Clearing Customs
Big shakeup at Custom House (500 S. Dearborn St.; 312-523-0200): Shawn McClain, the original exec chef/partner/driving force, is on his way out at the South Loop standout. While still a part owner, McClain and his long-time partners at Custom House, Green Zebra, and Spring, Sue and Peter Drohomyrecky, are trying to figure out how to divide…
Don’t-miss picks for 10.07.09 through 10.13.09: A tale of two Lucindas … and two Joshes … plus, two much-anticipated stage adaptations … a free peek at Lincoln’s pockets … free days at the MSI … and more
In the face of a 70-strong beer list, suddenly all of your past happy hours seem sort of … melancholy. Aiming to cure your 6 p.m. beer yen: Sweetwater, a new afterwork spot from the folks behind The Boundary that opened last Monday on Michigan Avenue. We gave it a few days, then sent our photographer down to scope things out. She found a Thursday-night crowd rosy with…
A New Table
Giuseppe Scurato, a top-flight chef who made his bones at Boka, Landmark, and, most recently, Topaz Cafe, has been looking for his own place for a while now. He finally found it today in Uptown’s former Monticchio space (4882 N. Clark St.), where he plans to…
For weeks I had been driving by The Cedar Hotel (1112 N. State St.; 312-944-1112), giving the crowd the once-over and wondering if the vibe was still as rowdy as in the days of Melvin B’s. When Sunday looked like the last patio-friendly weather we’d have for a while—and even then it was iffy—my friend Kelli and I headed over for a farewell-to-September brew…
The Fifth Element
The team behind Volo, Paramount Room and two Kitsch’ns plans to open a new concept in mid-October. “It’s our fifth spot, and we are calling it The Fifth,” says Jon Young of the 75-seat restaurant in an undisclosed location. (All Dish knows is…
When it comes to The Hills—the MTV reality show launching its sixth season Tuesday, September 29th at 9 p.m.—some things change (L. C. is out; Kristin Cavallari is in), and some things stay the same: Justin Bobby is hot. The show’s bad boy was in town Friday night for a season premiere party at Lumen, where he sipped Absolut and Fuze cocktails until close. Our photographer was on the scene, along with oodles of adoring fans. We’re not sure what prompted Justin’s oh-so-casual over-the-shoulder tie look, but the ladies didn’t seem to mind…
Division Street is no Roscoe Village or Southport Corridor—yet—but with his new Irish-ish Division Ale House, Baris Yuksel hopes to draw in the stroller set by day (brunch, booster seats) and serious drinkers by night. In addition to the 80-ounce “beer towers”—portable taps that dispense Boddingtons, Stella, and more tableside ($10-$24)—there’s a list of 18 … Read more
Nightlifers, meet Amalie Drury (less like “ah-ma-LEE,” the fictional Frenchie; more like “Emily,” with a Kentucky accent). Once you’ve mastered the Southernese, say hello if you see our new girl-about-town—a Louisville native and longtime CS vet—on the scene. She’ll be scouting the city’s best spots to drink and people watch, not necessarily in that order, then reporting on it Thursdays here in The Chaser. We asked Amalie a few questions to break the ice…
Italian wanderlust in a boutique hotel
