Tuesday, June 19

Take a big juicy bite out of Chicago Rarities Orchard Project‘s latest lecture in their series at the Haas Park fieldhouse, this one featuring apple historian Dan Bussey. Bussey, “Orchard Manager at the Seed Savers Exchange…and owner of Albion Prairie Cider Orchard and Mill (a 4-acre collection of over 250 apple varieties first started in 1979) in Edgerton, Wisconsin, specializing in blends of apples for sweet and hard cider using a historic 1913 Mt. Gilead press…has documented over 15,000 apple varieties grown in the United States since 1623.” He’s the man to talk to about this year’s upcoming apple harvest—or lack thereof. CROP “is a non-profit organization founded to establish community rare-fruit orchards in Chicago.”

Wednesday, June 20

BYOBD (Bring Your Own Bingo Dauber) to the WBEZ Member Meet Up: Bingo Edition at The Hideout, hosted by WBEZ morning anchor Lisa Labuz and Eight Forty-Eight’s Tony Sarabia. “First pint of beer on WBEZ and Goose Island Beer Company” but “[d]on’t forget your MemberCard or proof of your membership!” Though “[g]uests are welcome.” Not a member? Why it just so happens it’s pledge drive time, so pledge now!

Hurry up and can at Slow Food Chicago’s Quarterly Canning Workshop: Fennel Edition, at Logan Square Kitchen. “You will participate in every step as the group makes delicious and unique pickled fennel, fresh from the farmers market!…You’ll leave with the knowledge and confidence needed to pickle at home as well as a few jars of the pickled vegetables prepared during class.”

Thursday, June 21

Kanpai at the Japanese sake tasting and pairing for food and beverage industry professionals—hosted by JETRO Chicago, the Consulate General of Japan at Chicago, and the Sake Exporters Association—at Kendall College. “Join us to taste over 50 types of sakes from various regions in Japan and meet brewers, importers, and distributors.”

Smoke it slow and low at CigarBQue at Beyond Design, benefitting the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation. Hosted by Rick Gresh of David Burke’s Primehouse, Giuseppe Tentori of GT Fish & Oyster and Boka, and Cleetus Friedman of City Provisions, with a little help from their guest chef and mixologist friends, this “intimate evening” of cigars, food, wine, and cocktails is “an outdoor smoking event; there is no designated non-smoking area.” The mission of the foundation is to “provide a significant humanitarian impact to the communities in the Dominican Republic resulting in a better quality of life to those who experience a lack of education, poor access to health care and nutrition, and who have little or no sustainable employment.”

Kanpai encore at the 19th annual sake tasting—this event open to everyone, and hosted by the Japan America Society of Chicago—at Japonais. “Nine sake breweries from Japan will be in Chicago for this one-day only event. Brewers will set up tasting stations along the beautifully lit Japonais Chicago River Walk, highlighting only the finest sake. Enjoy passed Japanese delicacies, converse directly with sake brewers and sales executives, all while taking in the Chicago sites.”

Saturday, June 23

Get down and dirty at Green City Market’s latest free Monthly Hands-on Gardening Workshop Series, Necessary Nourishment: Feeding Plants for Healthy Growth and Production, in The Edible Gardens at Lincoln Park Zoo’s Farm-in-the-Zoo.

BYODTS (Bring Your Own Dish To Share) at Slow Food Chicago’s Sweet Summer Solstice Potluck at Christy Webber Landscapes.”[E]njoy donated food and drinks from some of Chicago’s best local purveyors” including Revolution Brewing beer, Virtue cider, Candid Wines, Crumb bread, and Fortune Fish Company salmon. Plus “get a tour of the Honey Co-op hives recently moved to Christy Webber’s green roof at their Rancho Verde headquarters, a LEED-certified facility in a 12.5 acre eco-industrial park on Chicago’s west side.”

Just try not to sing and clap along at An Evening with Kim Carnes “in a beautiful, private residence, renovated from a former bustling neighborhood church building” in Logan Square, benefitting The Hope Institute for Children and Families. Catered by the Boka Group, the evening includes wine and food “inspired by dishes from Boka, GT Fish & Oyster, and Girl & The Goat.” Founded in 1957, [the institute] is a nonprofit center providing educational, residential, and health services to children ages 5 to 21 with multiple developmental disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorders.”

Sunday, June 24

Celebrate the one year anniversary of the monthly Dose Market at the River East Arts Center with complimentary Goose Island beer and Spicebox Whisky cocktails, the latter which is actually a small batch spirit from Canada. Make sure to check out “the retail debut of Nellcôte’s house-milled flour and fresh pasta”.

“Run with a Bloody” at the third annual Bloody Mary Fest in Highwood. New this year is the Bloody Buddy 5K Challenge benefitting the The Huntington’s Disease Society of America. “Professional bartenders and amateur mixologists compete for the title of Best Bloody Mary in the Midwest, judged by a host of celebrities and the people,” including the Hungry Hound himself, Steve Dolinsky!

“Listen to beats by legendary DJ Derrick Carter” at Rebuilding Education at the Rebuilding Exchange, benefitting the Academy for Global Citizenship. “[E]njoy delicious grub from Ruxbin Restaurant, Smoking Goose, and Pleasant House Bakery” with Two Brothers beer, Death’s Door gin, Virtue cider, and whiskey cocktails. “Oh and don’t forget treats from Honeypie Cafe!”

Bike for Chicago Blackhawk Charities at the Fernet Bike Cruise for Keith Relief. The ride starts at The Anthem, the official Hawks bar, and ends at Bar Deville. You get a “chance to win a Fernet Branca Beach Cruiser, official t-shirt, and of course food and drinks at the event…Also if you don’t have a bike you can still participate.” [The beach cruiser is a Fernet Branca painted bike.] “Keith Relief was founded in 2011 by Chicago Blackhawks Defenseman Duncan Keith and his wife, Kelly-Rae. The charity is dedicated to alleviating the financial and emotional burdens of families and individuals suffering from medical crisis.”