New restaurant opens in downtown Arlington Heights

The Grand Station is open for business in downtown Arlington Heights.

The upscale eatery features American comfort food and a drink menu with more than 20 signature martinis. Grand Station also features hamburgers, "build your own" mac and cheese, fish 'n chips, prime rib, pork chops, pasta dishes, paninis and salads.

The restaurant's owner, Eddie Nahlawi, should look familiar.

In 2006, Eddie opened the popular Fuego Mexican Grill & Margarita restaurant, which is also located in downtown Arlington Heights. Grand Station, 101 W. Campbell St., is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and is open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturdays.

For more information, check out www.grandstationdining.com. I hear reservations are already a good idea - especially on the weekends.

Tuna fish carving: This year's Giant Bluefin Tuna Carving Demonstration at Mitsuwa Marketplace will happen Saturday and Sunday. Swing by and watch a 400-pound bluefin tuna get carved on Saturday. The following day, a 200- to 300-pound tuna will be sliced into sashimi. The event takes places noon to 1 p.m. each day.

Tuna generally is carved up immediately after being caught so you never have a chance to see the whole fish. Mitsuwa Marketplace has made special arrangements to fly in a fresh never-frozen-bluefin tuna specifically for this event. Carving up a tuna is a dynamic performance that is rarely witnessed by the general public, even in Japan. Expert carvers from Japan will be participating in the event and at the end of the demonstration, fresh tuna will be available for purchase.

The event is free.

Mitsuwa Marketplace is located at the northeast corner of Arlington Heights and Algonquin roads in Arlington Heights.

Wine and Art: Tuscan Market & Wine and Kevin Finnerty Art will host "An Evening of Fine Art and Fine Wine" from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15. The free open house will feature wine tastings, appetizers and Finnerty's pastel art. Tuscan Market is located at 141 W. Wing St., Arlington Heights.

Sticker time: Arlington Heights 2009 vehicle stickers are for sale now through the end of December. The stickers are $30 and must be placed on the windshield of your vehicle by Jan. 1 to avoid fines. This year's sticker recognizes the 50th anniversary of Northwest Community Hospital.

You can buy them at village hall, 33 S. Arlington Heights Road, the Arlington Heights Senior Center, 1801 W. Central Road, the Arlington Heights Currency Exchange, 118 E. Wing St., International Currency Exchange, 202 E. Golf Road or The Algonquin/Wilke Currency Exchange, 1764 W. Algonquin Road.

• Sheila Ahern covers Arlington Heights. She can be reached at (847) 427-4563 or via e-mail at sahern@dailyherald.com.