Things to Do This Winter in Chicago: Eat In with These Great Recipes

FEASTING WITH THE PROS: From Chicago's best chefs, recipes for curried lamb stew, garlicky pork sausage, butter-roasted pears and brussels sprouts, brioche bread pudding, and more

Chicago’s Looming Asian Carp Problem—What You Should Know

CARPOCALYPSE NOW: Even if you’ve never been pummeled by agitated Asian carp, these fish represent a major threat. Preventing them from entering Lake Michigan could cost taxpayers a bundle—and,...

By Geoffrey Johnson

Jeanne Gang: Reversing the River Could Transform Chicago

The architect and MacArthur genius grant winner on how reversing the flow of the Chicago River could solve the Asian carp problem—and improve the city

By Geoffrey Johnson

2011 Gift Guide: For Women, Men, Kids, Foodies, Gadget Lovers, and More

WRAP STARS: The perfect presents—unusual, covetable, affordable, and cool—for everyone on your list

By Brad Bennett, Heiji Choy Black, Barri Leiner Grant, Megan Lovejoy, and Lena Singer

Things to Do This Winter in Chicago: 10 Restaurants That Will Warm Your Spirits

THE COZY LIST: Roaring fireplaces, rustic vibes, and hearty menus make these restaurants our top picks

By Penny Pollack and Jeff Ruby

Things to Do This Winter in Chicago: 10 Slurpy Dishes We Love

BOWLED OVER: Belly Shack's hot-and-sour, GT Fish & Oyster's Clam Chowder, Soon Doo Boo Chigae at Tofu House, and more

By Jennifer Tanaka

Things to Do This Winter in Chicago: Outdoor Activities

Entry-level venues for winter sports, three mountains for great skiing, and a park-and-walk guide to winter fun around the Loop

Sunken Treasures: Rediscovered Photographs of Turn-of-the-Century Chicago

A trove of negatives chronicling the reversal of the Chicago River reveals a gritty city on the make—and a haunting landscape beyond Chicago that’s been lost forever

By Richard Cahan and Michael Williams

A Night Out: Pump Room’s Bar

SOLID GOLD: A revamped Gold Coast hotel debuts the Library and the Pump Room, two dazzling destinations for drinking and gawking

By Amalie Drury

USG CEO Takes Loss on High-Rise Condo

SCENES FROM A MALL: A 4,000-square-foot condo at Chicago Place sells for 29 percent off its purchase price

By Dennis Rodkin

Hancock Building Condos, Finished and Unfinished

ROUGH AND READY: One flight apart, two choices for buyers

By Dennis Rodkin

Cash for Condos in Chicago

LOVE ME (LEGAL) TENDER: 18 condos at 200 North Dearborn close in one month to all-cash buyers

By Dennis Rodkin

South Loop Row House a Two-Time Loser

Different owners come up short on sale of Prairie Avenue row house

By Dennis Rodkin

Architect’s Lincoln Park Mansion Sells at Discount

GOING FOR BAROQUE: 22 rooms, 44 percent off its original asking price

By Dennis Rodkin

Reviews: Pump Room and Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse

PUMPED-UP KICKS: Steering through the precarious intersection of celebrities and restaurants

By Jeff Ruby

Will Regrowing Your Teeth Replace Fillings?

THE SUPERTOOTH SQUAD: Researchers at the UIC College of Dentistry are trying to turn fillings, crowns, bridges, and dentures into relics of the past—by harnessing nature to grow and implant new...

By Karen Springen

A Guide to Portage Park: Where to Eat, Shop, and Play

INSIDER’S GUIDE: From classic cinema to fried chicken, this neighborhood dials up the charm in time for the holidays

By Gina Bazer

The Continuing Adventures of Former Mayor Richard M. Daley

By Paul Hornschemeier

Can Theo Epstein Deliver for the Cubs?

One of the brightest of baseball’s new breed of data-driven front-office execs, Theo Epstein is being hailed as the Cubs’ savior. But don’t order those World Series tickets just yet

By Jonathan Eig

Optimo Hat Company to Open in the Loop

SHOPPER: The company will sell its fedoras and other hand-sewn classics from the historic Monadnock Building

By Lena Singer

Our Favorite Winter Coats and Accessories for Him and Her

GETTING WARMER: Bundle up with a mix of cashmere, wool, leather, and fur—in unexpected cuts and up-to-the-minute colors

By Heiji Choy Black, Megan Lovejoy, and Lena Singer

The Hot List: 10 places everyone’s talking about and dining at in December—in order of heat

Chicago's most-buzzed-about restaurants this month

By Penny Pollack and Jeff Ruby

Sweet Stand Open on Saturday Mornings at Table Fifty-Two

SINGLED OUT: Flavors change weekly at the doughnut and cupcake stand

By Penny Pollack

What’s Coming, What’s New, and What’s Cheap in Chicago Dining

Taverna 750, Red Violet, Acadia, and Central St Cafe

By Jill Rohde, Carly Boers, and Penny Pollack

Chefs Behaving Badly

Graham Elliot, James Toland, Chuy Valencia, et al.: They’re out of the kitchen and out of control. Who’s to blame?

By Michael Nagrant

Nellcôte to Open on Randolph Street

A new spot with a rock-star decadence

By Jeff Ruby

Poker Expert James McManus on Las Vegas’s Best Restaurants, Hotels, and Attractions

ALL THAT GLITTERS: The author of Positively Fifth Street shows us how Vegas still thrills with plenty of bang for the buck.

By Catey Sullivan

Q&A with Richard Sandor, CEO of Environmental Financial Products

WHAT I WAS THINKING: The "father of financial futures" on the ill-fated carbon trading system and creating a market for water

Andrew Bird's Sonic Arboretum at the MCA

SOUND GARDEN: The musician partners with Specimen's Ian Schneller for their latest collaboration, a beguiling universe where art and indie rock collide

By Cassie Walker Burke

Threewalls Program Features Art on the Cheap

PAINT BY NUMBERS: Strapped for cash? You can still afford great original works, thanks to an innovative nonprofit

By Jennifer Wehunt

Five Best Things to Do in December

POCKET GUIDE: A cultural shortlist for the month, in order of buzz

By Graham Meyer

Best Chicago Fiction of 2011

NOVEL IDEAS: Our completely subjective, wholly enthusiastic picks for the year—four books we love

By Nina Kokotas Hahn and Cassie Walker Burke