With potentially record-breaking warm temperatures this weekend, it’s the perfect time to get out and explore our beautiful city!

Start by taking the whole family out to Stand Up Paddle Kids! This is Chicago’s only stand up paddle boarding company with a program specifically geared to kid and families. Every Sunday morning at 10 am at the beach, you and your kids can learn this awesome water sport! Lessons are $25 an hour per child between the ages of 8-12. $45 will get you a 2-pack for kids ages 8-12. For adults and kids over 13, lessons are $45 each. Make sure to pack your swimsuits, towels, sunscreen, and hats for a morning of fun! Life jackets are provided by Chicago Paddle Co.

Do you like to drink beer? Do you love lawn games? This event is for you! This Saturday at Pinstripes Chicago, located at 435 E Illinois Street, head over to the second annual Brewers Bocce Tournament. Participating local breweries include Half Acre, Great Lakes Brewing Co, Revolution Brewing, and Goose Island. You and your friends can compete for bocce bragging rights and raise money for a great cause. All proceeds to benefit ZERO- The End of Prostate Cancer. VIP Admission is $40 and spectator admission is available for just $5. Purchase your tickets here!

Join Chicago Beer Experience for a Saturday afternoon you’ll never forget! The Bacon & Beer Brewing Tour in Lakeview and Lincoln Park is the perfect way to spend  a warm Chicago Saturday. This fabulous half-mile, three hour walking tour includes visits to: an Irish pub, a beer and bacon bar, a specialty beer and wine store, and a brewpub run by the Seller brothers. Your tour guide will also provide information about Chicago beer history, from the first brewery started in 1833 to the present day beer scene. Tickets are $65 per person with beer and $36 per person without. Find more information here!

Feeling bummed you can’t make it to Broadway? Fathom Events has got your back! On Saturday at 12:55, you can see the Tony-Award winning musical Newsies at a local movie theatre. Based on the 1992 film of the same name, Newsies tells the story of the real-life Newsboys Strike of 1899 in New York City. This worldwide cinema debut stars Jeremy Jordan and Kara Lindsey, in addition to other Broadway stars. You can catch this delightful musical at 12:55 pm on Saturday, at Webster Place 11 or Evanston 18. Find more information here!

If you’re not done with the Valentine’s Day sugar rush, never fear. Learn to make your own classic French bakery treats at a hands-on class this Saturday in Lincoln Park. The class is located at Read It & Eat, at 2142 N Halsted St.  You’ll learn recipes and techniques for meringues, Madeleines, and pâte á choux for cream puffs and profiteroles. Book your tickets now, for $65, from 1-3 pm tomorrow afternoon.

Get outside and enjoy this beautiful weather, in addition to all the fun events our city has to offer!

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

Lincoln Park: Soup for a cause? Yes please! Bruce Sherman, executive chef of North Pond, is leading “Soup for Solidarity”. Coming together with 20 other chefs in the Chicago area, the proceeds will go to three nonprofit organizations: The Immigrant Workers’ Project, The Southwest Organizing Project, and Centro Romero. The Solidarity Soup website states: “We commit to standing with immigrant communities in the fight to protect their dignity and human rights; their presence among us makes us stronger.” With a minimum donation of $50 by March 1, you will receive 2 pints of soup created by two different chefs. Distribution is on March 7, at soon to be announced locations in Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, and downtown. Make your donation here.

Lakeview: Dollop Coffee, located at 824 W. Belmont Ave., will close its doors this upcoming Sunday. This location was renovated about a year ago, to focus on employee training. Owner Dan Weiss has expressed his deep sadness about the closing in a Facebook post. Designed to be a central training location, he tried closing in the afternoons to allow for training, but it just wasn’t working well for business. The new training location is 55 W. Monroe, in the Loop. Weiss says, “From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank everyone in Lakeview who has supported this gem over the years…It’s been a great ride.” Find out more about Dollop and its 10 other locations here.

Bucktown and Wicker Park:  A long awaited new restaurant had its soft opening in Wicker Park on Wednesday evening. Rhyme Or Reason is a 70s inspired gastro pub and live music venue. With their stage, the owners Le’Qoinne Rice and Zafer Genc hope to feature neighborhood bands on a weekly basis. The DJ booth will be solely vinyl records. Located at 1938 W. Division St., the inside seats 174 and the outdoor patio seats 75. After peeking at the menu, I’m particularly intrigued by the Crab Rangoon Dip and the Duck Tacos: confit duck, hoisin lime sauce, chili brussels sprouts slaw, and fried duck skins on blue corn tortillas. Check out other mouthwatering items here.

River North: Au Cheval, a West Loop restaurant, boasts one of the best hamburgers in the city. Now, a more casual extension, Small Cheval, will open later this year in River North at 150 N. Riverside Plaza. The new office tower will also include Hannah’s Bretzel, Starbucks, and other restaurants. Scheduled to open in the next 6 to 8 months, this is an anticipated opening of a beloved Chicago restaurant. Whet your appetite by visiting Au Cheval at 800 W. Randolph St.. Expect to wait, as it’s a very popular spot.

Chicago Loop: A new bed and breakfast is scheduled for a June opening at 1134 W. Washington Blvd. Shawn Uldrige and Kimberly Lowery are thrilled to open The Publishing House Bed and Breakfast in the 100-year old building. The B&B will have 11 rooms, as well as The Press Room wine bar and a location of the West Loop’s Solo Salon. Rooms range from $179 to $309 a night. Uldridge and Lowery hope to use the space for wedding parties and corporate clients who would book the entire space.

Evanston: The Evanston Environmental Association (EEA) and the City of Evanston will present the second evening of the Wild & Scenic Film Festival on February 24 at 7 pm. Held at the Evanston Ecology Center, the festival offers a line-up of the best in environmental and adventure short films. EEA members get $5 off their ticket and $2 off their guest tickets. Find more information here.

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

Although it almost seems like spring these days around Chicago, we who are natives know there will be plenty of cold days left when a crockpot full of goodness with some fresh baked rolls will be very welcome. Here are three recipes guaranteed to satisfy you. They also work when the weather is warm and you don’t want to over-heat the kitchen. Replace the rolls with salad.

Beef Roast with Onions and Potatoes

Slice one sweet onion in half, then slice ¼ inch thick. Cover the bottom of the cooker with the onions. Place beef roast on top, removing any netting or strings. Around the roast, arrange three baking potatoes cubed about 2 inches, along with two cloves chopped garlic. Add 1 ¼ cups beef broth mixed with 1 envelope onion soup mix. Cook on low for 8-9 hours to desired doneness. We like it almost pull apart, but some like it less. Check at 7 hours, try not to open again or risk lengthening your cooking time. For gravy, remove the roast and vegetables. Turn heat to high. Mix an additional ½ cup beef broth and ¼ cup flour. Slowly whisk into the cooker. Cover and cook for about 15 minutes, while stirring occasionally till thickened. Serve on the side. 

Easy Minestrone

Add to a slow cooker

1 can dark kidney beans, drained

1 can garbanzo beans, drained

1 can diced tomatoes with basil, oregano and garlic

1 small bag frozen mixed veggies

1 large vegetable bullion square

1 can V8

1 cup water

Cook on low for 6-7 hours. Add ¾ cup elbow macaroni, cook until it’s tender around 15 minutes.

Serve with rye toast and salad. I love soup and rye toast; real polish rye only please.

Chicken with Dumplings and Vegetables

Add to slow cooker

3 well browned boneless chicken thighs

1 lb small whole red potatoes

1 medium onion, ½ inch dice

5 ¼ cups chicken broth

Cook on low 8-9 hours. Make dumplings with Bisquik, following package directions. Drop onto chicken mixture in spoonfuls and cook for an additional 45 minutes, until dumplings are dry in the center.

Stick to your ribs food, suitable for any time of year!

KATHY WEAVER- ZECH & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

Chicago is definitely a city that knows how to provide fun events for everyone, even during its cold winter season!  In fact, we’ll celebrate anything – like pizza and Cupid!!

Returning for its 108^th edition this year, the Chicago Auto Show is the nation’s largest and longest-running auto show in North America held at McCormick Place (2301 S. Lake Shore Dr.) in the South Loop this Saturday and Sunday (10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.) through February 20^th.  Besides showcasing nearly 1,000 different vehicles, which include a range of domestic and imported passenger cars and trucks, sport utility vehicles, and experimental or concept cars, visitors will also have the opportunity to see numerous accessories and auto-related exhibits, competition vehicles and project, antique and collector cars!  Also, Special Appearances and Events take place every day so be sure to check out the Event Schedule for up-to-date listings.  Since 1901, visitors have had a great experience at this auto show!!  Even me.

It’s time again for one of Chicago’s favorite events of the year!  SausageFest 2017 returns to the Haymarket Pub & Brewery (737 W. Randolph St.) in the West Town neighborhood this Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Fifteen house-made sausages, with a few awesome “guest” sausages, 10 artisanal cheeses and 20+ handcraft beers and ciders are featured at this Fest!  All tickets are will-call the day of the event, so be sure to secure your tickets early as this event sells out fast!!

Put your pizza expertise to the test this Saturday from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the premier of Chicago’s Pizza Party held at the Ravenswood Event Center (4011 N. Ravenswood Ave.) in the Ravenswood neighborhood.  This party will showcase a savory array of 55 different pizzas from 20 of the best pizza restaurants all competing for “Best Pie in Chi”, while local breweries serve up beer tastings in the VIP beer garden!  Music from the city’s favorite local DJ’s, photo booths, themed-games provided by SOLO Cup and cool prizes round out this party.  And, if you’re coming from downtown, your ticket includes complimentary transportation from the Bottled Blonde every hour on the hour throughout the day.  Definitely not your average food festival!!

There are fewer things in this world that feel better than getting half naked in the winter for a good cause!  Cupid’s Undie Run returns to John Barleycorn (3524 N. Clark St.) in the Wrigleyville neighborhood this Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  It’s only a one mile(ish), “brief” run along the streets of Chicago in your bedroom best (undies encouraged) that takes place in the middle of a BIG party and benefits the “Children’s Tumor Foundation” to #EndNF!  Afterwards, it’s back to John Barleycorn for some post-race festivities and awards – so just come out and have a blast!!

Finally, treat your Sweetie or Valentine to a Special Valentine’s Day event or dinner, or both, either this weekend or on the day itself, which is Tuesday, February 14^th!  Show your special someone how much you love them!  If you won’t, Cupid will!!

Will Pizza & Cupid Be Included in Your Weekend Plans?