SAVOR Little Goat Diner, ‘Fashion Santa,’ and ‘Hues and Hearth’ – Windy City Times

—Shop ’til you drop: The One of a Kind Holiday Show will take place at The Mart (formerly known as Merchandise Mart) on Dec. 5-8 (10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Dec. 5-7, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Dec. 8).

The event will bring together more than 600 artists, designers and makers with thousands of shoppers who love art and handmade goods. Categories include gourmet foods, bath-and-body items, artwork (including paintings, photography, ceramics, etc.), pet products and many more.

And now on to culinary items…

—Getting your Goat: Every day beginning at 4 p.m., Lake View’s Little Goat Diner will offer a Girl & the Goat prix fixe menu.

The menu is $96 for two people and includes some of Girl & the Goat’s most popular menu items. Courses include goat empanadas with avocado, herby limey kale and pistachio seed crunch; sautéed green beans with fish sauce vinaigrette and cashews; sticky glazed pork shank with chili spiced pears, house pickles, hot mustard mayo and hoisin mayo; and miso butterscotch budino with black vinegar gastrique, caramel balsamic whip, candied pepitas and sugared gooseberries.

RSVP here.

—Doctor Hue: Kindling, the Willis Tower’s live-fire restaurant from James Beard Award-winning Chef Jonathon Sawyer, is teaming with the national interactive art experience Color Factory for a package deal all of December.

With the Hues and Hearth Package for Two, guests receive two anytime tickets to Color Factory, 233 S. Wacker Dr., alongside a $50 gift card to Kindling, 202 S. Franklin St., for lunch or dinner following the museum tour. Tickets are available here.

—More, more, (Hawks)moor: Through Dec. 31, the British steakhouse Hawksmoor, 500 N. LaSalle St., is offering some cool holiday cocktails.

The team has partnered with global bar programs—including World’s 50 Best Bars recipients and fellow Tales of the Cocktail Foundation winners—to roll out an all-new lineup of drinks. For example, there’s The Gingerbread ($20), created in partnership with The Dead Rabbit in New York; this cocktail features Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Slane Irish Whiskey, Gold Rum and gingerbread spices. There’s also the Nauti Grasshopper ($20); created by Nauticus, a Scottish bar, this elevated version of the classic Grasshopper features Glendronach 12-Year Scotch Whisky, mint, cacao, sage and cream. Or you can try Café Mantuanos ($20); London bar Three Sheets teamed with Hawksmoor to craft an upgraded espresso martini for the holidays that combines butter-infused Diplomatico Rum, homemade salted coffee liqueur, hot coffee and a condensed milk cream float.

—In fashion: On Dec. 4, 6-9 p.m., Table at Crate—located inside the Crate & Barrel in Oakbrook Center—will host an evening with the one-and-only Fashion Santa (aka Paul Mason).

According to his website, Mason “has walked the runways of London, Paris, Tokyo & New York for designers such as Gianni Versace, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, and Armani. At the start of 2020, he helped to close Jean Paul Gaultier’s 50th anniversary and final couture show.”

With a $20 VIP ticket, guests receive exclusive access to meet Fashion Santa, sip on a seasonal cocktail, indulge in passed appetizers, and be immersed in the holiday vibe, complete with live music and festive decor. Additional cocktails and bites will be available for purchase. Plus, every $5 from each ticket supports Feeding America to help families in need this season. Spots are limited and tickets can be purchased here.

—Curl power: The Gwen Hotel will host its “Gwen’s Winter Curl & Chill” through the holiday season.

Experience curling (on an artificial rink) and cocktails on the rooftop terrace. After your game, get cozy by the fire with a curated menu of holiday delights, including boozy hot chocolates, mulled wine, eggnog flights and other seasonal treats, including the S’mores Fashioned with toasted marshmallow-infused bourbon, Tempest Fugit Creme de Cacao, graham cracker syrup and Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate bitters. Also, there’s the Lux S’mores Fondue $75 (serves four to six people)—Callebaut Belgian dark chocolate couverture ganache and torched house-made marshmallow; it’s served with strawberries, bananas, graham crackers, shortbread cookies and cheesecake bites.

Admission is $25/person, with those under 6 years old getting in for free. RSVP here. (BTW, dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes.; the artificial rink isn’t made of ice, but it may still be slippery.)

—Pop life: Please don’t forget that I have another column called Pop-Eds. My latest article covers my thoughts on Tammy Faye ending, restaurant surcharges and anti-trans bills. Check it out at Andrew449.substack.com.

Drop me a line (hot news, tips, etc.) at future3733@yahoo.com.

Note: No reproduction of this column is permitted under any circumstances without the express prior written permission from this columnist.

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