Welcome to March, Chicago

BEST DATE NEWS

Feb. 27, 2025: Best Date News Volume #115

Welcome to Best Date News, your favorite Chicago weekly newsletter! In this week’s newsletter you will read about our huge St. Patrick’s Day giveaway, free admission at 360 Chicago, Boka’s new River North restaurants, Janet Martin Day, Paczki Day, what to do this weekend in Chicago and more!

Feb. 27: National Holidays

• National Chili Day

• National Strawberry Day

• National Polar Bear Day

• National Toast Day

• National Pokemon Day

St. Patrick’s Day Giveaway

• Giveaway Alert: We have teamed up with Smart City Chicago for an absolutely massive St. Patrick’s Day giveaway! We are giving away a VIP table for four people to RPM Seafood’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration on March 15.

• Picture yourself front row for the green-river dyeing at an awesome party at RPM Seafood! The prize includes a reserved table for four, live DJ, breakfast and lunch bites, all-inclusive passed apps, chilled seafood, a premium bar package, cocktails and more!

• Enter for your chance to win this amazing prize package, valued up to $1,200, at this post on our @bestdatefood Instagram page.

Chicago News

• 360 Chicago: From March 1-7, in celebration of the city’s 188th birthday on March 4, Chicago residents will be able to visit 360 Chicago (875 North Michigan Ave.) for free! It’s located on the 94th floor of the former Hancock Tower. Show a valid ID with a Chicago zip code upon arrival.

• Boka Restaurant Group: The Boka Restaurant Group is replacing GT Prime in River North with a new restaurant called Gingie that will “combine thoughtful European techniques with Japanese-inspired flavors.” New chef-partner Brian Lockwood has an impressive resume and even trained Jeremy Allen White on The Bear. Right nearby, Boka is also soon opening Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna in the former GT Fish & Oyster location.

• Restaurant News: In other restaurant news, Carmine’s is set to reopen in Gold Coast this spring after a $4 million renovation. DJ’s Great Room and Layla & Ringo’s debuted this past weekend near the Old Town/River North area. Milk Room’s last day of service at the Chicago Athletic Association will be tomorrow, Feb. 28. Jeni’s just brought back their Double Dough cookie dough ice cream, and it’s staying on the menu as a year-round flavor.

• Paczki Day: The day before Lent begins is known as Fat Tuesday, and in Chicago is also known as Paczki Day. The popular Polish doughnuts are filled with jam or custard and topped with powdered sugar. If you want to try some for yourself, Block Club compiled a list of where to get them in Chicago.

• Harry Potter Shop: Harry Potter Shop Chicago is coming to the heart of Chicago’s Mag Mile (676 N Michigan Ave), and it has set its opening date for Thursday, April 10. The shop will have themed areas, a Butterbeer Bar, Chicago-specific merch and more. Get a sneak peek.

Just For Fun

• Janet Martin Day: There will be a farewell party to celebrate Janet Martin at the Armitage Brown Line station in Lincoln Park on Friday, Feb. 28 from 2-3 p.m. Janet is retiring tomorrow after a 32-year career with the CTA where she worked the Armitage station for the last three decades.

• Jeremy Allen White: The Bear is back filming in Chicago this week, and Jeremy Allen White revealed his two favorite Chicago restaurants.

• $1 McMuffins: In celebration of 50 years of breakfast menu items, McDonald’s is offering $1 Egg McMuffins (normally $4.79) and Sausage & Egg McMuffins on Sunday, March 2. The deal is one-day only and will be available to users of the McDonald’s app.

Weekend Plans

• CHIditarod: One of Chicago’s wildest events of the year returns this weekend on Saturday, March 1! The CHIditarod is a shopping cart race, charity food drive, costumed beauty pageant, parade and bar crawl all in one.

• Spring Flower Show: The Garfield Park Conservatory just recently launched their new Spring Flower Show. It’s a great place to escape Chicago’s winter for a couple hours. Tickets are free for Chicago residents.

• Chicago Sports: The Chicago Fire kick off their 2025 home opener this Saturday, March 1 at Soldier Field against D.C. United. The Chicago Bulls host the Toronto Raptors Friday, Feb. 28 at the United Center.

Poll Question of the Week

Last Newsletter's Poll Results

Poll Results: Last newsletter we asked you what they should name Chicago’s viral, heavy beaver. Here is how you voted:

• 68%: Dam Ryan

• 14%: Lori Heavyfoot

• 11%: Southside Large Marge

• 7%: Sufjan Beavens

Sunrise & Sunset in Chicago

Here is today’s outlook in Chicago (compared to last week):

• Sunrise: 6:28 a.m. (10 minutes earlier)

• Sunset: 5:38 p.m. (8 minutes later)

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