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Naan-Stop Excitement

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The One Thing Randolph Ain’t Got

Angela Hepler-Lee, already a queen of Randolph Street as a partner in crowd-magnets Sushi Wabi and De Cero, adds another jewel to the crown in April: Veera Sway (844 W. Randolph St.; 312-491-0844), a 50-seat modern Indian spot next door to Sushi Wabi. “Indian for Americans is really untouched,” says Hepler-Lee, who named the restaurant for a chef in London who inspired the idea. The plan: “approachable Indian” in a rustic-yet-contemporary space designed by Amelia Briske, who masterminded a gut rehab of an old produce stand. The kitchen, run by Moto alum Tyler Williams, will be equipped with two tandoor ovens—one for bread, one for everything else; his menu will include coconut-seared scallops and lamb sausage with apricots and almonds, plus classics like chicken tikka masala. Williams, a self-described “mutt from Michigan,” is bolstering his knowledge of the cuisine in the home of Ranjana Bhargava, whom he identifies…

Off to the Grammys

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Last Girl Standing is L.A.-bound, en route to the 50th annual Grammy Awards. Our intrepid party girl has her notepad and digital camera in tow, so check back Tuesday for full coverage of the ceremony, the parties, and all the silly celebrity action.

How To Live to be 120

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Rising Sun on Clark

The old Platiyo space (3313 N. Clark St.) next to Mia Francesca is getting a big-name tenant: Lynne Wallack, the owner of Deleece (4004 N. Southport Ave.; 773-325-1710). Wallack; her husband, John Handler; and Deleece’s chef, Josh Hansen, are partners in Shochu, the planned 80-seat Japanese-American lounge named for a Japanese distilled liquor. “This will be the place that brings shochu into Chicago, and does it in an American way,” says Wallack, who cites the fact that shochu now outsells saké in Japan. “The Japanese compare it to vodka but it’s lower in calories and alcohol content. [Shochu is roughly 25 to 30 percent alcohol content]. And smoother.” Wallack’s crew has a menu of “Asian-edged” small plates (maki, yakitori with seven different sauces) to go with an extensive shochu/cocktail list. And they’re definitely playing up the supposed health benefits of the drink: “We found research on this man [Shigechiyo Izumi, 1865-1986] in the Guinness Book of World Records who lived to be…

Dining Out: Head of the Brass

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It’s all hustle and bustle at Brasserie Ruhlmann. Twenty-first-century brasseries bear little resemblance to the original breweries they started out to be or, more recently, to restaurants where beer is served, and Chicago’s newest bids to the title are no exception. Old Town Brasserie and Brasserie Ruhlmann emphasize fairly classic food and wine by acclaimed … Read more

Bright Pink is the New Pink

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Bright Pink founder Lindsay Avner was all smiles at a fundraiser for her year-old organization Friday night at Le Passage. “It’s amazing to be 25 and know what your purpose is—why you were put on this planet,” Avner told me in between hugging guests and doling out thanks for helping spread Bright Pink’s mission (the group provides resources for young women at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer). “This is definitely our biggest event yet,” she said. “But more than that, we had more than 50 high-risk young women reach out and…

Bye-Bye, Kevin

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Kevin (9 W. Hubbard St.; 312-595-0055), after six years in River North, is closing. “There are too many Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, too many Januarys and Julys and Augusts,” said Kevin and Alan Shikami, the owners, in an e-mail. “You wait for the business to come back, but the years pass and the sales decline. We have put the restaurant on the market and at the end of February we will close the doors.” This is sad news, especially…

Dish Deux: Sky-High Breakfast

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Breakfast for Two at Sixteen
For the first 15 minutes or so, it was just the two of us, which meant that we were the most fascinating people in the room. The staff kind of hovered. Even though construction of the 92-floor building won’t be finished until summer of 2009, things looked pretty swanky from where we were sitting. Which just happened to be in the River Room, in cerulean blue chairs next to one of the 30-foot-high windows, with a very nice view of the Wrigley Building’s clock tower. It’s a striking space, full of beautiful swirly-grained African wood.

As soon as we sat down, our waiter asked if we wanted freshly squeezed orange juice. Sure. Skinny shooter glasses filled with yummy berry juice came as…

The Concierge Is In: Weekend Update; Bowl Bars

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I’ve often fantasized about starting my own concierge business. I know that sort of thing flies in cities like Vegas—maybe not so much in Chicago—so instead it’s a service I offer free to friends, friends of friends, and, of course, friends of Last Girl Standing. Want to know what’s going on today, tomorrow, and this weekend, dear nightlife enthusiasts? Keep reading and post your comments below. This is your forum, too.

Last week a loyal LGS reader and newly single friend who’s been out of the nightlife loop for a while charged me with planning a night out for her and another friend, both in their 30s. She sent me this e-mail…