Enjoy The Long Weekend With Some Delicious Food & Drink Events
By Staff in Food on May 23, 2015 6:00PM
(The scene at one of last year's chef BBQ series at Sportsman's Club./ Photo courtesy of Sportsman's Club)
Although it's been a more mild May, it won't be long before we're basking in the sun on a patio enjoying another beautiful Chicago summer. Many consider the long Memorial Day weekend the unofficial start to the season, a reason to break out the grill, kick back a few beers and stay up a bit later on Sunday night.
Whether you're looking for a burger and beer or a pile of BBQ, we've got some delicious options to enjoy your long weekend as you look forward to the glorious season known as a Chicago summer.
Saturday May 23
Mole de Mayo
Spice up your weekend with Mole de Mayo in Pilsen. Today and tomorrow catch the annual cook-off that celebrates rich and delicious mole while enjoying food from vendors showcasing complex mole sauces and dishes. The festival also includes an open-air market, art for sale, a bevy of live bands, dancing, mechanical bull rides and Galli Lucha Libre both days. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy Pilsen while kicking off summer festival season and dining on one of our favorite flavors from Mexican cuisine.
Sunday May 24
Sportsman's Club BBQ Series Kick-off
The popular series at Sportsman's Club features food from guest chefs at one of our favorite bar patios in Chicago. They kick off the second annual series with BBQ and sides from John Manion of La Sirena Clandestina and the upcoming El Che Bar this Sunday. It starts at 4 p.m. and goes until they run out of food, though the patio will be open until midnight. For drinks there's plenty of options including a new rotating draft cocktail, The Grizzly King Tiki Weiss, a fruit forward Berliner weisse brewed in collaboration with Off Color and Sporting Snow Cones including Julep Cone with bourbon, branca menta, Letherbee Besk and mint.
Here's the full calendar for the BBQ series by the way:
5/24 - El Che Bar / John Manion
5/31 - The Betty / Rachel Dow
6/7 - Half Acre / Nick Lacasse
6/14 - Bang Bang Pie Shop / Patrick Cloud
6/21 - OFF WEEK
6/28 - Boeufhaus / Jamie Finnegan & Brian Ahern
7/4 - The Winchester / Greg Bastien
7/12 - Fountainhead / Cleetus Friedman
7/19 - MFK / Scott Worsham
7/26 - Solero & Maddy’s Dumpling House / Ashlee Aubin & Chrissy Camba
8/2 - Rootstock / Mike Simmons
8/9 - Momotaro / Mark Hellyar
8/16 - Bite Cafe / Dave Cooper
8/23 - Perennial Virant / Ed Sura
8/30 - Publican / Cosmo Goss
Analogue Memorial Day Weekend Crawfish Boil
We love a good crawfish boil, chowing down on sweet corn while breaking down crawfish with our hands and sucking out all their sweet juices. And if we’d trust anyone in the city to do this Cajun staple justice, it would be Chef Fredo over at Analogue. The event is also the perfect time for the bar to debut their new back patio, where we can’t wait to spend many hours relaxing this summer. The event is already sold out, but we hear they’ll have a handful of walk-in spots available so arrive early to get your crawfish fix, procrastinators. Things kick off at 3 p.m. and your ticket includes all you can eat crawfish and fixins.
Rooftop Revolution Bash
Little Goat is opening up its awesome rooftop to serve up $5 cans of Revolution including Rosa, White and Fist City brews. An a la carte menu of bites from Little Goat's menu will be available to pair with your beers.
Dawson’s Memorial Day BBQ
What better way to start the summer season off right than with a big pile of BBQ favorites and a cold beer? The Dawson and Founder’s Brewery are pairing up to host a Memorial Day BBQ, full of all those summer staples like corn, potato salad, watermelon and, most importantly, the meats like brisket, hot links and a whole pig to feast on. The party goes from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. and you can grab a ticket online for $45 or pay $55 at the door.
Burger and Beer Deal at Kinmont
If you’d rather not grill out this weekend, let Kinmont do the heavy lifting and enjoy a special burger and beer combo this Sunday. Ten bucks will get you Kinmont’s hefty burger, with smoked gouda and bone marrow, plus an ice cold brew. The burger itself is usually $13 on the menu, so it’s a pretty great deal to cap off your Sunday.
Crap Beer Day
What’s more reminiscent of summer than ice cold, cheap beer? Add in a little music, square dancing and Dolly Parton on your poster advertising the event and we’re sold. Thalia Hall celebrates the low brow brews Sunday at Crap Beer Day. They promise that $1 beers will be abundant, with “buckets of crap for cheap.” The Golden Horse Ranch Band will be teaching folks some sweet square dance moves and Dad’s Basement will spin classic rock all night long. Doors open at 4 p.m. but if you don’t have work in the morning, that cheap beer hangover won’t be so bad.
Monday May 25
Memorial Day Brunch at Nana
Head to Nana, one of our favorite places to grab brunch, for Memorial Day specials including duck confit biscuits and pulled pork benedict. Served from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Reservations are not accepted.
By Melissa McEwen and Lisa White.