Dining events: School supplies donation = free kids' meal at Famous Dave's

Famous Dave's school supplies drive

Now through Sept. 15, donate back-to-school supplies at any of Famous Dave's seven Chicago-area locations in support of the Kids in Need Foundation and receive a voucher for a free kids' meal. Suggested donation items include #2 pencils, pencil boxes and pouches, colored pencils and crayons, markers, glue sticks, rulers, loose leaf paper, index cards, folders, binders and notebooks. Famous Dave's has suburban locations in Addison, Algonquin, Bolingbrook and North Riverside. Famousdaves.com.

Zoup! opens in Vernon Hills

Zoup! recently opened its 10th Chicago-area restaurant - this time in Vernon Hills. Zoup! serves 12 soups that rotate daily and come served with a hunk of fresh-baked bread, as well as made-to-order salads and sandwiches. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Zoup! is at 700 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills. (847) 371-3300 or zoup.com.

Buca's back-to-school

Take dinner off the long back-to-school to-do list at Buca di Beppo. Now through Sunday, get $10 off any purchase of $30 or more, excluding tax and gratuity. Print the coupon from bucadibeppo.com. Or try the feed four for $40 special with choices from a special menu. Buca di Beppo has suburban locations in Lombard, Wheeling and Orland Park. bucadibeppo.com.