Features Nightmare in Building 503by Jonathan EigSince 1989, 19 employees at the Amoco Research Center in Naperville have been diagnosed with brain tumors, and four have died. Now some of the workers are suggesting they fell victim to something in the air. The Playerby Marcia Froelke CoburnAfter decades of discipline, abstinence, and indulgence, Pat Arbor, … Read more
Features My So-Called (Dog’s) Lifeby Marcia Froelke CoburnMore Americans than ever are engaging in heavy petting – and they find it hard to deny anything to their cats, dogs, ferrets, bunnies, and birds. The best owners know the secrets of hopelessly unrestrained indulgence. Master of the Houseby Philip BergerTony Grunsfeld occupies a specialized niche: Chicago’s … Read more
Features Through Thick and Thin Our critics investigate a Chicago classic and choose the best deep-dish, thin-crust, gourmet, and unconventional pizzas. They also pile on toppings of additional best bets, history, reader poll results, and more. Sex by the Numbersby Jonathan EigUniversity of Chicago researchers say that American sex lives are dull, limited, lacking – … Read more
Features Can This Be the Midwest?Adventure vacations among alpine meadows, sandstone cliffs, forested islands, limestone canyons, and riverfront bluffs. Cream of the Cropby Dennis RodkinThese five nurseries, the area’s best, help local plant lovers perfect their gardens while cultivating their green thumbs. Emerald Cityby Jill RiddellBeyond Chicago’s asphalt jungle, the forest preserves of Cook, Lake, … Read more
Features Best New Restaurantsby Dennis Ray Wheaton and Anne SpiselmanOur reviewers’ search for this year’s best new restaurants turned up 20 entries at the top of their game, four new-wave fast-food joints, and a culinary traffic jam on Randolph Street. White Heatby Jonathan EigAfter more than two decades of affirmative action, Chicago’s fire department remains … Read more
Features Bones of Contentionby Steve FifferThe Field Museum’s $8.4-million new Tyrannosaurus rex specimen endured combat and catastrophe when it roamed the earth. But that was nothing compared with what happened 65 million years later: a bitter legal war over its remains. Talk Softly and Carry a Big Stickby Marcia Froelke CoburnWhite Sox batter Frank Thomas … Read more
Features Running with the Bullsby Jonathan EigThe media hordes who cover the Bulls endure long hours, lousy food, and endless clichés. Their real quest: a word, any word, from Michael The Colossus of Roadsby Dennis RodkinTwo proposed road extensions – of Interstate 355 in Will County and Illinois Highway 53 in Lake County – have … Read more
Features The Big Onion Awardsby Marc Spiegler and Todd PruzanIt’s enough to bring tears to the eyes: our fourth annual tribute to the bureaucrats, politicians, and other public bumblers whose greed, ineptitude, and shabby behavior irritated us immensely Birth of a Salesmanby Ted AllenWhen Sean Conlon arrived in Chicago seven years ago, his first career … Read more
Features The Power Packby Marc SpieglerPresenting Chicago’s 100 most powerful people, from Hizzoner and cronies to superrich business leaders to a certain hoops demigod Bound for Gloryby Jonathan EigNovelist Leon Forrest, author of the highly praised but rarely read Divine Days, always wanted to be recognized as a great writer. Last fall, facing the ultimate … Read more
Features The Best of Chicago A budget brunch with a touch of exotica; a suburban library with drive-through service; a tenor sax man who leavens his manic intensity with a sense of humor – these are just a few of our 100-plus favorite things as Chicago puts its best foot forward. Designing Manby Christine NewmanInterior … Read more
