Night life: Wine meets the woods at Morton Arboretum

Woods and wine

The Morton Arboretum invites you to taste the flavors of summer on Wednesdays. Now through Aug. 3, enjoy wine, cheese and entertainment on the arboretum's Ginkgo Veranda. Toast the woods with a glass of Wente wine or with an array of Cabot cheeses. The event is $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers. The daily admission fee is waived after 5 p.m. Additional drink and tapas options are available for purchase. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday at The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org.

Summer, island style

Stay cool the Caribbean way with Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant's summer drinks. Try the Kolsch-style SommerBrau beer for $5.50. Golden and refreshing with a hint of fruitiness, SommerBrau beer has a prominent but not extreme hoppiness that is less bitter than standard German lager beers. Or give the Watermelon Splash a whirl: a combo of Superior Rum and O3 Orange Liqueur, shaken with fresh watermelon and house-made lemonade for $8.75. Now through July 31 at Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, 639 East Boughton Road, Bolingbrook. (630) 739-6036 or gordonbierschrestaurants.com.

Just say YES

It's hard to say no when YES vodka is such a great deal. Try a three-vodka drink flight for $10 at Beelow's Steakhouse. Select from YES brand vodkas such as Sweet Kiss, Tropical and other mini martinis. Daily at Beelow's Steakhouse, 763 S. Rand Road, Lake Zurich. (847) 540-0600 or beelows.com.