Who doesn't like pie? Whether it's an old-fashioned apple pie, the Oscar-winning "Life of Pi," a pepperoni pizza pie - unless it's a slice of humble pie, it brings us together!
Of course, if you drop the 'e' on it, you'll drop some of the enthusiasm. But the true mathletes out there can always bake up a little fun on Pi Day. It's celebrated every year on March 14. That's 3-14, as in the first few digits of pi.
It's the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. You could call our fascination with it, irrational. And that's just the kind of number it is, an irrational one: it just goes on and on, without stopping or repeating. At least as far as we know. Computers have calculated pi to its two-quadrillionth digit.
Pi is written as the Greek letter Π What's the big deal about Pi? Well, according to PiDay.org, Pi is "an irrational and transcendental number, it will continue infinitely without repetition or pattern. While only a handful of digits are needed for typical calculations, Pi's infinite nature makes it a fun challenge to memorize, and to computationally calculate more and more digits."
To celebrate, the Illinois Science Council, which refers to Pi Day as "the most delicious of holidays," many Chicago area bakeries are offering special Pi Day deals on pies and pizza pies.
"We're really excited that Pi Day has grown in interest with all sorts of bakeries, restaurants in town participating. It's a fun way to think about math and how important it is in our everyday lives," Monica Metzler, founder and executive director of the Illinois Science Council.
One more note, March 14, or Pi Day, is also Albert Einstein's birthday.
ISC announces participating locations in the Chicago-area 2014 Pi Day celebration!
BAKERIES:
First Slice, 4664 N Manor Ave., (773) 267-0169, 8:00am-7:30pm; 5357 N Ashland Ave., (773) 275-4297, 10:00am-9:00pm; and 4401 N Ravenswood Ave., (773) 506-7380, 8:30am-7:30pm, firstslice.org. Offering special deal on pie slices ALL DAY LONG — buy 1, get 1 free. No need to feel torn between your favorite flavors, because you can get both! Or buy one for yourself & one for Einstein's birthday (I hear he's a good sharer.) All customers need to do to redeem this offer is wish our staff a Happy Pi Day! First Slice is a pie sponsor of ISC's "Pi K fun run."
Hoosier Mama Pie Company, 1618 1/2 W Chicago Ave. in Chicago (312) 243-4846, 8:00am-7:00pm, and 749 N. Chicago Ave, Evanston, (847) 868-8863, 6:30am-10:00pm, HoosierMamaPie.com. Friday is their 5th birthday so they'll be having lots of things going on, including a pie/beer pairing with Atlas brewing and giveaways for trivia. So go visit and wish them a happy one!! Hoosier Mama is a pie sponsor of ISC's "Pi K fun run."
Swirlz Cupcakes, 705 W Belden Ave., (773) 404-2253, 10:00am-7:00pm, swirlzcupcakes.com. Offering special pi- and Einstein-themed cupcakes sold at the special Pi Day price of $3.14 each! At 3:14pm on Friday, 3/14 Swirlz will give away two brainy six-boxes to the first two customers (or group) who walk in at this designated time and mention the Illinois Science Council.
Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique, 115 N Wabash Ave., (312) 845-9669, 8:00am-7:00pm, sugarblisscakes.com. Offering free gift card of one dozen mini cupcakes to the person that comes in at 3:14pm.
Café Selmarie, 4729 N. Lincoln Ave., (773) 989-5595, 8:00am-9:00pm, cafeselmarie.com. Offering pie slices of Banana Oreo Cream, Chocolate Cream, Lemon Meringue, Apple Streusel, Cherry Streusel, and Pecan pie for the special price of $3.14.
Luscious Layers Bakery, 2315 N. Damen Ave., (773) 661-1335, 10:30am-5:30pm, lusciouslayers.com. Offering pie pops and hand pies.
Jarosch Bakery, Inc, 35 Arlington Heights Rd., Elk Grove Village, (847) 437-1234, 6:30am-6:30pm, jaroschbakery.com. Offering pies on 3/14 and on Pi Day Eve (3/13) featuring the Greek Pi symbol either piped out of chocolate or cut into the crust to vent the steam.
Sweety Pies Bakery, 8042 Lincoln Ave., Skokie, (847) 213-0900, 7:00am-6:00pm, sweetypiesbakery.com. Offering Crocodile (pecan, semi-sweet chocolate with a touch of rum in a buttery pastry crust), Apple Pie Crisp (graham cracker crust with hand peeled granny smith apples and an oat topping), Chocolate Cashmere (dense chocolate mousse with a graham cracker crust). All pie slices will be $3.14 all day.
Blue Sky Bakery & Cafe, 3720 N Lincoln Ave., (773) 880-9910, 7:00am-5:00pm, blue-sky-bakery.org. Offering individual 5? pies (normally $5) for $3.14 each. Flavors will include dark chocolate pecan, fresh cranberry apple and lemon blueberry.
Swedish Bakery, 5348 N Clark St., (773) 561-3461, 6:30am-6:30pm, swedishbakery.com. Offering mini Apple Pies for $3.14.
Dinkel's Bakery, 3329 N Lincoln Ave., (773) 281-7300, 6:00am-7:00pm, dinkels.com. Offering 5? pies for $3.14 and 9? pies for pi squared ($9.87). The pies are apple, cherry, blueberry, banana cream, chocolate silk, lemon meringue. Also offering a free slice of pie with a lunch sandwich purchase.
Fritz Pastries, 1408 W Diversey Pkwy., (773) 857-2989, 7:00am-11:00pm, fritzpastry.com. Offering vegan pies (for $3.14 a slice), pre-order on whole pies for $23.14 in apple, blueberry, s'mores, strawberry with a coffee chocolate ganache, and probably pecan.
Bennison's Bakery, 1000 Davis St., Evanston (847) 328-9434, 6:00am-7:00pm, bennisonscakes.com. Offering mini pies for $3.14. Take your pick from apple, strawberry rhubarb, and Boston cream.
Pleasant House Bakery, 964 W 31st St., (773) 523-7437, 11:00am-10:00pm, pleasanthousebakery.com. Offering royal pies (savory pies) on March 14th.
Sweet Cakes Bakery, 1223 N. Milwaukee Ave., (773) 772-5771, 7:00am-2:00pm, sweetcakeschicago.com. Offering individual pies (3?) in chocolate and fruit flavors for $3.14.
PIZZA:
Pie Hole, 3477 N Broadway 5001, (773) 525-8888); and 5001 N Clark St., (773) 754-7214, 11:00am-3:00am, pieholepizzajoint.com. Offering one-topping slices for $3.14 plus tax, and free pineapple on any pizza.
Marcello's, 645 North Ave., (312) 654-2550, 11:00am-12:00am, marcellos.com. Offering apple and berry pizzas for $3.14.
My Pie, 2010 N Damen Ave., (773) 394-6900, 11:00am-10:00pm, mypiepizza.com. Offering a thin slice of pizza pi with a regular fountain drink for $3.14.
RESTAURANTS:
Medici, 1327 E 57th St., (773) 667-7394, 7:00am-11:00pm, medici57.com. Offering $3.14 slices of Gracie's apple and pecan pies for dine-in customers.
Parkers Restaurant, 1000 31st St., Downers Grove, (630) 960-5700, 11:30am-10:30pm, selectrestaurants.com/parkersamerican. Offering 3.14 Pizza Pi(e) and ?² Pizza Pi(e) for $3.14 for math students & math teachers and $5.50 for the mathematically challenged starting at 3.14pm in the lounge room and dining room both Thursday and Friday. Also offering an E=MC² daiquiri all day special for $8.00.
Bakers Square Restaurant & Bakery, All Chicago Locations, 7:00am-11:00pm, bakerssquare.com. Offering $2 off whole pies for Pi Day classroom activities, get-togethers and parties on both Thursday (Pi Day Eve) and Friday. No coupon needed; just ask for the Pi Day whole pie discount.
Julius Meinl Patisserie & Coffee Bar, All Chicago Locations, meinl.com. Offering a special 3D-printed-cookie-cutter Pi Cookie. A limited supply will be available at all Julius Meinl locations this Friday. It's a vanilla bean shortbread cookie with dark chocolate drizzle.
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