Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer with a three-day weekend offering a last chance to make the most of the nice weather with grilled food, refreshing drinks and music. Restaurants and bars throughout the area extend their weekend brunches to Mondays, offer patriotic specials and host parties to let you have a little fun in the sun. However you prefer to celebrate, you should check out these spots.
The Loop and Near North Side
Electric Shuffle
Play some games of shuffleboard while taking advantage of specials offered throughout the weekend, including $10 espresso martinis and $5 wine, beer and seltzer. 488 N. La Salle Drive, 312-736-7617, electricshuffle.com/us/chicago
Rotisserie Ema
The self-serve restaurant transforms into a fro-yo bar, serving frozen Greek yogurt you can top with chocolate sauce, caramel, nuts, cookie crumbles and sprinkles for $4.95. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, 74 W. Illinois St., 312-527-5586, emarestaurants.com
STK Steakhouse
The River North restaurant offers its happy hour all day on Monday, with deals including $3 oysters, $6 wagyu meatballs and $9 signature cocktails. 9 W. Kinzie St., 312-340-5636, stksteakhouse.com/en-us/location/chicago
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North Side & Northwest Side
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba
On Monday, the tapas restaurant offers an extended happy hour from 3-6 p.m. in the bar area only, with deals including $1.50 deviled eggs, $4 bacon-wrapped dates, $5.50 glasses of sangria and $6 glasses of wine. 2024 N. Halsted St., 773-935-5000, cafebabareeba.com
Frontier
A special brunch ($29) includes an entree and bottomless rosé and bubbles. Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-772-4322, thefrontierchicago.com/happenings
Lark
Watch Venus work it Monday and Pixel perform Saturday and Sunday to music from DJ Saint during a drag brunch ($85) featuring a brunch entree, sweet starter and bottomless drinks such as mimosas, bloody marys and seltzers. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday through Monday. 3441 N. Halsted St., 773-799-8968, larkchicago.com
WingOut Chicago
Try variations on wings from vendors including Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap and Smoke Daddy and vote for your favorite at the 10th annual fest, which also features live reggae, soul and R&B music. 1:30-4:30 p.m. and 5:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday and 1:30-7:30 p.m. Sunday at Gallagher Way, 3635 N. Clark St.; tickets are $20, wingoutchicago.com/tickets
West Side & Near West Side
Costera Cocina Tulum
Happy hour lasts all day Monday, with $10 margaritas and espresso martinis, $6 draft beer, $7 glasses of wine, $8 salmon tostada and $12 nachos, plus a DJ providing the party atmosphere. 850 W. Fulton Market, 312-300-0774, costeracocina.com
Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar
The Humboldt Park restaurant marks its last day of service with a low country boil ($55) featuring snow crab, peel-and-eat shrimp, crayfish, house-made, dry-aged, kimchi Polish sausage, sweet corn, potatoes and garlic-butter Parker House rolls. Noon to 8 p.m. Saturday. 2700 W. Chicago Ave., 773-661-9577, heritage-chicago.com/heritage-holiday
Ina Mae Tavern
The restaurant offers two pounds of crawfish for $39 along with $10 frozen cocktails Saturday and Sunday. If you want to host your own backyard crawfish boil, you can pick up 5 pounds from Thursday through Monday for $89. 1415 N. Wood St., 773-360-8320, inamaetavern.com
Mac’s Wood Grilled
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Enjoy a last taste of summer with specials offered Thursday through Monday, including $5 watermelon vodka lemonades and cucumber mules and $13 Polish sausage with sauerkraut and cheddar sauce. 1801 W. Division St., 773-782-4400, macswoodgrilled.com
Privé
Classic fashion advice says don’t wear white after Labor Day, so the West Town speakeasy is giving you one last chance with an All White Night bash featuring specialty cocktails and live music. 6 p.m. to midnight. 1523 W. Chicago Ave., provarerestaurants.com
The Publican
The restaurant cooks two whole pigs for a porchetta cookout featuring WhistlePig samples, mini golf games and live music from Family Junket. Noon Sunday. 837 W. Fulton Market, 312-733-9555, thepublicanrestaurant.com
Suburban and multiple locations
Sweet Mandy B’s
Indulge Friday through Monday with six-packs of yellow and chocolate cupcakes topped with red, white and blue sprinkles. 1208 W. Webster Ave., 773-244-1174 and 254 E. Ontario St., 312-255-1632, sweetmandybs.com
Samantha Nelson is a freelance writer.