The Hot List
10 places everyone is talking about—and dining at—right now
Radar
the latest on dining, culture, real estate, and more

5/22/13
1:30 p.m.
the312

Why These Four Chicago Public Schools Won’t Close

Community involvement, private investment, and basic math all helped spare Mahalia Jackson, Manierre, Leif Ericson and Garvey Elementary Schools.

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5/22/13
12:15 p.m.
dish

This Is the Biggest Chicago Dining News This Week

The city has new fried fish and chicken, Negroni slushies, cupcakes for charity, and a super macho taqueria.

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5/22/13
11:30 a.m.
the312

Here Are Some of Brian Urlacher’s Greatest Moments as a Bear

From recovering fumbles to the Super Bowl Mumble, we’ll miss big number 54.

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5/22/13
10:00 a.m.
dealestate

Housing Bulletin

This Washington Park Renovation Is the Next Chapter of a Great Chicago Housing Story

New owners revived a home that once belonged to Jesse Binga, a pioneering black developer and banker in Chicago.

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5/21/13
5:20 p.m.
the312

Mr. Tornado’s Magic Cyclone Machine

One of the 20th century’s legendary meteorologists, Ted Fujita, revolutionized the study of tornadoes, but for most of his life never got to see one. So he made his own.

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5/21/13
4:30 p.m.
cnotes

Don’t Let Your Wrists Go Naked

These stack bracelets from Chicago’s BusyWrist beautifully cover a bare arm.

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5/21/13
3:30 p.m.
salescheck

Randolph Street Market Begins Its Summer Season This Weekend

And with it comes everything that’s great about shopping outside. Check out a few other top sales of the week, too!

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5/21/13
2:30 p.m.
the312

Here Are the Best-Looking (and Most Bizarre) Airbnb Rentals in Chicago

Airbnb rentals may be illegal in NYC, but the DIY-hotel site is still ok in Chicago. Here’s a look at a few standout listings.

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5/21/13
1:45 p.m.
the312

Why Food Stamp Use in Illinois Has Exploded

It’s the economy, but not just the economy. Eligibility has expanded, states have increased participation rates, and food stamps have replaced other forms of the social safety net.

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5/21/13
12:30 p.m.
cnotes

Theatre

In the Company of Men Review: A Good Play About Some Truly Bad Guys

Neil LaBute’s tale of mind games probes the sociopathic side of the male psyche.

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5/21/13
11:30 a.m.
dish

A Restaurant Called Bentley Will Park in Lake View This June

There will be local-seasonal food from the Lokal chef, Ian Flowers, plus craft beer, cocktails, and brunch.

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5/21/13
11:15 a.m.
domestica

For Excellent Vintage Finds, Go West

Nest Vintage Modern has found an adorable new home in La Grange.

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5/21/13
10:00 a.m.
dealestate

Ask Rodkin: What’s the Best Real Estate Investment for a Single Person in Chicago?

A reader, Keala, asks what kind of home investment makes the most sense for her—a single woman with no kids.

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5/20/13
5:15 p.m.
felfiles

Desiree Rogers Is Making a Comeback

After crashing as the White House social secretary, the well-connected Chicagoan returned to run Johnson Publishing Company—and now she’s working with Rahm Emanuel again as the chair of Choose Chicago, the city’s big tourism nonprofit.

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5/20/13
4:30 p.m.
escape

The Indy 500 Isn’t the Only Reason to Visit Indianapolis

Plus: How to check a bag for free, and the best way to recover lost luggage.

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5/20/13
4:15 p.m.
the312

The Obama Campaign’s Chief Data Scientist on the Future of Civic Data

Rayid Ghani left Accenture to lead Obama for America’s data analytics team. Now he’s going to the University of Chicago to change how cities, nonprofits, and governments use information.

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5/20/13
3:45 p.m.
the312

The CTA Train Tracker Is Really Nifty!

If you have to ride a CTA train, this handy new tool helps you get it over with as fast as possible.

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5/20/13
3:15 p.m.
cnotes

This Summer Clutch Will Last You Through Fall

Ferragamo’s black and white purse is the perfect cross-seasonal accessory.

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5/20/13
2:30 p.m.
seen

The Garfield Park Conservatory Is a Beautiful Place to Drink a Beer

About 50 vendors at Beer Under Glass kicked off Chicago Craft Beer Week.

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5/20/13
2:00 p.m.
domestica

These Tai Ping Rugs Are Woven Works of Art

The new Chinoiseries collection, perhaps the ultimate in luxury floor furnishings, is available at the Merchandise Mart.

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5/20/13
1:15 p.m.
the312

Could This Concealed-Carry Law Actually Pass?

The bill drafted by Kwame Raoul is strict, but it’s moderate— at least, the rules are similar to other states’ laws. Could HB 183 be a plausible compromise?

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5/20/13
11:30 a.m.
dish

Here Are Five Hardcore Food Events for Chicago’s Bravest Eaters

Trash fish. Creamy cocktails. Tequila for dinner. And 11 hours of sangría. Ready?

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5/20/13
10:00 a.m.
dealestate

The Guy With the Most Perfect Life in the World Just Sold One of the Slickest Penthouses in Chicago

For $2.4 million, someone got a pretty nice place—and a killer Japanese garden—at the top of the Contemporaine in River North.

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5/17/13
4:20 p.m.
the312

Will Pat Quinn Legalize Medical Marijuana in Illinois?

The beleaguered governor doesn’t have a lot to lose by implementing the state’s strict bill, which just passed the Senate.

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Party Pix

More Events »
Kentucky Derby Day Crawl

Kentucky Derby Day Crawl

May 4, 2013—Chicagoans gathered at Old Town Social for the action-packed Derby Day Crawl sponsored by Bulleit Bourbon. Guests sipped refreshing Bulleit Bourbon mint juleps while viewing the...

The Chicago Zoological Society’s “Animals Around the Whirl”

Coldwater Creek Spring Fashion In-Store Workshop

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Current Issue

Cover Story

Here Are Some Great Summer Road Trips You Can Take From Chicago

Here Are Some Great Summer Road Trips You Can Take From Chicago

With drive times under a couple of hours, these are the staff's favorite out-and-back excursions from the city.

Five Great Food Vacations for Chicago Travelers With an Appetite

Five Great Food Vacations for Chicago Travelers With an Appetite

The best summer getaways for the city's foodies are on the west coast, around our region, and in Canada. Be there (and be hungry) in 4 hours or less.

Here Are Five Summer Vacations for Chicago's Culture Lovers

Here Are Five Summer Vacations for Chicago's Culture Lovers

New Orleans. Nashville. East Lansing, Michigan? Driving or flying, great cultural destinations are only a few hours away.

Five Summer Trips for Adventure Seekers in Chicago

Five Summer Trips for Adventure Seekers in Chicago

Montana wilderness, Utah mountain biking, and Wisconsin rock climbing—it's all just a few hours' drive or flight away.

Features

This Beautiful Wisconsin Vacation Retreat Is a Modern Home Disguised as a Barn

This Beautiful Wisconsin Vacation Retreat Is a Modern Home Disguised as a Barn

How do you build a modern structure that fits in with its rural setting? Just put the new systems in a familiar silhouette.

This Secret Garden in Lake View Looks Like an Extra-Large Slice of Heaven

This Secret Garden in Lake View Looks Like an Extra-Large Slice of Heaven

High walls hide away the leafy, romantic oasis behind a graystone on Barry Avenue.

Why the Smartest People in the Midwest All Move To Chicago

Why the Smartest People in the Midwest All Move To Chicago

Edward McClelland explains how Chicago rose above the Rust Belt cities to become the undisputed star of the Midwest, in an excerpt from his new book, Nothin' But Blue Skies.

Theaster Gates: The Rise of an Unconventional Art Star

Theaster Gates: The Rise of an Unconventional Art Star

Theaster Gates believes that good art can rescue bad neighborhoods. Here’s how he has convinced the international art world to buy into his vision.

Departments

Culture

Here’s How Mary Zimmerman Created Goodman Theatre’s ‘The Jungle Book’

Here’s How Mary Zimmerman Created Goodman Theatre’s ‘The Jungle Book’

It took the Disney film, Kipling's text, and two trips to India to get the story right.

Deal Estate

Someone Paid $829,900 in Cash on the First Day This Ukrainian Village Home Went Up For Sale

Someone Paid $829,900 in Cash on the First Day This Ukrainian Village Home Went Up For Sale

A buyer ponied up the money in a flash once this immaculate, 4,000 square foot, 11-year-old home hit the market.

Dining Out

Has Spiaggia Sold Out?

Has Spiaggia Sold Out?

Spiaggia and Cafe Spiaggia are two Italian legends under one Mag Mile roof. Great food. Ridiculous prices. They're tourist traps—but maybe you should go anyway.

Insider’s Guide

The 15 Best Things to Do in Oak Park

The 15 Best Things to Do in Oak Park

Here's how to experience the character and craftsmanship in the western suburb that Ernest Hemingway and Frank Lloyd Wright once called home.

Table

Here Are Three Great New Chicago Pizza Places

Here Are Three Great New Chicago Pizza Places

These new parlors prove that Chicago's pizza can go beyond the deep dish.

Shopping

These Are the Best Store Openings and Shopping Deals in June

These Are the Best Store Openings and Shopping Deals in June

This month's Sales Check has a Wicker Park Street Fest, the Old Town Art Fair, cosmetics, swimwear, and more.

Arena

What Chris Kennedy Is Doing With the New Wolf Point Project

What Chris Kennedy Is Doing With the New Wolf Point Project

How the former head of the Merchandise Mart plans to redevelop riverfront land that's been in his family since the 1940s.

The Kennedys Are From Chicago, Too

The Kennedys Are From Chicago, Too

Chris Kennedy is not the only member of the prominent family to show an interest in Chicago.

Chi-Slam Table Tennis Club Is Chicago’s Ping-Pong Headquarters

Chi-Slam Table Tennis Club Is Chicago’s Ping-Pong Headquarters

Here's a look inside the city's suddenly resurgent Ping-Pong scene.

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