It's gonna be hard to improve on nature's artwork, but you gotta try.

You say tomato, we say...yes, please.

If you're as tomato-crazy this time of year as we are, you've probably already heard about Chicago Tomato Fest. No? Here's the deal. Throughout the next month or so, various restaurants around the city will be hosting events and/or creating special dishes to celebrate the in-season, vine-ripened treat. Kicking things off is the BLT Bonanza (August 17-September 20), during which several participating chefs will be putting their spin on the classic sandwich. Now you can be part of the action along with David DiGregorio (Osteria Via Stato), Phillip Foss (Lockwood), Mark Mendez (Carnivale), Dirk Flanigan (The Gage) and others, as Tomato Fest is hosting a poster contest for the promotion. Submit your design by Friday, August 14, and you could be seeing your work posted in some of the finest restaurants in town. If you lose? Well, we know where you can get a good sandwich to ease your pain.

Looking for other ways to enjoy your tomatoes? Centerstage offers some tips and treats that are ripe for the picking.