Pencil This In
By Staff in Arts & Entertainment on May 23, 2011 5:20PM
Beer
Central Waters Brewing Co., one of Wisconsin's best breweries, makes its Chicago debut with a launch party 6-9 p.m. tonight at The Fountainhead (1970 W. Montrose). Anello Mollica, Central Water's Brewer will be on hand to answer questions and have a few pints with guests. Fountainhead will be serving Illumination Double IPA, a 9 percent ABV, 108 IBU hop bomb, in bottles. On draft, they'll have Glacier Trail IPA, an American style IPA, liberally hopped for a taste bud adventure; Mud Puppy Porter, characterized by a thick, rocky head and luscious chocolate-like nose; Saton Solstice Imperial Stout, with a rich coffee flavor that compliments the "warm, fuzzy feeling" you get from the abundant alcohol; and the only keg in Illinois of their Bourbon Barrel Cherry Stout, with eighty pounds of tart Door County Cherries thrown into each oak barrel and aged for 6 months. This was a 2006 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal Winner in the oak and barrel aged strong beer category.
Wine
Rosé is all the rage on Piccolo Sogno’s spring wine list, which features a handful of new pink-hued wines to serve as refreshing counterpoints to Executive Chef Tony Priolo's vibrant spring menu. Charles Schneider, the beverage-focused manager at the restaurant, has selected he 2006 Di Giovanna Nerello Mascalese hails from Mt. Etna in Sicily, for pairing with Priolo's coda alla vaccinara, a Roman-style oxtail stew. Schbeider suggests a 2005 Librandi Cirò Rosato from Calabria with tortelloni alla primavera. (464 N. Halsted)
Music
The Downtown Sound series begins tonight in Millennium Park. This is great news for folks that want to enjoy top tier tunes after work in a truly lovely environment. This year’s bookings again offer a nice blend of the adventurous and the crowd pleasing, and this evening’s bill kicks things off by embracing two musical extremes. Headlining is the introspective music of indie stalwart Bonnie Prince Billy but we’re really looking forward to the nosier, and even more ancient in indie years, punishing guitar rock of Eleventh Dream Day, whose recently released Riot Now! shows the quartet remeains as melodically abrasive as ever. The show is tonight, May 23, at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park at 6:30.
Book Signings
Erik Larson, the best-selling author of The Devil in the White City, will be discussing and signing copies of his new book, In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin, tonight at 6 p.m. at the Harold Washington Library. Set in Germany just as Hitler has ascended to power, the story follows Chicago Professor William E. Dodd, America’s first ambassador to Hitler’s Germany. He and his family enjoyed the pomp and parties in Germany until they slowly became aware of the mounting horrors of the time. (400 S. State St.)
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