—LGBTQ+ love: Last week, I detailed Pride specials that some restaurants are offering. Here are a few others:
West Town’s Baja-inspired Mexican restaurant Diego has joined forces with Ilegal Mezcal for the celebratingYOU cocktail program, a national initiative supporting the LGBTQ+ community. For Pride Month, Diego will offer the Flor Morada—a new cocktail crafted with Ilegal Mezcal Joven, hibiscus, chipotle syrup and grasshopper salt. For every pour of Ilegal Mezcal sold, a donation will be made to wayOUT, an organization that funds life-saving resources for LGBTQ+ youth across the country.
On June 14, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Industry Ales Brewpub, 230 S. Wabash Ave., will host “Foozie’s Bingo: Balls for Better—The Pride Edition Benefiting The Trevor Project.” Join Chicago drag icon Miss Foozie for a night of bingo, brews and bold fun—all for a great cause. Expect high-energy games, fabulous raffle prizes, and over-the-top entertainment in The Millroom at Industry Ales. Tickets are $11 per player and there are limited spots available. Also, all month long, $1 from every “Shut Up & Play the Hits” cocktail sold in The Mill Room and $1 from every “Bucket Hat Wit Beer” will be donated to The Trevor Project.
In celebration of Pride Month, The Dearborn (which is partially LGBTQ+-owned) is offering a limited-time cocktail, Panic at the Pisco, with proceeds benefiting Howard Brown Health. This festive drink features a blend of Grey Goose Vodka, Macchu Pisco, Chinola passionfruit liqueur, lime, vanilla bitters and Tempus Fugit Kina L’Aero d’Or.
Casa Chi by Chef Richard Sandoval is celebrating Pride Month with a colorful cocktail special: the Butterfly Margarita ($19). This drink features Hornitos tequila, crème de violette, pea flower tea, lime and agave, all brought together with a festive rainbow sugar rim. A portion of the sales will go to an LGBTQ+ organization. Casa Chi will also host its boozy tea service every Sunday throughout Pride Month at 12-4 p.m., offering a playful twist on traditional afternoon tea.
This Pride Month, Bonhomme Hospitality is celebrating with a collection of rainbow-inspired cocktails—each one crafted by a different concept in its portfolio. For example, Orange (the Mango Margarita) is being sold by Beatnik; Coquette is celebrating with Indigo (Light As a Feather); and Kashmir is selling Green (Tiger, Tiger, which contains mezcal, sotol, melon, Thai chili, citrus and a lime leaf).
Mercadito, in River North, is offering the Sabor Fresa (El Mexicano Blanco tequila, fresh lime, strawberry, a hint of habanero heat and a splash of ginger beer) in celebration of Pride. A portion of proceeds from every Sabor Fresa sold will benefit the Chicago trans-led organization Brave Space Alliance.
The cocktail bar/show space Lemon is hosting “Dyke Nite Presents: Pride Music Fest” the entire month. On June 9, punk/rock/alternative acts will be featured; on June 16, there will be R&B/hip-hop acts; and, on June 23, top queer local DJs will take the stage.
—End of an era: After eight years in business, Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar will close its doors on Aug. 30.
As the team approached lease renewal negotiations, it became clear that the best path forward was to end things at its current location. “We hope these next few months are filled with sweetness, joy, and celebration,” co-owner Tif Meikle added. “This restaurant has always been a safe space to grow, create, laugh, and connect. What we’ve made together here is bigger than any one person—it’s a shared story, and it will always matter.”
A press release stated, “To the guests, staff, collaborators, and friends who have supported Heritage over the years: thank you. Every plate, every pour, every smile—your contributions have been woven into the fabric of this restaurant, and that spirit will carry forward wherever the team goes next.”
—Night moves: Casa Chi by Chef Richard Sandoval—the Nikkei cocktail lounge inside the InterContinental Chicago—is offering a “Night Cap”: late-night specials Tuesdays through Thursdays at 10-11 p.m.
For $50, guests can sip on a carafe of traditional margarita and snack on a spread of signature chips and dips from the housemade guacamole to the smoked swordfish dip, all served in a space where Peruvian and Japanese flavors meet late-night lounge vibes. Casa Chi is also home to more than 140 unique selections of mezcal and tequila, Ishiyaki hot stone cooking and standout shareables like swordfish sushi takitos and angry tuna makimono.
—Sake to me: International Sushi Day is June 11, and Michelin-recognized TenGoku Aburiya—among the most authentic izakayas in Chicago—is hosting its first-ever kappo-style omakase and sake pairing dinner, Kappo Ten.
Led by head chef Danny Rodriguez and sake expert Dila Lee of Kome Collective, the evening will feature 14 courses of fresh fish flown in from the same Japanese markets as TenGoku’s Michelin-recognized sister restaurant, Omakase Yum, along with premium sakes from across Japan.
Space is limited, with only six seats per seating (5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.). Tickets are $175 per person, plus taxes and fees, and are available now on Resy.
—Roof life: Arriba, the dog-friendly rooftop bar located above Farm Bar in Ravenswood, is now open just in time for summer.
The newly revamped menu highlights a mix of shareable bites and beverages inspired by classic Mexican flavors. Guests can enjoy tacos filled with options such as tinga, carnitas, carne asada, and barbacoa, along with house-made chips served with salsa roja, salsa verde, queso, guacamole and pico de gallo. Additional highlights include a fresh shrimp cocktail, homemade elote dip, quesadillas, tuna ceviche and fully loaded nachos. The beverage program features a curated list of margaritas, palomas, Mexican beers and wines.
—After its debut in New York City last year, the Mrs. Meyer’s Compassion Store is coming to Chicago.
Chicago’s first-ever Compassion Store will open to the public on June 13-14, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., at at 1814 W. Division St. Inside the store, shoppers can participate in acts of kindness like manifesting self-compassion goals with a postcard or sending an unexpected compliment to a friend in exchange for useful products to nurture compassion in their own backyard, such like plants, a bouquet and Mrs. Meyer’s Compassion Flower Hand Soap.
That’s the news for this week. Be sure to come back next week for more tasty treats!
The write stuff: Be sure to read and subscribe to my other Substack—Pop-Eds: My thoughts on pop culture, in which I’ve tackled issues ranging from Trump’s tariffs to Diddy trial to the dog that saved the life of another canine.