124 Best Dishes

We scoured the city for the top offerings on Chicago's world-class restaurant scene. From appetizer through dessert, from über haute pineapple rum soup to down-home juicy fried chicken, here's...

Dennis Ray Wheaton

Starry Nights

In a new spin on enchanted evenings, traditional gowns give way to artfully assembled separates and accessories—to looks of sporty sophistication bohemian panache

Stacey Jones; Photography by Ben Shaul

Aliens

Exotic animals and plants are crisscrossing the globe as never before. Many of these unwelcome species have found their way to the Chicago area and are wreaking havoc on our local ecosystem.

David Bernstein

How the CIA Enlisted the Chicago Mob to Put a Hit on Castro

Ever wonder about the sanity of America's leaders? Take a close look at perhaps the most bizarre plot in U.S. intelligence history

Bryan Smith

The New Vice President

In his new book, Peter Sagal, the smart and impish host of NPR's Wait Wait . . . Don't Tell Me!, turns his attention to porn, gluttony, swingers' clubs, and other forms of behavior that...

Kevin McKeough

November 2007 Table of Contents

Dining Tidbits

Pizza, Budget Beat, Loungestaurant, Big Opening

Time Tables

The West Loop's gorgeous Sepia is a good restaurant that could someday be a great one; Café 103's tiny BYO charms the taste buds off its Beverly neighbors

Dennis Ray Wheaton

Eating Clark

One street. Two goals: making it from Evanston to downtown before dark, and trying as many places on Clark Street as humanly possible.

Ben Wexler

Singled Out: Bien Trucha

Terrific Mexican food at Bien Trucha in downtown Geneva

Nathaniel Zimmer

Fahrenheit

One of Fox River Valley's most highly anticipated openings in ages

Jeff Ruby

Chefs on the Grill - Bob Djahanguiri

Bob Djahanguiri The energetic Persian native who thrilled Chicagoans a generation ago with Toulouse and Yvette is back, this time with Old Town Brasserie Market and four-star chef Roland Liccioni...

Michael Nagrant

Will You Be My Friend?

Facebook faux pas are impossible to avoid—if you're not 19.

Jeff Ruby

Tough Love: Great Chicago Novels

We asked the experts to help us name the ten essential Chicago novels. The result: a list with big shoulders

Name Game

Next year, the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon will become the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Jeff Fleischer

The Biggest Losers

Who is suffering most from the Big Ten Network blackout?

Graham Meyer

The Dream Team

A Gore-Obama ticket next November may be unrealistic, but it's fun to dream about

Graham Meyer

Mr. Inside Out

Tony Rezko climbed from immigrant roots to the highest circles in Illinois. In his first interview since his indictment on corruption charges, he's defiant—and faithful to a governor who now...

James L. Merriner

Six Degrees of Ken Vandermark

We examine the sphere of influence of Ken Vandermark, Chicago's hardest-working musician.

Mark Loehrke

Guess Hue?

This winter, the design world loves colors that combine techno with retro. We pair items with four shades we predict you’ll see a lot of in the near future.

Barri Leiner

Design Within Her Reach

The Art Institute's new design curator, Zoë Ryan, discusses her own art collection, good luck charms, current obsessions, and more

Carrie Napolilli

Ritz, on the Rocks

We love retro cocktails—and the rings that go with them. No need to wait for a suitor: The only thing more stylish than a cocktail ring is the woman who buys one for herself.

Barri Leiner

Drawing a Crowd

The Art Institute's astounding collection of prints and drawings deserves a closer look.

Jeff Fleischer

Homo Sapiens Barackus

Homo sapiens barackus identified in its natural habitat

Steve Yaccino

5 Albums that Move...

Nico Muhly, the composer whose Step Team will première Nov. 5th in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s MusicNow series

Critical Mass

Noteworthy new releases for November

Mirah Kang & Cassie Walker

Sales Check

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

Rebecca Little

Writers on the Record

Victoria Lautmann chats with Ann Packer.

Victoria Lautmann

Shopper: Nanette Lepore

Nanette Lepore's first Midwest store opens in Bucktown in late October.

Rebecca Little

Wail

A chorus of volunteers puts everyday gripes into song.

Graham Meyer

The Redwalls

Dumped by their label, the band is reborn on an indie

Mark Guarino

New Country

Tom Schraeder and his Gram Parsons-Wilco-Paul Westerberg-Tim Booth-inspired sound, fresh off Lollapalooza, are on the brink of stardom.

Noah Isackson

Conversation With ... Tom Lemming

Barrington resident Tom Lemming's high-school football scouting newsletter has landed him a column, TV and radio gigs, and a new 282-page magazine.

Noah Isackson

You Should Know ... E. Faye Butler

The South Shore native who hit it big in musical theatre returns home to play the First Lady of Song

Web Behrens

The Blip - November 2007

Bright spots on the month's cultural calendar

Cassie Walker

A Daisy of a House

Ginevra King, the model for The Great Gatsby's Daisy Buchanan, spent her youth in this Lake Forest house that is now for sale.

Dennis Rodkin

Making History

New digs for storied town

Dennis Rodkin

A Chance to Attend Harvard

A former South Side prep school graduates into a collection of stylish residences.

Dennis Rodkin

Southern Discomfort

Lucero and Bobby Bare Jr. play November 9th at 9 p.m. at Metro

Kevin McKeough

Art Imitates Death

Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife, discusses art, writing, and her upcoming exhibition on Isabella Blow, the fashion icon who died last spring.

Ann Wiens

5 Bars' Picks For...

crisp fall beers

Sarah Preston

Now Circling

The Orbit Room presents a sleeker take on the corner-tavern theme.

Old Style

Logan Square embraces its inner old man without falling asleep on its barstool

Sarah Preston