WICKER PARK — Happy Friday!
Here are some ideas for things to do over the weekend, which will see autumnal weather in the 60s and 70s.
Brunch at Beatnik. Pop into this new West Town restaurant for a hearty brunch aided by slushies, mimosas and Bloody Marys. Dishes include pork cheek fried rice, a Spanish tortilla with uni, shakshuka — or North African-style poached duck eggs — and the house burger, made with two Angus beef patties, curry pickles, vermouth glazed onions, mustard aioli and salt roasted potatoes, according to Beatnik's menu. Brunch hours are 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 1604 W. Chicago Ave.
Dress Up Your Denim. Bring a jean jacket or jeans to Rhyme & Reason on Friday night and get it embellished with custom patches and pins, with the help of local fashion designer Anastasia Chatzka who will assist with stylizing the denim as part of a F.A.M.E. Friday workshop. Cost for three patches or pins is $10. From 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 1938 W. Division St.
Peruse Local Art. Group show "Insanity" opens on Friday and runs though Oct. 29 at Jackson Junge Gallery. A free reception with the artists is set for 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 1389 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Drink For A Good Cause. Links Taproom's second annual “F U Hate” fundraiser on Sunday will donate 100 percent of its beer sales (Pipeworks, Half Acre, 5 Rabbit, Temperance, Dovetail and more) to nonprofits serving the LBGTQ+ community and the Chicago branch of Young Center For Immigrant Children’s Rights. Hours on Sunday are 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., 1559 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chill In A New Coffee Shop. A cafe and lounge with cozy wingback leather chairs and flooded with natural sunlight recently opened, about a block south of Filter. Haven Lounge serves food from Goddess and Grocer and coffee by Dark Matter. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Help Hurricane Victims. We've compiled a list of 9 ways to help at spots across the city, including at Nick's Pit Stop, BucketFeet, The Wormhole and more.
Try Sesame Doughnuts. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and National Doughnut Month in October, MAK Restaurant will donate a portion of the proceeds from every order of BOGO donuts sold to benefit the Lynn Sage Foundation's In Good Taste Campaign. The buy-one-get-one free donuts — Black Sesame or Five Spice — cost $1 each or 6 for $5. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 1924 W. Division St.
The Royal Grocer's Fall Menu. New menu highlights at the Bucktown restaurant include tortellini (stuffed with roasted squash and brie; Colonel Newsom’s country ham, Swiss chard, apple cider, spiced pepitas), Carolina Gold Rice Risotto (porcini Broth, lobster mushrooms, lichen, goat’s milk cheese). Check out The Royal Grocer's entire menu. Weekend hours are 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday, 2118 N. Damen Ave.
Enjoy Pumpkin Ice Cream. Though known mainly for its mac and cheese, the recently opened Joey G's Mac & Cheese also serves ice cream from Michigan-based Sherman's. Owner Joe Glorioso says he's been handing out lots of samples of the pumpkin ice cream. Scoops range between $2-$4.50; a pint costs $6.50. Friday and Saturday hours are 11 a.m. to 12 a.m; on Sunday, it's 11 a.m to 11 p.m., 2351 W. Augusta Blvd.
Pick Up Some Gourds. Peruse fresh pumpkins, gourds, veggies, cheeses, meats and specialty items, like pies, bagels, paletas, coffee from Ipsento and crepes at the Wicker Park Farmers Market. Hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, 1425 N. Damen Ave.
First To Brunch At Split Rail. The new restaurant from former Ada Street chef Zoe Schorr opened a few months ago and is ready for the brunch crowd. Enjoy a breakfast burrito, hash browns wrapped in tortilla, duck confit hash on the heavier side, and lighter options like smokey bluefish spread on a toasted bagel and house made ricotta. Brunch hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2500 W. Chicago Ave.
