Don’t-miss picks for 12.02.09 through 12.08.09: Someone must have been good this year. This week brings American Buffalo with Tracy Letts, under-the-radar holiday cabaret with Molly Brennan, The Swell Season, tattoo cinema—and then there’s the free stuff.
In Basque Country, everyone has a handle on the latest bar-food trend, pintxos—tapas-like tidbits. Here, not so much
Some folks saved the turkey for Thursday; others got a leg up, so to speak, with Black Wednesday specials at Lottie’s Pub in Bucktown: $5 turkey legs and domestic drafts. Our photographer stopped by to see the gobble-fest in all its glory.
We quizzed Josh Deth of Revolution Brewing—the much-buzzed-about Logan Square brewpub that’s aiming for a November launch—on the full story, from first glimmer to final recipe, of one of the spot’s four permanent beers: a sunny ale called Cross of Gold. Here, a look at its evolution through gold-colored glasses. 1974 Josh Deth (right) is … Read more
Chicago Guide is taking a break this week, replacing our usual diet of concerts and theatre with inappropriately large helpings of pumpkin pie and sweet potatoes. We’ll be back December 2nd with our weekly roundup of things to do; in the meantime, check out The Chaser’s picks for Black Wednesday bashes.
Maybe the name should have been Big Stars. On Friday our photographer visited Chicago’s hottest It Bar, Big Star (1531 N. Damen Ave.; 773-235-4039), the nouveau honky-tonk from an A list of powerhouses including Paul Kahan, Donnie Madia, and Terry Alexander (The Publican, Danny’s, The Violet Hour). By 6 p.m. the spot was standing room only, with would-be patrons lurking in wait for…
Pascal’s Law
Pascal Berthoumieux, a restaurant veteran who most recently worked as the GM at One Sixtyblue, plans to open Bistro Bordeaux, an 80-seat “grass-roots” bistro in the former Le Petite Amelia space (618 Church St., Evanston; 847-424-1483) on December 15th. “We will be…
Last night, on our way out of a make-your-own-purse party at a condo on North Lake Shore Drive, my friends Jenny and Melissa, and I asked the building’s doorman for suggestions on nearby places to proceed with our evening.
“Walk that way and take a left,” he said, pointing toward Irving Park Road. “Then go a couple more blocks until you see a big glittery sign…
Dean’s (Wish) List
Dean Zanella, the chef of 312 Chicago for years, is partnering with Mia Francesca’s Scott Harris to open Aldino’s (626 S. Racine Ave.), a 120-seat Italian restaurant/deli in the old Rico’s and La Scala spot near the UIC pavilion. “A better word than…
Bringing new meaning to “open bar”: Double A (108 W. Kinzie St., lower level; 312-329-2444), the exclusive 65-seat lounge that launched downstairs from Mercadito last Thursday. Mixology takes centerstage at this sleek spot, where bartenders whip together elaborate drinks—dreamed up by the cocktail consultancy known as the Tippling Bros…
