The sea has much to teach us: its tides foretell the lunar cycle, its salt treats us to delicious shark jerky, and its colorful creatures prove that nature looks better in Blu-ray. Celebrate the big salty puddle's sagacity with today's Groupon: for $10, you get $20 worth of Oysterbucks, which can be applied toward oysters, sandwiches, beer, and more at the Royster with the Oyster Friday Night Tent Party, hosted by Shaw's Crab House on East Hubbard Street in River North. The event begins at 3 p.m. Friday, October 15.

Shaw's 22nd annual Royster with the Oyster festival is a weeklong expression of reverence for the meaty mollusk, culminating in the frenetic finale of the Friday Night Tent Party. WXRT's Lin Brehmer will emcee as Shaw's Crab House doles out delicious loads of seafood, including feverishly fresh oysters on the half shell (5 Oysterbucks), catfish sandwiches (5 Oysterbucks), and fried shrimp (5 Oysterbucks) for hungry humans and disguised humpback whales alike. Keep your palate cleansed between shell-sucking by sipping on a supply of beer (5 Oysterbucks) or an Intelligentsia espresso drink (3 Oysterbucks). Vibe to the vibrations of the various live acts, which include Chicago favorites such as "Brother John" Kattke, Linsey Alexander, and Morry Sochat & The Special 20s. At 7 p.m., a grand slurp-off competition commences, as semi-finalists selected during the week speed-slurp a dozen oysters sans hands for a prize of $1,000 and the satisfaction of making out with a dinner plate.

Tent parties accommodate large gatherings of friends, make urbanites feel like they’re camping, and allow Cajun connoisseurs to down a bowl of jambalaya without having to tell an alligator to back off. Unleash your inner party amoeba and allow Shaw's personable employees to saturate rumbly tummies with a scrumptious selection of sea bounty.

The event does not enforce an admission fee, though a donation of $10 is suggested. Valid for Chicago tent party only.

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Reviews

Though Royster with the Oyster hasn't been reviewed, Shaw's Crab House comes recommended. More than 300 Yelpers give it an average of four stars, and TripAdvisors rank it the 12th-best restaurant in Chicago, out of more than 4,000. Zagat rates the food, décor, and service highly, and OpenTable reviewers give it a Diners' Choice award for Seafood and Most Booked:

• BEST Seafood Restaurant in the city, period. – Ralphie Boy, Zagat
• You can't lie about great food, and this place is definitely no secret. Come here for good seafood. You won't regret it! – tiffany k., Yelp