1 Christmas Inn (Hubbard Inn) Christmas may be over, but the Christmas spirit officially lasts until the end of the first week or so of January; Christmas Inn is three floors of Christmas decorations, cocktails and kitschy sixties décor. Pro tip: there’s a “Christmas apocalypse” on the third floor. Until January 9
2 Food Tank Summit (UIC Student Center East) “Digitization Across the Food Supply Chain” is the theme of this year’s summit, and one-hundred percent of all ticket sales go to Feeding Illinois, a network of food banks. January 12
3 Chicago Winter Whiskey Tasting Festival (Station Restaurant and Bar) Journeyman Distilling, American Born Whiskey and many other makers of fine spirits are dying to give you a taste of their good stuff. They provide the beverage; you provide the designated driver, and, yes, there will be food. January 29
4 Mac & Cheese Crawl (Wrigleyville) Billed as “Chicago’s Cheesiest Beer Crawl” (decide for yourself), this is a good way to get your drink on while loading up on high-carb belly ballast to help you sail through a night of unabashed boozing. January 29
5 Big Barn Beer Fest (County Line Orchard, Hobart, Indiana) Over one-hundred of the Midwest’s best craft brews—unlimited samplings!—along with live music and a big buffet. Indiana knows how to party. (And all proceeds go to United Way.) January 29
Dining and Drinking Editor for Newcity, David also writes a weekly food column for Wednesday Journal in Oak Park and is a frequent contributor of food/drink and travel pieces to the Chicago Tribune, Plate Magazine and other publications. David has also contributed chapters to several books, including Street Food Around the World, Street Food, and The Chicago Food Encyclopedia. Contact: dhammond@newcity.com
Related Stories
Dining & Drinking Top 5: January 2023 January is traditionally the month for recovering from weeks of rollicking good times and feasting…but that doesn’t mean the good times—or the feasting—must end. Sure, you may have resolved to maybe modify your food and alcohol intake, but there are many amusements this month... and many involve eating and drinking.
Dining and Drinking Top 5: May 2022 The weather is encouraging us to go out and have fun, even with the enduring specter of the plague hanging over our heads. To be on the safe side, check websites for these events.
Dining & Drinking Top 5: February 2022 With COVID requirements in place, many restaurants/bars are opening up to something close to business-as-usual, and one-off events are moving ahead.
Dining & Drinking Top 5: July 2022 Because summer’s here and the time is right for festing in the streets, this July there are a lot of food and music parties happening in Chicago neighborhoods and parks. Get outside and play. Go on!
Dining & Drinking Top 5: September 2022 September—the last gasp of summer—is a fine time for food and drink events. Before winter befalls us, the next pandemic, or some other damn thing, let’s all make the heroic effort to eat, drink and be merry.
