—Sidewalk talk: The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is holding its annual InSidewalk Sale, as retailers make way for spring by clearing out winter merchandise.
Throughout the weekend of March 27-29, people can shop for some of the year’s best deals on merchandise, food and personal care services at 25 neighborhood retailers. Some of the participating businesses include Cowboys & Astronauts, Milk Handmade, Full Kit Gear, Andersonville Antiques, Foursided, Violet Hawthorne and RAYGUN.
And now on to culinary items…
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SPOTLIGHT: Here are more Fast Foodie Facts, courtesy of Terri Schlichenmeyer and yours truly:
- Your body produces about seven quarts of digestive juices each day.
- An “angel shot” is a coded order that patrons can provide to a bartender, server or bouncer to let them know they’re in trouble or feeling threatened while at a bar or restaurant, Axios noted. Ordering an angel shot “with lime” means you would like a staffer to call the police; “neat” means you need someone to walk you to your car; and “on the rocks” is a request for someone to call you an Uber or cab.
- Eat your veggies: Steak has more protein overall, but broccoli has more protein per calorie.
- Speaking in averages, oranges have 10 segments. Clementines have between eight and 12.
- In Wisconsin, serving margarine as a substitute for table butter to students, patients or inmates of any state institution is illegal. Public eating places are also banned from selling colored margarine as a substitute for table butter unless patrons specifically want it.
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SPOTLIGHT: It’s friggin’ sweet!
Honoring the iconic animated comedy series Family Guy, this is a reminder that Bucket Listers has brought Quahog’s most iconic watering hole, The Drunken Clam,to Chicago through April 19. Tickets are now available exclusively through Bucket Listers. The experience is $18/person and includes a welcome cocktail/mocktail.
The Drunken Clam is at Chicago’s Everything Bar (1601 W. Grand Ave.)—transforming the spot into Quahog, Rhode Island, the fictional hometown of the Griffin family.
Guests can explore the “Eat My Junk” food menu, created by MasterChef finalist and Chopped champion chef Becky Brown. The menu features creative twists on classic moments from the show, such as the Good Old-Fashioned Value Burger and Greased Up Deaf Fries. Special cocktails will include Shut Up Meg (infused gin, honey, lemon and thyme), The Evil Monkey (tequila, cassis berry, jalapeño tincture, lime and Topo Chico), Pewterschmidt Industries (bonded bourbon, peach liqueur, lime, basil and Topo Chico), The No No Noooo (reposado tequila, watermelon, lemon, agave and Tajin) and Cool Whip (vodka, espresso blend, Mr. Black and whipped cream).
Bucket Listers President of Experiences Derek Berry—a former Chicagoan who now resides in Los Angeles—told me that this show was chosen because “honestly, when I was depressed, bored or needed a good laugh, I would always resort to Family Guy.” As for which character he’d like to spend a day with, Berry laughed and responded, “Peter Griffin—he looks like he’d be a great time. And because he’s a dad like me with a bunch of crazy kids, I feel like we would get along.”
—Money’s too tight to mention: USA Today reported that Aisha “Pinky” Cole—the founder of the Atlanta restaurant chain Slutty Vegan—filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Georgia.
Cole owes $1.2 million to the Small Business Administration for a COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan, and owes $192,000 in state taxes. In 2024, Slutty Vegan held two pop-ups in Chicagoland.
—On with the show: To mark Hamilton’s run at the CIBC Theatre located directly across the street (through April 26), The Grillroom Chophouse & Wine Bar invites theatergoers and Chicago locals alike to toast the Tony–winning Broadway musical with a lineup of Hamilton-inspired specials.
Cocktails include a parmesan cheese fat-washed vodka Hamil-tini ($16), Hamilton Hurricane ($15), and A Perfect Union Sangria ($15). In addition, The Grillroom is offering a Hamilton Happy Hour featuring Aaron Burr-gers (three filet sliders with garlic aioli, arugula and crispy onion straws on brioche) and $11 Hamilton Hurricanes, available Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. In addition to the themed items, guests can enjoy The Grillroom’s roster of fan-favorite happy-hour specials, including $10 select wines, $10 house margaritas, a $12 barrel-aged Old Fashioned, $12 half-dozen East Coast oysters, a $12 meatball appetizer, a $12 Tuscan toast and $16 filet skewers.
—The patio of The Dandy Crown in River West welcomes the return of eternal spring in the Secret Garden—a floral and botanical-themed mini pop-up in Chicago—for the second year.
It begins on the first day of spring (Friday, March 20) and opens daily through Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 10). The floral-themed cocktails include Touch Grass (wakame-lemongrass infused rhum agricole, banane du bresil, lime, thai basil honey), Locked in the Shed (chamomile infused Dickel Rye, ume plum liqueur, saffron, honey, lemon expression), Shiso Tipsy (jasmine and peach blossom infused vodka, dry vermouth, shiso tincture) and Through the Garden (cucumber-infused Tanqueray Gin, Italicus, hibiscus, citrus, soda, celery salt), among others.
Secret Garden is free to attend and, while walk-ins are accepted, reservations are recommended. Additionally, several fun floral events are planned throughout the pop-up.
—Strollin’ in the deep: Also on March 22, The Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce and Friends of Lakeview will host their annual Lakeview Coffee Stroll at 10 a.m.-1 p.m., inviting residents and visitors to sip and sample their way through the neighborhood while exploring local shops and businesses.
Taking place along the Southport Corridor and on Lincoln Ave. near the Paulina Station, the event features coffee, tea and pastry samples from local cafés and bakeries at tasting stops throughout the area. At each stop, participants can take advantage of exclusive savings and offerings from host businesses. Some of the participating businesses include Alice & Wonder, AURA Candle Bar, Batik Chicago, Bitter Pops, Building Blocks Toy Store, Candyality, Capital One Café, Denim Lounger For Men, Elite Chicago Spa, Hotel Chocolat, Little Goat Diner, and Southport Grocery and Café.
Until next time, don’t forget that there’s many more restaurant-related attractions at SAVOR with Andrew.