April is full of fun and activities. In addition to Easter and Passover, April is also the new National Brunch Month. Meanwhile, our favorite activities are also returning as the weather lifts up! Highlights this month include EXPO Chicago‘s 10th Anniversary Edition, Easter dining in Chicago, National Brunch Month celebrations, and spring activities you cannot miss!

Dining

Visit Daisies in Logan Square

2375 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

After several delays and much anticipation, Daisies, Joe Frillman’s vegetable-focused, pasta-driven restaurant finally opened doors for dinner at its brand-new location in Logan Square. The new iteration of Daisies continues to take inspiration from the seasonal bounty of the Midwest, directly tapping into Frillman Farms, his brother Tim’s 30-acre farm located just outside St. Joseph, Michigan. Daisies’ menu will once again be centered around handmade pasta, in-house fermentation, and diligent up-cycling practices–an approach that’s allowed Daisies to earn numerous accolades including a Jean Banchet award and a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand ranking.

Premier Fondue Dinner at Geja’s Cafe

340 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

For the first time in the restaurant’s history, Geja’s has decided to introduce a seasonal premier dinner celebrating spring flavors. Geja’s new Spring Premier Fondue Dinner will feature Spring Cheese Fondue, Dippers and Salad as the first course, Spring Entrée Fondue with succulent meats including beef tenderloin, gulf shrimp, and chicken breast as the second course, and the first-time-ever raspberry white chocolate spring dessert fondue as the final touch.

Cheers on Tax Day

Who doesn’t deserve a good glass after paying Uncle Sam? Especially if you’re an entrepreneur! This year, many bars and restaurants in Chicago are running Tax Day happy hours: what a brilliant idea, eh? Participants including Cody’s Public House, aliveOne, Uproar, and many more. Take a look at our list of Tax Day specials and treat yourself to being a responsible adult! Also, anyone who mentions back tax is buying a full round for everyone.

The Smith Launches Martini Hour

400 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Just in time for spring, The Smith in Chicago’s River North neighborhood is pleased to announce the launch of their new Martini Hour. Available on Mondays through Fridays from 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm, diners can enjoy discounted specialty martinis and bites. On the menu, enjoy the Espresso Martini, The Dirty Martini, Midtown Manhattan No. 3, Lychee Gimlet, Basil Lemon Drop, and more for just $12.00.

Lagunita’s Tap Room

2607 W 17th St, Chicago, IL 60608

For three years, Chicagoans have waited patiently for Lagunitas TapRoom & Beer Sanctuary to reopen. Well, the wait is over, and it officially opens to the public on Thursday, April 13! Lagunitas will serve up the same shenanigans and imbibables that fans loved once before that fuel stories and songs. Truly there’s sumpin’ for everyone. Upon entering the purple building doors, travel through what can only be described as a Willy Wonka-esque corridor lit by a celestial mural and a dancing laser light that will take guests on a journey beyond pure imagination.

Dinner with a View

The exclusive, immersive dining experience Dinner With A View is coming Pioneer Court on Chicago’s iconic Magnificent Mile for a limited time on select nights from Friday, April 7 through Sunday, May 14. Dining in beautiful, intimate clear frameless geodesic domes that have been transformed into terrariums, each highlighting unique terrains found across the world meant to stimulate the senses by marrying an elevated culinary experience with a unique view. Guests will enjoy a three-course, locally sourced meal designed by an award-winning Chef that has been influenced by cuisines around the world.

Dome reservations are available online for $199.99. Dinner reservations for all guests are $129.99 per guest. A minimum of 4 guests are required per booking, and domes can accommodate 6 guests. However, use code URBAN60 at checkout and receive 60% off your dome reservation, bringing your price per dome below $100 to split between your party.

Sno-Ball Social at Ina Mae Tavern

1415 N Wood St, Chicago, IL 60622

Join Ina Mae Tavern on Saturday, April 29th and Sunday, April 30th for their Sno-Ball Social where there will be a Sno-Ball sampling happy hour from 3-5 PM! Specialty and classic Sno-Balls will also be available for purchase at Ina Mae’s to-go window as well as by dining in. Live music will also take place all weekend long in honor of Ina Mae’s Jazz Fest weekend!

Bourbon, Bacon, and Bubbles at Frontier

1072 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

Bourbon, bacon & bubbles: have you heard of a better lineup? Frontier will be hosting their Bourbon, Bacon, & Bubbles Fest on Saturday, April 15th from 1-4 PM. For just $39 a person. Guests can sample over fifty types of bourbon and bubbles, while also feasting on passed apps by Chopped’s 2022 Champion, Chef Jupiter.

Explore Dusek’s New Menu

Dusek’s Dining Room, a Pilsen neighborhood favorite, is introducing a new rotating wood-fire menu by Chef Ryan Pfeiffer. Some new current menu items in the four coursed meal include a Petunia Ocean Trout with cucumber, citron vinegar and dill, Fritto Misto with oyster mushroom, winter squash, basil, and Atlantic Black Cod with ruby red grapefruit and spicy mustard greens. Pastry Chef Aja London has also added to the dessert course a Carrot Cake with orange cheesecake puree and ginger chantilly, and a Berry Cream Puff with a spiced cream puff, blackberry curd, and honey diplomat.

Art & Music

EXPO Art Week

Speaking of things to do in Chicago this April for art lovers, EXPO Art Week, the unique 10th-anniversary edition programming of the famous EXPO Chicago, definitely comes on top of our list. On top of the expose featuring national and international galleries setting the dialogues in the art industry, EXPO is partnering with galleries and organizations across Chicago neighborhoods to throw a week-long art party of openings, exhibitions, screenings, performances, and artist talks. Stay tuned, as Urban Matter will be running a dedicated coverage on art week spotlights, commentaries, and social media previews. So, if you haven’t followed us on Instagram, now is the time!

Spring Exhibitions to View

Looking for other lesser-known shows that are just as fascinating? Check out our hand-curated list of spring exhibitions to view in Chicago. These exhibitions span from film screening, performance, installation, public art, to traditional gallery exhibitions. Each is chosen with care and love, so, I hope you enjoy them as much as I did finding them for you!