WICKER PARK — There is more to St. Patrick's Day than green beer, unseasonably warm parades and pub crawls.
Here are our picks. If we missed your event, add it as a comment.
Friday
Kick off the weekend with meatballs. A new meatball-focused restaurant, Mondo, opens at 4 p.m Friday.
If you're observing Lent, Mondo's vegetarian and gluten-free balls combine beans, brown rice and roasted mushrooms, topped with chimichurri sauce.
Photo courtesy of Dean Casagrande
The meatballs (beef, spicy pork, turkey and chicken and bacon varieties) are served six ways: bowls, sub, deuce (two balls topped with cheese on a roll), atop a big salad, sliders and "full Mondo," the latter a combination of three balls over any side dish with bread and a salad.
View the full menu here. Mondo Meatball, 1471 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Soak in Street Art. A solo show, "Incognito," features the work of Jake Merten, who just inked a new Division Street mural. (If Merten's style looks familiar, you might have noticed his work along the wall of Umami Burger, too.) Incognito's opening reception is 6 to 10 p.m., Chicago Truborn Gallery, 1418 W. Division St.
Instagram/DrewinChicago; Instagram/Lookatart
Score Vintage Duds. Kokorokoko, a go-to source for 80s and 90s gear, will celebrate its 6th anniversary with a 66-cent sale! Buy any vintage clothing item and get the second one for 66 cents. The sale begins at noon Friday and runs all weekend. Follow the shop on Instagram for updates. Kokorokoko, 1323 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Saturday
Shop for Jewelry, Hand Crafted Goods. Pop by a monthly Handmade Market to peruse unique wares from over 30 venders packing the venerable Empty Bottle music club, which will offer drink specials, too. The market runs from noon to 4 p.m., 1035 N. Western Ave.
Jewelry pieces by market vendor Lucy Clasen:
Make —and Bind — a Sketchbook or Journal. Artist Hannah Ireland leads a free workshop showing how to make a monotype using gel and water-based inks. You will leave with your own handmade sketchbook or journal, featuring a custom cover. Materials will be provided; participation is capped at 12. An advance RSVP is required at 312-743-0450. 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the West Town Public Library, 1625 W. Chicago Ave.
Sunday
Go on a Photo-Based Scavenger Hunt, Win a Camera. A not-so-long time ago, you only had one snap of a button to get a photo just right. Using vintage instant cameras with 20 exposures, teams of three to five will scurry around the 'hood in search of completing (and documenting) 20 tasks as part of the Lomography Embassy Store's 3rd annual St. Patrick's Day Scavenger Hunt.
The shutterbugs on the top team who earn the most points will each win a Sprocket camera, valued at $99. But shop owner Piper Robbins tells DNAinfo Chicago that everyone will feel like a winner when they enjoy free 'za courtesy of Dimo's Pizza. The hunt is noon to 3 p.m., 1422 N. Milwaukee Ave. Tickets are $20/advance, or $25 at the door.
Tuesday
Call in Irish; Ditch Work! Your ticket to three hours of complimentary WhirlyBall, bowling and Laser Tag will simply be wearing green on St. Patrick's Day. Reservations are NOT accepted; this deal is for walk-ins wearing green only. Free hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A minimum of four players is required for WhirlyBall and Laser Tag. WhirlyBall, 1825 W. Webster Ave.
Photo by Hilary Higgins
Enjoy an Irish Beer List, "Trivia Tuesdays" and a Reuben Link.
Links Taproom will be rolling out a beer list just for the holiday along with a special link made with corn beef and topped with Swiss cheese, cabbage, bacon and Thousand Island Dressing. Links Taproom, 1559 N. Milwaukee Ave.
The "Reuben Caught Stealing Link."
Indulge in FREE Ice Cream! Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream will be opening its second Chicago spot and 21st nationwide to great fanfare — and free scoops! The first 50 fans in line will score a free ceramic mug too. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Jeni's Wicker Park, 1505 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Party like a Punk! The 18th annual St. Paddy's Beer Nuts Bash will cap off six days of celebrating with Beer Nuts, a local punk band that is not for the faint of heart, so stay out of the front row if you do not want to get soaked with green beer. Tickets are $10-$20. Show starts at 9 p.m. Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave.
This green "Good Boy" style hat at Goorin Bros. Hat Shop, 1533 N. Milwaukee Ave., costs $54, so we would not suggest wearing it to the Beer Nuts' show.
