You know about the largest food event happening downtown this weekend, so let’s go straight to the second largest: the Windy City Smokeout, a barbecue, beer, and (mostly country) music fest taking place at Grand and the Chicago river, which food-wise will include barbecue from locals like Smoque, Chicago Q, Lillie’s Q, and Bub City, as well as visiting teams from Austin’s the Salt Lick and “winningest man in barbecue” Myron Mixon. (It’ll also be your first chance to have, locally, Gus’s Fried Chicken from Memphis, which opens later this year.) There are also some special events to take note of, including two whole-hog dinners cooked by Mixon on Friday and Sunday, a rib dinner from Mixon and Revolution Brewing on Saturday, a Craft Beer Release Party from a ton of local breweries (Moody Tongue, Founders, etc) on Saturday, and a Sunday brunch hosted by Man v. Food‘s Adam Richman. You can see the full schedule here.
Courtesy Windy City Smokeout
• If you’re not canning the beautiful stuff growing now, why the heck not? Chef and canning master Paul Virant (of Perennial Virant across the street) will do a canning demo at 10 AM, and there will be a booth where people can answer your questions at the Green City Market, Saturday, July 18, from 9 AM to noon.
