Stephanie Izard’s Star-Studded Women’s History Month Brunch and More Pop-Ups Around Chicago

As 2023 gets underway and grey days become the norm in Chicago, the city’s bars and restaurants are working hard to draw would-be patrons out of their homes for fun and festivities. That means locals and visitors have plenty of eating and drinking opportunities to look forward to — a key strategy to staving off seasonal ennui. Follow along for a sampling of the best the city has to offer in this week’s Eater Chicago pop-up round-up.

Have a pop-up that should be listed? Email information to chicago@eater.com.

April

Chicago Riverwalk: Riverside cider and beer spot the Northman will kick off its first-ever Cellared Beer Fest, a one-day festival featuring more than 40 cellared beers, on April 22 on the Downtown riverwalk, according to a rep. Organizers are planning two sessions with tastings, “heavy” appetizers, live music, and plenty of swag from participating breweries. Tickets ($70 in advance, $80 at the door) and more details are available online. Cellared Beer Fest at the Northman, noon to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 22, 233 E. Riverwalk.

March

Avondale: Chefs Kelly Ijichi (Mom’s Chicago) and Lorraine Nguyen will mark Women’s History Month with a three-course pop-up meal on Friday, March 31 at Guild Row, according to an Instagram post. A collaboration with local distillery Koval, the event will feature cocktail and spirit pairings with courses such as mentaiko pasta with lump crab and chili and shio kombu goat cheese croquettes. Seatings are available at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets ($120) and more details are available via Tock. Pairing Dinner with Koval and Mom’s Chicago at Guild Row, 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, March 31, 3130 N Rockwell Street.

Humboldt Park: A massive pizza party fundraiser featuring pies from the perpetual do-gooders at Crust Fund Pizza (and the Takeout’s Dennis Lee) will pop up Tuesday, March 28 at creative studio See You Soon inside the Kimball Arts Center. Attendees can also count on vegan dishes from Dragged Through the Garden, appetizers from “Tripping” Billy Zureikat, and a fried pizza dessert from Josh Kulp of Honey Butter Fried Chicken, as well as beer and wine from local breweries Revolution and Middle Brow. And for a real throwback, organizers promise live tv screenings to wrap up the evening. All proceeds from the event will be split between Chicago nonprofits My Block, My Hood, My City and the Friendship Center. Tickets ($100) and more details are available online.

Logan Square: Smoked meats spot Dixie Dank BBQ will pop up on Saturday, March 25 at Hopewell Brewing with hot giardiniera cheddar sausages, lollipop wings, and desserts from realtor-cum-baker Hanna Mutsch, operators announced on Instagram. Dixie Dank BBQ at Hopewell Brewing Co., 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 25, 2760 N Milwaukee Avenue.

Fulton Market: A rockstar lineup of chefs including Diana Dávila of Mi Tocaya Antojeria, Beverly Kim of Parachute and Wherewithall, and Sarah Grueneberg of Monteverde will celebrate Women’s History Month with a ticketed family-style brunch pop-up on Saturday, March 25 hosted by Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard at Girl & the Goat, according to a rep. They’ll be joined by South Jersey chef Britt Rescigno (a Beat Bobby Flay and Chopped champion) and another Top Chef victor, Mei Lin of Los Angeles restaurant Daybird. A portion of proceeds will go to Kim’s charity, the Abundance Setting, which seeks to support women and working mothers in hospitality. Tickets ($125) and more details are available via OpenTable. Women’s Month Brunch at Girl & the Goat, 11 a.m. Saturday, March 25, 809 W. Randolph Street.

Portage Park: The Japan Sake & Shochu Makers Association and a lineup of noteworthy bartenders like Chicago’s Julia Momose (Kumiko) will pop up Wednesday at plant-laded cocktail bar Moonflower for a one-night-only gathering featuring shochu-based drinks and education, according to a rep. Other participating bartenders include New Yorkers Kenta Goto of Bar Goto and Takuma Watanabe of Martiny’s, and Chris Bostick of Half Step in Austin, Texas. To place a reservation, email jss@wearerhc.com. Shochu pop-up at Moonflower, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, 4359 N. Milwaukee Avenue.

Avondale: Chicago’s famed nonprofit Green City Market will hold the first gathering of its 2023 Sustainable Supper Series pop-ups at Eden, the farm-to-table restaurant that relocated last year to Avondale, on Tuesday, March 21, according to a rep. General admission tickets ($125) include a cocktail, a three-course meal created with produce from Green City Market vendors, and a live panel discussion about the role of farmers markets in local food systems. VIP tickets ($200) offer additional wine pairings, private dining rooms, and a tour of Eden’s greenhouse. Reservations and more details are available online. Green City Market 2023 Sustainable Supper Series at Eden, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 21, 2734 W. Roscoe Street.

Lincoln Park: This year is full of melancholy for Goose Island Beer Co. which plans to close its original brewery this fall on Clybourn and move toward Elston and Division to the Salt Shed. One tradition that’s picked up steam is Stout Fest, an event that invites some of the area’s best stout makers to offer rare pours. While 2023 may mark the last Stout Fest at Clybourn and WIllow, the event will likely return next year in the new space. Stou Fest at Goose Island Clybourn, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, March 19, 1800 N. Clybourn, tickets $75 via Oznr.

Uptown: Since February, Eater 38 member Birrieria Zaragoza has been holding a North Side pop-up on Saturdays and Sundays inside Broadway Grill at Broadway and Lawrence. There are a few more weekends left. It’s unclear if the Mexican restaurant is floating a trial balloon and considering a second location. Birrieria Zaragoza at Broadway Grill, 9 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through March 19, 4800 N. Broadway.

River North: Baja-style West Coast mini-chain Solita Tacos & Margaritas is marking its first St. Patrick’s Day in the Midwest with a St. Patrick’s Day Takeover Experience pop-up with cheery and elaborate balloon sculptures, green beer, and cocktails, according to a rep. The full food menu will also be available to balance the booze. Tickets ($15) are available via OpenTable and include a margarita, chips, and salsa. St. Patrick’s Day Takeover Experience at Solita Tacos & Margaritas River North, Open now through Sunday, March 19, 431 N. Wells Street.

Streeterville: Timothy O’Toole’s Pub has already kicked off Timmy’s Leprechaun Lounge, a St. Patrick’s Day pop-up spangled from ceiling to floor in shamrocks and green lights, according to a rep. The decked-out spot is offering pints of Guinness Black List, thematic food (think corned beef with cabbage and Reuben egg rolls), and celebratory cocktails such as the Pot O’ Gold (Stoli Ohranj, pineapple, gold glitter rim with rainbow candy) and the Lucky Charm (Bailey’s, green creme de menthe, whipped cream, Lucky Charms cereal). Timmy’s Leprechaun Lounge at Timothy O’Toole’s Pub, Open 5 p.m. to midnight Wednesday through Friday, 2 p.m. to midnight Saturday through Saturday, March 18, 622 N. Fairbanks Court.

Bucktown: Two festive occasions become one at Lottie’s, where the team is planning a St. Patrick’s Day March Madness pop-up on Friday, March 17. Revelers can expect live music from the Emerald Society Bagpipers, as well as Tullamore Dew samples, $5 corned beef sandwiches, and 22-ounce mugs of green beer. The pub will also host happy hours, boozy brunch, and more in the lead-up to the holiday. Reservations are not required but are available, email lotties@pioneertaverngroup.com to book a table. St. Patrick’s Day March Madness at Lottie’s Pub, Open from 9 a.m. Friday, March 17, 1925 W. Cortland Street.

Streeterville: Baker, writer, and former Chicagoan Jocelyn Delk Adams of the blog Grandbaby Cakes will celebrate the release of her new cookbook, Everyday Grand: Soulful Recipes for Celebrating Life’s Big and Small Moments, with a pop-up Q&A, book signing, and recipe tasting on Wednesday, March 15 at furniture store Room & Board. Culinary students from Chicago’s Kendall College will offer bites made with recipes from the book such as shrimp étouffée pot pie, peach bellini brunch cake, and Check Yo’ Privilege Cider-Smothered Pork Chops. Reservations are available online. An Evening with Grandbaby Cakes at Room & Board, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, 55 E. Ohio Street.

Logan Square: Rome-based food and beverage writer Katie Parla will pop up on Sunday, March 12 for a ticketed book signing and recipe tasting featuring her new cookbook Food of the Italian Islands at Cellar Door Provisions. In the book, Palermo uses recipes to draw readers through Sicily, Sardinia, and other Italian islands and traces her own family’s roots in Palermo. Tickets ($120) include a signed copy of the book, an Italian-style apertivo, a glass of Sardinian wine, and dishes such as stuffed calamari, couscous and clams, and durum bread. Aperitivo with Katie Parla at Cellar Door Provisions, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 12, 3025 W. Diversey Avenue.

The Loop: Sisters, co-owners, and Galway natives Amy and Clodagh Lawless of the Dearborn have a habit of going all-in on St. Patrick’s Day festivities — a tradition they’re continuing this year with three days of specials like all-day Irish breakfast, shepherd’s pie, and a Maid in Chicago cocktail (Powers Gold Label Irish Whiskey, St. Germain, CBD honey). Holiday treats will be available on Saturday, March 11, and Sunday, March 12 for the annual river dying, and on St. Patrick’s Day proper on Friday, March 17. If that’s not enough, the duo will also host a personalized Guinness glassware engraving event with a raffle and swag from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 9, and Friday, March 10. St. Patrick’s Day at the Dearborn, Available Saturday, March 11; Sunday, March 12; and Friday, March 17; 145 N. Dearborn Street.

West Loop: Decorated chef Paul Virant is putting a quirky spin on St. Patty’s at Gaijin, his Japanese restaurant dedicated to okonomiyaki, a savory regional staple cooked on a griddle like Western pancakes. Celebrants can stop in for $30 and $40 whisky flights, and try a truly unusual Corned Beef Osaka okonomiyaki with corned beef, spicy mustard, anori, and bonito, according to a rep. St. Patrick’s Day specials at Gaijin, Available Saturday, March 11 through Friday, March 17, 950 W. Lake Street.

Gaijin

Lakeview: Intricately illustrated comic book-style cafe 2d Restaurant will hold a playful pop-up where young patrons can learn how to make and decorate mochi doughnuts on Thursday, March 9 and Thursday, March 23, according to a rep. Staff members will instruct attendees on the skills required of a “doughnut artist,” and each participant will end up with two of their own sweet creations. Tickets ($18) and more details on the classes are available online. 2d Little Jr. Donut Chef Experience at 2d Restaurant, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 9 and Tuesday, March 23, 3155 N. Halsted Street.

Wicker Park: Chef Matthias Merges (Billy Sunday, Mordecai) is popping up now at Piece Brewery and Pizzeria with a special Jupiter’s Pride pie — white pizza with thin-sliced potatoes, roasted garlic, rosemary, and Pecorino Romano — with $5 from every sale going to local animal shelter Paws Chicago. Merges’ pizza will be available through early March for dine-in, takeout, and delivery. Jupiter’s Pride at Piece Brewery and Pizzeria, available through Thursday, March 9, 1927 W. North Avenue.

West Town: Celebrity chef and MasterChef judge chef Aarón Sánchez, owner of Mexican restaurant Johnny Sánchez in New Orleans, will pop up for two days on Tuesday, March 7 and Wednesday, March 8 at One Off Hospitality’s newish spot Big Star Mariscos, according to a rep. Sánchez and One Off’s chef Paul Kahan will offer a four-course menu starring Mexican seafood as well as a supplementary dessert (chocolate concha or churro babka) from local Mexican Jewish bakery Masa Madre. A portion of proceeds from the events will go to Sánchez’s nonprofit, the Aarón Sánchez Impact Fund, which supports Latino youth through culinary education and mentorship. Tickets ($125 each plus a $25 donation) area available via Tock. Aarón Sánchez x Big Star Mariscos, 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 7 and Wednesday, March 8, 551 N. Ogden Avenue

Logan Square: Oyster delivery company Motorshucker, which transports fresh oysters by motorbike, will return to Way Out for Undertow II, a pop-up featuring an elaborate raw bar laden with crab claws, oysters, clams, and more on Tuesday, March 7, according to owner Nathan Case-McDonald. Would-be attendees can also sign up for a doubles pool tournament with prizes from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Scott Kitsmiller (Three Dots and a Dash) will spin records starting at 9 p.m. Undertow II with Motorshucker at Way Out, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday, March 7, 3213 W. Armitage Avenue.

Around Town: Chef Jacob Potashnick (Willows Inn, iNG, Ernst), a well-traveled Chicago native, will hold a pair of pop-ups in March offering a taste of what he’s planning for hotly anticipated restaurant Feld, set to open late this year in Ukrainian Village. There are only five seats per evening on Sunday, March 5 and Monday, March 6 for $115 each at an as-yet undisclosed location. Email popup@feldrestaurant.com for reservations. Feld, Sunday, March 5 and Monday, March 6.

Grand Boulevard: Lauded Chicago chefs Lamar Moore and Cliff Rome (Peach’s Restaurant) in March will join forces with chef Chutatip ‘Nok’ Suntaranon (Kalaya Thai Kitchen) for a brunch pop-up under the banner of the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America series, which aims to support and celebrate independent restaurants across the U.S. The multi-course menu remains under wraps for now, but attendees can expect a beverage pairing for each course. Tickets ($300 each) and more details are available via SquadUP. Taste America: Chicago at Peach’s Restaurant, Seatings at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 5, 4652 S. King Drive.

Logan Square: Regional Indonesian passion project Minahasa will pop up on Sunday, March 5 and Monday, March 6 at Dos Urban Cantina, chef and owner John Avila announced on Instagram. He’ll offer a menu of fried plantain with sambals, nasi rames with beef cheek rendang, and more, with pre-ordering available via Tock. The two-day event is welcome news for Minahasa fans, who recently said a sad goodbye to its stall inside Revival Food Hall in the Loop. Despite the closure, Avila remains dedicated to the business and plans to continue popping up around town. He’s also aiming to raise $50,000 on GoFundMe for a future stand-alone location. Minahasa at Dos Urban Cantina, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 5 and Monday, March 6, 2829 W. Armitage Avenue.

West Loop: Haymarket Pub & Brewery will bring back its annual Sausagefest, “an extravaganza of encased meats” on Saturday, March 4 inside its West Loop brewpub, according to CEO John Neurauter. Festivities include Haymarket’s own sausages and beer, plus brews from 11 other local craft beer makers and eight guest sausage makers, including representatives from Kaiser Tiger and Crust Fund Pizza. Tickets ($75) and more details are available online. Sausagefest 2023 at Haymarket Pub & Brewery, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 4, 737 W Randolph Street.

River North: Let’s Talk Womxn, a collective of hospitality entrepreneurs from 13 different cities all over the country who discuss best practices for women and working mothers in the restaurant world, will mark the beginning of Women’s History Month with a Let’s Talk & Celebrate Gold Glamour Gourmet event on Thursday, March 2, at Moe’s Cantina, according to a rep. Organizers promise 35 tasting stations and cocktails from spots such as Vermilion, Nobody’s Darling, Lexington Betty, Bittersweet Pastry Shop & Cafe, Soul Veg City, and many more, plus a drag show, DJ sets, and dancing. Tickets ($125 for VIP, $95 for general admission) are available via Tock. Let’s Talk & Celebrate Gold Glamour Gourmet at Moe’s Cantina River North, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with an afterparty to follow on Thursday, March 2, 155 W. Kinzie Street.

Lincoln Park: Replay Lincoln Park has resurrected a classic from its pop-up arsenal this year with the re-launch of Paddy’s Pub, so named for the bar in FX’s gleefully offensive sitcom It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Replay first introduced the pop-up five years ago but the latest iteration, named The Gang Goes to Replay, comes with cocktails including Fight Milk, Kitten Mittens, and What’s Your Spaghetti Policy Here. Tickets ($20) aren’t required, but those who purchase them are entitled to express entry and two drinks. The Gang Goes to Replay at Replay Lincoln Park, Open 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, noon to 3 a.m. Saturday, noon to 2 a.m. Sunday through Saturday, April 1, 2833 N. Sheffield Avenue.

February

Avondale: Barbecue delivery spot Umamicue will join Asian American snack pop-up Superhai for Valentine’s Day at Ludlow Liquors on Tuesday with smoked oysters, grilled meats, and more, according to an Instagram post, which reads “singles, couples, throuples, we welcome all!” The first-come-first-served event kicks off at 5 p.m. Umamicue & SuperHai Up-In-Smoke Valentine’s Day Tour at Ludlow Liquors, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesday, February 14, 2959 N. California Avenue.

West Town: Chef Dale Talde, the well-known Top Chef alum and owner of modern Cantonese restaurant Goosefeather in Tarrytown, New York, will pop up all day on Wednesday at Michelin-starred Kasama. Tickets for Talde’s dinner menu are sold out, but his daytime special, pancit molo with shrimp and chicken wontons (garlic chives, broth), will be available on a first-come-first-served basis. Dale Talde at Kasama, Wednesday, February 15, 1001 N. Winchester Avenue.

Logan Square: Home pizza maker and charity pop-up regular “Tripping Billy” Zureikat will sling tavern-style pies to-go on Tuesday, February 21, at neighborhood bakery Sugar Moon. A full menu and online pre-sales are set to open at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 17, on Instagram. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, a Chicago-based nonprofit that supports children and adults like Zureikat who are living with neuromuscular diseases. Tripping Billy x Sugar Moon Bakery, Tuesday, February 21, 3612 W. Wrightwood Avenue.

River North: RPM Steak, the glitzy downtown steakhouse known for serving the likes of President Obama and Lady Gaga, will in early February host a nostalgic two-day collaborative tribute to shuttered Chicago steakhouse icon Lawry’s The Prime Rib. Lawry’s closed at the end of 2020 after nearly half a century, but fans can savor one last taste of the institution with offerings such as a modern take on its signature “spinning salad bowl,” Beeman Ranch wagyu prime rib with all the fixings, and Baked Alaska that’s flaméed tableside. Tickets ($185 each) are available via Tock. Lawry’s The Prime Rib Collaboration Dinner at RPM Steak, Seatings at 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7, and Wednesday, February 8, 66 W. Kinzie Street.

January

Chinatown: Chicagoans can toast the Year of the Rabbit in late January at a Lunar New Year pop-up from festive drinking spot Nine Bar, Chinatown’s sole cocktail bar, and Kasama, the only Michelin-starred Filipino restaurant in the world. The collaborators are slowly releasing details about the event, including a cocktail list with creative concoctions like Sushi Restaurant Salad (The Botanist gin, celery root, cucumber, carrot, ginger, citrus) and Hong Kong French Toast (Mt. Gay aged rum, brioche, maple syrup, baking spice, condensed milk, whole egg). The pop-up is first-come-first-served. Year of the Rabbit at Nine Bar, Doors open at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 24, 216 W. Cermak Road.

West Loop: Vietnamese restaurant Saigon Sisters will host a Filipino brunch pop-up in late January featuring chef Kathy Vega Hardy, owner of Taste of the Philippines inside the Chicago French Market. Vega Hardy will offer two seatings for her multi-course brunch, which will feature dishes including pork lumpia or vegetarian egg rolls, fried rice with longanisa and Cebu lechon, and ube doughnuts. Tickets ($45 each) and more details are available via Tock. Filipino brunch at Saigon Sisters, Seatings at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 29, 567 W. Lake Street.