January's Free Museum Days!

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Chicago News of the Week - Free Museum Days

January is the perfect month to explore Chicago’s most iconic museums! Not only is it an ideal cold-weather activity, but January is also filled with free admission days! Between the Field Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, Shedd Aquarium and Musuem of Science & Industry, Illinois residents have 34 different FREE day opportunities to choose from just this month! Watch our video to learn more.

Bonus tip not mentioned on Instagram is that the Adler Planetarium is also free each Wednesday in January from 4pm-10pm! Advance online reservations are required for the Art Institute, Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium. Note that not all exhibits are included at museums during free admission days.

Chicago Restaurant Week - Menu Pick of the Week

If you missed our in-depth review of Chicago Restaurant Week, you should read it! For our next Chicago Restaurant Week (CRW) menu that we think will be worth checking out is Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba's Brunch Menu.

Both the original Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba in Lincoln Park and Lil’ Ba-Ba-Reeba in River North are participating; however, each location has a different menu. We are giving both menu’s (Lincoln Park and River North) the Best Date Food stamp of approval, but we recommend taking a look at both menus to decide which specific items interest you more.

For a $25 brunch, Ba-Ba-Reeba is offering you a glass of sangria (red or white peach), two brunch tapas and a small dessert option. Four items for $25 is solid these days. Like in past selections, we are placing value on these menus for the amount of choice you get. In Lincoln Park, you get five entree tapas to choose from and four dessert tapas. In River North, there are seven entree tapas options but only two dessert tapas. We love the optionality because you will want to share with another person here and try more items! If the two of us went on a date, here is what we would order at each location:

• Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba (Lincoln Park):

  • Drinks: One Red Sangria and one White Peach Sangria

  • Tapas: Brunch Patatas Bravas, Chorizo Mac & Cheese, Txistorra Sausage, Egg & Manchego Empanada, Blueberry-Lemon Torrijas (aka French Toast)

  • Dessert Tapas: Chocolate Truffle Cake and Natilla Flan

• Lil’ Ba-Ba-Reeba (River North)

  • Drinks: One Red Sangria and one White Peach Sangria

  • Tapas: Crystal Bread Tartine Sandwich, Brunch Patatas Bravas, Blueberry-Lemon Torrijas (aka French Toast) and Roasted Dates Wrapped In Bacon

  • Dessert Tapas: Chocolate Truffle Bite and Butterscotch Custard

Deal of the Week

• $5 Sweetgreen Credit: The popular salad shop Sweetgreen is opening a new store location in Logan Square at 2500 N Milwaukee. While their preview event is sold out, you can still snag yourself a free $5 Opening Week credit when you click the orange "select a date" button at this link.

Poll of the Week

We will let you know the poll results in the next newsletter! After clicking to cast your vote, leave your name and a reason why you chose your answer and you may see your answer featured!

Last Week's Poll Results

• Question: Does Stan's have the best donuts in Chicago?!

• Result: No (62%) vs. Yes (38%)

• Reader Thoughts: "Dorite Donuts and Firecakes are at the top of my list of best donuts in Chicago" -Jake C.

Eating Out This Weekend?!

Let us help save you money! Here is how it works, you pay $5 to be a member of our awesome community and we email you a new set of amazing coupons each month! For January, all our Best Date Foodies members are getting a free starter of their choice at Federales, a free Giant Cinnamon Roll at avec River North and a free Big Pretzel at Funkenhausen! It costs just $5 to join and you get a new set of coupons each month. Sign up here!

Michael, Best Date Food Founder