Billed as Alpha King’s festive cousin, this seasonal porter from 3 Floyds is nothing like its pale relative.

Initially, there’s a cloud of light smoke, followed by a lot of chocolate. As it warms there’s a charred marshmallow flavor that is elicited in each sip. No graham crackers, for that s’more trinity, but that chocolate stays present, and there are hints of cinnamon.

As always, cellaring allows the beer to chill out, for lack of a better phrase, as the ingredients all fade a bit. This one isn’t barrel-aged, so it’s not boozy. I will say that aging has helped diminish some of the smoke character, so it’s not overbearing.

If you have a 2018 Klaus, it might be a good time to bring it out. There’s still a chill in the air, and right now is the perfect season for opening some of those porters and stouts you have been saving.

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Despite, Mayor Lightfoot’s warning yesterday that she would close the Lakefront if  excessive numbers of people continued to gather there, many people defied her warning.

This necessitated further action today. In order to bend the curve of COVID-19, the Mayor has issued an executive order to close the Chicago’s Lakefront, Riverwalk and 606 Trail, effective immediately until further notice.

The Mayor’s Executive Order will direct a shutdown of the Lakefront including adjacent trails, green spaces and facilities.  In addition, the order provides guidance for residents to make every effort to practice social distancing during recreational activities, such as walking, running or cycling.  The order also prohibits contact sports, like basketball and football. These measures are designed to protect the health and safety of residents amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

 “While our parks and other green spaces offer residents a brief respite during this stay at home order, we simply must take action to prevent the large gatherings that are putting our public health at risk,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “As we work tirelessly to flatten the curve and prevent the spread of COVID-19, we need people to stay at home as much as possible. Our order to temporarily close access to the Lakefront and restrict gatherings has now become a necessary step in our effort to protect people, and to get our city through this crisis as quickly as possible.”

Chicagoans are still able, and encouraged, to do the following during this time: 

• Go for a short walk or runs but maintain physical distance from others while doing so, preferably in their own neighborhoods.
• Walk their dog, but do not congregate at the dog park or beach.
• Shop at the grocery stores that remain open, as long as, you are not sick, and practice social distancing.
• Continue visiting the restaurants that remain open for pick-up and delivery.

Enforcement

While the Chicago Police Department is empowered to enforce the Mayor’s new order through citations up to $500 and additional measures, the Department is primarily focusing on educating residents about the new order and providing warnings to individuals using these closed spaces. To further ensure compliance with the order, the Department will move forward with issuing citations if individuals don’t adhere to initial warnings from police officers.

Other closures  

Chicago Park District’s facilities and fieldhouses will remain closed for the duration of the stay at home order. Currently, the District’s green spaces and parks remain open, and the City will monitor park activity in the event more closures are necessary to prevent large gatherings and congregations of people during the stay at home order.

State order 

Under Governor Pritzker’s ‘Stay at Home’ Order, which went into effect on March 21, residents of Chicago and across the state are mandated to stay at home as much as possible, and to limit occasions for leaving their homes, unless it is to: retrieve essential goods or services, go work if they are an essential employee, seek medical care, or to get fresh air for brief amounts of time while practicing social distancing. The order was issued out of an abundance of caution to safeguard the public health and prevent further spread in the community and is expected to last through April 7, unless otherwise directed.

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BY SANDRA GUY

The spring allergy season has started early, leading to fear and concern about allergy sufferers’ coughing, sniffling and itchy eyes.

Experts say it’s important to understand how allergies to increased tree pollen differ from the symptoms of COVID19.

The sneezing and runny nose that accompany allergies are rarely a sign of COVID19, according to the AARP.

The main symptoms of coronavirus are a fever, a dry cough, and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The symptoms also tend to appear two to 14 days after exposure.

So how can allergy sufferers ease their symptoms — and ward off anxieties?

Natural solutions include:

• Be vigilant about dusting and cleaning your home, and use blinds and curtains to keep dust at bay.

• A sinus rinse, such as with a Neti pot, at the start and end of the day can help clean out allergens. It’s best to use distilled water, sterilized water or tap water that has been boiled, and then cool when used.

• Explore herbs such as butterbur, a European shrub extract, and quercetin, a nutrient found in apples, onions and black tea, which act similarly to antihistamines. Make sure any butterbur product is labeled “PA-free,” so that it contains no pyrrolizidine alkaloids — chemicals that can cause serious illness.

• Try mixing one or two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with a glass of water to help break up mucus.

• Avoid eating or drinking inflammatory boosters such as sugar, alcohol and fried foods.