Para.Mar Dance Theatre
Photograph: Todd Rosenberg

BEST USE OF A PARKING LOT

Para.Mar Dance Theatre

BEST VIRTUAL LIVE COMEDY EXPERIENCE

Wisecrackin’

BEST QUARANTINE SOUNDTRACK

Situation Chicago

Enchanted Garden Treehouse Airbnb
Photograph: Courtesy of Enchanted Garden Treehouse

BEST PANDEMIC ESCAPE

Enchanted Garden Treehouse Airbnb

BEST DINING INNOVATION

QR menus

BEST OUTDOOR THEATER THAT’S NOT A DRIVE-IN

Music Box Theatre

BEST NEW FITNESS STUDIO

SoulCycle Outside

BEST RETAIL PIVOT

Capucine

BEST IN-RESTAURANT MARKETS

El Che Meat & Provisions and Daisies Market

BEST BRUNCH ALTERNATIVE

Tipsy Tea

BEST CINEMATIC REBIRTH

Drive-in movie theaters

BEST WATCHDOG

Kelly Bauer, breaking news editor at Block Club Chicago

BEST WINE CLUB FOR NEWBIES

Wine Gang

BEST PANDEMIC DIARIES

The Quarantine Times

Bokuchan’s Japanese Curry House
Photograph: Jeff Marini

BEST VIRTUAL RESTAURANT

Bokuchan’s Japanese Curry House

BEST ARTISTIC EVOLUTION

Roger J. Carter

BEST QUARANTINE GLOW-UP

Pendry Chicago

BEST NEW INSTANT HAPPY HOUR

To-go cocktails

Community Kitchen and the Love Fridge
Photograph: Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune

BEST NEW MUTUAL AID PAIRING

Community Kitchen and the Love Fridge

BEST CHEFFY BARBECUE

Boxcar BBQ

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE

Wheelys Coffee Lounge

BEST TWIST ON A JEWISH DELI TREAT

Hamantaschen at Jeff & Judes

BEST INSTAGRAM-ONLY FOOD

Vargo Brother Ferments

Illustration by Dani Knight

BEST DEVELOPMENT FOR IMPATIENT DINERS

Timed reservations

BEST TACO THAT SAVED A RESTAURANT

Quesabirria at Milkstop

BEST INFLUENCER WHO BLEW UP

Jeremy E. Joyce

Illustration by Dani Knight

BEST NEW PLANT SHOP

The Green Flamingo

BEST SIGN OF LIFE ON THE MAG MILE

The RealReal

BEST POETIC INTERLUDE

Online writing classes from the Newberry Library

BEST INSTA RETAIL THERAPY

Quarantini Vintage

BEST TAKEOUT INNOVATION

Taco holders

BEST NEWS FOR CHOOSY READERS

Pilsen Community Books subscription programs

Good Ambler
Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas

BEST NEW BAKERY

Good Ambler

The Five Best New Sandwiches

The 10 Best New Pizzas