BON VIVANT: April 4-7, 2013

Written by agnes.miles on April 4, 2013. Posted in Blog

Bon Vivant: April 4-7, 2013

For our culinary-addicted, dolce vida-loving readers, “24/7” tracks down and uploads the most delicious food fêtes and gastronomic happenings going on this week.

Our Favorite “F” Words

Fête Chicago founders, Heather Sperling (Tasting Table), Emily Fiffer (Daily Candy) and Jessica Herman (formerly of Time Out Chicago) kick off a stylish, chowhound weekend of interactive tastings, restaurant tours, and chef chats (see schedule below) with an event that features two of everyone’s favorite things – food and fashion – in one truly spectacular setting. On Thursday, April 4 join hundreds of bon vivants at Fête Night Market: A Celebration of Food & Design. This twilight-timed culinary and shopping extravaganza offers a well-edited selection of small bites, sips and sweet offerings from some of the city’s buzz-worthy restos including La Sirena Clandestina, Ruxbin/Mott Street, Trencherman, Floriole, Longman & Eagle, 5 Rabbit Brewery, Dana Cree of Blackbird and others.

Aside from all the drinking and feasting, guests are invited to stock up on the wearable and edible wares from more than 40 local and regional artisans and food purveyors including Old Town Social & Nellcôte, Lillie’s Q, Luxemi, Ian Sklarsky, Artfully Dishevelled and others. Uncanned Music’s Scottie McNiece (former Music Curator at such dining institutions as Gilt Bar, Maude’s Liquor Bar, and Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf), will be on hand spinning tunes, and taking requests, until close. A portion of the evening’s proceeds to benefit Fresh Moves. 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. $15 per person. Click HERE to purchase tickets. Room 1520, 1520 W. Fulton Street.

More Chicago events… (Note: Only events that have not sold-out are featured. Click HERE for a complete list of Fête Chicago events.)

Question: What do metal, hard wood, leather, and recycled materials have in common? Answer: They can all be transformed into provocative works of art. On Friday, April 5, four leading designers, Gillion Carrara, Kristin Mariani, Linsey Burritt, and Crystal Grover sit down with Michael Renaud, Pitchfork/Nothing Major creative director and Show ‘N Tell Show host, to discuss the how-to’s of transforming organic materials into socially iconic manifestations. Beer and bites served. 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. $12 per person. Click HERE to purchase tickets. INDO, 1008 W. Randolph Street (at Morgan Street).

This isn’t your typical bedtime fairy tale: On Friday, April 5, get connected with the renowned story collective, 2nd Story, for an evening of staged storytelling. Chef Ina Pinkney, Sky Full of Bacon’s Mike Gebert, Splash’s managing editor Molly Each, and storyteller extraordinaire Jessica Young take the stage to tell tales about taste, memory, and the principal role food plays in their lives. Guests enjoy lavish treats whipped up by The Breakfast Queen herself, Ina Pinkney; cash bar. 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. $20 per person. Click HERE to purchase tickets. Ina’s, 1235 W. Randolph Street (at Racine Avenue).

Who better to kick off a conversation on notorious-to-nice neighborhoods than with the proverbial Robin Hoods of Bridgeport, Chicagoist’s editor-in-chief Chuck Sudo? On Saturday, April 6, Sudo sits down with Pleasant House’s Arthur Jackson and Ed Marszewski (Maria’s, Lumpen), the two men leading the charge to change, discuss the burgeoning food and design scene and what’s to come. Pleasant House Bakery pastries and Maria’s ginger beer served. 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. $10 per person. Click HERE to purchase tickets. Co-Prosperity Sphere, 3219-21 S. Morgan Street (at 32nd Street).

Hungry for more?

Foodophiles and fashionites will feel right at home on Sunday, April 7 when the city’s most acclaimed men’s clothier, haberdash, unites with BBQ king, chef Bill Kim of bellyQ, to host Fashion Rocks. The downright delicious charity event featuring hors d’oeuvres stations, beer and kegged cocktail tastings, a haberdash fashion show, live performances by DJ Sye Young & DJ Jem, and a silent auction. Proceeds benefit Common Threads educational programs and the West Loop Community Organization. 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. $150 per person. Click HERE to purchase tickets. bellyQ, 1400 W. Randolph Street. BBQ, Beats & Men In Suits