Oct. 27--Just in time for Halloween, learn pumpkin baking tricks at a hands-on pastry class, and take the kids to a pumpkin pancake brunch:
DO MORE!
Read It Eat, Chicago's only bookstore devoted completely to food books, hosts a hands-on autumn baking class in its demo kitchen. Roll up your sleeves, and bake pumpkin whoopie pies, snickerdoodle cookies and apple tarts from scratch with pastry chef Kelly Dull. $60. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at 2142 N. Halsted St., www.eventbrite.com (search for "Hands-On Baking Class: Fall Baking").
SPEND LESS!
Get in the spooky spirit at the Hilton Hotel in Oak Brook, where a Pumpkins Pancakes all-you-can-eat buffet brunch features eggs made to look like eyeballs, fruit salad with (gummy) worms, pork sausage made to look like mummies, pumpkin pancakes, caramel apples and much more for just $10 a kid (up to age 12; free for ages 2 and younger; $20 for ages 13 and older). If desired, order from a bonus list of a la carte dishes (mushroom hash and quail eggs, seared duck breast, filet and eggs) and a cash bloody mary bar. Along with the brunch, the hotel has kid-friendly holiday activities planned throughout the day. Reservations required. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at 3500 Midwest Road, Oak Brook, 630-850-5507.
