August 2007

Cover Story

Best of Chicago 2007

Best of Chicago 2007

In our exacting annual issue dedicated to ferreting out all good things worth knowing about, we present a guide to Chicago's tastiest food; outstanding places to shop for clothing and the home;...

Features

Cast Away

Cast Away

Every time ABC runs an episode of its hit TV series Lost, Evanston's Jeffrey Lieber gets an onscreen credit and his bank account gets a nice pop. But the twisting tale of his Hollywood...

Word Star

Word Star

Sit back and listen in on a Range Rover ride to the West Side with breakout rapper and Renaissance nerd Lupe Fiasco. You’ll get an earful on history, sociology, anthropology, and the artist’s...

Departments

Table of Contents

August 2007 Table of Contents

Dining Out

Engaged

Engaged

The Gage, a stone’s toss from Millennium Park, locks in as Chicago’s finest gastropub; Jerry Kleiner’s new American bistro, Room 21, brings the noise, the history, and another smart menu to...

The Closer

From Here to Paternity

From Here to Paternity

Pregnancy, revealed—from a father-to-be's perspective

Restaurants

Reflect

Reflect

Otom has little in common with Moto, but that doesn't mean it's not good.

Dining Tidbits

Dining Tidbits

Haute mex, relaxing lounge, new dining, budget beat

At Home

Park Place

Park Place

The architect Paul Florian lives large in a small apartment on the Gold Coast

Events

A New Leifer

A New Leifer

When You Lie About Your Age, the Terrorists Win August 4 at 8. Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway. 773-472-3492

Cheers

To the Manor Born ...

To the Manor Born ...

A new River North nightspot caters to a well-heeled crowd

5 Bars Where ...

... you can actually snag a seat outside

Business

The Billionaire Next Door

The Billionaire Next Door

When John Calamos took his mutual-fund company public in 2004, not only did he join the ranks of the world's richest people; he also invited the kind of scrutiny and criticism he had never faced as...

Arena

Northern Star

Northern Star

Ninety miles from Chicago, Milwaukee's hip Third Ward defies the cheesy Wisconsin stereotypes

Conversation with the Mekons

Conversation with the Mekons

We chat with country-folk group the Mekons about their first new project in five years.

Divorce: It's <i>Ex-</i>pensive

Divorce: It's Ex-pensive

Money problems are cited as among the top contributors to divorce, but financial stress doesn't end with the decision to split; it's just the beginning.

5 Albums That Inspire ...

5 Albums That Inspire ...

Orbert Davis, who plays Millennium Park on August 27th

Meet Mr. Popular

Meet Mr. Popular

What was high school really like for the actors in High School Musical?

Beyond the Lens

Beyond the Lens

Senator Who?

Senator Who?

Who will fill Barack's shoes if the White House calls?

Weeknight Find

Weeknight Find

Old Town School goes for Guinness record

Dance

Dance

Free Chicago dance festival a bigger-than-New York event

Top Gunn

Top Gunn

This opera star is taking Chicago by storm

Mamah's Tale

Mamah's Tale

In her debut novel, Nancy Horan resuces Frank Lloyd Wright's ill-fated mistress from the footnotes of history.

Brad Trayser

Brad Trayser

Captain Morgan, watch out. A freebooter from Chicago is poised to enter the rum market.

The Hunt: Take a Seat

The Hunt: Take a Seat

Get midcentury modern chairs—and luxe lookalikes—at the Chicago Antique Market

Sales Check & The Buzz Bin

Sales Check & The Buzz Bin

A roundup of this month's sales, store openings, and shopping news

Critical Mass

Critical Mass

Noteworthy new releases

On the Marc

On the Marc

What's behind the boom in luxe retail?

Shopper: Vera Wang

Shopper: Vera Wang

New boutique open by appointment only

The R. Kelly Tally

The R. Kelly Tally

Five years, four platinum-selling albums, three concert tours, and still no trial for R. Kelly. Here’s the current Kelly tally since his arrest:

High Rises, Low Blows

High Rises, Low Blows

Donald Trump lands the first punch in the battle of the Big Towers and Big Egos

The Blip - August 2007

The Blip - August 2007

Bright spots on the month's cultural calendar

Deal Estate

Your Best Offer

Your Best Offer

Three real-estate agents provide Deal Estate with their assessments of a spacious downtown condo

Catbird Seat

Catbird Seat

Canary color helps propel house to suburb record

Deal Estate Condos

Eco Echo

Eco Echo

Building’s address mirrors its “green” aesthetic

On the Road Again

On the Road Again

Historic auto show rooms reborn as distinctive condos

A Fated Pair

A Fated Pair

Two Providence developments enhance suburb's rejuvenated downtown

Table

Taste Test: Pizza Slimdown

Taste Test: Pizza Slimdown

We put eight Margherita pizzas head-to-head, and crowned one the champ.

Chefs on the Grill with Michael Nagrant

Chefs on the Grill with Michael Nagrant

This Month: Natalie Zarzour Andersonville’s new pastry queen breathes life into cannoli at Pasticceria Natalina. 5406 N. Clark St.; 773-989-0662

Music

One Last Jam

One Last Jam

B.B. King wasn't thinking about Chicago blues clubs when he wailed, "The thrill is gone." But it certainly could apply. Six ways to revive a fading cultural art form