Beer Dinner at Elate

What do you get when you pair Chicago-born specialty crafted brews with a robust seasonal menu? Goose Island & Elate Beer Dinner, happening tomorrow, Thursday, October 20 at 6:30 p.m. For $45 per ticket (tax and gratuity not included) guests are treated to a sumptuous four course menu prepared by Elate’s Chef de Cuisine Mike Noll and Sous Chef Steven Lartz, paired with four selections from Goose Island.

Goose Island & Elate Beer Dinner

Course One

Beer: Matilda

Dish: Blue Cheddar and Salted Caramel Souffle

Course Two

Beer: Sofie

Dish: Salmon with Beet / Fennel / Preserved Lemon / Mustard / Maple

Course Three

Beer: Pepe Negro

Dish: Hanger Steak with Carrot / Turmeric / Chanterelle / Cocoa Nib

Course Four

Beer: Pere Jacques

Dish: Curry Semifreddo with White Chocolate / Sour Cherry

Tickets are still available but limited. To reserve your place, please call Elate at (312) 202.9900. For more information please visit Goose Island’s website.

Happy Chicagoween!

October is right around the corner and with it comes one of Chicago’s most beloved fall traditions. Daley Plaza (50 W. Washington St.) transforms into “Franken Plaza” from October 28-30, complete with hay rides, a Monster Bash, treat-or-treating, pumpkin crafts, a farmer’s harvest market and more. Franken Plaza is open from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., but closes at 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Be sure to catch a spooktacular performance by the Midnight Circus (view their schedule here) and the screening of the classic, Beetlejuice, on Friday at 5:50 p.m. Admission is free; for information on public transportation please visit the CTA’s website.

Oktoberfest in Chicago

As fall swings in, so do some of Chicago’s finest events. Oktoberfest will be making its 8th annual appearance in the Lakeview neighborhood at 3000 N. Lincoln Ave. There will be a $5 donation collected at the front gates where all the proceeds will be going to St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church founded by German immigrants in 1882. Bring you appetite and get ready to quench your thirst  from September 23: 5p.m.- 10p.m., September 24 11 p.m. – 10 p.m., September 25 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Along with the delectable homemade food and beer gardens will be many German bands performing live throughout the day. “Kinderfest,” or the children’s activities, will take place at 11a.m. on Sunday. The Belmont Subway station has both red and brown line trains and the 145 CTA bus will provide transportation for festival goers. So grab your favorite Lederhosen and get ready to polka the day (and night) away!

Namaste

Don’t miss out on the last month of Yoga at Lincoln Park Zoo! Meditate and enjoy the Chicago skyline as your back drop while you stretch to perfection. The class takes place Thursdays 6:30-7:30 p.m. and Saturdays 9-10 a.m at the Nature Broadwalk Peoples Gas Pavilion (located at the Farmhouse when weather does not permit). Classes are designed to target beginners and intermediate yogis. CTA 151 and 156 bus routes stop directly at the zoo on Stockton Drive. Make sure to bring your own mat and water while you perfect your downward dog!

Click here to register for adult yoga.

Happy Labor Day!

The last official weekend of summer is upon us and we can’t believe it’s already here! We’ve had a wonderful summer thus far in Chicago with beautiful sun-drenched days and balmy summer nights. What are your plans for this Labor Day weekend? Stretching out your summer fun for one last time? Monday marks the last day of the 2011 Chicago beach season so be sure to take advantage of the city’s 26 miles of lakefront for your last hurrah.

PS: For those of you curious on the origins of Labor Day, according to the United States Department of Labor, “Labor Day constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country.” (source) Enjoy this years Labor Day festivities everyone!

The 53rd Annual Chicago Air and Water Show

For over 50 years, The Chicago Air and Water Show has been providing entertainment from the lake shore for Chicago patrons. On August 20 and 21, trained professionals and the military will be soaring through skies and hitting the water. The headliners include U.S Air Force Thunderbirds, U.S Army Parachute Team: Golden Knights, and U.S Navy Parachute Team Leap Frogs.

The performances can be viewed along the lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach being the intermediary of the show. The Chicago Air and Water show begins at 10 a.m. and wraps up at 3 p.m. – the 151 or 156 bus routes will be the best ways to get to the lake front. Check out the CTA schedule online for the most up-to-date information. Over 2 million people were in attendance in 2010, so make sure to get there early to snag a spot!

Two Days and Counting

The Hotel Felix Photo Contest will be coming to a close on August 3rd. Chicagoans and visitors have just two days to upload their photos with our eco-friendly sculptures for a chance to win big. All you have to do is pose with either sculpture, ‘Like’ Hotel Felix on Facebook (www.facebook.com/hotelfelix), then upload your picture to the photo contest. Contestants have a chance to win a two-night stay, one complimentary spa treatment, and a $50 credit toward the lobby bar, room service, or Elate Restaurant. So head out to 111 W. Huron St. downtown Chicago!

Buy Local, Eat Fresh

With the warm weather comes Chicago’s outdoor Farmers Markets; stroll the streets and browse the different vendors that are exhibited.  Each market brings in nearly 100 stands displaying a variety of fruits, veggies, plants, and flowers for Chicago patrons to chose from. Farmers Markets can be found throughout the different neighborhoods in the city and most will continue until the end of October.

Image Credit: Natalie Collett

Lincoln Park will be hosting their market every Saturday from 7am to 1pm at the Lincoln Park High School, 2001 North Orchard Street. The Southport Market (1420 W. Grace) will take place every Saturday at Blaine School from 8am to 2pm. Downtown will also play host to many markets; check out the Federal Plaza, 219 S. Dearborn St.,  every Tuesday from 7am to 3pm or Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington,  every Thursday from 7am to 3pm. Click here for the complete listings of the markets both downtown and in the neighborhoods.

Image Credit: Natalie Collett

Along with Farmers Markets, Green City Market is the perfect place to check out local vendors. The market takes place outdoors on Wednesdays and  Saturdays. Along with the shopping, Green City Market offers an array of different programs available to the public including: chef demonstrations, field trips, tasting series and much, much more. To see all the programs offered at Green City Market, click here.

Image Credit: Natalie Collett

The Green City Market takes place at 1750 North Clark Street Chicago, IL 60614, the south end of Lincoln Park. You can take the following CTA bus routes to Green City Market: 22 Clark, 36 Broadway, 73 Armitage, 151 Sheridan, 156 LaSalle. The closest train station is 0.4 miles away at the Sedgwick Brown Line. The market offers discounted 2-hour parking at the Chicago History Museum.

What The Schwer?

We are pleased to announce that The Hotel Felix Photo Contest is now featured on a local Chicago blog. What The Schwer focuses on up-to-date information on Chicago sports teams and they have created a widget in Hotel Felix’ honor. Head over to What The Schwer, click on the picture and it will bring you straight to the contest. Good luck to all!

Have You Chosen Your Favorite?

We have approached the two week mark of the Hotel Felix Photo Contest. Loren and Madeline have been battling to become Hotel Felix’s most photographed staff member. In order to join in on the contest just strike a pose with Loren or Madeline then upload your masterpiece to the contest page.

The FREE grand prize consists of a two-night stay and one spa treatment. The winner will also receive  a $50 credit towards the lobby bar, room service, or Elate Restaurant, the upscale eatery adjacent to Hotel Felix.  The first runner-up through the fifth runner-up will receive a $100 dollar  gift card to be redeemed during a stay at Hotel Felix. Don’t forget, you only have until August 3 to become the winner of  Hotel Felix’s Photo Contest!