Easter was last week for many of us, but this weekend is Orthodox Easter, which will be celebrated in style at Yanni’s (10 E. Algonquin Rd., Arlington Heights) on Sunday. Yanni’s patio will be converted into an outdoor kitchen, spit-roasting at least 40 lambs as well as baby pigs. A traditional menu of spit-roasted meat, soup, salads and more will be $24.95; Yanni’s regular menu will be served that day as well. Reservations strongly recommended: 847-952-1111.
It’s buh-bye for Banana Moon (730 Waukegan Rd., Deerfield), which closed after a seven-month run.
On the plus side, the doors have opened for Avenue M (695 N. Milwaukee Ave.), a restaurant with late-night lounging and food by Daniel Kelly, last seen at the late D Kelly restaurant. 312-243-1133.
And open for a couple of weeks now is Aki Sushi (2015 W. Division St.), a Wicker Park Japanese complete with waterfall and koi pond and, perhaps more attractive to potential customers, free valet parking. 773-227-8080.
A couple of restaurants are observing Earth Day with special menus. On Saturday, Blue Water Grill (520 N. Dearborn St.) will offer an a la carte menu featuring organic produce and organic wines; 312-777-1400. At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, North Pond (2610 N. Cannon Drive) will serve a four-course seasonal dinner priced at $85, including wine pairings; 773-477-5845.
“Green” (as in organic) wines will be featured in two dinners, at 7 p.m. Thursday and 6:30 p.m. April 27, at Green Zebra (1460 W. Chicago Ave.). Francis Tannahill Winery will be featured in Thursday’s dinner, which includes four courses (non-vegetarian) and wines for $85, tax and tip included; Alois Lageder wines will be featured on April 27, with a five-course vegetarian dinner for $95, tax and tip included. Seating is extremely limited. 312-243-7100.
The next Galleria Wine Down at Scoozi (410 W. Huron St.) will take place 6-8 p.m. Tuesday. Sample up to 30 wines, nibble on passed antipasti and view art from local galleries for one $25 price. Reservations required; 312-943-5900.
Sanford Wines will be featured in a dinner at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Gabriel’s (310 Green Bay Rd., Highwood). Cost for the five-course dinner with wines is $125, tax and tip included. 847-433-0031
Thursdays at Lucky Strike Lanes (322 E. Illinois St.) you can bowl to a live deejay while munching on complimentary nibbles 4-7 p.m. There are also specially priced drinks, such as jumbo and super-jumbo margaritas priced at $8 and $20 (the latter prepared in a 60-ounce martini shaker; that can’t be good for your score). 312-245-8331.
Looking ahead: April 27 is Dine Out For Life in Chicago, when more than 100 restaurants will donate a percentage of that day’s receipts to benefit AIDSCARE. You can benefit a worthy cause simply by dining out that day; for a list of participating restaurants, log on to www.diningoutforlife.com.
More than 60 wine and spirit companies, along with more than 30 of Chicago’s top restaurants, will be serving samples at Toast of the Town, a wine and food event sponsored by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. The event runs 7:30-10 p.m. April 27 at the Field Museum. Tickets are $85; VIP tickets (which include admission to the exclusive VIP tasting from 6-7:30 p.m.) are $145. Call 800-847-5949 or log on to www.wineenthusiast.com/tot06.
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pvettel@tribune.com
