Drag dolls: After a quarter-century at its old spot in Northalsted, Kit Kat Club has opened down the street at 3524 N. Halsted St. (It was formerly the Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club.)
On Oct. 9, journalists and influencers were treated to performances, food and cocktails that will be part of Kit Kat, at least for the near future.
There are 240 seats distributed across multiple zones in the new space that was designed by the Kaufman Segal Angyus Design Group: the main dining room, a semi-private dining room and a sweeping 1,500-square-foot patio. Executive Chef Chelsea Poe has crafted a menu with items such as truffle mac and cheese, the Brie Burger, grilled chicken skewers and a charcuterie board. Cocktails include The Blueberry Pie, the Southern Belle and even a Lady Gaga martini (with Citroen vodka, Alizé, blue curaçao and a double dose of lemon).
Drag performers included Molly, Abigail Beverly Hillz and Kylee Hunter. In addition, saxophonist David Hernandez played songs such as “Careless Whisper” and ballet dancer Jackson Liee provided a welcome departure with an athletic performance.
SPOTLIGHT: As regular readers know, occasionally I ask people to highlight a restaurant of his/her/their choice—and this week’s selection is from AIDS Foundation Chicago President & CEO John Peller.
Peller selected the modern Indian restaurant Superkhana International. He stated, “I went to high school in NYC with Chef Yoshi [Yamada] and I’ve been following Yoshi and Zeeshan [Shah] since they were doing pop-ups at the Long Room. The cocktails are outstanding, the courtyard is made for Chicago summers, and the food is exploding with flavors that just keep me coming back again and again.”
He added, “Superkhana does an exceptional job using seasonal, local produce. The menu is bursting with tomatoes, corn and summer squash now, as it should be. Some of mainstay dishes deserve their hard-earned places on the menu, like the butter chicken calzone (which I begrudgingly share with my tablemates). And make sure you finish with the cardamom ice-cream sandwiches with Parle-G biscuits; they’re always a magically perfect temperature to melt in your mouth in a few satisfying bites.
Peller also wants to remind readers to “save the date for World of Chocolate, which will be back this year on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 in a new location that’s soon to be revealed. The event benefits AIDS Foundation Chicago and features sweet and savory chocolate treats and cocktails from some of Chicago’s favorite restaurants and chocolatiers. Follow @AIDSFoundationChicago on Instagram to be the first to get all the details.”
—Fade to Black: Black Lagoon, a nationwide Halloween pop-up launched in 2022, will return to haunt The Parlour on the second floor (stairs required) of The Albion Manor in Chicago on select dates through Nov. 1.
Found in 38 cities in the United States and Canada this Halloween season, Black Lagoon can be found in Chicago only in The Parlour at The Albion Manor this year. This cocktail-focused immersive Halloween experience is for adults 21 and older only.
Spooky concoctions will include Nocturna Colada(Kraken Black & Gold Rums, passionfruit, coconut, pineapple, Mr. Black Cold Brew Liqueur and Bitter Queens Coffee cardamom bitters); Midnight Forever(Ketel One, Black Sesame, Miso Falernum, Lustau Fino Sherry and lemon); Griselda’s Revenge(Ford’s Gin, Giffard Mangue, Lustau Vermut Blanc, lemon, tarragon, seltzer and Bitter Queens Thai Spice); and the Widow Maker(Genmaicha Tea, passionfruit, ube and lemon), among others.
—Sweetness: National Dessert Day is Oct. 14.
While there are innumerable ways to celebrate the occasion, a few standout dishes include the baklava cheesecake at Anatolia; Ithaki’s sokolatopita—a chocolate cake soaked in chocolate syrup, layered with chocolate mousse and finished with candied lemon zest and honey tuile feathers; the gooey butter cake at Daisies; the walnut and whiskey mille-feuilleat Hawksmoor; the homemade items (pound cakes, apple cobbler, etc.) at South Side spot Pearl’s Place; the strawberry cake at Adalina Prime; or the limited-time pumpkin-spice pudding at Magnolia Bakery.
—A sporting chance: On Sunday, Oct. 19, stop by Pumpkins & Pigskins at Gallagher Way in Wrigleyville at 11 a.m.-6 p.m. for a day full of football and fall festivities.
Guests will be able to watch the Chicago Bears take on the visiting New Orleans Saints at noon on the videoboard. In addition, there will be live music from GooRoos as well as pumpkin painting and more. Gallagher Way restaurants include Jeni’s, Smoke Daddy, Mordecai and others. The event is free and no RSVP is required.
***Find out about more items (including Wicked-inspired cookware) at SAVOR with Andrew.
The write stuff: Be sure to read and subscribe to my other Substack—Pop-Eds: My thoughts on pop culture. (Like SAVOR, it’s less than $5/month to access everything.) Columns have discussed cheating, movie sequels, Zohran Mamdani, vampire facials and Chappell Roan, among many other topics.
—Know your rights: Several Chicago organizations offer regular trainings to help people understand their constitutional rights and what to do if they encounter ICE agents, City Bureau noted.
For example, HANA Center offers an online workshop on Thursdays at 1 p.m. The National Lawyers Guild of Chicago offers Know Your Rights trainings for groups upon request; email chicago@nlg.org. PUÑO (Pilsen Unidos por Nuestro Orgullo) organizes Know Your Rights community canvassing; sign up here. Also, you can sign up for the Illinois “Eyes on ICE” network. ICIRR’s text alert system will alert participants of local ICE activity near your area, tips and reminders to keep individuals safe and provide opportunities to take action.
Until next time…