Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, offering a long weekend to enjoy the weather while drinking plenty of rosé and beer and feasting on food best enjoyed outdoors like hot dogs and seafood boils. The weekend kicks off festival season, but also offers the opportunity to mark the holiday by supporting veterans and service members. However you’d like to celebrate, these 15 events have you covered.
The Loop and Near North Side
Chicago Burger Company at Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk
The restaurant starts the season with a bash Saturday featuring giveaways, patio games, a DJ and treats for dogs, plus a menu of boozy shakes, frozen cocktails and mozzarella sticks. Stay until 10 p.m. to watch the Navy Pier fireworks. 301 E. North Water St., 312-464-1000, marriott.com
RPM Seafood
Welcome summer with an all-you-can-eat seafood boil ($175) featuring blue crab, shrimp, sliced sausage, potatoes and roasted corn paired with white and rosé wines. The menu includes caviar deviled eggs, mini lobster rolls and a welcome limoncello or Aperol spritz. Noon and 1 p.m. Monday. 317 N. Clark St., 312-900-9035, rpmrestaurants.com
North Side & Northwest Side
Cody’s Public House
The dog-friendly bar hosts a doodle meetup from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, including free swag and pup cups plus $5 Kona Big Wave golden ale, Golden Monkey and Goldschlager. Play musical chairs at 2 p.m. Monday for a shot at winning a bucket or cooler from High Noon. Free hot dogs are available starting at 11 a.m. along with $4 mimosas, $8 draft margaritas and $6 Camarena tequila shots. 1658 W. Barry Ave., 773-799-8217, codyschicago.com
The Country Club
Feast on all-you-can-eat crawfish, red potatoes, corn and andouille sausage along with $6 Malört shots, $8 hurricanes and $25 100-ounce Michelob Ultra Towers at the Wrigleyville bar’s annual bash ($65). 2-5 p.m. Saturday. 3462 N. Clark St., 773-975-2010, wrigleyvillecrawfish.com
Easy Street Pizza & Beer Garden
Play patio games including checkers, Jenga and darts while enjoying $5 Modelo and $8 diner burgers with a side at the Portage Park bar’s annual bash. Noon to 9 p.m. Monday. 3750 N. Central Ave., 773-993-0464, easystreetpizzachicago.com
Kirkwood
The sports bar hosts a pre-Memorial Day party at 11 a.m. Sunday featuring $7 Michelob Ultra and Miller Lite stadium cups, $8 green tea shots and $9 Svedka transfusions with a DJ at 9 p.m. The beer special will also be offered Monday, when the bar opens at 3 p.m. 2934 N. Sheffield Ave., 773-770-0700, kirkwoodbar.com
Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club
Join Shantell D’marco and Angelicia Maria for an Americana sing-a-long drag brunch at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. or 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday that includes breakfast pastries, Caesar salad, chilaquiles and free-flowing mimosas for $79. Kylee Hunter performs during a drag dinner at 6 and 8 p.m. Sunday that includes appetizers for the table, a choice of entree and two martinis for $72. 3700 N. Halsted St., 773-525-1111, kitkatchicago.com
Lark
The Northalsted bar celebrates all weekend with $5 Bud Light and drag brunches featuring bottomless drinks and performances by Pixel at 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and America Powers Monday. 3441 N. Halsted St. 773-799-8968, larkchicago.com
Lottie’s Pub
Put together a care package for soldiers and veterans as part of Crown Royal’s Purple Bag Project. The bar offers samples of the whisky along with $5 Twisted Tea, $7 Crown shots, $8 Crown cocktails and $9 BLTs. Noon to 4 p.m. Monday. 1925 W. Cortland St., 773-489-0738, lottiespub.com
Mayfestiversary
The ninth annual bash hosted by Begyle Brewing and Dovetail Brewery features special beer taps, food trucks, DJs and kids’ activities. A $5 suggested donation benefits The Friendship Center, a local food pantry. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Ravenswood and Belle Plaine avenues, mayfestiversary.com
West Side & Near West Side
Frontier
Catch live music from Dillon Riley during a country brunch featuring $12 fried chicken sliders, $12 biscuits and gravy, $10 cowboy boots filled with sangria or whiskey punch, raffles and giveaways. Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-772-4322, thefrontierchicago.com
Heritage Restaurant and Caviar Bar
The restaurant celebrates its Midwestern supper club roots with a four-day celebration kicking off from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday with a taco pop-up and a fish fry on the patio from noon to 10 p.m. Friday. Enjoy wood-smoked prime rib and an old-fashioned from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday and snack on roasted oysters from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. 2700 W. Chicago Ave., 773-661-9577, exploretock.com/heritagerestaurantandcaviarbar
Ina Mae Tavern
Feast on two pounds of boiled crawfish for $39 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday. The bash also features live music from 1 to 4 p.m., $10 hurricanes and $5 bayou brews. 1415 N. Wood St., 773-360-8320, inamaetavern.com
Mac’s Wood Grilled
Celebrate throughout the weekend with summery specials including $12 smoked cheddar brats with fries and 3 Floyds vodka soda for $5, watermelon mules and Pink Whitney vodka lemonades. 1801 W. Division St., 773-782-4400, macswoodgrilled.com
Suburban and multiple locations
Blues, Brews & BBQ Fest at The Forge Adventure Park & Ziplines
Listen to live blues music at this festival ($13-$18) while sampling beer from more than 15 regional breweries, including Miskatonic Brewing and New Holland Brewing and food from Smokin’ Z BBQ and Marino’s Kitchen. Noon to 6:30 p.m. Saturday. 227 Heritage Quaries Drive, Lemont, forgeparks.com
Samantha Nelson is a freelance writer.
