November 2009

Cover Story

Best Restaurants in Chicago: 30 under $30

Best Restaurants in Chicago: 30 under $30

We found a whole slew of great ways to eat well for less—trusty BYOs, prix fixe stunners, and places that don't seem to realize how good they are

Features

Cue, Shtick: Alan Gross' new dark comedy High Holidays comes to the Goodman Theatre

Cue, Shtick: Alan Gross' new dark comedy High Holidays comes to the Goodman Theatre

A long-ago Chicago stage hit propelled Alan Gross into a screenwriting career—and 14 years of thankless toil in Hollywood. This month, the playwright, back in town, brings a new dark comedy to...

Prince of the City: The mysterious mob hit on 1920s Tribune reporter Jake Lingle

Prince of the City: The mysterious mob hit on 1920s Tribune reporter Jake Lingle

He spent lavishly and hung out with the city's elite, including Al Capone. His murder in a passageway under Michigan Avenue outraged the city, until the truth emerged—that he was corrupt to his...

Trashed: The death of Michael York and how heroin has invaded the Chicago suburbs

Trashed: The death of Michael York and how heroin has invaded the Chicago suburbs

Nearly two years ago, the body of Michael York turned up in an alley on the West Side. The high-school student had died of an apparent overdose after a weekend bacchanal at a St. Charles mansion,...

Departments

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Contributors

Contributors

Contributors

November 2009: Bryan Smith, Joe Meno, Richard Babcock, Robert Krughoff, Saverio Truglia

Feedback

Feedback

In November’s letters: Responding on Todd Stroger and a beef

Books

America's Game: On James McManus' new book, Cowboys Full: The Story of Poker

America's Game: On James McManus' new book, Cowboys Full: The Story of Poker

From living rooms to casinos to the White House—poker pulses in the veins of the American character. Or so says James McManus in his new book, written while he gambled online

Checkbook

Bicuspid Bliss: Best dentists in the Chicago area

Bicuspid Bliss: Best dentists in the Chicago area

Have dentophobia? Never fear. Here are 40 of the finest dentists in the Chicago area

Cheers

Social Networking: Old Town Social

Social Networking: Old Town Social

A newcomer aims to turn chuggers into urban sophisticates

Chicago Guide

Role Call: A Who’s Who in Court Theatre’s production of The Mystery of Irma Vep

Role Call: A Who’s Who in Court Theatre’s production of The Mystery of Irma Vep

Deal Estate

Trio Trouble: Three-bedroom condos a tough sell downtown

Late-summer study by Appraisal Research Counselors says the three-bedroom condo has been the hardest hit

Page Two

Schindler’s List: Tom Dart Rescues Lawyers

Schindler’s List: Tom Dart Rescues Lawyers

Playing Keepaway: Why D.C. Democrats are so unsure about Alexi Giannoulias

Playing Keepaway: Why D.C. Democrats are so unsure about Alexi Giannoulias

Reporter

Making History: How Anne Burke met Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the Special Olympics began

Making History: How Anne Burke met Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the Special Olympics began

As a young PE teacher in 1968, the future state supreme court justice Anne Burke worked tirelessly to realize the first Special Olympics—opening a long and tangled relationship with Eunice...

Table

Best Restaurants in Chicago: 30 under $30

Best Restaurants in Chicago: 30 under $30

We found a whole slew of great ways to eat well for less—trusty BYOs, prix fixe stunners, and places that don't seem to realize how good they are

Ale Lives: The making of a beer—Revolution Brewing's Cross of Gold

Ale Lives: The making of a beer—Revolution Brewing's Cross of Gold

Mini Review: The Cellar in Evanston

Bill Kim’s Belly Shack opens in Logan Square

Bill Kim’s Belly Shack opens in Logan Square

Budget Beat: Abuelo’s Mexican Grill in Pilsen

Singled Out: Randal Jacobs grills Hibachi Chicken Wings at Elate

Singled Out: Randal Jacobs grills Hibachi Chicken Wings at Elate

Burgers: Edzo’s Burger Shop & DMK Burger Bar

Two new burger projects by People Who Get It

Pizza: Nella Pizzeria Napoletana

Nella Grassano takes thin-crust pizzamaking to the next level

Pour: 2007 Cousiño Macul Antiguas Reservas

Pour: 2007 Cousiño Macul Antiguas Reservas

More like a restrained Bordeaux than a flashy Napa cab

Deal Estate Condos

Off The Shelf: Developer hopes price cut sells condos at Winnetka’s Library Plaza

Off The Shelf: Developer hopes price cut sells condos at Winnetka’s Library Plaza

Diminished Expectations: Rehabber Ron Kozil laments lost profits at Mozart Manor

Diminished Expectations: Rehabber Ron Kozil laments lost profits at Mozart Manor

Outer Drive

The Lab Mystique

The Lab Mystique

A place where every five-year-old intimidates me

Arena

Kiss Off: Fall’s new red lip shades

Kiss Off: Fall’s new red lip shades

About Face: Makeup artist Hillary Fenton shares tips

About Face: Makeup artist Hillary Fenton shares tips

Six products. Two radically different looks. The makeup artist Hillary Fenton shares her tips for achieving a fashionable face without breaking the bank

Heavy Metal: Best nail polish colors for fall

Heavy Metal: Best nail polish colors for fall

Rock the latest nail hues: blues, bronzes, and sultry blacks

Bohemian Boom: A guide to Pilsen

Bohemian Boom: A guide to Pilsen

Planning a trip to Pilsen? If so, use this guide

A Family Affair: On the Ponces' new project, On TV/Off TV

A Family Affair: On the Ponces' new project, On TV/Off TV

A mother-daugther team find inspiration in local TV personalities

Bitten!: Chicago-area vampire enthusiasts

Bitten!: Chicago-area vampire enthusiasts

The second Twilight movie comes out November 20th, andTV series such as True Blood continue to suck in new vampire fans. But for two longtime local enthusiasts, vampire stories are more than a fad

Sales Check: A roundup of November’s sales, store openings, and shopping news

Workshop: Annie Novotny opens a store in Pilsen

Workshop: Annie Novotny opens a store in Pilsen

Eccentric Company: On composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa

Eccentric Company: On composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa

Andrew Lippa embarks on his spookiest project yet

Rock and Role: Jon Langford inspires All the Fame of Lofty Deeds

Rock and Role: Jon Langford inspires All the Fame of Lofty Deeds

The musician Jon Langford inspires a play

The Insider: Tim Daisy

Five picks from the versatile Chicago new-music drummer whose trio, Vox Arcana, opens the Umbrella Music Festival on Saturday, Nov. 7th, at The Hideout (1354 W. Wabansia; umbrellamusic.org).

Double Play: The International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE)

The 30-member group returns to the MCA for its first concert with the Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho.