LINCOLN SQUARE — About this time every year, winter officially wears out its welcome. Snow fails to thrill, the cold is no longer "exhilarating" and long johns were never sexy to begin with.
Into the midst of all this bleakness, St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church offers a ray of hope: its first-ever Winter Food Festival, March 1-3.
Nothing quite cuts through the gloom like a gyro stand and vats of Greek wine.
Celebrate Greek culinary traditions including spinach pie, kabobs and pastichio. Desserts will be made on the premises by the women of the St. Demetrios community. Look for the loukoumades — fried honeyed doughnut holes.
Admission is free and the hours are March 1, 5-9 p.m.; March 2, noon-9 p.m.; and March 3, noon-6 p.m.
Free parking is available in the church's parking lot and at Budlong Elementary School.
St. Demetrios, 2727 W. Winona Ave., is celebrating 85 years of serving the needs of the Greek Eastern Orthodox community on the North Side.