Millions of Americans, including Chicagoans, will have the opportunity on Wednesday, April 8, to do just that Seeing a total solar eclipse — A rare opportunity that will not return until 21 years later. Celestial phenomena have a way to Arouse strong emotions (And Generate a lot of dollars), so it's no surprise that Chicago chefs are participating in the celebrations around the so-called Life changing event.
Meanwhile, there are plenty of other pop-ups to keep diners and chefs from descending into their third winter doldrums. Tune in for a sample of the best the city has to offer on Eater Chicago's pop-up tour.
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April
North River: Tokyo Last Call, a month-long pop-up series inspired by Japanese listening bars, will launch on Thursday, April 4 in partnership with Three Dots and a Dash and a group of guest bartenders from several popular Japanese cocktail spots. These include Bar Goto in Brooklyn (from Thursday, April 4 to Sunday, April 7), Katana Kitten in Manhattan (from Thursday, April 11 to Sunday, April 14), as well as Trench Bar in Tokyo (from Thursday, April 18 to Sunday, April 21) and SG Club (Thursday, April 25 to Sunday, April 28). The Three Dots will play vinyl 45s and play music from an “old jukebox” in the basement at 51 W. Hubbard Street. Tokyo last callThursday, April 4 until Sunday, April 28 at Axis 51. Book via OpenTable.
the ring: It seems like the whole city is talking about 2024 A solar eclipse is a very big deal, so downtown's Raddison Blu Aqua Hotel is offering two specialty cocktails for the occasion. The team will be serving Sunbeam (mango, pineapple vodka, pomegranate and pineapple) and Solar Flare (tequila, prosecco, grenadine and Cholula) from Friday, April 5 to Sunday, April 14. Sunbeam and solar flare in Radisson Blu Aqua HotelFriday, April 5 to Sunday, April 14, 221 N. Columbus Drive.
the ring: Astoria Café and Bakery, a suburban place specializing in Balkan food, appears just off the Mag Mile in Venteux, the French restaurant inside . The bakery had a location on Irving Park Road that debuted in 2017, but has since closed and they moved to Lisle. Owner by mother-daughter duo Susie and Tanya Jevtinek, a press release states that customers can expect items like krempeta (a vanilla custard slice made with puff pastry and Chantilly cream), borek stuffed with cheese, spinach or beef, and kendl, a potato dumpling traditionally made with… Plum, but also made with Nutella and fruit. Café Astoria in Venteux, 9 a.m. Sunday, April 14 in Venteux.
Western loop: San Francisco-based chef David Yoshimura has been awarded a Michelin star Nessie He will appear one night with celebrity chef Noah Sandoval for a collaborative tasting menu on Saturday, April 6 at Oriole, a fine dining restaurant in Sandoval. Tickets ($325) have already sold out, but hopeful diners can add their names To the waiting list. oriole x Nisei, Saturday, April 6 at oriole. Queue via Tok.
Magnificent tendency: The Gwen's top floor downtown hotel terrace bar marks the solar eclipse with a Total Eclipse of The Heart (Bacardi Ocho Rye Cast Rum, Orgeat, Fire Bitters) cocktail available from Saturday, April 6 to Monday, April 8. Total eclipse of the heart in Upstairs at Gwen's, Saturday, April 6 to Monday, April 8, 521 n. Rush Street, 5th floor.
Avondale: Minahasa, veteran chef John Avila (Duck Inn, Gibsons Italia), a thriving regional Indonesian spot, will make a triumphant return on Monday, April 8. reader Monday night pop-up series Foodball. It's been more than a year since Avila closed the Minahasa booth at Revival Food Hall in The Loop, but he's made good on his promise to come back and continue honoring the great diversity of Indonesian cuisine — especially the mountainous cuisine of Tomohon, his mother Betty's hometown. Avila's Foodball menu will lean toward “American-Indonesian twists.” Per Mike Solalike the Indian fried chicken sandwich (green papaya slaw, acar pickles) and beef rendang fries (sambal aioli, crispy shallots), along with Mama Betty's beloved egg rolls. Minahasa s Monday Night Foodball in Ludlow Liquor5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Monday, April 8, 2959 N. California Street.
Avondale: Popular South Indian restaurant Thato is planning to offer two “once in a blue moon” specials for the eclipse: an egg with crispy chili, and a moon pie from chef Danny Tervoort. It will be available for one night only, from 5pm to 9pm on Monday 8 April. Solar eclipse shows in Thato, from 5pm to 9pm, Monday, April 8. Booking Via the open table.
Logan Square: Chicago Chefs Palita Sriratana (Pink salt) Shanita Schwartz will host a festive pop-up celebration for Songkran, or Thai New Year, on Tuesday, April 14 inside independent flower shop Exfolia Botanical, the duo announced. On Instagram. Sriratana and Schwartz, self-proclaimed shrimp lovers, incorporated them into a seven-course menu with dishes like tod mun goong (shrimp and coriander) and khanom jin nam prik (curry filled with shrimp, rice noodles and seasonal vegetables). Other courses include yum sum au (grapefruit, lemongrass, coconut, cashews) and gai haw bai toi (chicken wrapped in pandan leaves, sweet sesame sauce). Tickets ($120) and more details are available Via Eventbrite. Thai New Year Songkran, 6pm to 9pm Tuesday 14 April at Exfolia plant. the tickets Via Eventbrite.
East Garfield Park: Laos To Your Home, which has been a huge success in Virtual Lao, will host its second annual Lao Pi Mai, or Lao New Year, a family-friendly celebration with a bountiful buffet from 2:30pm to 7pm on Saturday, April 13 at the hospitality business incubator The Hatchery, according to co-founder Byron Jolly. The team promises a wide range of dishes including spicy khao bun mo, chicken, vegetarian laab (or larp), crispy kanom doc bua (lotus flower cakes), Lao BBQ and much more, as well as cocktails and beer. Attendees can also shop for retail items such as Lao textiles, beauty products and packaged goods. Tickets ($50) and more details Available online Until Tuesday, April 9. Laos to your home Lao Bei Mai Fei celebration Hatchery2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, April 13, 135 N. Kedzie Street. Booking via Laos to your home.
Rolling meadows: Chicago chefs, including Yuka Funakoshi (Tengokyo Aporia), Takashi Iida (Lawrence Fish Market), Paul Ferrante (Gaijin, Petit Vie), and Shinji Sugiura (Ramen House Shinchan), will host a party Kaiseki Japanese and French style dinner on Monday, April 22, on the outskirts of Rolling Meadows. The event will include a fundraising campaign to support survivors of the New Year's Day earthquake that struck Japan's Noto Peninsula. Chicago Cotto Collection and a local J-pop music group OrianaPlus a six-course meal that includes marinated salmon with French lentils and seafood terrine with yuzu kosho jelly. Reservations ($125) are in place Available online Until Monday, April 15. Together for Noto Japan: Disaster Relief Fundraising Dinner in Lamirage Events HallMonday, April 22, 3223 Algonquin Road in Rolling Meadows. Booking via Google Form.
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Bridgeport: Chef and owner Won Kim of buzzing Korean restaurant Kimski is wasting no time preparing for its eighth anniversary party on Saturday, May 11, announcing a “stacked” lineup of food vendors and DJs nearly two months ahead of time. Attendees can expect food from Seoul Tacos, Friendly Pizza, Pretty Cool Ice Cream, Omarcitos, and more (plus a few surprise entries), plus drinks from Bronzeville Winery, Maria's, and Standard Medery. “Come eat, drink and celebrate and help kick off summer the right Bridgeport way!” Kim writes On Instagram. Kimsky 8th Anniversary Party, 3pm-10pm Saturday, May 11 at Kimsky.
“Infuriatingly humble alcohol fanatic. Unapologetic beer practitioner. Analyst.”