NOW FEATURING REVIEWS
- Albany Park
- Andersonville/Edgewater
- Ashburn
- Austin
- Avondale
- Back of the Yards
- Belmont Central
- Beverly
- Bridgeport
- Bronzeville
- Bucktown/Wicker Park
- Calumet Heights
- Chinatown
- Cragin
- Edgebrook
- Edison Park
- Englewood
- Gold Coast
- Greektown
- Gresham
- Heart of Chicago
- Humboldt Park
- Hyde Park
- Irving Park
- Lake View
- Lincoln Park
- Lincoln Square
- Little Italy
- Little Village
- Logan Square
- Loop
- North Austin
- North Center
- Old Irving Park
- Old Town
- Park Manor
- Pilsen
- Ravenswood
- River East
- River North
- Rogers Park
- Roscoe Village
- South Loop
- Streeterville
- Suburban North
- Suburban Northwest
- Suburban South
- Suburban Southwest
- Suburban West
- Ukrainian Village
- University Village
- Uptown
- West Loop/West Town
- West Rogers Park
- Wrigleyville
Subscribe to our email newsletters to get instant updates on local news, events and opportunities in Chicago.
It's Greek to Me
It takes guts to start a business anytime—not to mention in this economy, in a location with a less-than-hopeful track record. So, I had my fingers crossed for 6 Degrees, housed in the Bucktown address that’s greeted and bid farewell to Darwin’s, Chinaski's, and Whiskey Road. I swung by a little before...
On the Market: A Keck House in its Retro Prime—Budlong Woods
List Price: $1.399 million
The Property: Typical of the mid-century modern houses designed by Keck & Keck, this house in Budlong Woods presents to the street a low, somewhat inscrutable profile and then opens big inside: the L-shaped, 1,000-square-foot living and dining area has a 38-foot-long south wall that is virtually all windows...
Turning Over a New Leaf
Like Hopleaf, But With More Wine
After a long negotiation, Michael Roper of Hopleaf (5148 N. Clark St.; 773-334-9851) has purchased the La Donna (5146 N. Clark St.; 773-561-9400) property next door to his Andersonville beer haven, which he will turn into a charcuterie/wine-oriented spot with a wood-burning grill. “It’s going to be more straightforward grilled fish and meat and...
Twice as Nice
This week only! The Ten: double-dip pairings of top-notch concerts (and one musical flick), each featuring one suburban and one city option. Now, get out there and pursue happiness with these don’t-miss events for the week of 07.01.09 through 07.06.09 …
Housing Bulletin: Bill Rancic Buys and Sells—and Other Celebrity News
Bill Rancic, the Chicagoan who first won Donald Trump’s TV reality show The Apprentice, has turned out to be the buyer of a foreclosed condo at the Park Tower that I wrote about here in early June. Rancic had also shown up in the July issue of Chicago after he and his wife sold a Gold Coast graystone for...
The 900 Shops Adds Purse Boutique
It’s in the Bag
A few years ago, Debbie Jagel looked around at the bags and purses women were carrying and sensed opportunity—a need for purses that more deftly complemented women’s styles. And so she set about designing a line of purses and bags made of unique materials and equipped with interchangeable straps that could be swapped out to match different outfits. Last month she opened the boutique Ootra...
Weekend Photos: Queer Prom @ Subterranean
On Saturday our photographer headed to Wicker Park for the second annual Queer Prom, Subterranean’s contribution to a jam-packed Pride Weekend lineup. This year’s theme, Under the Sea, was straight out of the high-school yearbook but came with a musical headliner—the bluesy art rocker Miss Derringer—way cooler than anything we slow danced to as gawky teens.
Sale of the Week: Off the Ice — Lincoln Park
List Price: $3.125 million
Sale Price: $2.725 million
The Property: Although he hasn’t skated for the Chicago Blackhawks since 2004, Alexei Zhamnov held on to his 11-room Lincoln Park home until last week, closing on its sale on June 24th...
Rebar? You're Fired. We Prefer Terrace
It's a shame it's taken Chicago so long to realize our skyline is begging for more rooftop bars. For years we've had little more than the few-stories-tall Rock Bottom, Plymouth, Citizen, and Twisted Spoke to keep us in the sunshine. But the rash of way-up-there openings in the last year—including C-View, Roof, and, as of today, the Terrace at Trump—has all but erased my memories of summers spent slumming on...
On the Market: Hiding in Plain Sight on the Gold Coast
List Price: $4.975 million
The Property: You could prowl the streets of the Gold Coast for a long time (as I have) and hardly notice this 4,000-square-foot home. Originally built in 1888 as the coach house for two Astor Street houses, this residence now conceals itself behind draping vines and an almost invisible charcoal-colored brick façade...
Stein's Way
BTW, It's Slang for "Butter"
Zebda (4344 N. Elston Ave.; 773-545-7000), a new Mediterranean-influenced takeout deli/caterer from Katie Garcia (Mundial Cocina Mestiza) and Mohammed Djeddour (Tassili), opened last week. “We’re doing really interesting sandwiches and soups and things to go,” says Garcia, who met Djeddour working at the Ritz-Carlton years ago. “Trying to keep ethnic but...
The Ice Man Cometh
Don’t-miss events for 06.24.09 through 06.30.09: Cool As Ice @ The Neo-Futurarium … Shellac @ Bottom Lounge … Gay Men’s Chorus @ Lakefront
Housing Bulletin: Dreaming Big near Winnetka
Earlier this month, Vince Gerasole of CBS2 Chicago reported that a 35,000-square-foot mansion in Burr Ridge with a $25-million price tag was the most expensive home on the market in Illinois. Apparently Gerasole didn’t know about this super-lavish Winnetka mansion that is priced at $32 million...
Event Planning Boutique in Wicker Park
Party On
Three years after working together as event planners at the Merchandise Mart (222 Merchandise Mart Plaza; 800-677-6278 mmart.com), Stephanie Hlinak and Myca Smith wanted to take consulting services to the next level. So the pair opened...
Don’t Fear the Siem Reaper
As one last insult, Thailand charges you 500 baht ($14.64) to leave the country. I liked Thailand a lot—fascinating country—but frankly, I was ready to pay their strangely reasonable blackmail fee and go. Sarah and Hannah, on the other hand, were ready to apply for citizenship, living out a life of passive-aggressive Buddhas and chilies, and let me travel on to Cambodia alone. Luckily, I’ve got the Passports.
Weeknight Photos: Rehab @ Debonair Social Club
Despite a struggling economy and a postweekend time slot, the Monday-night DJ series Rehab—newly relocated to Wicker Park's Debonair Social Club from the nearby Evil Olive—was elbow-to-gyrating-elbow for last week's turntable lineup, aptly dubbed "I Can’t Stop Dancing!" Get your groove on tonight when J2K of Flosstradamus (one of Chicago mag’s 2008 singles...
Advertisement
Who: Twista, rapper What: releases the first album on his own label, Get Money Gang Entertainment |  |
Who: Jackie Koo, architect What: gives State Street a facelift with The Wit |  |
Who: Neal Sabin, the creative impresario behind WCIU and Me-TV What: taps into nostalgia for classic shows and movies and builds a regional TV dynamo |  |
 |
Summer Lovin' 2009June 19, 2009---Chicago magazine and the Auxiliary Board of Northwestern Memorial Hospital celebrated Chicago magazine’s 20 most eligible singles in Chicago with the 9th annual Summer Lovin’... |
Jose Cuervo Platino “Live Notoriously Well” at Martini Park |
|
2009 Green City Market Chef's Summer BBQ |
|
Features
 |
Singles 2009Unlike most superheroes, our top 20 singles don't need alter egos. We think their real-life personas are pretty extraordinary. |
Departments
Table of Contents |
|
|---|---|
Table of Contents |
|
Contributors |
|
 |
ContributorsJuly 2009: Shane Tritsch, Jennifer Wehunt, Jeff Ruby, J. C. Gabel, Lisa Predko |
Feedback |
|
FeedbackIn July’s letters: Criticisms of our top veterinarians article and sharp opinions on Bill Ayers |
|
Arena |
|
 |
A Man with a GunJust in time for the Chicago-filmed movie Public Enemies, out July 1st, here’s a primer on the real life of John Dillinger, according to his biographer Bryan Burrough and other historians |
 |
Shopper: Neapolitan MenNew to Winnetka: a one-stop shop for the sartorial man |
Sales CheckA roundup of July’s sales, store openings, and shopping news |
|
 |
Review: What’s In a NameWilco (the album) |
Defined: “Modern-Day Thoreau”Critically acclaimed author Wade Rouse returns with his third memoir |
|
 |
You Should Know ... Julia SweeneyIt’s Pat!—with a new husband, a new North Shore address, and a new comedy series at the Lakeshore Theater |
 |
First ClassHigh on our summer to-do list: Attend a concert by the 15-year-old classical music prodigy Conrad Tao |
Table |
|
 |
Odyssey: Forget The Players—The Food Is on SteroidsSuper-sized food has invaded our stadiums. Will monster pretzels and two-foot meatball sandwiches win over the baseball junkies? |
 |
Pour: 2007 Santa Rita Carménère ReservaRound smoothness envelops black cherry fruit and soft cinnamon spice |
 |
Gluten-Free ZonesAwesome gluten-free fried chicken in the West Loop. PLUS: Restaurants, bakeries, and Web sites with gluten-free menus and products |
Copyright 2009 Chicago Magazine
