Weekend Planner: Eating Contests, Eating Green and Eating Ribs

By Sarah Freeman

The clothes-less bike riders take to the street on Saturday night for the annual naked bike ride. If that is your chosen form of entertainment this weekend, we won’t judge. We will, however, offer some options that don’t involve stripping down to your skivvies.

Eating Contest
In preparation for this weekend’s Ribfest the amateurs step up to the plate tonight for a rib-eating contest. The winner earns a seat alongside the pros during the professionals competition on Friday night  (Black Rock, 3614 N Damen Ave.; 773-525-3609).


Eat Green
We don’t need an excuse to dive into a Chipotle burrito, but on Saturday we can feel a little better about eating a pound of rice, beans, meat and cheese. At all 83 Chicagoland locations, proceeds from all sales (up to $20,000) will benefit Green City Market.

Ribfest
Get saucy this weekend with a festival dedicated to fall-off-the-bone ribs. BBQ masters gather to feed the masses as they listen to music on two stages. The festival begins Friday night with a professional rib eating contest and continues through Sunday (Lincoln Ave from Irving Park Rd. to Berteau Ave.).

Lit Fest
Deep down little separates the common man from Rick Bayless, except solid cooking skills - and a restaurant empire. The Good Eating sage at this weekend’s Lit Fest can help with the first part. Cooking demos and interviews will take place with chefs including Bayless, Paul Virant and Daisy Martinez (Printers Row from Congress St. to Polk St.).