Raise the Macallan

Macallan Single Malt Scotch Whisky is hosting several tasting events in Chicago Union Station (ULTRA CLASSY!) throughout the third week of October. This is totally convenient for all you metro-phobic suburbanites who endure those long, boring rides on the train every day. Put away that Schlitz Tall Boy and have some scotch whisky you neanderthal! See dates and times below:

Tuesday, 10/18/2011 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Tuesday, 10/18/2011 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Wednesday, 10/19/2011 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Wednesday, 10/19/2011 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Thursday, 10/20/2011 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Thursday, 10/20/2011 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Raise the Macallan (Scotch Whisky Tasting)
Chicago Union Station
210 S. Canal Street
Chicago, IL

Click HERE to sign up!

End to the Construction party

One North Kitchen + Bar is throwing an "End to the Construction" Party TONIGHT to celebrate the conclusion of the business-bankrupting construction apocalypse that blocked the front entrance of the restaurant for nearly 5 months. Thus they're offering free appetizers and champagne for all who attend! Hooray for booze and completed sidewalks, both of which are necessary for me to make it to work every morning.

End to the Construction Party
Tuesday, September 27 | 6 - 8 PM
One North Kitchen + Bar
1 N. Wacker Drive

No need to RSVP

Masa Azul Grand Opening

Masa Azul, which I'm pretty sure is Spanish for "Blue Areola",  is a new upscale Mexican eatery in Logan Square that's celebrating its Grand Opening TONIGHT with cocktail specials, tequila snow cones, tequila samples, and passed food samples.

Masa Azul Grand Opening
Thursday, September 22 | 5 PM
2901 W Diversey Ave (at N Francisco)

Armani Exchange Opening

Head over to Water Tower Place on Thursday, September 22nd, to check out the NEW Armani Exchange! DJ Bridger Marie will be on the 1s and 2s (turntables!) while you sip cocktails and hors d'oeuvres and check out the celebrity stylist trend presentation! I know what you're thinking, what kind of name is Bridger Marie? I don't know but I'm willing to bet she's the official tour DJ for MC Rosie the Riveter.

Armani Exchange Opening
Thursday, September 22 | 6-8 PM
Water Tower Place
835 North Michigan Ave
Level 5

RSVP to RSVP@ARMANIEXCHANGE.COM

SoCo Fiery Pepper Launch Party

Southern Comfort is launching its newest flavor, SoCo Fiery Pepper, TONIGHT at Social 25! The thought of this strange concoction makes me want to dry heave but I'm sure some of you are intrigued (weirdos). I guess I shouldn't really knock it until I try it, right? RSVP for this immediately as the guest list will fill up quickly!

SoCo Fiery Pepper Launch Party
Monday, September 19 | 6:30 - 9:00 PM
Social 25
25 W. Hubbard St

RSVP to SoCoSoChicago@thebaddishgroup.com

House of Walker Experience

Are you tired of scotch tasting events yet? TOO DAMN BAD! Johnnie Walker's House of Walker Experience is taking place at some discrete location from October 12th through October 15th. Here's your chance to sample several varieties of Johnnie Walker Scotch while watching a presentation about Johnnie Walker Scotch! It's mind blowing! Of course you can't sample any of the rare or more expensive blends, but that's what life is all about when you're a proletarian, right?

Johnnie Walker House of Walker Experience
October 12 - October 15
Location: TBD

Click HERE to RSVP!

Auchentoshan Social Excellence

Have you heard of Auchentoshan Single Malt Scotch? Nor have I, but it's sponsoring a party on Wednesday, September 28th, and that's all you need to know. "Social Excellence!" is a celebration of the people in Chicago who exemplify excellence in media, law, advertising, education, arts, philanthropy, and pimping (the real heroes). There will be live music, complimentary cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and a live art show! This is first come, first serve so get there early as hell to gain entry. Of course the location of this place is top secret so make sure you RSVP to find out where it's going down.

Auchentoshan presents Social Excellence
Wednesday, September 28 | 8 PM
Secret Location!

Click HERE to RSVP!

Balvenie Rare Craft Roadshow

Myopenbar Chicago and Maloney & Fox present The Balvenie Rare Craft Roadshow on Wednesday, September 21st at the Hubbard Inn. Balvenie ambassadors will boast about the sexiness of the single-malt handcrafted Scotch and showcase the "entire range of Balvenie expressions", pairing each with titillating hors d'oeuvres. I don't know what that means but it basically translates to "free booze and food". RSVP if you're interested and be sure to get there EARLY.

Balvenie Rare Craft Roadshow
Wednesday, September 21st | 7 - 9 PM
Hubbard Inn
110 West Hubbard Street

Click here to RSVP!

HALO Anniversary Party

The HALO [For Men] 6-Year Anniversary Party is about to blow your argyle socks off on Friday, September 23rd! Instead of cramping everyone in a tiny salon this event will be hosted at "one of Chicago's poshest private homes"! Here's what you can look forward to if you attend this manly soiree:

• Poker Tables with professional dealers
• Pool Tables
• Outdoor Putting Green
• Foosball Tables
• Chivas Regal tasting selections - including 12 year, 18 year and 25 year old whiskeys with on-site expert and Brand Ambassador
• Specialty Cocktails
• Appetizers
• Custom-made Barber Chair Shaped Cake from Tipsy Cake
• Tesa Cigars
• Door prizes & raffles
• Complimentary Valet Parking
• Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm-Flailing Tube Men
• Douchebags with Cigars
• Hair gel bikini wrestling
• Et cetera!

Halo for Men 6-Year Anniversary Party

Friday, September 23 | 6 PM - 9:30 PM

1424 W. Ohio

 

RSVP to events@zapwater.com.  250 person capacity. Guest list will close 24 hours prior to event.

UBU Fine Art

UBU Fine Art presents Fidel Rodriquez, an artist whose work will cause your urethra to pulsate with glee, and a cocktail reception at Oak Street boutique Geneva Seal, on Thursday, September 15th.

UBU Fine Art Gallery Reception
Thursday, September 15 | 6 PM - 10 PM
Geneva Seal
112 E. Oak St.

RSVP to renacitrin@gmail.com or visit ubufineart.com for more information.

Remember this?

Other Events This Week

Vive la Femme (2048 N. Damen Ave; vivelafemme.com)—in conjunction with Isabella Fine Lingerie and Vaudezilla—hosts a plus-size bra-fitting event on Thursday, September 8 from 5 to 8 p.m. including complimentary cupcakes and 20 percent off all clothing purchases. RSVP to vivelafemme@hotmail.com.

Enjoy wine, Champagne, dessert, and discounts at Cerato (3451 N. Southport Ave.; 773-248-8604, ceratoboutique.com) on Thursday, September 8 from 6 to 9 p.m. Receive 20 percent off all fall merchandise, and pick a flower from the boutique’s “garden” to save an additional 10 to 40 percent off at the register.

Spex (spexchicago.com) hosts multiple opening receptions this month for its “Art + Vision” series. The Geneva location (507 S. Third St.; 630-397-5900) showcases photography by Denis Kruk on Friday, September 9 from 5 to 7 p.m., while the Lake View location (3760 N. Broadway Ave.; 773-975-2020) displays mixed media drawings by Ethan Hutchinson on Saturday, September 10 from 5 to 8 p.m. Both events include refreshments, appetizers, and Beausoleil trunk shows.

Fashion's Night Out Overload

If you haven't figured it out yet, Fashion's Night Out is basically a high-class bar crawl. In addition to the 900 North Michigan Shops and the Shops at North Bridge, there are a ton of stores participating in this monumental celebration on September 8th. I've listed a handful of them below but be sure to check out the links at the bottom of this post to see what's going on at other stores around the city:

--Various department stores in Water Tower Place (835 N. Michigan Ave; 5 - 8 PM) have discounts, drinks and hors d'ouevres, fashion shows, karaoke, etc,.

--Brooks Brothers (713 N. Michigan Ave; 5 - 8 PM) is having a cocktail party with light appetizers.

--Neiman Marcus (737 N. Michigan Ave; 6 - 8 PM) has a fashion show, model search, complimentary tastings provided by Mercadito, BICE, AI Japanese Restaurant, and more. RSVP to RSVPMichiganAve@NeimanMarcus.com

--Macy's on State Street (111 N. State St; 6 - 11 PM) has a fashion show, an appearance by Kelly Osbourne, and cocktails and treats for shoppers.

--A whole bunch of shops on Oak Street (between Michigan Ave and State St) are also participating in the
festivities.

--GAP (555 N. Michigan; 6 - 9 PM) will have an in-store DJ and refreshments for guests

Click HERE and HERE for more details!

Brew with a View

Cityscape Bar is hosting its Brew with a View beer sampling events on Thursday, September 8th and Thursday, October 13th. Guests can sample a few beers while enjoying light appetizers and a spectacular panoramic view of downtown Chicago. This is also a great opportunity to pull your pants down and moon everyone in the River North area! All attendees will receive a buy-one-get-one-half-off coupon for dinner at ItaliAsia.

Update: There's a "Vino with a View" wine sampling on September 15th as well.

Brew with a View
Thursday, September 8 | 6 PM – 7 PM
Thursday, October 13 | 6 PM – 7 PM

Vino with a View
Thursday, September 15 | 6 PM – 7 PM

Cityscape Bar
Holiday Inn Mart Plaza – 15th Floor
350 W. Mart Center Drive

RSVP to cityscape@martplaza.com (limited reservations available)

See below for more info!

CS Summer Soiree - St. Tropez

I'm pretty sure this is the last CS Summer Soiree this year so RSVP immediately if you want to get in! This one takes place on Sunday, September 11th and will be hosted at Studio Paris. This is not the event to miss. They'll have Grey Goose cocktails, passed hors d'ouevres, live french jazz and an art demo! This is top-tier classiness folks. I'll definitely have to accessorize with my monocle and pocketwatch for this one. Those go well with cut-off denim shorts, right?

CS Summer Soiree - St. Tropez

Studio Paris

Sunday, September 11 | 5 - 7 PM

59 W. Hubbard St

RSVP to rsvpchicago@modernluxury.com

Cheeky's Beauty Week Kick-Off Soiree

Cheeky Chicago is kicking off Beauty Week with wine, cosmos, hors d'ouervres, skin care consultations, and free makeovers at Neiman Marcus on Wednesday, September 7th. There will also be drawings every 15 minutes to give patrons a chance to win gift cards and beauty products. This event is obviously for the ladies. I can feel my testosterone levels decreasing while typing this. Suddenly I feel fat but I REALLY want some chocolate.

Beauty Week Kick-Off Party
Wednesday, September 7 | 5:30 PM
Neiman Marcus
737 N. Michigan Ave

RSVP to rsvpmichiganave@neimanmarcus.com

900's Night Out

You already know about the Fashion's Night Out in-store celebrations, sponsored by Chicago Magazine, taking place at the Shops at North Bridge on September 8th. But did you know the Shops at 900 North Michigan are also participating in the festivities that evening? And this one is sponsored by Gilt City and CS Magazine!

Nearly 30 stores on seven floors will offer complimentary champagne, cocktails, appetizers, shopping discounts (as if I'm actually buying something), snooty salesmen, tipsy cougars and MORE! Additionally there will be a "Flash Fashion Show", which I'm hoping will consist of models wearing nothing but trench coats (no dude models allowed), a "Beauty Bazaar" with complimentary mini-spa and salon services, and an "Epicurean Tasting" featuring craft beers and tasty appetizers from premier local restaurants such as David Burke's Primehouse, Sixteen at Trump and Prasino!

Click HERE to see the full listing of in-store events.

Fame, Fashion, and Flavor: 900's Night Out
900 North Michigan Shops
Thursday, September 8 | 6 - 9 PM

No need to RSVP. For more info visit: www.shop900.com