Taste of TLT - December 16, 17 & 18, 2011

Tonight's the last night for Caroling at Cloud Gate. Join the Wicker Park Choral Singers as they celebrate the season with song. There will be warm beverages provided by Caribou Coffee. Before the sing-along, take a walk through Luminaries at Lurie. The gardens will be lit up and docents will offer free tours highlighting winter plants.

 

After the sing-along, don some skates at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink. Skating is free and skate rental is $10. Or, cross that Frank Gehry designed bridge to Daley Bicentennial Plaza and pay just $7 for skates.

 

Learn how to pair food and wine for those holiday menus with Madelaine Bullwinkel. She'll be at Alliance Francaise de Chicago teaching you how to make dishes like Baked Walnut Crusted Goat Cheese and Apple and what to pour with it. 

 

You'll be pleased as punch at this Champagne tasting. Join Rebar's Beverage Director Rachel Lowe in the VIP lounge for a flight of Pommery on Saturday afternoon. For just $25 you'll be able to try three glasses from the French house. Keep the bubbly pouring with a visit to Geja's Cafe. Considered one of Chicago's most romantic restaurants, they're offering tastings of the Feuillatte portfolio. While you're there pick up a $100 certificate for a friend and you'll get a $25 one for yourself.

 

It's a chocoholic pop-up shop! Katherine Ann Confections is hosting "Season's Eatings", a Holiday Artisan Pop-Up Food Market. She'll be joined by local goodie makers Scrumptious Pantry, Fig Catering, Ingram's Jam & Bread and SenTeaMental Moods for a seasonal treat extravaganza. In addition to shopping and samples, there will be mini truffle hot chocolate shots paired with marshmallows.

 

And finally, our very own Jon-David, a.k.a. Mafia Hairdresser, is making you an offer you can't refuse! He's at a book signing with best selling author Frank Calabrese and Anthony Serritella, author of Book Joint For Sale: Memoirs of a Bookie. You can meet all three at Operation Family Secrets at Bella Luna and take signed copies of their books home! You'll even get a download code for Jon-David's newest book, "The Glow Stick Gods".