A country kid comes back to the family farm after his first semester at college. “Tell us sumthin’ you larned up thar at that fancy college,” his pa says. “Pi R Squared,” the kid says. “Well, hell, that college ain’t no good,” Pa says. “Every dang fool knows that pie are round. Cornbread R squared!” And with that, we present this year’s list of Pi Day (3/14, the first three digits of pi) special-offering bakeries and restaurants, presented by the Illinois Science Council, who explain what we’re talking about:
Pi, if you’ve forgotten the geometry lesson, is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Pi is abbreviated to 3.14 but continues indefinitely. To date, it has been calculated by computer to over 1.2 trillion digits. Competitions exist for reciting the most digits by memory. As the world’s most famous mathematical constant, Pi is important to many formulas used in mathematics, science, engineering and statistics.
They also remind you that today is also Einstein’s birthday (but if you forgot to get him something, there’s still time, as long as you can achieve infinite mass and a velocity of 186,000 miles per second).
Bakeries
Bennison’s Bakery, 1000 Davis St., Evanston, 847-328-9434, Wed. 6am-7pm, BennisonsCakes.com. Offering individual pies (Boston cream, apple, cherry and chocolate cream) for $3.14.
Blue Sky Bakery & Café, 3720 N. Lincoln Av., 773-880-9910, Wed. 7am-7pm, BlueSkyInn.org. Offering mini pies for $3.14 (normally $6) in key lime and banana cream.
Café Selmarie, 4729 North Lincoln Av., Chicago, 773-989-5595 Wed. 8am-9pm, CafeSelmarie.com. Offering whole apple and cherry pies for $13.14 and pie slices for $3.14.
Sarah’s Pastries and Candies, 70 E. Oak Street, Chicago, 312-664-6223, Wed. 8am-6pm, SarahsCandies.com. Offering slices of pie for $3.14.
Sweety Pies Bakery, Cakery & Café, 8042 N. Lincoln Av., Skokie, 847-213-0900, Wed. 7am-6pm, SweetyPiesBakery.com. Customers mentioning Pi Day will receive a slice of pie for $3.14 (limit 2 per customer) or a whole pie for $23.14 (usually $25-$28) while supplies are available.
Swirlz Cupcakes, 705 W. Belden, Chicago, 773-404-2253, Wed. 10am-7pm, SwirlzCupcakes.com. Offering “Pi” and “Einstein” cupcakes for $3.14. A special treat if you come in at 3:14pm and mention Illinois Science Council!
Restaurants
Artopolis Chicago, Bakery, Café & Agora, 306 S. Halsted, Chicago, 312-559-9000, Wed. 9am-11pm, ArtopolisChicago.com. Offering their signature menu item a savory pie, called Arto-PI-tas, for only $3.14 (usually $4.50) all day.
Baker’s Square, various locations throughout Chicagoland, Wed. 7am-11pm, BakersSquare.com. Offering $2.00 off the purchase of any whole pie, plus a free slice of pie with any menu item purchased between 10:30am-11:00pm.
First Slice Pie Café, 4401 N. Ravenswood Av., 773 506 7380 Wed. 8:30am-7:30pm, FirstSlice.org, and other locations at 5357 N. Ashland Av., Wed. 9am-9pm, and Lill St. Arts Center, 4664 N. Manor St., Wed. 8am-6:30pm. Offering pie slices for $3.14 and free pie for those dining in the café at 3:14pm.
My Pie Pizza, 2010 N. Damen, Chicago, 773-394-6900, Wed. 11am-9pm, MyPiePizza.com Offering a slice of pizza pi and a fountain drink for $3.14 (limit 2).
