Marvel-ous: Following the success of Meals to Astonish: Spider-Man #1, chef/restaurateur/humanitarian/educator José Andrés and his team at World Central Kitchen continue their journey through the Marvel Universe in Meals To Astonish: Avengers #1, which arrived this month.
The Meals to Astonish items team Andrés with Marvel’s greatest heroes for adventures that celebrate World Central Kitchen’s mission to provide food and nourishment to communities in crisis around the world.
—Manhattan Vintage, New York City’s iconic vintage show, is officially coming to Chicago for the first time, kicking off a new twice-annual event in the city this fall. Following its October debut, Manhattan Vintage will return to Chicago in spring 2027, and continue with editions each spring and fall.
Taking over Morgan Manufacturing in Fulton Market on Oct. 24-25, Manhattan Vintage Chicago will bring together standout dealers from its New York show with Chicago’s own vintage talent for two days of treasure hunting. The New York show has become a destination for fashion insiders and vintage obsessives alike, with stylist Law Roach, actress Brooke Shields, designer Rachel Zoe, designer Tory Burch and designer Anna Sui among its notable visitors.
Tickets are officially on sale now here, starting at $25 for general admission and $40 preview hour tickets.
—Field day: The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled an officially licensed, limited-edition bobblehead of the Northwestern University Wildcats’ Willie the Wildcat New Ryan Field Bobblehead commemorating the opening of the new Ryan Field. The bobblehead is only available here.
Standing in the middle of a replica of the new Ryan Field, the Willie the Wildcat bobblehead gives the No. 1 sign while wearing a Northwestern football jersey. The front and top of the stadium base reads “RYAN FIELD.” Each bobblehead will be individually numbered to 2,026.
—Estate of the union: The Poppy Estate (251 S. River St.)—Aurora’s event venue for weddings and large-scale corporate gatherings—announced new ownership under the husband-and-wife team of Sasha and Andreas Papazafeiropoulos.
The estate aims to offer an intimate, elegant setting for weddings, and a flexible, large-capacity space designed for corporate events, conferences and milestone gatherings. There’s a 50,000+-square-foot building with room for nearly 1,000 guests. The Poppy Estate will celebrate its new ownership with a grand opening week on Oct. 18-23—featuring a bridal expo, ribbon-cutting, site tours and more. Things will conclude with an open-invitation, black-tie event on Oct. 23.
And now, on to culinary items…
—Asked and not answered: On Today, Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew Cathy dodged a question three times about whether the company’s position on LGBTQ+ rights has changed since the former head—Cathy’s father, Dan—was caught donating to extreme anti-LGBTQ+ organizations and said he did not support marriage equality in 2012, per LGBTQ Nation.
Many on social media—including celebrities like Chelsea Handler and BD Wong—criticized Andrew Cathy’s non-response.
—It’s an honor: Illinois State Treasurer Mike Frerichs hosted his annual celebration to honor LGBTQ+ History Month and highlight the accomplishments of queer leaders, per a media release.
Among the honorees was Himmel’s Co-Owner/Executive Chef Carol Himmel, who also owns Erich’s Lehigh Auto Body Inc. (Outstanding Service in Business). Some of the others honored included outgoing AIDS Foundation Chicago President and CEO John Peller (Outstanding Service in Leadership), Chicago Ald. Bennett Lawson (Outstanding Commitment as an Elected Official) and activist Robert Castillo (Outstanding Commitment to Community Service).
RESTAURANT PICK: Diana Solis (she/they) is a renowned photographer/educator who’s traveled all over the world. She’s also lived in places such as Mexico City and Chicago—where she has lived for the past two decades after growing up here.
Asked what their favorite restaurant is, Solis responded with a spot in her Pilsen neighborhood. (To find out what they said, check out SAVOR with Andrew.)
By the way, how revered is Solis? Well, they will be one of the recipients of this year’s 3Arts Awards, which honor artists working in the performing, teaching and visual arts in the Chicago metropolitan area. The event will take place Monday, Oct. 26, at 5:30 p.m. at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance.
—Smells like scream spirit: Running through Nov. 1, Nightmare on Clark Street is taking place on the rooftop of the Wrigleyville spot Stolen Saddle, 3505 N. Clark St.
Nightmare on Clark Streetbrings the spooky season to life with over-the-top décor, eerie surprises, themed cocktails, and photo-worthy moments. Those 21+ can embrace their fears via liquid courage by indulgingin a variety of featured Halloween cocktails such as Freddy’s Tequila (tequila, lime juice, agave, pineapple and fresh jalapenos) and Monster Mash (rum, midori, pineapple, sprite and a purple sugar rim topped with an eyeball gummy).
Book tickets (starting at $19.15 each) now exclusively through Bucket Listers. (Note: Tickets do not include dine-in table reservations.)
—It’s a wrap: Fry the Coop recently launched a new menu item: the Jumbo Hot Chicken Caesar Wrap ($14.99).
Now available at all locations, the wrap includes two jumbo beef tallow-fried tenders (your heat choice) wrapped in a toasted 14-inch tortilla with crisp Romaine, house Caesar dressing and shaved parmesan cheese.
—Fall in: Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille welcomes fall with a new lineup of seasonal off-the-menu features, the Mini Martini Trio of the Month at Bar 7 and a new A Glass Worth Knowing Winemaker’s Pour featuring Jordan Chardonnay (the latter through Oct. 31) at its three Chicago-area locations in Oak Brook, Schaumburg and Vernon Hills.
Off-the-menu items include beef Wellington ($59), the Three Kings mignon ($65; eight-ounce applewood-smoked bacon-wrapped filet mignon, topped with king crab and truffle butter), steak tartare ($21), white bean pork chili ($15), butternut squash ($16) and pumpkin cheesecake ($13). The latest mini-martini trio is composed of the Thyme Lemon Drop, Rare Rita and Raspberry Refresher.
—A spirited time: The Graduate by Hilton Evanston invites guests to settle in for cocktails—and a little personal insight.
Taking place Oct. 22, Nov. 19 and Dec. 10, at 5-7 p.m., the Tarot Card & Cocktails Series brings psychic medium and tarot reader Natalie Reyes to the hotel’s Tea Room for evenings featuring one-on-one tarot card readings, a welcome handcrafted cocktail and delicious light bites from The Homestead Room. The evening’s light bites come from The Homestead Room, the hotel’s contemporary American restaurant. Guests can purchase additional food and beverages throughout the evening.
Tickets are $45/person and include one private tarot-card reading with Reyes, one welcome handcrafted cocktail and light bites.
—Having a ball: Meals on Wheels Chicago (MoWC) will host its 36th annual Celebrity Chef Ball on Friday, Oct. 23, at The Geraghty (2520 S. Hoyne Ave.), bringing together more than 50 of Chicago’s top chefs (from restaurants/bakeries such as Atsumeru, TenGoku, Miru, Verzênay Chicago and Indienne) and hundreds of supporters.
For one night, every table becomes a chef’s table. Following a cocktail reception, guests will experience an interactive six-course culinary showcase, with chef teams preparing and presenting each course tableside. A dessert lounge will cap the evening, which will also feature a live auction featuring one-of-a-kind culinary experiences and luxury offerings. Tickets are $450 each and can be purchased at mowc.org/ccb.
—Tea for two: Mango Pickle now has additional seats for its high tea that’s taking place Sunday, Oct. 25, at 4652 N. Rockwell St., in Chicago’s Lincoln Square neighborhood.
There are now noon and 1 p.m. seatings, while a few spots remain open for late afternoon high-tea lovers at 3 and 4 p.m. Menu items will include pani puri, smoked whitefish on rye, egg akoori on brioche, dhokla “sandwich,” amaranth and jaggery sukhdi, and chocolate ganache and Victoria sponge cakes. They will be served with masala chai and the green-tea blend Kashmiri kahwa.
Tickets are $72 each, and there’s the option of adding “unwrapped” chicken samosas for $9. The link to RSVP is here.Until next time, get even more news (as well as reviews and interviews) at SAVOR with Andrew.