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Greetings!
2026 has certainly come in with a bang with snow, cold, and ICE. While we can’t change Mother Nature or the powers that be, we can do our small part to bring you opportunities to gather with loved ones to enjoy life, eat & drink well, and connect with community – and that’s what our February issue of marlo monthly is all about. Plus, we’re going above & beyond with some discounts & opportunities to save some green to boot!
For our Chicago-based friends, we’ve got $50 off a catering order at FARE; I can attest the food is that good and if they were in one of my cities I’d be a frequent customer, client or not. And for all you bartaco fans across the country – 2026 is your year for freebies, prizes, and so much more as they celebrate 15 years. (PSA: for anyone trying to give up/lighten their gluten load as their 2026 resolution, nearly their entire menu is GF naturally, making it an awesome choice for those new to the lifestyle.) And last but not least, Valentine’s Day has officially blossomed from a one-day holiday to a full-blown season, and we share ways for our Boston-based friends to celebrate throughout the month.
Stay warm and safe out there!
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In our humble opinion, any trip around the sun should be celebrated, no matter how many or few have come before. That’s why we’re all in on bartaco’s year-long celebration of bringing globally influenced street food anchored in the most quintessential street food of them all – the taco – to the masses for the past 15 years. While the festivities kicked off last month with 15 days of free bites (think chips, guac, churros & more) as a thank you to everyone who has walked through the door, it’s time to raise the ‘bar’ (see what we did there?!).
From now until February 17, you’ll need lady luck on your side as, at the end of every meal, guests will be given two dice to roll; cast a 1 and a 5 and your entire meal’s on bartaco. Roll anything else and it’ll be time to bust out that Apple pay. Something possibly free that we’d gladly pay for anyway? We’ll take those odds any day!
Come March, it’s time for the drink that helped shape the bartaco you know and love: margaritas, of course! Try all five freshly squeezed, destination-inspired cocktails, get your Margarita March passport stamped, then return said (completed) passport for a chance to win something we're not yet at liberty to disclose but will require bags to be packed! The celebration continues through the rest of the year, with future prizes to include a bartaco-designed backyard picnic at your home, a chance to win free tacos for a year, and so much more.
If you live by a restaurant in CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, MA, MD, NC, NY, PA, SC, TN, VA or WI and you’re not getting their emails or following them on social @bartacolife, you’re gonna want to change that, pronto. And if you don’t live by a location, now’s a great time to plan a visit because it doesn’t matter where you live to take advantage of the fruits of this celebration – all freshly squeezed, of course!
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Post-pandemic, offering lunch for the team is one of the many ways employers are upping the ante to get people in the office. But your team deserves better than cold sandies and mystery pasta salad with cookies that may taste fire but have them running out for a mid-afternoon sugar crash coffee.
Enter: FARE - the Chicago born & bred fast casual spot that offers a seasonally based, nutrition-forward, deliciously craveable menu that makes sad desk lunch a thing of the past. Everything’s made daily from scratch, using only clean, easy-to-pronounce ingredients. No seed oils, no refined sugars, and no ultra-processed shortcuts in anything they make, dessert included.
What makes FARE a standout for the office? It works for everyone (unlike the office thermostat, natch). The menu balances healthy and indulgent, with satisfying portions, protein-forward options, tasty sweets, and build-your-own flexibility that keeps picky eaters, wellness-minded employees, and “mac & cheese, please” coworkers equally happy. FARE also eats with the seasons, rotating sides quarterly to keep menus fresh and interesting so your team isn’t stuck on a lather, rinse, repeat diet. And with full ingredient transparency, employees can easily make choices that fit their preferences and dietary needs without playing the usual catering guessing game.
Bottom line: FARE is the kind of lunch that feels like a perk, not an afterthought. Real food, real energy, real good. Period. And as a special treat to all our Chicago-based friends, FARE is offering $50 off your first catering order; just click this link and shoot Marina an email that mentions marlo monthly and she’ll take care of all the deets. For everyone else, don’t fret. FARE’s expanding fast – first up is North Carolina later this year, next stop: the world. With so much we can’t control these days, when one of the things we can control is what we put in our mouths, FARE delivers.
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While we’ve known this forever, here’s a little tip for those of you still sweating it out – Valentine’s Day doesn’t need rules, rigid plans, or an overpriced prix fixe you didn’t ask for. Whether you’re feeling flirty, indulgent, or deeply committed to your group chick chat, Bostonians – you’re gonna wanna to read on!
Eastern Standard gets things started with Love Birds on Wednesday, February 11, a playful remix of its cult-favorite Birds & Bubbles. Think crispy chicken, plenty of bubbly, and an effortlessly fun energy that works for date night, situationships, or anyone who believes romance should always come with champagne. Bonus points for avoiding February 14 altogether, a.k.a. (in our book) overpriced amateur hour.
For those who prefer their Valentine’s with a little drama (the good kind), Swanky Panky returns to Equal Measure on Friday, February 13. The evening unfolds with cocktails, a decadent communal dinner, a cheeky dessert finale, and just enough surprises to keep things interesting. It’s glamorous, mischievous, and tailor-made for couples who enjoy dressing up, staying out late, and leaning all the way into the moment.
And ladies, if your V-Day plans start and end with your fave female friends, Coquette is making Galentine’s brunch the move on Saturday, February 14 and Sunday, February 15. Live jazz, elevated brunch and tea service, and a linger-worthy atmosphere set the scene for hot goss, extra pours, and absolutely zero rush. Just remember, flowers and gifts may be nice for a minute – but the memories of a blissful brunch with your besties will last forever.
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