Central Standard Serving Brunch; Benefit Next Weekend for Big Star Sous Chef; More

RIVER NORTH—Central Standard, the restaurant and bar with the central time zone theme, is starting weekend brunch service tomorrow. Look for French Quarter beignets, the St. Louis "Slinger," the "Standard Breakfast," three Bloody Marys, and cocktail carafes. [EaterWire]

WICKER PARK—Big Star sous chef Joseph Gleeson was sideswiped by a moving car and sent into a parked car April 4, injuring his cooking hand. There's a benefit planned for him at The Charleston on April 28 featuring gift certificates and food from Publican Quality Meats and Stephanie Izard, among others, plus four DJs. [DNAinfo]

RAVENSWOOD—Cleetus Friedman's revamped menu hits Fountainhead today. Slow cooked pork chili and "Belly Fire Chicken Wings" are a couple of the new items. [EaterWire]

CHINATOWN—Having just returned from China where he was featured on the largest TV station there, CCTV, about his life in America, Tony Hu brought new dishes along with him. 16 new "Tony's Special Dishes" are now on the menu at Lao Sze Chuan, the "Green Ear Root Salad" is one he's been seeking in the U.S. for twenty years. [EaterWire]

SOUTH LOOP—As the South Loop continues to gentrify, the sports bars come in. The new one is First Draft, coming to 649 S. Clark. It'll have 61 draft lines, food, and yes, sports. [Sloopin]