Epic Proportions
Stephen Wambach, the former corporate chef for Laurent Tourondel’s BLT Restaurant Group in New York, plans to open the locally minded Epic (112 W. Hubbard St.; 312-222-4940) toward the end of November in River North. (His bosses, two Chicago businessmen, wish to remain anonymous—but we know his pastry chef will be…
Our hats off to Scarlet. Seven months after a February fire in the apartments overhead caused this Boystown standby to go dark, the bar reopened September 30th with a fresh dedication to cocktailing and a handsome turn-of-the-century-inspired interior. We sent our photographer over on Friday for the relaunch of the spot’s…
On Tuesday night—right after we finished stalking Ben Stiller, who was filming a scene for Little Fockers at the intersection of Wrightwood and Dayton—my brother, Lee, and I headed to Rebar at the Trump for a media tasting of the lounge’s new fall cocktail menu. I’ve been cheating on Rebar with…
List Price: $1.4 million
The Property: In the early 1980s, the modernist sculptor Ruth Duckworth converted this former pickle factory into her home and studio, with work space on the first floor and living space above. Now 91 years old, Duckworth is retiring and moving to England, where she has family. She listed the building for sale last week.
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…
