Ein prosit! Give a toast as Oktoberfests get going
As the birch leaves are turning bright gelb under a clear blau sky and the earth goes from grun to braun, it's time to entertain your inner Arnold and party Oktoberfest-style.
There's no need to head across the ocean to get to a Teutonic fall fête because there are plenty of prospects in nearby burgs. You'll be locking arms with neighbors, swaying to the tune of "Edelweiss" and dancing the weekend away from September through Halloween.
Despite the accent on ale, stateside Oktoberfests are family-friendly fall carnivals and an easy way to treat the wunderkinds to a yodeling good time. Tell the teenage Heidi Klums in your haus that it's not all about doughy legs in lederhosen kicking to the tune of "Ein Prosit" - although that's a sure show in itself. Many local purveyors of the Germanic rite of autumn include rock bands as well as tuba tuneage, hot dogs and nachos as well as the ubiquitous bratwurst and kraut. Generally, you'll get more authentic, adult revelry at a restaurant's celebration and a German-American hybrid at village Oktoberfests to satisfy folks with little Dieter and Dagmar in tow.
Schnitzel Platz
729 E. North Ave., Glendale Heights
(630) 942-9900, www.schnitzelplatz.com
Schnitzel Platz kicked off Oktoberfest season right after Labor Day and continues through Sunday, Oct. 26 as the Glendale Heights eatery celebrates 10 years of Oktoberfest cheer.
Chef/owner Wolfgang Beyer, native of the Frankfort region of Germany, delivers an authentic festival menu and entertainment. Weather isn't a worry because the traditional beer tent and long tables are inside the restaurant where diners commune in the spirit of cozy cameraderie. Beyer notes that some still request a private table, but you should consider sharing - after a second beer, you'll be exchanging cell phone numbers with your neighbors.
Decorations showcase a deep German heritage and are the genuine articles: Bavarian flags and bier steins indoors and a beer wagon outside with antique wooden beer barrels strewn about.
An extensive Oktoberfest menu, including the classic spit-roasted pig and original Hofbrauhaus beer, is available every day of the week but the place really shakes weekends when hilarity ensues: expect to join sing-alongs, enter beer drinking contests, do a chicken dance and attempt traditional Bavarian slap dances with rousing live music providing a soundtrack to all.
After your attempts, show off your smarts to the tablemates by noting that legendary dancer Fred Astaire's real name was Frederick Austerlitz and even he couldn't make a chicken dance look that good.
Along with chef's homemade potato pancakes and platters of sauerbraten, spätzle and schnitzels, you can try wife Elfriede's wonderful desserts like apple strudel and seasonal Oktoberfest plum cake.
Don't think you can just show up to this fantastic fest - when you make a reservation, you'll get a confirmation number to prove you're not a procrastinator. Dust off the dirndl and call ahead.
29th Annual Oktoberfest in Lions Park
320 E. Wildwood St., Villa Park
(630) 834-8970, www.vprd.org
This year's party in the park has expanded from three days to four, Thursday, Sept. 11 through Sunday, Sept. 14, and offers entertainment targeting teens (Battle of the Bands and a skate tournament) , adults (jazz, German music and classic rock) and rides and games for children.
One highlight is the pet parade: dogs rule but sheep, reptiles and kitties have shown up in the past to vie for "most unusual carrier/cage" or "most original costume."
The expansive food court travels from the Caribbean (pressed Cuban sandwiches and tamales) to China and Greece as well as offering German and American items, cold shakes and malts and a beer tent.
Rotary Club of Palatine Oktoberfest 2008
Brockway and Slade streets, Palatine
Take part in autumn's colorful cabaret via an outdoor Oktoberfest like the shindig in Palatine courtesy of the Rotary Club.
It runs from 4 to 11p.m. Friday, Sept. 12 and Saturday, Sept. 13.
Your schnozz will perk up at the perfume of grilling bratwurst, warm, soft pretzels and just-made cider-spiced cinnamon sugar donuts. Festival tents are set up in downtown Palatine adjacent to Christl's German Inn, a village favorite for 26 years. The restaurant, lovingly owned and operated by Austrian-born sisters, will offer homemade German brats, brat platters with German potato salad and sauerkraut and German hot dogs.
Durty Nellie's will cater to other tastes with burgers and hot dogs, or go straight to the caramel apples and chocolate-covered pretzel twists from Morkes Chocolate.
Kids' activities are highlighted from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12.
With live music from Die Musikmeisters or Jimmy's Bavarians on stage, enjoy adult beverages include 30-ounce souvenir steins and 14-ounce plastic cups of Emmett's Ale House microbrew Oktoberfest beer, Pabst Blue Ribbon and Steigl, an Austrian brew. Fans of the grape can line up for a wine tasting from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13. Revelers might want to consider taking Metra - the Northwest Line's Palatine station is a short walk away. In addition, fest staff have set up a designated driver service. For a $25 fee, you and your car are safely delivered anywhere in an 11-mile radius.
While the frau enjoys the S. V. Edelweiss dancers in one tent, herr sports fan can keep up with televised Cubs and Sox games in the other, so it's "nein" on the whines.
The Bavarian Lodge
1800 Ogden Ave., Lisle
(630) 241-4701, www.bavarian-lodge.com
Celebrating its 23rd Oktoberfest season, the Bavarian Lodge serves as many as six different Oktoberfest beers and a traditional Oktoberfest pig roast beginning Friday, Sept. 19 through the end of October.
An Oktoberfest adults-only party in the pub takes place on Sept. 19, with a ceremonial tapping into Paulaner Oktoberfest Beer, prize raffles and drawings all night long.
Bavaria Haus
933 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg
(847) 891-7997
Fridays and Saturdays, from Sept. 19 through the end of October, Bavaria Haus offers special Oktoberfest beer and singalongs with its regular menu of German cuisine.
Lynfred Winery
15 S. Roselle Road, Roselle
(630) 529-9463, www.lynfredwinery.com
An Oktoberfest without beer? Lynfred Winery's annual Oktoberfest subs wine for brew during its two days of German sing-a-longs, grape stomping, cork tossing and barrel races.
The Annual Oktoberfest & Pig Roast, Saturday, Sept. 27 and Sunday, Sept. 28, dishes up roasted pig as a sandwich or a full meal, grilled bratwurst, chili, roasted corn, taffy apples, apple strudel and German chocolate cake. Bring the family for the oompah band and grape-spitting and stomping contests for kids, adults and couples.
Sixth Annual Oktoberfest
Ross Ferraro Town Center
Gary Avenue and Lies Road, Carol Stream
(630) 665-7050, www.carolstream.org
Saturday, Sept. 27 is one wunderbar day of authentic German food, beer, music and dancing. Specifically, brats and kraut; wiener schnitzel; apple strudel; German potato salad; chips and dogs; plus Sam Adams Oktoberfest and Warsteiner beer.
Kids get hay rides, games and a juggler/magician/balloon twister guy while the older Alpiners sway to a German beer hall band. Children's activities are from 3 to 5 p.m. and entertainment for all ages runs from 5 to 9 p.m.
Rotary Club of Downers Grove Oktoberfest
Downers Grove Public Library parking lot
1050 Curtiss St., Downers Grove
From Friday, Oct. 3 through Sunday, Oct. 5, the 15,000-square-foot tent in downtown Downers Grove is transported to Bavaria with a menu of traditional and spicy bratwurst, pork sandwiches, hot German potato salad, strudel and cake as well as a selection of cold beer, wine and soft drinks.
Entertainment will be as much oompah as rock 'n' roll, and bring the camera for the bratwurst-eating race. Enter a special raffle to win a trip for two to the 2009 Oktoberfest in Germany.
Entry fee is $3-$5, cash only, and goes to local charities.
Berghoff Oktoberfest 2008
Federal Plaza
Adams and Dearborn streets, Chicago
The great tradition of Berghoff beer began in 1882 and although many lamented the passing of the original Berghoff's restaurant, you can still wet the pipes with Berghoff beer and Berghoff root beer in the heart of Chicago's Loop. Berghoff Oktoberfest 2008 takes place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17 through Friday, Sept. 19, so you can stop by for a rousing lunch or before the train ride home. Live music, great German morsels a la Berghoff and a raffle make up the fun at Adams at Dearborn.
Shoreline's Oktoberfest Cruises
Navy Pier
600 East Grand Ave., Chicago
(312) 222-9328
Bring everyone in the family to a 90-minute Oktoberfest cruise on Lake Michigan and the Chicago River Saturday, Sept. 27 or Saturday, Oct. 4. Sup on a lunch of brats and beer or soda with German music wafting in the breeze, then listen to a docent's commentary on Chicago's famous architecture and the role of the German community in Chicago. Noon departure. Adults $45.00; 65 and over $42.00; children 3-11 $30.00.