January 2010

Cover Story

Top Doctors in Chicago: The best MDs in 57 specialties

Top Doctors in Chicago: The best MDs in 57 specialties

In cooperation with Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., we present 347 of the area's best physicians in 57 different medical specialties.

Features

The Soul of a New Building: The Salvation Army's new South Side community center building

The Soul of a New Building: The Salvation Army's new South Side community center building

Backed by the Kroc family fortune, the Salvation Army planned to build a huge, glorious community center here. A star-studded design competition, a dose of Chicago politics, and several injections...

Why Is This Man Laughing?: A look at Chicago area car dealer Bob Rohrman

Why Is This Man Laughing?: A look at Chicago area car dealer Bob Rohrman

Bob Rohrman is one of the area’s largest car dealers in the midst of an epic downturn for the auto industry. He just sued a plastic surgeon for allegedly wooing away his third ex-wife. But, hey,...

Action Figures: Chicagoans of the Year 2009

Action Figures: Chicagoans of the Year 2009

Departments

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Contributors

Contributors

Contributors

January 2010: Josh Schollmeyer, Taylor Castle, Jennifer Tanaka, Jay Pridmore, Katrina Wittkamp

Feedback

Feedback

In January’s letters: Some good old beer and a note from an Anne Burke fan

Arena: Money

Small Beer: With liquor taxes up and incomes down, Illinois drinking habits change

Small Beer: With liquor taxes up and incomes down, Illinois drinking habits change

Dining Out

Mexican Brand-Off: Dining reviews of Mercadito and Rick Bayless’ Xoco

Mexican Brand-Off: Dining reviews of Mercadito and Rick Bayless’ Xoco

The Bayless empire’s new annex is packed night and day; two blocks away a New York taco import brings the noise

Page Two

O-Book-A!: Best Obama election books of 2009

O-Book-A!: Best Obama election books of 2009

Before we get hit by the next wave of books about Obama’s first year in office—Bob Woodward, for example, has got one in the works—here’s a recap of some of the top election reads of 2009.

Cheers

5 Whiskey Warmers for Cold Winter Nights

Land of Drinkin': Lincoln Hall bar review

Land of Drinkin': Lincoln Hall bar review

Yes, Lincoln Hall has top-notch acoustics. But in a neighborhood of college kids, we’re just happy to see some adults

Arena

Shopper: New Michael Kors store opens on Chicago's Michigan Avenue

Shopper: New Michael Kors store opens on Chicago's Michigan Avenue

From Project Runway to Michigan Avenue

Laughing Matter: Jim Gaffigan on Chicago comedy, Hot Pockets, and more

Laughing Matter: Jim Gaffigan on Chicago comedy, Hot Pockets, and more

Lit Lite: University of Chicago students pen Twitterature: The World's Greatest Books in 20 Tweets or Less

Lit Lite: University of Chicago students pen Twitterature: The World's Greatest Books in 20 Tweets or Less

Two college students tweet their way to a book deal

New Year’s Beat: Chicago concerts to ring in 2010

New Year’s Beat: Chicago concerts to ring in 2010

It’s About Time: Best watches for the New Year

It’s About Time: Best watches for the New Year

A bumper crop of luxury watches to help us keep our New Year’s resolution: punctuality

Sales Check: Sales, openings, and shopping news in Chicago for January 2010

Voice of Change: On Radical Disciple: The Story of Father Michael Pfleger

Voice of Change: On Radical Disciple: The Story of Father Michael Pfleger

A new documentary examines an activist priest and his controversial limelight

Eyewitness Account: Emmett Till’s cousin Simeon Wright seeks to set the record straight

Eyewitness Account: Emmett Till’s cousin Simeon Wright seeks to set the record straight

Public Defender: On Ike Reilly and his new album, Hard Luck Stories

Public Defender: On Ike Reilly and his new album, Hard Luck Stories

O Phase: Living Oprah documents Robyn Okrant’s year of practicing Winfrey’s advice

O Phase: Living Oprah documents Robyn Okrant’s year of practicing Winfrey’s advice

Reporter

On Otis McDonald and his lawsuit challenging Chicago's 1982 handgun ban

On Otis McDonald and his lawsuit challenging Chicago's 1982 handgun ban

Otis McDonald sued for the right to own a handgun in Chicago, and the Supreme Court ruled in his favor on June 28. Read his story, from our archives

Deal Estate

On the Horizon: Study anticipates stable housing recovery for Chicago in 2011

A Passing Grade: Francis W. Parker principal Daniel Frank sells in Lincoln Park

A Passing Grade: Francis W. Parker principal Daniel Frank sells in Lincoln Park

Francis W. Parker School's principal just misses his purchase price when he sells his 1890s row house

Deal Estate Condos

Ornate Past Gets Updated: West Sherwin Place is "ready for a new generation"

Ornate Past Gets Updated: West Sherwin Place is "ready for a new generation"

A Timely Decay: Construction slowdown benefits Astoria Tower sales

A Timely Decay: Construction slowdown benefits Astoria Tower sales

Naming Rights: A green project in Ravenswood

Naming Rights: A green project in Ravenswood

The Green on Paulina lives up to ecological-sounding moniker

Hot List

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

Arena: Service Desk

Chicago iPhone apps reviews

Chicago iPhone apps reviews

Ten Chicagocentric applications that make Apple’s iPhone an on-the-go guide for exploring the city

Table

Mexican Brand-Off: Dining reviews of Mercadito and Rick Bayless’ Xoco

Mexican Brand-Off: Dining reviews of Mercadito and Rick Bayless’ Xoco

The Bayless empire’s new annex is packed night and day; two blocks away a New York taco import brings the noise

Pleased to Meat Me: Chicago foodie takes up butchering

Pleased to Meat Me: Chicago foodie takes up butchering

Scene: Epic

Burgers & Brews: The Lucky Monk

Coming: Purple Pig

Budget Beat: Paprika Indian Gourmet

Pour: 7 Deadly Zins

Pour: 7 Deadly Zins

This 2007 old-vine zinfandel exhibits a virtuous lusciousness seldom found in a $15 zin

Singled Out: House of Bread: Wheeling bakery features 19 varieties of fresh-baked loaves

Singled Out: House of Bread: Wheeling bakery features 19 varieties of fresh-baked loaves

Prairie Fire: Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris cook side by side at Prairie Grass Cafe

Prairie Fire: Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris cook side by side at Prairie Grass Cafe

Outer Drive

I ? NY: Chicago-versus-New York comparisons are lame, but I can't help myself

I ? NY: Chicago-versus-New York comparisons are lame, but I can't help myself

PLUS: I Hate New York video

Music

New Year’s Beat: Chicago concerts to ring in 2010

New Year’s Beat: Chicago concerts to ring in 2010

Public Defender: On Ike Reilly and his new album, Hard Luck Stories

Public Defender: On Ike Reilly and his new album, Hard Luck Stories