seasonal sunday brunch | june 19
Starting this Sunday, June 19, we will be hosting a weekly Seasonal Sunday Brunch. Each week we'll create a new fixed menu featuring local produce, meats or cheeses, along with some of our popular Blue Sky favorites. We'll post the menu on our Facebook page, and since it's BYOB, we'll suggest tasty pairings, too.

In honor of dads, this week's feast will include a Buttermilk Biscuit Egg Sandwich with housemade bacon jam, Baked French Toast with raspberries and almonds, and a sweet and savory Basil Mint Fruit Salad. Your $17 meal will also include coffee or tea and lots of fresh mixers for your vodka, champagne or bathtub gin.

Advance tickets can be purchased here.

mini pies
We're thrilled that the Farmers Markets have popped up all over town, and with them, lots of delicious, local fruit. We're turning that luscious fruit into mini pies, available for $6 at the bakery and all three of our Farmers Market stands. Full-size versions are available for pre-order, too. Send an email to have one ready for you.

customized fortune cookies
Know what you want to say to your sweetheart on Valentine's Day, but need a nifty conveyance? Let us tuck your sweet nothings into a delicate, handmade fortune cookie. You can choose your personalized sayings, or let us put words in your mouth.

Maybe a Wilco-themed assortment? (I'm the man that loves you, The birds are singing in your eyes today, I'd love to feel your hand touching mine.) Feeling nostalgic for Mayor Daley already? (It's a bayonet, so let's not make trivia about this. What else do you want me to do? Take my pants off?)

Send us an email with up to twelve different fortunes, a maximum of ten words each. In your email, please also include the date and time you wish to pick your cookies up from the bakery. Cookies are $10 per dozen.

meet your farmer | february 19
We're pleased to provide an opportunity to meet one of the proprietors of Peasants' Plot Sustainable Farm, Todd McDonald. Todd will be at the bakery from 3 to 5pm to answer questions about their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA.)

They will have weekly pick-ups at the bakery on Tuesday evenings, starting this June. Customers who become CSA members on the 19th will receive a free Peasants Plot tote bag. Visit their website for more information.

spanish cooking class | february 24
This month, our cooking class will feature an opportunity to sample a variety of Spanish tapas, wines and a traditional dessert. We'll demonstrate several recipes, and invite guests to make several dishes as well.

Our culinary trip through Spain will take place on Thursday, February 24th at 7 pm and will cost $35 per person, or $65 per pair. Space is limited. To reserve your place, purchase your tickets online here. Please write 'cooking class' in the designation line.

monthly special | february
All month long, we'll be serving fresh, hot, cooked-to-order donuts each Saturday from 8 am-noon. Donuts are $.75, or 5 for $3.00. Rotating flavors will include lemon ricotta, coconut, and cinnamon sugar.

our kind of cooking class | january 27
If you ask any of the youth in our job training program, they will tell you that when it comes to baking, we are precision fanatics. Weighing, measuring, following recipes to a T. We do not encourage improvising.

When it comes to cooking, however, our staff has a slightly more liberal approach. A few high quality ingredients, some fresh herbs and a bit of planning can come together for a delicious and satisfying meal. Put a cocktail in our hands, we're even happier.

We'd like to invite you to join us in the kitchen for a hands-on cooking class on Thursday, January 27th at 7pm. We'll be providing the ingredients, tips and tricks to get food on the table quickly after work, and you'll be doing the preparation, eating and drinking.

The class will be $35 per person, or $65 per pair. Space will be limited, so sign up today!

monthly special | january
This month's special will be $3 cappuccinos or lattes flavored with Jo Snow Syrups. Choose from Caffe de Olla (cinnamon, cloves and brown sugar,) Rose Water Cardamom or Fig Vanilla Black Pepper.

DIY gift basket event | december 11 & 12
If there is one thing we love as much as people shopping at Blue Sky Bakery, it's people supporting other small, local businesses that make delicious food. We have put together an event that will give you a chance to sample and shop from an amazing variety of these cool, talented people.

On Saturday, December 11th and Sunday, December 12th from noon to 5 pm, we are hosting a DIY Gift Basket event. We'll provide the gift baskets, wrapping paper and shipping materials, and you can put together the basket of your choosing.

Vendors will include:
Fresh pasta from Pasta Puttana, organic soups and sauces from Tomato Mountain, an intoxicating line of spiced syrups from Jo Snow Syrups, decadent candy from Rich Chocolates, hand-crafted seasonal preserves from Rare Bird Preserves, fair-trade, organic coffee from the Coffee and Tea Exchange and, of course, lots of sweet treats from Blue Sky Bakery.

There is no charge for the event, and basket prices will range from $15-$100. Bring your shopping list (and addresses if you'd like us to take care of the shipping) and let the excellent gift-giving begin!

holiday gift baskets | december
Can't make it to the DIY event? Don't fret, our holiday gift baskets are always available for shipping or delivery.

Gift baskets

• The small includes an assortment of 18 cookies in decorative packaging ($25)
• The medium gift basket contains an assortment of two dozen cookies and one pound of maple cashew granola ($45)
• The large basket contains two dozen cookies, one pound of granola and hand-dipped chocolates and caramels ($60)

Delivery charges begin at $10, and are calculated based on number of items going to each address and number of addresses per order. Please allow at least 48 hours for all orders.

Pie is a lovely gift, too! Pumpkin pies are $14, cranberry apple and chocolate pecan pies are $20 each, and our pumpkin cheesecake is $24. Call the bakery at 773-880-9910 or email us here to place your order.

cocktails & cupcakes | october 21
Each year, we normally hold several fundraisers to help support our arts program and our job training program. This year, we are holding only one event, so we hope you'll make a special effort to attend and join us for drinks, appetizers and desserts!

Come enjoy custom cocktails prepared by some of the city's best mixologists from the U.S. Bartenders Guild, IL Chapter, paired with savory and sweet cupcakes from Blue Sky Bakery & Cafe. CHIRP, the Chicago Independent Radio Project, will be providing live DJ entertainment. The evening will also include a silent auction featuring some of Chicago's finest independent purveyors and a raffle. (click image at right to enlarge)

Thursday, October 21, 6 - 9pm.

Curtiss Hall - 410 S. Michigan Avenue, 10th floor

Tickets are $45 in advance and $55 at the door. You can purchase tickets here (enter appropriate amount for how many tickets you want and write "Oct 21" in the designation line) or by calling 773-880-9910 or stopping into the cafe (3720 N. Lincoln Avenue).

All proceeds will benefit Blue Sky Inn.

in honor of flour monthly dinnerPARTY | september 29
Our next monthly dinnerPARTY will be a celebration of our friend, flour. Sarah Kavage of Industrial Harvest donated 1,000 pounds of flour to us and will be on hand to talk about her unique charitable project. The three-course family-style meal will feature the many different and delicious ways we use flour, and complimentary wine pairings will be selected and poured by Time Out Chicago's Food and Wine Editor, David Tamarkin. The dinner will be held on Wednesday, September 29 at 7 pm. The cost is $30 and payable that evening. Seating is always limited, so reserve your spot today!

celebration of spring dinnerPARTY | june 17
Join us 7-10pm at blue sky bakery & cafe's new location (3720 N. Lincoln Avenue) for a multifaceted seasonal dining event. The evening will include dinner featuring produce from local organic farm, Peasant's Plot, chef demonstrations, a wine tasting, and an interactive dessert experience.

Tickets are $70 per person, $125 per couple. Space will be limited, so reserve your spot today!
Tickets can be purchased online here (please write June 17 in the designation line)

pizza with a purpose | may 27
Join us at Marie's (4127 W. Lawrence Ave.) 6-9pm for live jazz, appetizers, pizza, beer and wine.

Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door.
Purchase advance tickets online here (please write May 27 in the designation line)

SINGLES dinnerPARTY | february 13 & 14
There are lots of things that Blue Sky Bakery is good at; minding our own business is not one of them. We have not been able to help noticing how many dazzling single customers we have, so we're officially butting in. This is the plan:

On Saturday, February 13th and Sunday, February 14th at 7 pm, we will be hosting dinner parties just for single folks. Eight men and eight women at each party, and the guests will be paired up with a partner to help prepare one of the courses of the Cupidmeal. You will have an opportunity to show off your cooking skills or learn a few new tricks while becoming acquainted with someone new.

Registration is $30 per person, and includes a four-course meal, complimentary wine pairings and the benefits of our heretofore unproven matchmaking skills. If you are ready to let us interfere in your personal life and want to reserve a spot, please send your name, age, and whether you have a preference for Saturday the 13th or Sunday the 14th to lisa@blueskyinn.org or call 773-478-CAFE.

one-stop valentine's day shopping | february 13 & 14
Stop by the bakery on Saturday, February 13 or Sunday, February 14th to pick up a mix & match box of sweets for your sweetie. Choose from red velvet cupcakes, cheesecake brownies, raspberry linzer heart cookies, dark chocolate hazelnut truffles, and lots more. You pick your favorites and we'll help you assemble a decorative box on the spot. We'll also have materials available for you to make a Valentine card to accompany your gift. The cards & wrapping will be available for no extra charge, and the pastries are priced individually. Can you feel the love?

dinnerPARTY | february 24
In honor of the Olympics, we're exploring the cuisine of our neighbors to the north, Canada! Their hearty, French-influenced fare provides great inspiration for this cold weather. $30, three courses, complimentary wine pairings selected and poured by Time Out Chicago's Food and Wine Editor, David Tamarkin.

dinnerPARTY | october 15
Each month, we host a freewheelin', family-style, three-course dinner party at the cafe. Since the last dinner sold out so quickly, we thought we would announce two at once. If you would like to reserve a spot, please indicate which dinner you are selecting (or both.)

* Thursday, October 15th: Fall Comfort Foods (sorry, will not be vegetarian-friendly)

$30 per guest includes three courses and cocktails and/or wine paired with each course. Dinners take place at the cafe from 7-9 pm. RSVP to reserve your seat today!

a taste of success | fall fundraiser 2009
I hope you'll join us for our signature fundraising event, A Taste of Success, on Friday, November 13th from 6-9 pm. The event will feature hors d'oeuvres and desserts created by the youth working at Blue Sky Bakery & Cafe, a silent auction, a display of artwork created by youth in our eXpressions program, and custom cocktails created and served by expert mixologists from the Illinois Bartenders Guild. We are excited to again have Southern Wine & Spirits as our generous sponsor.

The event will take place in the heart of downtown Chicago at Marwen's Berkowitz Gallery @ 833 N. Orleans. Tickets are $45 in advance, $50 at the door. Tickets may be purchased online here (please write Nov. 13 on designation line,) or by sending a check to:

Blue Sky Inn | 3056 W. Sunnyside Ave., #3 | Chicago, IL 60625

In addition to this being a fun way to wrap up the week and a good excuse to see if you can get away with sequins under your jacket at work (we say Yes,) these events are great chances to celebrate with our many supporters: our Board of Directors, our arts program volunteers, our cafe and Farmers Market customers, and everyone else who makes our work possible and successful. We hope to see you there.

pie TASTING | 21 & 22 november 2009
Back by popular demand, Blue Sky Bakery & Cafe will once again host a pie tasting on Saturday, November 21st and Sunday, November 22nd from 10 am - 3 pm. $5 will get you a sample of three of our signature pies and your choice of coffee, hot tea or apple cider. Reservations are not required.

Whole pies are available for Thanksgiving (or any other time) and can be picked up until Wednesday, November 25th. Pumpkin pies are $14, dutch apple and chocolate pecan pies are $20 each, and our pumpkin cheesecake with gingersnap crust is $24. Email or call to place your order.

Vantage Points
Although you may have become familiar with Blue Sky Inn because of our job training program, we also maintain a creative arts program called eXpressions. Through this program, youth are given opportunities to explore photography, creative writing, painting, drawing, and collage. For the month of June, our youths' artwork was on display at the ARC Gallery (832 W. Superior St. #204.) The opening night reception was Friday, June 6 from 6-9 pm. We hope you were able to join us to see the unique perspective of youth who have been homeless, grown up in the housing projects of Chicago, and/or have been incarcerated.

Custom House Fundraiser
On October 13th 2007, blue sky inn was pleased to welcome their guests to Custom House, acclaimed chef Shawn McClain’s newest restaurant. The evening featured passed seasonal hors d'oeuvres, signature cocktails by Master Mixologist Bridget Albert and members of the U.S. Bartenders Guild, and a silent auction. The auction included opportunities to bid on your 'dream job,' including food critic, chef, museum critic, and many more.

The Sky's the Limit
In conjunction with their 100th anniversary, the law firm of Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal generously hosted an art exhibit and auction of youth artwork at their Sears Tower offices on October 26th, 2006. Guests had the opportunity to enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres while they placed bids in a silent and live auction, hosted by WGN News' Fred Shropshire. Twenty-four youth participants also attended the event, giving them an opportunity to meet the individuals admiring and purchasing their artwork.

Summer Resolutions Party
Guests gathered at Nick's Beer Garden (1551 N. Milwaukee) on Saturday, July 15th to wash away their sins from the first half of the year and kick-start their good intentions for the rest of the year. The silent auction featured original artwork from the Bird Machine, gift certificates for writing classes, sneak previews of independent films, fine dining, theatre tickets, and lots more.

This City is Our Home
Photographs, Paintings and Essays by Homeless Youth in Chicago.We are grateful to our friends at 826CHI for hosting our first public exhibit of artwork created by the youth in our weekly programs. Fifteen homeless men and women ranging in ages from 17 to 24 contributed essays, paintings and photographs depicting their lives on the streets of Chicago.

Copies of any of the photos displayed in our gallery are available for $25. Please contact Lisa Thompson at (773) 710-7346 or lisa@blueskyinn.org to order a print.

SAVOR: A tasting fundraiser
On February 22, 2006, 185 guests gathered at Grotto on State in support of blue sky inn and our friends at Free Street. Our sponsors Tanqueray and Ciroc mixed specialty martinis all night, and Grotto served an incredible array of passed hors d'oeuvres. A raffle added to the excitement and provided blue sky inn with an additional $500 in contributions. Thanks to everyone who made this event such a fun success!
(no additional photos available for this event)

Skylight 2005
On September 23, 2005, blue sky inn hosted its first public fundraising event for over 100 supporters at the ARC Gallery (734 N. Milwaukee Avenue.) Refreshments were provided by our sponsors Stella Artois, Becks Premier Light and Lindemans Wines. Guests enjoyed bidding on the silent auction, with items generously donated by Wilco, McSweeney's, Art & Science Salon, Chestnut Grill & Wine Bar, moto, The Chopping Block, and many more. In addition to the gallery's extensive international exhibits, artwork created by youth participating in blue sky inn programming was also on display.

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