Eat, Drink and Be Merry August 20 with Academy for Global Citizenship and Chicago's Top Chefs

The Academy for Global Citizenship is hosting a benefit this Friday, August 20 featuring signature dishes from Chicago's best chefs, drinks from an award winning mixologist and a wine tasting. The event takes place 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at  2023 West Carroll, Fourth Floor, a private loft space in the Kinzie Industrial Corridor, featuring an outdoor roof deck with unbeatable downtown Chicago views. Tickets are $60 and available at www.agcchicago.org

Signature dishes are being provided by: Alex Cheswick, owner and chef of May Street Market, Allie Levitt, owner and chef of Mado, Cleetus Friedman, owner and chef of City Provisions, and Hugh Amanom, head chef of The Chopping Block. John Kinder, lead mixologist for Death's Door Spirits will be creating signature cocktails.

Additionally, organic, locally brewed beers from Two Brothers,  Half Acre, Bell’s, and Metropolitan; organic and locally distilled spirits from Death’s Door and North Shore Distillery, and organic and sustainably produced wines will be served.

The event is sponsored by Green Grocer Chicago and friends!

The Academy for Global Citizenship is a unique Chicago Public Contract School, located on the Southwest side of Chicago. Our mission is to empower all students to positively impact the community and world beyond. In pursuit of this mission, AGC is committed to:

• serving the whole child
• modeling academic excellence
• developing inquirers
• cultivating international awareness
• fostering environmental stewardship
• facilitating collaboration within the community

Rigorous academic expectations lie at the heart of achieving our mission. As an International Baccalaureate candidate school, AGC employs an inquiry-based philosophy that challenges each learner to construct personal meaning from concept-driven units of study. Moreover, AGC’s innovative curriculum prepares students to be environmentally and internationally minded by examining how their choices impact their community and the world.

An AGC education extends beyond a solid academic foundation. Organic, nutritionally balanced meals, daily yoga, gardening, wellness instruction and ecologically sustainable practices throughout the school encourage learners to develop healthy and sustainable lifestyles for themselves. Ultimately, the Academy for Global Citizenship engages the whole child in an enriching educational community focused on fostering academic excellence, international awareness and environmental stewardship.

Their larger goal is to inspire the way society educates the lifeblood of our future by fostering systemic change. Their children will be the environmental, social, and political stewards of tomorrow. Let's equip them with the advantages and opportunities afforded by unsurpassed education and the dream of potential.

Free Release Tuesdays at Kurman
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Mayne Stage at Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest, August 21-22

Mayne Stage is participating in the 9th annual Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest in Rogers Park, Noon to 9 p.m., Saturday, August 21 and Sunday, August 22.

The free, open-to-the-public, weekend-long arts festival features more than 100 artists, open studios and live entertainment on three outdoor stages. Guests experience music, theater, food and drink on the cobblestone streets of the Glenwood Avenue Arts District. Stop by the Mayne Stage booth to meet the team behind-the-scenes. Visit www.glenwoodave.org for more information.

To learn more about Mayne Stage, visit www.maynestage.com or call (773) 381-4554.

Go 'Back to School' at Chicago French Market, Saturday, August 21

Chicago French Market has a party planned for students heading back to school, and the public is invited. Don't miss Chicago French Market’s Back To School Party, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, August 21. Chicago's first year-round, indoor market located at 131 N. Clinton St. in the West Loop/Fulton River District is the new hub for community activity.

"It only makes sense that we help celebrate the end of summer and the start of back-to-school season by offering specials and activities for families," says Sebastien Bensidoun, of the Bensidoun family, co-owners and operators of Chicago French Market. “The Market is community based, and an activity like the Back To School Party is just a sample of the type of events that we host to for this ever-growing neighborhood."

Children participating on August 21 will enjoy a balloon artist from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and coloring activities throughout the event. The first 170 children at the market will receive a school supply gift, while supplies last. Parents and children alike will also enjoy the many product specials from Chicago French Market’s nearly 30 individual vendors, including Abbey Brown Soap Artisan’s “Teacher’s Pet” special: any organic lip balm and specialty soap for $6. Gramp’s Gourmet Foods will sell its hot dogs for just $2 throughout the day, while supplies last. Pick up Les Fleurs’ special Back to School Bouquet, an assortment of fresh seasonal flowers with a whimsical nod towards the coming school year ($25), which comes with a coupon for $5 off the next purchase of $25 or more at Les Fleurs (valid through September 30, 2010.)

Chicago French Market is a European-inspired market offering an array of local produce, meats, seafood, breads, pastries, cheese, wine, chocolates, pastas, artisan-made goods, specialty drinks, flowers, prepared meals and a seating area for customers. Chicago French Market’s diverse group of local vendors stay open year-round, six days per week, and is located within the new MetraMarket development at 131 N. Clinton St. (between Washington and Randolph Streets). For more information, visit www.chicagofrenchmarket.com.

In case you missed Kurman’s news from last week…

Congratulations to Kurman clients including Restaurant Michael, Act One Café, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, Guanajuato, Doctors for Visual Freedom, Karma and Chicago French Market for features in Chicago media outlets.

Pioneer Press features Restaurant Michael of Winnetka
Pioneer Press columnist Lee Litas, visited Restaurant Michael (64 Green Bay Rd., Winnetka; 847-441-3100) to taste Chef/Owner Michael Lachowicz’s French cuisine. Litas’ piece focuses on her experience at the restaurant. Litas says, “The tone is streamlined and focused on the modern palate with an eye toward food allergies and waistlines.” Litas raves about the different choices Restaurant Michael has for its customers.

Read what else was said about Restaurant Michael. Follow Restaurant Michael on Twitter at @RestoMichael or find them on Facebook.

Chicago Reader Reviews Act One Café
Kate Schmidt of the Chicago Reader received a pleasant surprise when she visited Act One Café (1330 W. Morse Ave., Chicago; 773-381-4550). “I was wowed by the fresh and flavorful food.” Schmidt writes, “Another surprise winner was the seafood boo-yah, bouillabaisse with shrimp, octopus, and the best bay scallops I've had since a trip to the east coast several years ago.”

Read what Kate Schmidt likes about Act One Café. For more information about Act One Café, visit www.actonecafe.com. Follow Kate Schmidt or Act One Café on Twitter.

Chicago Cheap Eats Examiner talks about the “5 for 6 ‘til 7” deal at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar
Jacky Runice, Chicago Cheap Eats Examiner, states that Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar (25 E. Ohio St., Chicago; 312-329-9463 or 960 Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire; 847-793-0333) offers reasonable deals with its 5 for 6 ‘til 7. “Each item is $6 - cocktails, wines, appetizers and the Prime burger - at either location, Chicago or Lincolnshire.”

Read other deals included in the 5 for 6 ‘til 7. Find Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar Chicago on Facebook. Read more of Jacky Runice’s Chicago cheap eats. Follow Jacky on Twitter.

Make It Better reviews Karma and Guanajuato
Make It Better magazine restaurant reviewer Julie Chernoff had the opportunity to visit North Shore restaurants, Karma and Guanajuato.

Chernoff found nirvana at Karma (510 E. Route 83, Mundelein; 847-970-6900). “The Tempura Green Beans ($5) were light and crispy and served with a chili-garlic dipping sauce. They quickly disappeared. We also vacuumed down an order of Black Salt & Szechwan Pepper Calamari with Sweet Garlic Lime Aioli ($8).”

Chernoff raves about Karma’s staff: “Service was attentive throughout, and the coffee was delicious, so we left refreshed and ready to face the world. We had found our inner zen.”

Chernoff also reviews contemporary Mexican restaurant, Guanajuato (73 Green Bay Rd., Glencoe; 847-242-0909). “We delved into the ‘Aperitivos’ with gusto, starting with creamy, fresh guacamole ($6.50, $8.50 with crudités). Coctel de Camarones ($10.95), a Mexican-style shrimp cocktail with lots of chopped shrimp tossed with avocado, onion, cilantro and jalapeño in a tangy tomato sauce, hit the spot.”

Read Julie Chernoff’s Karma and Guanajuato reviews. Follow Make It Better on Twitter. Follow Karma on Twitter.

Chicago French Market events grab media’s attention
Chicago French Market (131 N. Clinton St., Chicago; 312-575-0306) frequently hosts events for its customers. Recent events include a Frietkoten’s Belgian Beer and Fry Tasting and a cooking demonstration by Chef Rocky Barnette of the non-profit organization Food & Water Watch. Chicago French Market also moved vendors such as Produce Express, Les Fleurs and Pop This! outside to have an outdoor market for the day.

Check out the pieces on Frietkoten:
• Chicago 3 Media
• Chicago Now
• Chicago Sun-Times
• Daily Candy
• Fulton River Business Association

Read what Chef Rocky Barnette of Food & Water Watch said about his cooking demonstration at Chicago French Market:

• Food and Water Watch

Take a look at what the media said about the day Chicago French Market brought select vendors outside for an outdoor market.

• Grubstreet

For more event information about Chicago French Market, visit www.frenchmarketchicago.com. Follow Chicago French Market on Twitter at @ChiFrenchMarket or find them on Facebook.

It wasn’t only restaurant clients that made a splash with the media: the University of Chicago Magazine blog features Lasik Dr. Mark Golden

University of Chicago writer, Brooke E. O'Neill, blogs about alum Dr. Mark Golden’s Doctors for Visual Freedom Laser Center (2010 S. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights; 847-621-0633) and Golden Eye Consultants (5201 N. Harlem Ave., Chicago; 773-774-2102). The program offers a $1,000 discount for each eye on their best Lasik procedure to the “American Heroes” who make our lives better and safer.

“Dr. Mark Golden has found a new way to honor everyday heroes like police, firefighters, paramedics, military personnel, and teachers: discounted Lasik. To make the service affordable Golden's Doctors for Visual Freedom Laser Center is currently offering $1,000 off per eye,” says O’Neill of the University of Chicago Magazine blog.

Read more details about Doctors for Visual Freedom in the University of Chicago Magazine blog post. For more information, visit www.doctorsforvisualfreedom.com. Find Doctors for Visual Freedom on Facebook or follow Dr. Mark Golden on Twitter.