New Year’s Eve is a weird mix of wishful thinking and hard, cold reality. Wishful thinking: You’re going to have the best time of your life tonight because it’s New Year’s Eve and that’s how it works. Just stand there and good things will magically happen. Reality: You forgot to book a reservation/make plans/do any […]
We all have favorite holiday memories, and most of those seem to revolve around food. Not a surprise, right? Food (even your Aunt Dorothy’s overcooked turkey) brings people together; what better way to express your love for someone than to feed them? And along with the hilariously awkward family stories that stem from the holiday […]
Chefs and restaurateurs, by their very nature, are hospitable creatures. They are naturally programmed to receive and tend to others, to entertain strangers. It’s just what they do. So it should come as no surprise that when there’s a natural disaster or a man-made tragedy, the hospitality industry dives right in to provide aid. Sadly, […]
You know you love a good casserole; I certainly do! They come in many guises: lasagna, mac ‘n’ cheese, enchiladas, pasta bakes, stratas — and to me, they are dinnertime gold. Sure, I’m a dairy fanatic, and most casserole recipes seem to be built around some sort of cheese, which I don’t hate. But the […]
So you’ve lucked into Chicago Bulls or Blackhawks tickets, or maybe you’re on your way to see Katy Perry, Jay Z or Arcade Fire weave their particular brand of musical magic. Either way, you’re headed to the Madhouse on Madison. The big quandary, of course, is where to eat beforehand? The United Center is awesome for many […]
The turn of the seasons always brings a flurry of frantic restaurant activity to Chicago, and this year is certainly no different. A whole new slew of restaurants has appeared — from rustic to gourmet, counter service to 4-star hospitality — and the real question is, where do we eat first? Open for Business: Beatnik […]
We live in one of the world’s top theater cities, surrounded by scintillating, challenging and groundbreaking work at every turn. We literally have a front row seat to what’s happening in the theater world — every top national tour seems to start here; world premieres bring in top national talent; and we are turning out […]
It should come as no surprise to anyone that I eat out a fair amount. The pursuit of everything delicious is my chosen profession, after all. A sacrifice must be made, and every pound I gain (and there have been a few this year) is in service to you, our readers. Here are some particularly […]
Get all you can out of the all-too-short Chicago summer experience by dining outside as often as the weather allows. Even better? Take it up top at some of our new favorite rooftop spaces. (Be sure to check out last year’s list too for even more great spots). Lake breezes, awe-inspiring views, and even a rooftop […]
Time to get in the pink! We’ve fallen in love with rosé in all its many forms, and we aren’t alone. Suddenly, wine stores and restaurants are awash in the pink stuff, but beware — as wineries worldwide try to hop on the rosé bandwagon, not all of it is of equal caliber. The ones […]
