Mauro, the Chicago native Food Network personality. Nowadays, the once and future Sandwich King isn’t globetrotting as much, and in 2024 he’s plotting a series of collaborations to showcase his gourmet food brand, Mauro Provisions.

One of those collaborations starts on Friday, February 16 with another Chicago native, Henry Cai of 3 Little Pigs. Cai, who recently opened in the South Loop — inside the Molly’s Cupcakes space, 1150 S. Wabash — will top his signature Chinese American fried chicken sandwiches with Mauro’s Honey G Pepper Relish, which is a finely chopped version of his giardiniera. Cai says it’s a perfect match, saying when you’re eating giardiniera, you sometimes don’t get all the ingredients in a bite. A finely chopped relish is easily spreadable with the spicy oil, carrots, and celery evenly distributed.

They mix the relish with honey for a savory, sweet, and crunch condiment. Mauro says the relish gives eaters “a natural high.” The sandwich comes with the relish and a thinly sliced cucumber salad. There’s also 3 Little Pigs’ hot mustard, mayo, and iceberg lettuce. It’s called “the Hot Mauro.” The sandwich is available for a limited time.

“It’s like a Chinese-Italian symphony,” Mauro says.

Cai says he wasn’t sure if he was being pranked when Mauro sent him a message via Instagram asking if he was interested in teaming up. Mauro says folks from around the world have an affinity for Chinese food in its different varieties. China may not have a huge history with sandwich culture — baos seem to fill that niche. But Cai fuses the food his father cooked for him growing up with his own ideas. Mauro says Cai has “a gift for frying chicken.”

“His is what this is like what I crave in a fried chicken sandwich, right?” Mauro says. “it’s balanced — it’s marinated chicken thigh and the coating is so good.”

Henry Cai (left) and Jeff Mauro (right) pose at 3 Little Pigs in South Loop.
Paper Pigeon Studio

Mauro was then left with figuring out how to add giardiniera to a fried chicken sandwich with Chinese spices and toppings: “When I started formulating the Honey G pepper relish, I just knew the flavors, the fermented quality, the oily quality, you know — the crunch — the color, the sweetness would lend itself well.”

Speaking with Mauro about combining Chinese and Italian food brought up memories of a Lincoln Park restaurant that opened in the ‘90s called Luigi’s of Hong Kong. The restaurant teased customers with a revolution with a menu that included pasta and pot stickers. There was also a location in suburban Lake Zurich.

Giardiniera is like a mystic art to Chicagoans, with companies closely guarding their recipes. Recently, Cai has been studying the sacred alchemy while preparing his own tribute to Chicago street food, combining Chinese hot pot with Italian beef. Think of it as a Chinese counterpart to Kasama’s Adobo beef sandwich with Filipino flavors. Cai knows he’ll need to include giardiniera in some form. Perhaps he has a new collaborator with Mauro.

Mauro has other collaborations on the way with Boar’s Head Cafe and others. Stay tuned for more information.

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Ashok Selvam

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February 15, 2024
‘Groundhog Day’ Reunion Aims to Cure Chicago’s Wintertime Blues

Navy Pier, like most Chicago restaurants and tourist attractions, struggles to attract business during winter. But one restaurant owner has an idea to address the problem. Grant DePorter is no stranger to stunts. The president and chief executive officer of Harry Caray’s has blown up a baseball and served it in spaghetti sauce. Last year, he even promoted the beloved baseball announcer in a campaign for mayor (of Rush Street).

Now, he’s celebrating the life of one of the restaurant’s partners, legendary filmmaker and comedian Harold Ramis. This year marks the tenth anniversary of Ramis’ death, and the city of Chicago is prepping to declare Friday, February 2 — Groundhog Day — as Harold Ramis Day. Ramis is responisble for hits like Ghostbusters, Caddyshack, and Groundhog Day. The latter is the 1993 comedy starring Bill Murray.

DePorter and the rest of the staff at Harry Caray’s Tavern at Navy Pier are prepping a special event on the date. DePorter has spent the last few weeks gathering artifacts and props to throw a Groundhog Day ceremony that would make his friend proud. He’s even procured the Armani coat Murray wears in most of the movie and has commissioned a 150-pound tree stump. Movie producer Erica Mann Ramis, the director’s wife, will also appear at the event.

“I’m just trying to get people excited in February to give people a reason to come to Downtown Chicago,” DePorter says.

The restaurant world is slow during the winter in Chicago. Weather forecasters put folks on edge with their storm alerts, warning folks about snow that sometimes never comes. And that leads to empty dining rooms and cancelations. There’s also a sometimes negative perception of Chicago coming from the suburbs. These are challenges that restaurant owners around town have expressed frustration to Eater Chicago about.

Events like this aim to combat those hurdles. Ald. (2nd Ward) Brian Hopkins and Ald. (42nd Ward) Brendan Reilly are expected with the latter reading the proclamation. Meanwhile, several actors from the movie will appear — including Brian Doyle Murray (Buster Green), David Pasquesi (the Psychiatrist), and Peggy Roeder (the Piano Teacher). But the real star of the show is the groundhog; the fuzzy critter holds the fate of Chicago’s winter by whether or not it sees its shadow. Groundhog Day is a popular event in Woodstock, Illinois. And that’s where DePorter found a groundhog handler to provide the animal for next month’s event.

The average lifespan of a groundhog is 12 to 14 years in captivity. So, alas, the same groundhog from the movie is no longer available. There is a chance the stand-in is a distant relative; DePorter says they’re using the same handler that was used in the movie.

Harry Caray’s will also serve food and drink inspired by Tip Top Cafe, the restaurant featured in the movie, where Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell repeatedly dine. DePorter says when word got out about the tribute to Ramis, several Ghostbusters fans reached out and pledged to show up in full costume. DePorter says he owns the jumpsuits worn by Bill Murray and Ramis in the original movie.

For anyone placing a bet if the groundhog will see its shadow, DePorter has no inside information.

“All I can say is that we’re not sticking to the script,” he says.

“Groundhog Day’ reunion and Harold Ramis Day, 3 p.m. on Friday, February 2 at Harry Caray’s Tavern Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Avenue.

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January 26, 2024