I know the wine will be great, but what really stands out at Catch 35 is how the staff pairs the courses with the wines offered. We’ve participated in planning sessions for past dinners and it is impressive.

Here’s a sampling of what you’ll get on Wednesday night.

At the 6pm reception, you’ll enjoy Seared Scallops, Lemon Thyme Buerre Blanc, Poached Shrimp, Crab, Basil, and Cherry Cucumber paired with St. Supéry’s 2008 Napa Valley Estate Sauvignon Blanc.

The first course features Roasted Golden Beet Salad with Pears, Candied Walnuts, Ricotta, and Champagne Vinaigrette dressing paired with a 2006 Napa Valley Estate White Meritage “Virtu”.

The second course includes Brie and Granny Smith Apples paired with the 2008 Napa Valley Oak Free Chardonnay.

In the third course, Salmon is served with Fingerling Potatoes, Rye Crust and Thousand Island Hollandaise paired with the 2005 Napa Valley Estate Merlot.

Hanger Steak with Soy Marinade, Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Mashed Potato is paired with 2004 Napa Valley Red Wine “Elu” for the fourth course. This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.

In the fifth course, Bacon Wrapped Filet Medallions are served with Maytag Blue Cheese, Amuse Bouche and paired with 2005 Napa Valley “Dollarside Ranch” Cabernet Sauvignon.

For the final course, Creme Brulee Cheesecake with Cracker Crisp and Strawberry Whip Cream is paired with a 2009 California “North Coast” Moscato.

Best of all, the cost of all of this enjoyment is a very reasonable $75 per person plus tax and tip. This is our best bet for Wednesday.

For reservations, please call 312-346-3500, or visit www.catch35.com. You’ll find Catch at 35 West Wacker Drive in Chicago. To learn more about St. Supéry Winery, visit www.stsupery.com.

We’ve been so busy putting the next issue together, but now it’s (mostly) done and it’s time to celebrate. So much is going on in this town all the time. Here’s an article we just did on our favorite local NYE parties. Remember, if you need additional information on what’s going on, you can always call us at 847-715-4574.  Happy holidays to everyone, and a happy new year too.

I stopped by the other night to say hello and to get a quick bit to eat. Knowing that my stomach isn’t very strong, Surindar served two mild chicken dishes; Chicken Makhani–chicken pieces served in a creamy tomato sauce that is tender and sweet; and Malai Chicken, chicken pieces marinated in yogurt, then baked in a clay oven and served with sliced vegetables. Both were delicious but quite different. Along with the chicken, I enjoyed the Naan, a baked leavened bread that is a staple of Indian cuisine, Basmati rice, and a dessert called Gulab Jamun which tastes like a mini sponge cake soaked in a sugary syrup.

I know there is a lot more to Indian cuisine than the dishes I enjoyed, but I also know there are many people who are intimidated by Indian cuisine primarily because they don’t understand it. These dishes were not hot or spicy, the tastes were delicate, and the dessert was really good! While I didn’t enjoy any wine, but the wine list is filled with California wines similar to what you’d find at any upscale American restaurant. I highly recommend Shikara and Viceroy of India.

Shikara Restaurant is located at 1620 75th St. in Downers Grove. For more information, call 630-964-1720 or visit the Web site at www.shikararestaurant.com. -By Russ Hoefer, Editor

The Tiffany Diamond, weighing in at 128.54 carats

A couple of days ago I attended the media opening of the Field’s new exhibit and the reopening of the Grainger Hall of Gems, complete with diamond-shaped cookies, rock candy, models and jewelry designers from New York.  “The Nature of Diamonds” is a gorgeous exhibit, as you might expect, but it wasn’t so much the astounding jewelry that got me as the sheer amount of information I was getting. Wow.  It’s a fairly text-heavy exhibit, but also comprehensive.  Everything from how they’re made to who got to wear them in medieval times can be found here.  Did you know that diamonds are great thermal conductors but not good electrical conductors? Have you ever compared diamonds of differing quality to see what the effect really is? This is not an exhibit I’d bring kids to, but for adults it’s pretty darn cool. Here’s our review.

I also got to talk to designer Mish Tworkowski from New York. I didn’t know anything about him (not much of a jewelry person normally, even though I’m attracted to shiny things) but I could instantly tell he’s got the trademark bowtie thing going.  He is one of the designers chosen to pick a gem from the Field’s collection and create a piece of jewelry around it. Mish designed a ring for the Grainger Hall of Gems, which is a beautiful piece. I’d recommend coming here to see all the designers’ work.

The Grainger Hall, by the way, is now a really gorgeous space. You think of museum gem rooms as these dark, velvety places designed to create drama, but this newly renovated space is bright, well-lit and elegant, with lots of medium-colored wood and cream and glass.  It  seems like an inviting and warm place, and did you know you can get engaged here? They’ll actually put your engagement ring in a spot behind glass with a placard bearing a personal message (like, “Will you marry me,” I imagine). It costs $350 for the service, but I bet it’s quite special. –By Helen

For my review of the show, go to the Windy City Guide Web site.

It’s been a few years since we went–my son has never been, so we were very excited to see our favorite underwater creatures. The Wild Reef is an exceptional exhibit with plenty of amazing views and the whole place is one big learning opportunity disguised as entertainment. We learned the names of fishes, stood on glass under which stingrays were swimming, learned how to tell male and female sharks apart and discovered different colored sea urchins. The Shedd is totally fun–we could have stared at the octopus all day. Definitely a museum worth seeing, especially once the Fantasea show begins in earnest. –By Helen

In our downtime we visited the Willis Tower Skydeck for the first time in a very long time, so here’s what you can expect if you’re up for that particular tourist attraction. First, on Saturday night the line was about 2 1/2 hours long. If you can, try Sunday morning instead. The Skydeck opens at 9 a.m. and it’s not quite as crowded then.

Once you go into the right entrance on Jackson Blvd. (the south side), you’ll enter an elevator for a super-short ride, then go through the security line. You’ll probably get bogged down here.  After security, you can buy tickets and then get into the line for the elevator that goes up to the top; you can choose to watch a seven-minute movie along the way if you want to. The ride to the Skydeck is only about 90 seconds long, and will be packed with other people.

Once you’re up there you can see the Skydeck at your leisure. Most windows have viewing scopes that cost 50 cents, and you can view the entire cityscape (and four other states) from them.  Near the end of your tour you’ll encounter the glass-bottom window boxes that jut out into thin air. If you’re willing to step on the glass, you’ll see Chicago landscape beneath your feet. It’s a great photo opp, so get your family to sit in the corner of the box and make sure the glass under their feet shows up in the picture. And of course there’s a place to buy souvenirs on the Skydeck, or you can wait until you’ve taken the elevator back downstairs. It lets you out right near a couple of different souvenir stores.

The Skydeck at Willis Tower (still known to many of us as the Sears Tower, but the sign says differently now…) is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day through September, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from October to March. Admission is $14.95 for adults, $10.5o for kids between 3-11. You can purchase a FastPass for $30 if you would like to work the express line, and you can also purchase a video tour. The view is worth it from the tallest building in the Western hemisphere, so go see it if you’ve got the time.

For additional information, check out www.theskydeck.com. -By Helen

Meanwhile, if you’re into science fiction you can head over to Rosemont, where the giant space at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center will be brimming with fans at the Chicago Comic-Con between August 6-9. “Twilight” stars, Herb Jefferson Jr. of the old “Battlestar Galactica” and “Star Trek”‘s Nichelle Nichols are among the celebrity guests turning this convention into a sci-fi fan’s paradise. And that’s really just the tip of the iceberg, because Comic-Con features tons of artists, comic creators and more designed to appeal to the geek in all of us.

And then there’s Lollapalooza. One of the premier music festivals in the country, Lollapalooza closes off a portion of the lakefront at Grant Park that includes Buckingham Fountain. This makes room for the stages and bands that’ll keep music fans coming August 7-9. This year’s headliners include Depeche Mode, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (replacing the Beastie Boys), the Killers, Kings of Leon, Tool and Jane’s Addiction. Everyone who’s anyone will be here, so don’t miss it! Last I checked, regular three-day passes and single-day tickets were still available. And by the way, Lollapalooza is pretty family-friendly for a music festival, with the tag-a-kid service, Kidzapalooza area and free admission for anyone under 10 with a fare-paying adult. Strollers and blankets are allowed.

We wish we could be at all three places at once! -By Helen