It’s a three-day weekend so get out there, enjoy this great city full of great food, drive safe, brush and floss… here are some things happening, starting with the greatest neighborhood food festival in Chicagoland, the legendary Taste of Melrose Park. (If you don’t know why it’s the greatest neighborhood food festival in Chicagoland, watch this.) It’s in Melrose Park just west of the city, get details here. Some other things to do are below.
• Another great ethnic neighborhood fest also running all weekend is Taste of Polonia, held around the Copernicus Center at 5216 W. Lawrence. Pierogis, polka music and Polish beer will all be flowing; go here for details.
• Oak Street Beach will be host to a ritual sacrifice pig roast beginning at 2 p.m. $40 gets you all you can eat pig and sides and drinks, with a cash bar and band continuing in the evening.
• One of the cool things that opened this year was Wet Deck, a new outdoor oasis at the W Hotel with great views, and they invite you to catch the last Navy Pier fireworks of the season Saturday while eating gourmet burgers or Portobello sandwiches and drinking cocktails.
• As a lead-in to Chicago Gourmet at the end of September, you can get a free admission ticket to the event by dining at five of the participating restaurants between September 1 and the event and showing your receipts. Go here to see the complete list of participating restaurants.
