2nd Annual Sound Opinions BBQ; Dim Sum Lunch at Lao 18; More

NAVY PIER—Sound Opinions will hold their second annual BBQ on August 14 on the WBEZ terrace at Navy Pier. Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot will be at the event along with The Butcher and Larder, Smoque BBQ, Bang Bang Pie Shop and Black Dog Gelato (there will be vegetarian options) to serve up the grub. Virtue Cider, and Goose Island Beer and Tenuta Santomè providing adult beverages. Tickets are $40 per person and the event begins at 7 PM. Get your tickets here. [EaterWire]

LINCOLN PARK—Atlas Brewing Co is planning a big ole party on July 31. The Lincoln Park brewpub is bringing some friends along as well. Your $40 ticket (all inclusive) gets you pizza, bowling and beer from some of the area's latest and greatest brewers (4 Paws Brewing, Ale Syndicate, Spiteful Brewing, Lake Effect, Church Street Brewing and Flesk Brewing). [Chicagoist]

RIVER NORTH—Dim sum lunch service has officially begun at Tony Hu's Lao 18. The lunch crowd can now nosh on Lao's shrimp dumplings, chicken lettuce cups, and many other items. Lao 18 is open for lunch Monday through Friday beginning at 11:30 AM. [EaterWire]

CHI CITY—Charles Joly, beverage director at Aviary, and Matt Lindner, partner in Three Headed Productions (the Drawing Room) have teamed up to launch a line of commercially available bottled cocktails under the name Crafthouse Cocktails. On July 23 the pair will introduce their first two drinks, Moscow Mule and Southside (a third, Paloma, will follow six weeks later). They've partnered with Wirtz Beverage for distribution and you'll be able to purchase them in six packs at local Binny's Beverage Depot stores, The Goddess & the Grocer, as well as Olivia's Market. [Crain's]