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
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