Restaurant Week and Winter Markets

Restaurant Week recommendations, indoor farmers markets, top home sales, and upcoming events

Author

Joe Arendt
January 16, 2025

Morning, it’s Burbs Explored, your trusted guide for exploring and living well in the Chicago suburbs. This week we are highlighting some great winter markets, Restaurant Week recommendations, the most expensive home sales of 2024, and a great lineup of upcoming events.

Before we dive in, a quick thank you to everyone that sent us their favorite local spots over the past few weeks. So many great places for us to check out. Please keep the recommendations coming!

Weekly Spotlight: Winter Markets

Each week we pick a theme and highlight three places (one from each suburbs region; North Shore, Northwest Suburbs, Western Suburbs) that we think are great.

Missing summer farmers markets? Here are a few indoor markets across the Chicago suburbs where you can find local produce and fresh goods this winter.

  • Elawa Farm Winter Market (Lake Forest) - A great market to find locally sourced produce and eggs, along with curated pantry items and home goods. Open every Friday and Saturday from 9am-1pm through April 26th.

  • Woodstock Farmers Market - The popular year-round market hosts their winter indoor market at All Seasons Orchard, where they have over 45 vendors offering fresh produce, dairy, meat, eggs, breads, and more! They are open select Saturdays from 9am-1pm (check website for schedule).

  • Batavia Indoor Market - A great indoor market at Grainology Brewstillery, offering fresh greens, gourmet mushrooms, meats, eggs, baked goods, hot sauces, honey, and more. They require their vendors to grow, harvest and/or produce at least 75% of market products. Open every Saturday from 9am-Noon.

News & Updates

  • Bluefish Sushi is coming to Schaumburg. The popular sushi spot also has locations in Vernon Hills, Glenview, and Park Ridge (link)

  • A new farm-focused restaurant called Burl is coming to Evanston this fall, from industry vets that have worked at top Chicago restaurants (link)

  • George Trois will be doing a pop-up dinner at Aboyer for Valentine’s Day. Snag your spot before they sell out (link)

  • Eater Chicago profiled Naperville’s Go Brewing, which creates award-winning non-alcoholic craft beer (link)

  • Scratchboard Kitchen (Arlington Heights) has extended their popular Apres Ski Winter Pop-Up through February 2nd (link)

  • Looking to visit one of Chicago’s award-winning museums this winter? Here is a great list of the free days at each museum (link)

  • GUIDE UPDATE: We added Double Clutch Brewing and One Lake Brewing to our Best Breweries Guide (link)

Restaurant Week

Chicago Restaurant Week will run from January 24th through February 9th. The annual event celebrates Chicagoland’s award-winning dining scene with participating restaurants offering a special special prix fixe menu throughout the event. Restaurant Week is a great way to try new restaurants or support your local favorites. There are over 470 restaurants participating, with over 50 from the suburbs. A few spots that we recommend checking out:

Changing things up this week and highlighting the most expensive home sales across the Chicago suburbs in 2024. We all know home prices have skyrocketed the past few years. The luxury market is no exception. Last year the Chicago suburbs had several record-breaking sales, including Michael Jordan’s 56,000 square foot estate and the iconic Home Alone house. Whether you are actually in the market for a multi-million dollar home or just a curious Zillow surfer like us, check out this list of incredible homes.

Upcoming Events

FEATURED EVENT: Buffalo Creek Brewing’s Alpine Fest

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NORTHWEST SUBURBS

WESTERN SUBURBS

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