National Taco Day is tastier at Taco Joint

Whether your family regularly celebrates Taco Tuesday or enjoys tacos sporadically, National Taco Day is a perfect reason to indulge in this delicious treat.

Taco Joint in Lincoln Park & River North will be serving a Taco Time Platter for National Taco Day on October 4.

Taco Time Platter is a combination dish featuring a trio of tacos - Beef Barbacoa, Yucatan Pulled Pork and Chicken Al Pastor - for $7. Available for dine-in only.

For a bigger group, Taco Joint will offer "Taco Bar Tequiza" catering package. This package  features three tacos per person, plus chips and salsa for $8 per person(minimum 10 people).

It's time for tacos!

Jake Melnick's Corner Tap Fall & Football Specials

What pairs perfectly with football? Wings of course!

Head over to Jake Melnick's Corner Tap for some of Chicago's best wings. In addition to wing, Jake Melnick's will be serving a variety of fall specials. Created specially for football and fall, these specials shouldn't be missed.

*Oktoberfest Burger - Yes, it actually starts in September! House-made half pound brat patty, topped with bacon apple sauerkraut, Swiss Cheese, pickled red onion & spicy brown mustard. Served on an onion roll with fresh cut fries.
*Sweet & Sour Wings - Jumbo chicken wings fried until crisp and tossed in Jake's house-made sweet and sour sauce. Garnished with pineapple, onion and fresh bell pepper.
*Daddy Mac Foot Long Dog! New York vs. Chicago - A foot long hot dog topped with Jake's creamy house-made mac n' cheese. One half is topped "New York Style" with braised onions, kraut and spicy brown mustard. The other half is topped our way with onions, tomato, pickle, bright green relish, celery salt, sport peppers and yellow mustard.

Don't miss other football specials throughout the season. Offers like  Jake’s “4 after 4” Monday nights while the game is on the big screen. After 4pm, Great Lakes Drafts and Jameson Drinks will be discounted to $4. Don't forget the wings too!

Jake Melnick's Corner Tap is located at 41 East Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60611

National Cheeseburger Day celebration at Ruby Tuesday

Do you love cheeseburgers? Does melted cheese covering a juicy, succulent hamburger make your mouth water in hunger? Ruby Tuesday invites you to a National Cheeseburger Day celebration on Sunday, September 18.

In honor of National Cheeseburger Day, Ruby Tuesday will be offering a FREE burger (up to a $10 value) with the purchase of an adult entrée.

To receive the coupon with the redeemable offer at participating locations nationwide, guests must be signed up for the Company’s SoConnected email club (and even take a burger personality quiz!) at http://burgers.rubytuesday.com.  

Who's ready for cheeseburgers?

Celebrate Beer Lover's Day at Tesori

Today is National Beer Lover's Day. There's no better reason to raise a pint or two in celebration. At Tesori Trattoria and Bar will be celebrating National Beer Lover's Day with a $5 beer feature. 

Whether the beer drinkers prefer a local Chicago brew or an Italian beer, these beverages will be just $5 each. The promotion will be valid from 11:30 a.m. till 9 p.m.

Guests may enjoy Tesori's beer selections in the expansive lounge area or the main dining room, both located just steps off Michigan Avenue. Tesori's lunch and dinner menus will be available, including house made pasta, pizza, charcuterie, entrees and more. 

 

For table reservations, please call 312.786.9911 or visit TesoriChicago.com. 

Beer Lover's Day at Tesori
$5 each on 9/7

Peroni Italian Lager, 5.1% ABV, Rome, Italy

Moretti La Rossa Doppelback, 7.2% ABV, Udine, Italy

Goose Island Sofie Belgian saison, 6.5% ABV, Chicago, IL

Goose Island Green Line American Pale Ale, 5% ABV, Chicago, IL

Moody Tongue Applewood Gold, 5% ABV, Chicago, IL

Forbidden Root Sublime Ginger Wheat Ale Botanic Beer, 3.8% ABV, Chicago, IL

Two Brothers Domaine DuPage French Style Country Ale, 5.9% ABV, Warrenville, IL

(Rotating Selection) Goose Island Four Stars, Chicago IL

Laborless Labor Day Cocktails

The final days of summer are celebrated over Labor Day weekend. With the few moments of sun and fun left on the calendar, no one wants to waste time preparing cocktails. The weekend is meant to sit back an sip cocktails (not stand behind the bar).

These Laborless Labor Day Cocktails will have you serving up drinks in moments which leaves you hours to bask in the memories of an endless summer.

Berry Explosive Raspado

Created by Milagro Tequila brand ambassador, Jaime Salas

Ingredients:

4 parts Milagro Silver

1 part fresh lime juice

2 parts Agave Nectar

8 Raspberries

12 Blueberries

4 Fresh Mint Leaves

6 dashes Peach Bitters

Method: Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth.  Fill two glasses with crushed or shaved ice and pour over.  Top with raspberries and blueberries.

The Milagro Freshest Margarita

Created by Milagro Tequila brand ambassador, Jaime Salas

Ingredients:

2 parts Milagro Silver Tequila

¾ parts Agave Nectar

1 part Fresh Lime Juice

Method: Pour all ingredients in a Boston Shaker with ice.  Shake vigorously and strain over ice in a rocks glass.  Garnish with a lime wheel.

Flor de Caña Classic Daiquiri

Ingredients:

2 parts Flor de Caña 7 Rum

¾ parts Lime Juice

½ parts Simple Syrup

Method: Shake & strain into a martini glass.  Garnish with a lime. 

Flor Rum & Cola

Ingredients:

1.5 part FDC 7 Rum

3 parts cola

Method: Combine the FDC 7 and cola in a tall glass over ice.  Garnish with an orange rind.

Solerno Sicilian

Ingredients:

2 parts Solerno

2 lime wedges, squeezed

3 sprigs of mint

Topped with soda or sparkling water

Method: Build in a stemmed wine glass, filled with ice, and garnish with a blood orange slice and some mint.

                                                               

Wines for the end of summer parties

As the wind blows in the fall crisp air, the final days of summer deserve a celebratory toast goodbye. The seasons can often affect our preferences on food and drinks. Warm weather brings lighter fare with brightness and crisp notes. In a fond farewell to summer, these five wines would be delightful for end of summer parties.

Bizoe Henrietta:

A beautiful South African wine, Bizoe Henrietta has been a top choice amongst wine critics. A limited edition wine, this Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc blend is slightly oaky without overpowering the fruits. With notes of orange peel and tropical fruits, Bizoe Henrietta is delightful on its own or paired with light appetizers. 

Josh Cellars Sauvignon Blanc:

Bright aromas of lime and citrus are the core of Josh Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, with layers of white flower nectar, peach, and tropical melon. The palate of the wine is fresh and alive with clean fruit flavors and a perfectly balanced finish.

Centine Rosé:

All summer, Rose has been a favorite with wine drinkers. This intense, pink rosé is aromatic, with fresh hints of woodland berries.  Fresh and dry, with rich berry flavors, this wine is well-structured with a long crisp, clean finish. Complex, dry and medium-bodied, Centine Rosé pairs perfectly with grilled fish, poultry and mild cheeses. Best served chilled at 55˚F.

Long Travel Weekend, Preparation is key

As we head into the final weekend of summer, many families are preparing for a full schedule of travel. From the quick trip to the local theme park or a long road trip to the beach, smart preparation choices can make the whole experience even more enjoyable. 

Preparation for any trip can vary depending on length, destination and the group of people going. Even given these variables, a few key items can make everything go a little more smoothly. Here are my tips for an enjoyable long travel weekend. 

1.       Gather your favorite snacks: For some, car snacking is a huge fun factor for a road trip. Even if you don’t allow kids to have food in the car, snacks for your arrival can be helpful to avoid the hungry meltdown. The key to snacks is to have items that taste good and are good for the family. 

     A great example of snacks that travel well, taste great and have no funky stuff are Otis Spunkmeyer snacks. This line of snacks are known for their no funky stuff. Made and tasting like homemade treats, these Otis Spunkmeyer treats are huge hits in our household. 

    From muffins for breakfast to late night chocolate chip cookies, kids are happy to have special travel treats. More importantly, I feel good about feeding the kids items without all the additives. While I won’t be baking away from home, my kids have treats that taste like I did. 

    Otis Spunkmeyer snacks are available at various retailers. Multi-pack snacks are individually wrapped

2.       Don’t miss a photo op/moment: Have you ever noticed that some of the best memories from any trip are the unplanned ones? From a family’s travel karkokee to those amusing road signs, travel time comes with lots of amusement. But, smartphones may not be the best option to capture all the moments. A dashcam camera, like Goluk T1 Ei-Fi HD Mini Car Dash Cam is a perfect solution.

Easily mounted to a window or other surface, the Goluk camera can capture each and every moment. From longer video to individual photos, the accompanying app makes the whole process easy to complete. Now every moment is captured for posterity with Goluk. 

3.       Clean the smart way: No one wants to leave a home or come home to a dirty house. But, the packing, chaos, and life leading up to the trip can put cleaning on the bottom of the to-do list. What if you could have someone clean for you? bObSweep can make quick work of your dirty floors and during your trip.

bObsweep is an automatic vacuum that can clean up the most stubborn messes. From pets hair to kids’ spills, a family’s floor will be cleaner thanks to bObsweep. The vacuum can be used via an automatic schedule or used via a remote. 

Perfect for the weekend away, bObsweep can clean-up the floors while the family is having fun. Clean the house while you’re packing or have it cleaned while your gone. bObsweep has taken an item off your to-do list. 

4.       Don’t over-plan activities, just go with the flow occasionally: According to many studies, the best vacation moments are the unplanned ones. Many families want to make sure that they accomplish everything on the to-do list at a specific location. 

Think about it – what if you didn’t ride Harry Potter Gringotts at Universal because you didn’t plan ahead? Would it be the end of the world? Maybe your kids were so intrigued with all the magic wand activities around Universal instead. The kids squealed with delight, you smiled and memories were made. Maybe it was ok that the ride itself was missed. 

Don’t have regret. Planning and over planning every minute on a vacation can lead to more stress. Isn’t a vacation a break from the norm, every day, and schedules. Leave a little free time to just discover the area. From a simple day at a pool to even lounging in a hotel for a leisurely breakfast can be the re-charge moment that a family needs. 

What's your best travel tip?

Joker the Ride comes to Six Flag Great America in 2017

Always looking for bigger, more exhilarating thrills, Six Flags Great America announced its new addition for 2017, The Joker. Incorporating another DC Comic character to its line-up of thrill rides, The Joker is unlike any other ride at the theme park. 

To be located in Yankee Harbor, The Joker will be a massive free-fly coaster. The super villian inspired ride will be placed next to Batman the Ride coaster. 

“We are excited to continue our partnership with the DC brand as it continues to resonate well with our guests. The Joker is undeniably one of the greatest Super-Villains of all time,” said Hank Salemi, Six Flags Great America park president. “This free-fly coaster will perfectly capture the essence of the warped and unpredictable nature of The Joker. It will take our park to the next level of thrills.”

The ride begins with a 12-story, 90 degree hill. The ride’s uniqueness comes from the free-fly coaster aspect. Riders flip head over hills at least six times throughout the ride. With no track above or below, riders can experience even more thrills.

 

The unique design of The Joker features:

· Massive, imposing, floating and twisting I-box track frame in a unique two-tone design;

· One-of-a-kind onboard magnetic technology featuring smooth head-over-heels free-fly flips providing guests the feeling of weightlessness as they soar outside the confines of a

traditional track;

· 4-D wing vehicles that seat up to 8 per vehicle with a total of 5 vehicles;

· Face-off seats that allow riders to face each other as they tumble head over heels;

· A 120-foot-tall, 90-degree hill that is ascended by an elevator-style, chain link lift; and

· Two beyond 90-degree “raven” drops giving the sensation of free-falling.

 

The Joker is set to open at Six Flags Great America in 2017.