Since 1965, Verona, Italy has been the host to Vinitaly - the ambassador of Italian wine offering round tables and panel discussions to facilitate dialogue between Italian producers and foreign trade as well as walk-around tastings, charity tastings, seminars, and interviews.  Known as the largest wine fair in the world with over 4,500 producers and 150,000+ visitors (including 45,000 from foreign countries), Vinitaly only visits a select few countries throughout the world.  This year - Japan, Hong Kong, Russia, USA, and of course Italy are the lucky destinations.  And only two cities in the US are fortunate enough to host this wine extravaganza – New York and Sweet Home Chicago!

On April 30th, the River East Arts Center played host to Vinitaly in the World for their Chicago visit and Now You Know had an opportunity to ask Stevie Kim, the General Coordinator of Vinitaly International and Senior Advisor to CEO of Veronafiere, a few questions.  Check out what she had to say about the tour and be sure to visit Vinitaly online to learn more about this amazing event.

1. Vinitaly is known as the largest wine event in the world boasting 150,000 plus visitors with a third being international – How did you get involved with such a large production?

I got involved with Vinitaly indirectly. At first I was interested in launching a wine investment fund and thought about having a launching party during Vinitaly.  The market crashed hence I had to put away the idea.  I then got recruited by Vinitaly for international business development as Senior Advisor to the CEO Veronafiere, Giovanni Mantovani. My first project was to investigate an equity stake in the Hong Kong international Wine and Spirits Fair and hence got interested in wine fairs.

2. We would assume you are a huge fan of Italian wine (please correct us if we are wrong).  If this is true – when, how, and why did you fall in love with Italian wine?

I’m married to an Italian, Veronese to be precise.  My husband, a great fan of Italian wines introduced me to all types.  I drank wine (and still drink) regularly with family.  In fact, I contribute heavily to the Italian wine economy. Not only as a promoter, but also a serious user.

3. Vinitaly originated in Italy, of course.  When did it start expanding into other cities across the world?  Which other cities has/does Vinitaly visit?  And how were those particular cities chosen?

Obviously the US is the most important export market for Italian wines.  Italian immigrants have facilitated Italian wines in America via Italian cuisine and Italian lifestyle.  Other emerging markets where Italian wines are not as well-established but have great potential growth are China and Russia. India and Brazil are not priorities at the moment due to high barriers to entry.

4. How do you see Vinitaly expanding/growing in the future? What can we expect in years to come?

We have just introduced Vinitaly Interactive Wine tastings with iPads to gather data for both the Italian wine market and Italian wine producers to gauge preferences as well as trends of tasters (both trade and consumers alike).  Vinitaly has the know-how and its institutional role is ideal to implement a value-added strategy to be embraced by both suppliers and market-driven key players for Italian wines to be differentiated in the market.  The Vinitaly Wine Affair campaign aims to facilitate the “falling-in love with Italian wines” process by easier access and swift interpretation of the multi-faceted structure and presentation of Italian wines. We want everyone to fall in love with Italian wines.  We don’t want to compete with French wines.  We want people to appreciate and fall in love with Italian wines for their character, difference and creative individual nature of the so many different varieties and varietals.

Check out more photos from Vinitaly on Flickr.

We all love sugar, so its great to find healthy alternatives that taste as good. “Ragave Nectar” is a new product we were introduced to, it is 100% blue agave from tequilana weber plants. It’s a lot like honey- gluten free, organic, vegan- but tastes more like regular sugar.

Another one of our favorites is “EatWhatever”, a breath mint that is healthy for you and comes as a two-part mint solution. First is a gel capsule you swallow, with organic peppermint and parsley seed oils which makes your breath kissable and your tummy calm. The second pill is a sugar free mint that gives an “instant minty breath while you wait for the gel cap to do its thing.”

We really liked “Plum Kids”, healthy all organic fruit snacks that should attract kids. They make everything from crackers, fruit candies, and yogurt, to smashed fruits drinks called “Mashups” (my favorite). They come in a hand-sized squeezable bottle, making them fun and quick to eat. Kids will certainly enjoy these!

We all know and love Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, but now we don’t have to feel so bad treating ourselves. Justin’s Nut Butter makes basically the same thing, but with all organic peanut butter inside high quality organic fair-trade chocolate. And they’re delicious!  You can’t say no to that!

“Aero Shot Chocolate” is an item that definitely caught our attention. Aero Shot lets you spray a shot of chocolate powder into your mouth, almost like a chocolate breath freshener. It is extremely light, no calories and caffeine-free. I think this is a rather fun product to check out.

The annual National Restaurant Association Show is the largest single gathering of restaurant, foodservice and lodging professionals in the world and how incredibly exciting that Chicago’s McCormick Place is where it’s held each year.

“NRA Show 2012 and IWSB were blockbuster events, each delivering a high-impact springboard to energize the restaurant and foodservice industry,” said Jack Crawford, Convention Chair for NRA Show 2012 and President and CEO of Ground Round Independent Owners Cooperative, LLC.

This year’s show was bigger and better than ever and proved to be a huge success showcasing the latest food products, appliances, and more that are changing the restaurant and hopsitality industry.  The number of attendees and exhibitors grew boasting 61,000+ registrants from all 50 states and 100+ countries.  It was overwhelming to say the least but so exciting to be the first to get a sneak peak at the latest tecnologies and food advancements that we will all be seeing in restaurants, retailers, and hotels around the world.

So, we decided that we would share a few photos from the show as well as highlight our favorite products – those items that really caught our eye and made us stop to find out more.  Here we go:

**Simply 7 Snacks are made with all-natural and healthy but SIMPLE ingredients.  You should be able to identify the raw vegetable, fruit, grain, or legume listed in the ingredients.  Try Simply 7 Snacks and you will see that simple ingredients are actually exceptionally delicious.

**Go Picnic offers a wide variety of nutritious ready-to-eat meals to help keep you going. Small enough to fit in a briefcase, backpack, or purse, a quick and tasty GoPicnic meal on the go will refuel you, anytime, anywhere!

**Ultra Thin Pizza Shells & Flatbreads were created from an old Italian recipe.  Grandfather Joseph Salamone created the original Ultra-Thin pizza shell recipe and in 1996 his grandson Doug Bronsky and business partner Cherise Kramer decided to share the family tradition with the world.  My personal favorite was the hemp pizza.

**Vineyard Fresh preserves open bottles of wine by stopping the process of oxidation. Enjoy the freedom to open a bottle of your favorite wine whenever you want. Using 100% inert Argon gas, VineyardFresh saves your open bottle of wine for weeks. If you have ever hesitated to open a bottle because you were concerned about wasting it… worry no longer.

**Titanium Elite – T-Elite Hand-Cast Skillets/Pans make cooking and cleaning easier with their durable titanium cookware.  Now you can boil water in mere seconds, carmalize sugar in the blink of an eye, and cook without the worry of using oil or replacing your skillet over the years.

**Staybowlizer is a device that is used to secure bowls of all shapes and sizes from unwanted movement across a diverse range of applications.  It helps keep bowls stable so you can stir with one hand and still have your other hand free.

**Edibles by Jack‘s goal is to offer unique and innovative food items that make a difference, whether in a catering, restaurant or even in a home scenario.  Their cornerstone product is the Edible Asian Spoon, the first ever recipient of the International Caterers Association’s CATIE (Catered Arts Through Innovative Excellence) award for ’Trend In The Industry’, awarded in 2003.  Years ago, it was a trend!  Now, it is a mainstay of the catering and restaurant industries.

**Solazyme, Inc. is the leading renewable oil and bioproducts company whose technology uses algae to produce oils and biomaterials in standard fermentation to be used as a healthy replacement in cooking and baking.

**Bell Plantation PB 2 Powdered Peanut Butter is a healthy alternative to regular peanut butter.  It’s what’s not in PB2 that makes it so good for you.  For starters, our special process removes 85% of the fat calories without the chemicals typically used in producing reduced fat foods. Something else you won’t find in PB2 is preservatives. What you will find is natural roasted peanut flavor that’s also available in a rich chocolate variety.

**Sunkist Bar Buddy was designed for safely preparing fresh-cut fruit wedges, slices and halves, this durable, time saving device pays for itself. With quick & easy cleanup and dishwasher safe parts, the Bar Buddy™ cleans up quickly. It is also amazingly easy to use. Fruit cuts directly into the container, fill, place lid, store, done! Uniform pieces give an appealing presentation. The Bar Buddy™ is listed by NSF International. Interchangeable blade cups – 7 different ones are available.

**ZipZester allows you to easily add zest, which is clearly the best way to achieve remarkable citrus flavoring, to your recipes.  And now it have never been so easy to produce. The Spin Zester gives you the popular spice in seconds and makes the job a comfortable delight.

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Check out more photos from the NRA Show on NowYouKnow Event’s Facebook Page.

If you missed the NRA Show this year, mark your calendars now for next year so you don’t miss out again.  NRA Show 2013 will be held May 18-21 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, and the 2013 International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event held in conjunction with the NRA Show will take place May 19-20.

On-going events

Yelp’s Sugar High – From May 14th through May 20th, Yelp’s going on a Sugar High: for one whole week, you have the Yelp doctor’s orders to feast on the sweetest treats available at the city’s sweetest businesses.  More Details

Girlfriend’s Great EGGscape – Escape for the weekend on this great girl’s getaway!  Join us for a weekend with an Egg Harbor twist.  Enjoy a variety of events happening throughout Egg Harbor. Tickets and Details

Monday, May 14

Celebrate Italiasia’s Three Year Anniversary – In celebration of their third anniversary, ItaliAsia will offer guests 15% off lunch and “buy one, get one” dinner coupons from Monday, May 14 – Friday, May 18. More Details

European Union Drinks Fest – Sample Whine, Beers, Spirits, Mineral water and Juices. Tickets and Details

Tuesday, May 15

The Future of Fashion Presented by Chicago Fashion Connect -Chicago Fashion Connect will host the Premiere of its 2nd fashion editorial video “Future of Fashion” featuring designer Hakeem Gayden. Tickets and Details  THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Wednesday, May 16

“Pour” – Laughter, Libations and Social Awareness – A Fundraiser for Gridiron Alliance. Tickets and Details

Allowance for Good Evening of Wine Benefit – Join us on May 16th for a casual evening of wine and appetizers at WineStyles in Evanston. We’ll share a brief update on youth project success and plans for our first annual Global Philanthropy Summit for teens. More Details

LPYP Party on the Patio at Fulton’s on the River – Party on the Patio with Lincoln Park Young Professionals & Great Chicago Levy Restaurant Chefs. Featuring Signature Dishes from Bar Toma, Captail Morgan Club, Jake Melnicks, Fultons on the River, Oak Street Beach Food & Drink & Patio at Cafe Brauer. Tickets and Details

The Art of Futbol – On Wednesday May 16, 2012 the Chicago Fire Soccer Club will be hosting the second annual Art of Futbol, a one-of-a-kind art exhibition featuring local artists and their original work depicting the beautiful game of soccer. Tickets and Details

The ASAP Foundation Presents the 4th Annual Signature Event - Former All-Pro Chicago Bear, Jerry Azumah will host the 4th Annual Signature Fundraiser for the Azumah Student Assistance Program (ASAP) Foundation. Tickets and Details

9th Annual Rock ‘n’ Vote at Hard Rock Cafe - Readers will listen to the finalists and vote for who gets to play our concert May 16 at Hard Rock Cafe. More Details

Beach Weekend Packing Party – Enjoy Cocktails, light bites, personalized illustrations & shopping with an exclusive 20% discount. More Details

Thursday, May 17

Sleeping with the Artist Salon Series at Hotel Palomar – Come join us view works from local artists. More Details

CheekyChicago & Blue Moon Present: The Sadie Hawkins Throwback – We’re bringing Sadie back. Hawkins, that is. AKA, “Turnabout,” where ladies ask the gentleman out for a good time. Tickets and Details

2012 Hard Rock Hair Flip: Benefiting Locks of Love – Please join Luxury Management at Chicago’s Hard Rock Hotel for the second annual spring fundraiser- benefiting Locks of Love.  Tickets and Details

The 2nd Annual Ladybug Bash: Stars and Cars – Socialize with the Who’s Who in the Windy City while making a difference for children and families affected by childhood cancer. Ticket and Details

A Magical Journey Through Brasil at Macy’s on State – Join us at 12pm as we kick off the festivities with local musicians from Planeta Azul and brilliantly costumed dancers of The Passistas. Then enjoy a culinary presentation by Carnivale Chicago. At 5:30pm, catch a special performance by internationally acclaimed and Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Bebel Gilberto and a fashion presentation hosted by accessory designer Diego Rocha featuring the hottest summer trends. More Details

Art See – A New Arts Forum Fundraiser - All proceeds from ART SEE help support arts education for Chicago’s youth. Join 200+ of Chicago’s young professionals for an event that is sure to be an amazing evening of art, networking, and entertainment. Tickets and Details

Friday, May 18
4 Elements Fashionistas Fashion Show - The show is run by the student organization to show case the fashion design students garments. Tickets and Details

Saturday, May 19

Lotties 78th Anniversary Party – Lottie’s Pub will celebrate its 78th anniversary this May with an all day bash featuring live music and entertainment during the day and karaoke at 8:00 PM. More Details

Celebrate Porkchop’s 1-Year Anniversary – PORKCHOP CELEBRATES ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY With DJ, $1 Drink Specials and Complimentary Appetizers. More Details

4th Annual Dangerous Curves Ahead Charity Fashion Show & Expo – All sizes fashion show. Tickets and Details

Laura Jayne Bridal Trunk Show – Laura Jayne will be in town for this fabulous trunk show featuring her line of hand-crafted wedding veils including her signature Italian Tulle, as well as unique headpieces and jewelry. More Details

Food Revolution Day 2012 – In honor of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution Day, May 19th, the West Loop of Chicago invites you to stand up for Real Food.  This day will be dedicated to improving people’s relationship with and education of Real Food. More Details

Sunday, May 19

Laura Jayne Bridal Trunk Show – Laura Jayne will be in town for this fabulous trunk show featuring her line of hand-crafted wedding veils including her signature Italian Tulle, as well as unique headpieces and jewelry. More Details

Union Sushi + BBQ Turns 1 – Join us for an evening of fun while we roll out our greatest hits from the past year and pair them with a never-before-seen 2012 remix of each dish. Tickets and Details

Buzzed on Fashion Brings a Fashionable Brunch Experience to Old Town – Old Town boutiques cityblue, Handle with Care and Sara Jane are teaming up with Benchmark, to host Buzzed On Fashion, a fashion-forward champagne brunch. Tickets and Details

Cold Steel Vodka is where it’s at. We’re all used to seeing sparklers atop bottles of alcohol in clubs and quite frankly its become a bit passe. The makers of Cold Steel have come to shake things up. Instead of seeing sparklers reminiscent of the fourth of July, imagine seeing a morphing light emerging from the bar and floating towards your VIP table instead.  That’s what Cold Steel has brought to the table.  They’ve incorporated LEDs into the bottom of each bottle with color options and even a rotational setting. It gets better. This is distilled five times and uses natural spring water which takes out the burn and leaves you with a beverage which is intoxicating on many levels. Currently, Cold Steel is only sold in Illinois, Minnesota, and the Philippines. So Chicagoans – we are amongst the lucky few who can get our hands on this delicious, smooth vodka. Most Binny’s locations carry it as do a few independent liquor stores. Visit Cold Steel now to see a list of Illinois locations. Be the life and “light” of the party by bringing a bottle of Cold Steel Vodka to your next shindig.

This year the winner of the Food & Beverage Innovations Award was Copa di Vino and it’s not hard to see why.  Copa has come up with the ingenious idea of selling wine in prepackaged 100% recyclable plastic cups. it great for restaurants because they don’t have to worry about cleaning glasses, bringing them outside or monitoring bottles for spoilage. But I think it’s more exciting for us consumers. One of my favorite things to do in the Summer time is to visit Millenium Park and listen to music at the open air band shell.  Bringing a bottle of wine can be cumbersome and god forbid you forget your opener!  Binny’s sells Copa which for me makes it a no-brainer. Lighter, more convenient and with a lid to prevent spillage, Copa di Vino might just become my new best friend this Summer season.

It’s not flashy; It’s not as elegant as most tastings you’re used to; AND it’s during the day. In spite of all of that I highly recommend you plan on checking out next year’s International Wine Spirits and Beer Expo. Take the day off and enjoy something different and fun. Cheers!

The National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show is one of the most highly anticpated trade shows in the food and hospitality industry boasting 58,000 industry professionals from over 100 countries and showcasing 1800 exhibits under one roof bringing together thousands upon thousands of operators and suppliers helping make their business more profitable and successful.

This year at the show, there has been a huge emphasis on creating and supplying healthier cooking and eating options.  As a serious advocate for health, it made perfect sense for former President Bill Clinton to be invited as the keynote speaker for the NRA Show and we were delighted and thrilled to be able to attend his speech Sunday afternoon.  Mr. Clinton has dedicated his life to public service both here in the states as well as overseas.  When he left office in 2001, he made it his mission to improve people’s lives and he has not stopped fulfilling this desire since founding the William J. Clinton Foundation (or Clinton Foundation for short).

The mission of the Clinton Foundation is…. “to improve global health, strengthen economies worldwide, promote healthier childhoods, and protect the environment by fostering partnerships among governments, businesses, nongovernmental organizations, and private citizens — leveraging their expertise, resources, and passions — to turn good intentions into measurable results.” – http://clintonfoundation.org

The Arie Crown Theater at McCormick Place was packed full to capacity with almost all 4,500 seats filled in anticipation waiting for the president to speak at 1PM but due to weather and both Chicago airports closing, his presentation was delayed.  Nevertheless, Bill was determined to deliver as promised and his crew flew into Gary, Indiana and then drove to McCormick Place to ensure he did not let his fans down and managed to get on stage by 2PM.

Clinton’s energy is infectious and he is so well-spoken and dynamic in front of large audiences.  He is incredibly passionate about all of the work he is doing and yet he has such an amazing sense of humor all at the same time.  He focused much of his speech on instability and inequalities amongst communities across the world, especially in impoverished areas which lead to childhood obesity.  To eradicate this issue, his foundation has worked with 14,000 schools across the US providing the kids with healthy food choices.

Bill stands strong behind creating opportunity.  During his speech he said the single most important thing we can do as a society to improve the lives of everyone is to change the way we consume and produce energy by being leaders in technology creating products that make the world a better, safer, and healthier place to live.  He also referenced John Adams as the first president to sign a healthcare bill back in 1797.

President Clinton wowed the crowd, held our attention, and forced us to take his words to heart thinking about what we as individuals can do to make a difference and contribute to a healthier society.  After his speech, he took some additional time to sit for a q & a session with NRA chair Rosalyn “Roz” Mallet.

Read more about President Bill Clinton’s Keynote speech on the NRA Blog.

Learn more and get involved with the William J Clintion Foundation.

At check-in before boarding the boat guests were given wristbands and stick-on faux staches.  Once on the boat, there were party favors galore including beads, colorful sombreros, and green condoms courtesy of sponsor Tanteo tequila to promote their delicious new jalapeno tequila.  Bars were open on the 1st and 3rd levels serving up Tanteo tropical or jalapeno margaritas and Coor’s Light all included in the ticket price.  A cash bar was also available for guests wanting something else to drink.  On the 2nd level there were gratis chips with salsa and guacamole and tamales selling for $3 a piece.  PopChips, well-known for sponsoring some of the best events in Chicago, were strewn about the tables on every level, too.

What I liked most about this event was – it didn’t matter who you came with or who you knew or who you didn’t know.  Everyone had a great time partying together with old friends and making new friends.  And the incredible DJs Jeff Shea and Deejay Syco sure helped folks bond spinning old school jams and current hits.  The old school jams brought me back… “It’s time for the perculator…”  Lawdy dawdy we likes to party…”  Warm it up Chris.  I’m about to…”  Brass monkey.  That funky monkey…”  “Ice Ice Baby…”  “Let me see that tootsie roll…”  And my personal favorite – “I like big butts and I cannot lie…”

Oh yea, I know those tunes bring you back, too, and make you want to jump out of your office chair to bust a move!  It goes without saying…. this was one party for the books.  I only hope they decide to make it an annual event so those of you that missed it can get in on the fun!

LIKE My Drink On on Facebook to see all the photos from the Booze Cruise!

On-going events:

Shop the Outdoor Furniture Sample Sale – Browse Hundreds of Outdoor Furniture Products at up to75% Off at The Design Center at The Merchandise Mart. More Details

Monday, May 7
No events listed.

Tuesday, May 8
No events listed.

Wednesday, May 9

Porkchop Complimentary Gin & Whiskey Tasting – Porkchop, the West Loop’s only late night BBQ and whiskey spot, announces an exclusive gin and whiskey tasting with Ox&Pen and FEW Spirits. More Details

Thursday, May 10

Together We Cure MS in Boldz & Printz – Designer Andrew Aubrey Osafo will be showcasing sophisticated silhouettes from his “Kwabena”collection. Tickets and Details

Swa-Rai is turning 2 – Come enjoy free manicures by Posh’aah Nail Spa, Wine from Vintrendi, Gianni and Fruvi and cupcakes at the all new Emalon Showroom! Most importantly come hang out with me…ooh and look your best the photographer will be in the house! Info

Milk Handmade Grand Opening Party – Milk is opening the doors on May 1st, but popping the cork on May 10th! Join us for a celebration in the store with champagne, music, and probably Hallie getting tipsy and making a speech. More Details

Friday, May 11

RSVP to Decades’ VIP Event at space519 – Decades is returning to Space 519 in Chicago and bringing the best of vintage and modern Hollywood glamour. More Details

Tuscany Cafe Hosts an Evening of Art Featuring Ralph Childs – Stefani’s Tuscany Cafe invites Chicagoans to enjoy An Evening of Art Featuring artist Ralph Childs, a talented Chicago abstract painter, on Friday, May 11 beginning at 4:30 PM.  Guests can indulge in complimentary hors d’oeuvres for the first hour featuring items like Mini Meatball Sliders, Buffalo Chicken Melts, Toasted Ravioli, Pizza Bread, Homemade Blue Cheese Potato Chips and more. More Details

gdgt Live in Chicago 2012 – Time to get your geek on again once again. gdgt live is coming back to Chicago for the 3rd consecutive year and we’d love to see you there. More Details

AbonnaGirl EarCandy Launch Party – AbonnaGirl is having a Launch Party of their new Jewelry line Ear Candy that you don’t want to miss…This is a launch w/a twist!! Shop the entire store and receive 15% off. Make a purchase of Ear candy and receive a free Mani courtesy of SHINE NAILS! Meet the Designer herself & enjoy Free Cocktails, Music and Sweets!  Full Details

The Beauty of a Butterfly – Enjoy music, raffles, a silent auction, and more… all to benefit Camp Butterfly, a non-profit organization based in Chicago and a Summer resident camp designed to transform and empower young girls of African descent.  More Info

Saturday, May 12

The 25th Year Anniversary of the Alzheimer’s Association Gala – Funds raised benefit the Alzheimer’s Association Care, Support and Research Programs. Ticket and Details

School’s Out – Celebrate with us! Event will feature a School-themed party, Fashion Show by FIGHT CHIX Apparel and DJs Kalendr, Inphinity, Criz R. There will also be a 9-10PM Hosted Cocktail Reception. More Details

Dress for Success Power Walk with Jillian Michaels – Join Jillian Michaels in the only international 5K dedicated to th epromotion of active, healthy lifestyles for women. More Details

The Chicago Art Girls Present the Chicago Art Girls Pop-Up Shop – The THE CHICAGO ART GIRLS POP UP SHOP is just before Mother’s Day, where shoppers can find OVER 35 artists who create one-of-a-kind products. More Details

Salon Series at Version Festival 2012 – Three times a day one artist will present one artwork for one hour. We will spend a warm-up 30 minutes stealing ourselves with small talk, 5 Rabbit beer and Vinejoy wine before launching into a dialogue with the artist about their practice, vision, execution and reflection. More Details

Wilhelmina 30+ Model Search 2012 – Open to women aged 30 years old and beyond, No size restrictions, Prizes include: a Wilhelmina contract, a fashion feature spread in O, The Oprah Magazine, a $1,000 Miraclesuit swim wardrobe, a $1,000 Macy’s gift card, and a three-day all expense paid trip to NYC to participate in a runway show and the exclusive finals event where the winner will be announced. More Details

Sunday, May 13
No events listed.

On going events:

The Unik Show May 2012 – The Unik Show is a trade show for the apparel industry in a friendly location, where retailers, manufacturers, and representatives can meet to do business and all can be profitable. More Details

5th Annual Hispanic Professionals Cinco de Mayo Networking Celebration / 2012 Cinco de Mayo Tequila Festival – networking, professional, mixer. Tickets and Details

Monday, April 30

Vinitaly in the World Tour Debuts Spring US Your Dates – VeronaFiere is the leading organizer of shows in Italy, including Vinitaly, the International Wine and Spirits Exhibition. Tickets and Details

Tuesday, May 1
No events listed

Wednesday, May 2

Vital Nights Cinco de Mayo Celebration 2012 – Escape the daily grind and join the Vital Bridges Center on Chronic Care’s Junior Networking Committee in celebrating Cinco de Mayo at Jbar. Tickets and Details

Thursday, May 3

Glossed & Found Spring and Beauty Preview – We’re staying true to our motto (It’s Beauty! It’s Fashion! It’s Fun!) by teaming up with LK Bennett and Pur Minerals to bring you a Spring Beauty and Fashion preview. More Details

The Bedford Presents a 1 Year Anniversary Celebration – Reknown chefs from the Bedford (Mark Steuer), La Sirena Clandestina (John Manion), Three Aces (Matt Troost), & Hot Choclate (Mindy Segal) come together to create a $50 three-course menu exclusively for this one night event. Tickets and Details

Beau Ideal’s #iamPinkandBlue Presents: Blue Thursday – Enjoy an evening of wine, Jazz, and networking and help fight breast and prostate cancer. Tickets and Details

LatinoScoop.com & HACEMOS Cinco de Mayo Networking Event – LatinoScoop.com invites you to celebrate Cinco de Mayo early with a night of networking, dancing and learning more about the HACEMOS Organization. More Details

Friday, May 4

Chicago Cinco de Mayo Festival 2012 – The celebration begins with the Festival; a colorful, lively, and entertaining mix of diverse family oriented attractions like live music, food vendors, carnival rides and games. More Details

Chicago Cinco De Mayo Pub Crawl 2012 – This year, the producers of the world’s biggest pub crawl, PubCrawls.com, are hosting their next massive event in Chicago for Cinco de Mayo! Tickets and Details

Join the Cinco Fiesta at Hub 51 – Time to put your Sombrero on and grab a tasty Prickly Pear Margarita, it’s Cinco De Mayo!! More Details

Saturday, May 5
Visit the calendar to see Cinco de Mayo events!

StyleChicago.com Presents FashionChicago Shopping Event – Chicago fashion shopping event. Tickets and Details

Navy Pier Welcomes Sixth Annual Green Festival – Featured at the weekend-long show at Navy Pier will be leaders in the social justice and environmental community, including speakers, entrepreneurs and activists; an organic beer, mead and wine pavilion as well as a dedicated kids’ area for learning about easy and fun ways to incorporate green at a young age. More Details

Epicurious Entertains Chicago – The editors of Epicurious and Chicago’s top chefs, sommeliers, and mixologists  invite you to join us for an exceptional weekend experience at one of the city’s  most spectacular spaces, the Chicago Illuminating Company. Tickets and Details

25th Annual Chicago House Spring Brunch and Fashion Show with Borris Powell & Mark Shale – Spring Awakening: 25 Years of Brunch & Fashion in Bloom,” Chicago House’s 25th Annual Chicago House Spring Brunch and Fashion Show three-course brunch, silent auction and fashion show headlined by Mark Shale, featuring Borris Powell! Tickets and Details

High Steaks on the Rooftop – Enjoy a day of racing and famous Marker’s Mark Mint Juleps. More Details

Sunday, May 6

Perry Dog Presents Perry to The Rescue Paw-Tay – We will have dog massages compliments of Canine Massage Chicago and nail clippings by Pet Care Plus. Ticket and Details

Cinco de Miler 2012 – The Cinco de Miler course will offer three points of course entertainment including a Mariachi band, Son del Viento, and one other band. More Details

Epicurious Entertains Chicago – The editors of Epicurious and Chicago’s top chefs, sommeliers, and mixologists  invite you to join us for an exceptional weekend experience at one of the city’s  most spectacular spaces, the Chicago Illuminating Company. Tickets and Details

Cinco De Mayo Fiesta Aboard The Anita Dee – You don’t have to go south of the  boarder for this Cinco De Mayo Fiesta!  Enjoy the beautiful Chicago Skyline as  you cruise aboard the luxurious Anita Dee II located at Chicago’s #1 Hotspot – Navy Pier. Tickets and Details

Curried officially opens their doors to their new Lakeview location this afternoon.

Team Curried is beyond excited to finally show off this gem of a restaurant and of course the curry will be flowing  with flavor. We invite you to join us at 3227 N. Clark (Clark just  north of Belmont).  Curried’s delivery range will be expanding as a result of their new location so stay tuned for an updated delivery area. Not only will you be able to Get Curried Away at their amazing new location but also in the comfort of your own home.

If you love Indian food we highly recommend checking out Curried.  They have a full menu of incredibly tasty, flavorful Indian dishes.  The food is prepared fast but they maintain high quality for sure.  The entire menu is delicious but some innovative stand-outs include their Indian Pizzas, Kati Rolls, Curried Mac, and insatiable flavored Lassis!

What are you waiting for?  It’s time to get Curried Away!!!!

Visit Curried online today at www.curried.com.