Dining out: Uncle Julio's -321 Margarita is as cool as it sounds
Cool off
Uncle Julio's new -321° Margarita gives cool a new name. The drink, prepared tableside by a specially trained mixologist, is concocted with fresh berries muddled by hand, -321° liquid nitrogen and top-shelf tequila, which results in a frozen margarita without ice. Adding to the fun, vapor dances from the brim of the chilled glass when the mixologist tops the drink with two homemade meringue Mexican smoking puffs. The drink is available after 5 p.m. only for $15.99. The -321° Margarita is available in a nonalcoholic version, too, for $9.99. Additional meringue Mexican smoking puffs can be purchased in sets of two for $1.99. Uncle Julio's has locations in Chicago, Kildeer, Lombard, Naperville, Orland Park, Schaumburg, Skokie and Vernon Hills. unclejulios.com/.
Roll out the barrel
Celebrate spring and craft beer during Lake Zurich's Craft Beer Festival this weekend. Head to Henry J. Paulus Park from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 11-12, to sample beers from more than 100 local and regional craft breweries. Tasting passes, which include admission, a commemorative logo tasting glass and 3-ounce samples, cost $50 on the day of the fest. Designated driver tickets are $10. Friday features music from JT James Acoustic from 5 to 7 p.m. and 97nine from 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday features Erik Donner playing from 5 to 7 p.m. and Gina Gonzalez and the Wingmen from 8 to 10 p.m. Don't miss the local food vendors (food purchases are cash, credit or debit and are not included in the ticket price). Buy tickets at eventbrite.com/. The event is rain or shine. Henry J. Paulus Park is at 200 S. Rand Road, Lake Zurich, lakezurich.org/528/Craft-Beer-Festival.
Spring Beer Fest
It's time for Durty Nellie's 24th Annual Spring Beer Fest from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 12. Participating breweries include Revolution, Dogfish Head, Prairie Krafts, Lagunitas, Alter, Saugatuck, Noon Whistle, Two Brothers, Scorched Earth, Half Acre and more. General admission tickets, which include 20 3-ounce samples of beer and a commemorative tasting glass, are $45. Day-of tickets cost $55. This is a 21 and older event. Buy tickets at ticketfly.com/. Durty Nellie's is at 180 N. Smith St., Palatine, (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com/.
Sip & slurp at Shaw's
Pull up a seat at the Oyster Bar at Shaw's in Schaumburg and take advantage of half-off select bottles of wine and oysters from open until close every Friday (11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.) and Sunday (noon to 9 p.m.). Weather permitting, head out to the patio for the same offer. Shaw's Crab House is at 1900 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 517-2722, shawscrabhouse.com/schaumburg/.
Oodles of zoodles
Made from fresh zucchini spiralized in-house daily, zoodles have arrived at Noodles. Noodles is offering the low-calorie, low-carb, gluten-free zoodles in two dishes: Zucchini Romesco (with a sweet and tangy chunky roasted red pepper sauce made with almonds, sun-dried tomatoes and garden vegetables) and the Zucchini Thai Green Curry with Shrimp (in a sweet coconut green curry sauce with pineapple, broccoli, red onion, snap peas, lime, black sesame seeds and cilantro). Small zoodle bowls start at $5.75, with regular bowls $7.25. Zoodles can be substituted for classic noodles in any dish for 75 cents. Noodles has locations throughout the suburbs. noodles.com/.