BYO Alert
“I have no restaurant experience,” says Hector Peña, owner of Café Bella (3311 W. Fullerton Ave.; 773-292-5040), a brand-new Logan Square BYO. “I’m a real estate broker. My experience is McDonald’s, when I was 17 years old. My buddy is the chef, and I have always wanted him to open up his own place because his food is marvelous.” The buddy in question is Cesar Casas, a veteran of Ambria who most recently ran…
The Publican, The Bristol, and Province: three smart, approachable newcomers with the skills—and the pork—to satisfy the hungry masses during lean times
Smak-Tak!, Chickpea, Trader Vic’s, Main Street Smokehouse
Saturday was jam-packed at The Pony in Roscoe Village: The afternoon brought out the bar’s Jayhawks contingent for the NCAA matchup of Kansas and Nebraska (the “home” team prevailed, 70 to 53). As the evening wore on, the good times got rolling—and the hurricanes started flowing—at a Mardi Gras bash. We sent our photographer to snap shots of the scene.
Editor’s note: Change is coming to your inbox. Along with a retooling of our events coverage in the magazine (if you haven’t seen it lately, check out Chicago Guide in our March issue, on newsstands now), Marquee is getting a new name and a new look. Keep an eye out for the new Chicago Guide newsletter next Wednesday, featuring only the events worth your time and money. We know you’re busier, so we’re getting pickier. Let us know what you think.
Hi. Remember me? It’s your former Last Girl Standing–turned–newlywed. It’s been a while since I last blogged, and the rumors are true: After seven rewarding years as Chicago magazine’s nightlife columnist, I’ve made the very tough decision to leave my post. My last Nightspotting column will run in the April issue of the magazine, and this is my final post in this forum. [Insert violins here.]…
Mr. Beef Lives!
Seems everyone in Chicago was already mourning the death of the famous Italian beef shack (666 N. Orleans St.; 312-337-8500) following a story in Crain’s Chicago Business last week that reported its owners owed a bank $650,000. “We refinanced and we’re not going anywhere,” says Chris Zucchero, the son of Mr. Beef’s owner, Joseph Zucchero. “But we’re touched by the outpouring of support we got from Chicagoans.” In other words…
The Boundary 1932 W. Division St. Secluded booths for canoodling, a blazing fireplace—and if that doesn’t do the trick, the bar is bustling with singles. Cru Café & Wine Bar 25 E. Delaware Pl. It doesn’t get much more romantic than this cozy bar with a 300-bottle list—and a River North location convenient … Read more
Simone’s—part hipster hang, part ongoing art project from the brains behind Danny’s and Streetside—opened last week in Pilsen, officially bringing the craft-cocktailing trend to the South Side. We sent our photographer down to capture the (genius? bizarre?) clutter, which includes oodles of objects d’art, a bar top built from old bowling-alley wood, and pinball parts practically everywhere you look. The drink menu is…
Talk about a bar that feels like it’s been around a while: The guys behind West Town’s High Dive, Georg Simos and Alex Tsolakides, are at it again with Rocking Horse in Logan Square. Simos gave us the exclusive on the new bar, slated for a late February or early March launch.
