Green gods and goddesses, rejoice! Earth Day is just around the corner, and Chicago is gearing up with a bevy of local events that give mad props to Mother Nature. Whether you’re a conservationist, a naturalist, or something in between, you can pay homage to the great outdoors with these Earth-themed options.
Hotel Felix
Earth Day may not be until April 22, but Hotel Felix is celebrating all month long. The first Chicago hotel designed to meet LEED silver certification, the hot spot is definitely conscious of such an important day. Its efforts include the introduction of two environmental captains, Troy Murray and Noemi Rodriguez, to ensure continued and improved green efforts, a month-long complimentary yoga session with instructors from Elate Yoga to help guests and visitors find their inner zen, and a partnership with Alex Gnoske to support Friends of the Chicago River.
Hotel Felix, 111 West Huron Street (between Clark and LaSalle streets); 312-447-3440.
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Cru Kitchen & Bar
This Gold Coast restaurant takes its farm-to-table M.O. to the next level on April 22 with an Earth Day farm dinner. Collaborating with four Midwest farms (Nichols Farm & Orchard, Green Acres Farm, Seedling Orchard, and Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery), executive chef Alex Shalev will present a four-course meal ($52) in honor of all things green. Dishes will include grilled asparagus salad, white fish, duck breast, and parsley root cake with an option to add wine pairings for $20 extra.
Cru Kitchen & Bar, 25 East Delaware Street (between Wabash and State streets); 312-337-4001.
This Gold Coast restaurant takes its farm-to-table M.O. to the next level on April 22 with an Earth Day farm dinner. Collaborating with four Midwest farms (Nichols Farm & Orchard, Green Acres Farm, Seedling Orchard, and Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery), executive chef Alex Shalev will present a four-course meal ($52) in honor of all things green. Dishes will include grilled asparagus salad, white fish, duck breast, and parsley root cake with an option to add wine pairings for $20 extra.
Cru Kitchen & Bar, 25 East Delaware Street (between Wabash and State streets); 312-337-4001.
Sofia “Wearing Flowers in Our Hair"
Our fave trendsetters at Sofia are teaming up with denim royalty M2F and local brand Bucketfeet on April 20 to honor Earth Day the only way they know how: in style, of course! Shop like a true flower child in a crown of petals (Sofia will be featuring a build-your-own flower-crown bar), as the two lines debut their spring '13 collections from noon to 6 p.m. — you’ll totally get first dibs. Oh, and did we mention free booze will be flowing in the form of Peroni, Champagne, and mimosas?
Sofia, 100 East Walton Street (between Oak Street and Delaware Place); 312-640-0878.
Our fave trendsetters at Sofia are teaming up with denim royalty M2F and local brand Bucketfeet on April 20 to honor Earth Day the only way they know how: in style, of course! Shop like a true flower child in a crown of petals (Sofia will be featuring a build-your-own flower-crown bar), as the two lines debut their spring '13 collections from noon to 6 p.m. — you’ll totally get first dibs. Oh, and did we mention free booze will be flowing in the form of Peroni, Champagne, and mimosas?
Sofia, 100 East Walton Street (between Oak Street and Delaware Place); 312-640-0878.
Lincoln Park Zoo Party For The Planet
Get into the Earth Day spirit on April 20 with some furry friends who not only love our planet just as much as you do, but rely on it for their survival. The zoo has created several edible Earth-themed piñatas for the occasion, and will be presenting them to the animals in timed increments. "Awwww" over the dwarf mongoose exhibit, or view nature in its prime with some slightly less cuddly lions and hyenas — either way, it’s a good reminder that we’re not the only ones affected by our actions.
Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 North Clark Street; 312-742-2000.
Get into the Earth Day spirit on April 20 with some furry friends who not only love our planet just as much as you do, but rely on it for their survival. The zoo has created several edible Earth-themed piñatas for the occasion, and will be presenting them to the animals in timed increments. "Awwww" over the dwarf mongoose exhibit, or view nature in its prime with some slightly less cuddly lions and hyenas — either way, it’s a good reminder that we’re not the only ones affected by our actions.
Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 North Clark Street; 312-742-2000.
Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Felix