Dining out: Shaw's Schaumburg hosts Holiday Sip & Paint Party
Paint the town
What better way to create your own holiday decorations than at a Sip & Paint Party? Join the crew at Shaw's Crab House in Schaumburg at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4, for appetizers, holiday-inspired desserts and two beverages of your choice from the "Naughty or Nice" drinks list before an instructor teaches you how to paint "The Winter Snowman." Even better, wear your best ugly holiday sweater for a chance to win gift certificates. The event costs $65, which includes the painting, supplies, food, drinks, tax and gratuity. Reservations are required. Shaw's Crab House is at 1900 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 517-2722 or shawscrabhouse.com/.
Fill up on pasta
Just in time for the changing seasons, Olive Garden is now offering three new filled pastas for a limited time. Choose from five-cheese tortelloni al forno ($13.99, with grilled chicken $15.49), cheese-filled gnocchi with grilled chicken ($17.29) and lobster ravioli with shrimp and scallops ($19.49). And don't forget about soup or salad and breadsticks, too. Plus, there are some new desserts to satisfy the sweet tooth: Andes Mint Cheesecake and caramel buttercream cake. Olive Garden has locations throughout the suburbs. olivegarden.com/home.
Scallops & wine
Now through Dec. 7, Seasons 52 is celebrating the return of Nantucket Bay Scallops from New England with a wine and scallops special. For $29.99, the special scallops dish will be paired with a glass of Chateau Ste Michelle Mimi Chardonnay. Plus, the restaurant has beefed up its winter menu with some new items like the whole roasted cauliflower topped with Gruyere, cheddar and Parmesan cheese sauce; the brunch burger topped with crispy shiitakes and a pasture-raised egg; and the cranberry and sage cocktail. Seasons 52 has locations at 3 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 571-4752, and 1770 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 517-5252. seasons52.com/home.
Songs of the Season at Petterino's
Petterino's Monday Night Live, the impromptu musical showcase hosted by Denise McGowan Tracy and Beckie Menzie, is celebrating 10 years of holiday spectacle with the Songs of the Season Series, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4. Guest cast members from the Chicago production of "Tony N' Tina's Wedding" will join in the fun that night. The series continues on Dec. 11 and 18, with the open mic cabaret featuring naughty and nice holiday classics, carols and singalongs. The restaurant offers a Monday Night Live three-course prix fixe menu for $19.95. Start off with tomato bisque, Petterino's Salad or crispy fried calamari. Entrees include five cheese ravioli, almond crusted whitefish or chicken potpie. Dessert is seasonal sorbet, tiramisu, chocolate mousse cake, or peppermint or vanilla ice cream. The Dynamic Duo cocktail, which is a mix of gin, pomegranate, orange juice and lime juice, costs $10. There is no cover, but there is a $19.95 food and beverage minimum. Reservations are strongly encouraged. Discounted valet parking is available after 7 p.m. Petterino's is located at 150 N. Dearborn, Chicago, (312) 422-0150 or petterinos.com/.
Midnight Pig launches
Did you know that National Repeal Day is Tuesday, Dec. 5? In a nod to the prohibition era, Nevin's Brewing Company, which is rebranding its brewery to Nevin's Draft Co., is launching a new craft beer brand, Midnight Pig, in bars and restaurants across the area on Tuesday. The new beers include Apocalyptinator, a German-style Dopplebock with caramel, chocolate and toasted toffee; Hook & Hatchet, a Vienna-style lager with a hint of caramel; Shamefaced, a German pilsner malt with Mandarina Bavaria hops; Snitches get Stitches, a robust porter with flavors of chocolate, roast and a hint of dark caramel; Tumultuous, a double dry hopped Imperial IPA; and Pinched, an IPA with a ton of hops. Midnight Pig will be served at Nevin's Brewing Co., plus at Pete Miller's Naperville, Pete Miller's Evanston, The Kerry Piper, Muldoon's and more. Nevin's Brewing Company is at 12337 S. Route 59, Plainfield, (815) 436-3900 or nevinsbrewing.com/index.html.