Hubbard Street Dance’s Water Tower studio After a string of bad luck, including the loss of its storied building on West Jackson Boulevard, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago built out a new 13,000-square-foot studio and rehearsal space in the former Adidas store in Water Tower Place. Completed in April, the move is part of a rebranding … Read more
Konbini & Kanpai Many of us have graduated from those flasks of scalding-hot, dirt-cheap sake into the world of a gorgeous chilled version, served in proper glassware, that smells both floral and earthy and lingers on the tongue after every sip. But man, it’s a steep learning curve. Does daiginjo refer to the polish of … Read more
Oriole Noah and Cara Sandoval decided to give their two-Michelin-starred restaurant a revamp while it was closed for the pandemic. Down came an adjoining wall, in went a bar, and the larger and airier space was ready to host diners for a new progressive experience. You still enter through the freight elevator doors, but now … Read more
Steppenwolf’s Ensemble Theater Steppenwolf Theatre Company finally opened its expanded campus in April, and even if pandemic delays meant the inaugural production of Chekhov’s Seagull didn’t have the all-ensemble cast originally envisioned for the christening, no matter: The venue itself was the draw. Though it’s saddled with a clunky donor-exalting name — the Ensemble Theater in Honor … Read more
Sound Selector Series at The Silver Room Dance and shop? Why not? The Silver Room, owned by Eric Williams (pictured), is known as a purveyor of Chicago style, and its chill soundtrack comes courtesy of the Sound Selector Series. Live turntable work electrifies the atmosphere, making this spot a hangout as well as a retail … Read more
Sugar Moon Bakery Dina Cimarusti infuses her cookies with unexpected flourishes to hit the perfect balance between nuanced and homey. The salted chocolate chip gets a richness boost from tahini. An oversize s’mores variety may sound like kiddie bait, but atop that graham cookie is a smoky housemade maple marshmallow. Not a single offering, including … Read more
Sarah Sherman Chicago comedy fans knew Sarah Sherman better as Sarah Squirm, the freaky face of the Hideout’s bizarre showcase Helltrap Nightmare. While she joined the cast of Saturday Night Live last fall under her real name, she carried her flair for the outlandish and grotesque with her and made a quick (and sometimes queasy) … Read more
From a fancy take on a sloppy Joe to a lamb-stuffed Chinese wrap, here (in no particular order) are the top handhelds to hit menus in the past year.
Camp Aramoni Chicagoans have long flocked to Starved Rock State Park for its gorgeous waterfalls and vistas, but the surrounding area has traditionally lacked standout lodging. That’s changed thanks to this new 96-acre glamping resort just 10 minutes from the park. The camp (from $450 a night, including breakfast and dinner), which opened in April, … Read more
Defcee The life and work of Defcee provide a study in contrasts. He’s a serial altruist, rallying his pupils to conquer the written word. (His background includes stints as a CPS teacher, part-time prison instructor, and mentor to aspiring poets.) But on record, this lanky, lantern-jawed Jewish boy eschews warmth; instead, he tells hard truths … Read more
