What does May mean: warmer weather, baseball season in full swing, grieving for the Blackhawks and Bulls?

It also means busting out the ol' Smokey Joe and grilling up some BBQ — and lots of it — during National BBQ Month.

BRISKET
Upscale River North burger bar 25 Degrees offers a limited edition BBQ Brisket Burger (slow-cooked BBQ brisket and sirloin patty with pineapple BBQ sauce) benefiting the Greater Chicago Food Depository — giving you an altruistic reason to sink your teeth into a saucy sandwich.
$12 all month. 25 Degrees, 736 N. Clark St. (312-943-9700)

BURGERS AND SLIDERS
ManBQue and Rockit Burger Bar team up for a crosstown cook-off, grilling signature sliders before the Cubs-Sox game representing each side of the city (Vienna dog burgers for the North Side, corned beef sliders for the South Side), served with limited edition Chicago flag cans and Old Style tall boys.
Sat May 19 2:30-5:30p. Rockit Burger Bar, 3700 N. Clark St. (773-645-4400). $25 here.

PORK & RIBS
Porkchop celebrates a year of satisfying late-night BBQ and whiskey cravings a their 1st anniversary party. Complimentary appetizers will be served until 6p, and the DJ starts spinning at 10, with $1 whiskey shots and draft beers on special (like Lionel Richie would say) all night long.
No cover. Sat May 19 4p-close. Porkchop, 941 W. Randolph St. (312-733-9333)

FUSION BBQ
The past year of sweet potato sushi and grilled alligator has been good, but at their anniversary dinner Union Sushi + BBQ Bar will bust out a five-course fusion meal pairing one signature dish (such as buffalo duck wings) with its new 2012 “remix” version of each dish along with desserts and an open bar.
$75 with RSVP here. Sun May 20 5-9p. Union Sushi + BBQ Bar, 230 W. Erie St. (312-662-4888)