South Loop’s Getting a Rooftop Bar, Two Suburban Cheesie's Coming, More Intel

—Rooftop weather may sadly be over, but South Loopers can look forward to joining the party in around two years. That’s when Canopy by Hilton, a 223-room hotel, is planning to open at LaSalle and Adams streets. And according to multiple reports, it will house a rooftop bar and terrace in addition to a restaurant, another bar, and other hotel amenities. Expect more details at a later date.

—Suburbanites are getting their own Cheesie’s Pub and Grubs as the popular grilled cheese-focused restaurant mini-chain and food truck is expanding further from the city. Ownership is planning two new suburban restaurants, announced via social media, in Gurnee (36725 N. US Hwy 1) and La Grange (46 S. La Grange Rd.). There’s no word on opening timeframes but both are advertised as "soon." Cheesie’s currently exist in Lakeview, Evanston, Wicker Park, and the food truck.

—Head to Estereo, the hot new airy all-day Latin-themed bar and coffee cafe from Heisler Hospitality, for some free Dark Matter coffee from 8-10 a.m. this week. No strings attached.

—Serai, the popular new-ish Malaysian and Southeast Asian restaurant in Logan Square, could start serving alcohol soon. Ownership applied for a liquor license for the space so maybe they can start putting that bar to good use.

—Protestors hit the grand opening of Portillo's in Deerfield on Tuesday morning to demand that the iconic hot dog and Italian beef chain ban guns from all its restaurants and put up "no guns" signs, NBC5 reports. Dick Portillo told the TV station that "signs do not work. The bad guys are not going to care if there is a sign on the window or not." Do you think "no guns" signs at restaurants make a difference?

—And finally, Mony Bunni, currently of Boleo and formerly the bar manager at Queen Mary, was crowned champion of the 2016 Midwest leg of the all-female bartending competition Speed Rack. Past local winners include Liz Pearce (The Drifter) and Erin Hayes (Lost Lake), so Bunni is definitely a bartender to watch.