The Townsend's Lost Lake Benefit, Sway's Thai New Year Dinner, and More

BENEFIT WIRE — In response to an electrical fire that left employees of Chicago’s Lost Lake out of work pending repairs, The Townsend is holding a fundraiser for employee relief tonight, Monday, April 11 from 8 to 11 p.m. Texas Speed Rack champions Madelyn Kay and Elyse Blechman will speedily make cocktails and auction them off to the highest bidder. Cash is essential. [EaterWire]

HAPPY NEW YEAR — April 13 marks Songkran, the Thai New Year. In observance, Sway will offer a special menu this week, including pla kung (poached prawn, parsley root, kaffir lime, spiced orange glaze) and chi khnm luk phær (nashi pear tarte tatin, condensed milk, mango, guava sorbet). On Monday, diners can preview the special menu with a ticketed, multi-course dinner. Tickets are $75 and include a 6 p.m. cocktail hour before the dinner starts at 7. [EaterWire]

WINE TIME — Jeffrey’s hosts a wine-pairing dinner featuring Marc Hochar of Chateau Mosar tonight. Hochar will pair his family wines, including a 2004 rose alongside burrata and strawberries and a 1975 blanc with New York strip. Master sommelier June Rodil will pour with guest sommelier David Keck of Houston. Tickets are $250, and the dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. [EaterWire]

WEST LAKE — Folks with a hankering for Roman cuisine should check out the "Tasting Rome" collaborative dinner at Visconti Ristoriante in the Hotel Granduca tonight at 6:30 p.m. Chef Tom Parlo and his distant cousin, Katie Parla, author of the recently released cookbook, Tasting Rome: Fresh Flavors and Forgotten Recipes from an Ancient City, have teamed up to present a four-course dinner focused on authentic recipes from Italy’s capital city. The dinner is $150 per person and includes a signed copy of Parla’s book.  [EaterWire]

DOWNTOWN — Russian House celebrates Yuri’s Night on Tuesday, April 12, from 7 p.m. to midnight, in observance of the first man in space. Festivities include dancing, a screening of First Orbit, and a special "Lost In Space" martini. [EaterWire]

BEER HERE — Blue Owl Brewing releases Saison Puede, a seasonal farmhouse ale, on Wednesday, April 13, with a party starting at 3 p.m. [EaterWire]

EAST SIXTH — Mezcaleria Tobala hosts Una Noche Especial, a celebration of all things mezcal, on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Enjoy pairings of the south-of-the-border spirit with chocolate, fruit, and crickets, listen to flamenco music, and learn about the history of mezcal from Del Maguey. [EaterWire]

SOUTH FIRST — Grab a date and and head to Metier at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, for a cocktail class hosted by the folks behind Liber & Co. $25 gets you admission to the class, three cocktail recipes, a bottle of Liber & Co syrup, and a warm fuzzy feeling. [EaterWire]