Features

Cooler by the Lake
by Dennis Rodkin
House prices from more than 270 neighborhoods and towns demonstrate that, despite a chilled economy, the local real estate market continues to grow.

Artists in Residence
by Philip Berger
Building on a rich tradition that extends back to Frank Lloyd Wright, eight Chicago architects design houses with staying power.

The Longest Wait: A Love Story
by Robert Kurson
The Southern belle and the young officer met just before he shipped off to World War II, but they knew they were right for each other. His terrible injuries drove them apart. Then, half a century later, they reunited.

The Beat Keeper
by David Zivan
Jim Irsay relishes outsize toys: his Indianapolis Colts, Elvis’s guitar, and now, Jack Kerouac’s “Scroll.”

Bearing Gifts
by Cynthia Hanson
Unable to have children, an Evanston couple hired a surrogate mother in California, who bore them a perfect son – and, 16 months later, another one.

Now and Zen
by Christine Newman
Two young architects achieve balance and enlightenment in Lincoln Park.

Departments

Letters

Contributors

Frontlines
A loophole at Wrigley Field; uber-composer Augusta Read Thomas; deconstructing “plum elixir” and other trendy food terms; more

Style Sheet
by Stacy Wallace-Albert
A Francophile salon, custom designs from the new Item, knits with wit

Real Lives
by Marcia Froelke Coburn
Corporate event planner Frank Goldstin always outdoes himself, no matter what.

Stage & Screen
by Penelope Mesic
TV star David Schwimmer is hard behind taking Lookingglass Theatre to the next level.

Deal Estate
by Dennis Rodkin
A costly rehab, a pol’s turnaround, and a flood of high-end homes

Consumer Retorts
by Terry Sullivan
There’s nothing like taking a $49 flying lesson to make a man appreciate what he can do on solid ground.

Media
by Steve Rhodes
In the fierce rivalry between the Tribune and Sun-Times sports sections, the Trib appears to be losing.

Reporter
by Jonathan Black
Bureaucrats on the take, stellar museums, and a storied gangster tradition: Chicago’s got a lot in common with sister city Moscow.

Dining Out
by Dennis Ray Wheaton
Judging by the fine American restaurants named for them, chef Ted Cizma’s young daughters must have cultivated palates.

Expert Witness
by Carrie Sager
Don’t get behind the wheel – or start cooking chili – without consulting automobile guru Paul Brian.

Chicago Guides

Prime Time

On in October
Stephen King (!) wails with the Rock Bottom Remainders, a rock band made up of fellow authors Amy Tan, Scott Turow, and Dave Barry, at Park West.

Restaurants

Budget Beat
Too pretty to eat? It’s a cliché come true at Amarind’s, but who can resist the dainty Thai golden cups?

On Wine
Chianti grows up and out of straw-colored flasks.