When I found out Thomas Keller was coming to town to cook side-by-side with Grant Achatz, his most famous and successful protégé, I thought to myself: Must. Be. There. The two chefs had teamed up to do a series of events—one at Per Se in New York, one at Alinea, and a final stop at The French Laundry in California—each a three-hour, 20-course meal priced at $1,500 a head. I’m not even sure why I found the idea of this event so thrilling. Was it the outrageous price tag as we teeter on the brink of a depression? Was it the presence of Keller, perhaps America’s most...

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When I found out Thomas Keller was coming to town to cook side-by-side with Grant Achatz, his most famous and successful protégé, I thought to myself: Must. Be. There. The two chefs had teamed up to do a series of events—one at Per Se in New York, one at Alinea, and a final stop at The French Laundry in California—each a three-hour, 20-course meal priced at $1,500 a head. I’m not even sure why I found the idea of this event so thrilling. Was it the outrageous price tag as we teeter on the brink of a depression? Was it the presence of Keller, perhaps America’s most...

" />

When I found out Thomas Keller was coming to town to cook side-by-side with Grant Achatz, his most famous and successful protégé, I thought to myself: Must. Be. There. The two chefs had teamed up to do a series of events—one at Per Se in New York, one at Alinea, and a final stop at The French Laundry in California—each a three-hour, 20-course meal priced at $1,500 a head. I’m not even sure why I found the idea of this event so thrilling. Was it the outrageous price tag as we teeter on the brink of a depression? Was it the presence of Keller, perhaps America’s most...

" />
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December 2008
Guest Blog: Keller in the House: Eavesdropping on the $1,500 Dinner
By Jennifer Tanaka

When I found out Thomas Keller was coming to town to cook side-by-side with Grant Achatz, his most famous and successful protégé, I thought to myself: Must. Be. There. The two chefs had teamed up to do a series of events—one at Per Se in New York, one at Alinea, and a final stop at The French Laundry in California—each a three-hour, 20-course meal priced at $1,500 a head. I’m not even sure why I found the idea of this event so thrilling. Was it the outrageous price tag as we teeter on the brink of a depression? Was it the presence of Keller, perhaps America’s most...

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On the Market: Letting Go in Chicago’s St. Ben’s Neighborhood
By Dennis Rodkin
List Price: $1.25 million The Property: A collaborative effort between the architect Nate Kipnis and a pair of clients dissatisfied with the houses they had seen on the market, this three-bedroom home has an abundance of environmentally friendly features and a distinctly family-style floor plan. The house, which has a green roof, thickly insulated walls and windows, and a layout that maximizes natural ventilation and daylight, was completed this past June in the Northwest Side neighborhood that is alternately known as St. Ben’s and Bell School District. But even before they moved in... Read more
Drinking Buddies

Whilst strolling the Boul Mich the other day, the new window displays at Cole Haan caught my eye. They have a new line of leather bar accessories, and they’re swell for the dipso holiday season. These leather wine totes are over-the-top—they also come in shiny red patent leather and the signature C.H. woven pattern. At $98, it’s a pretty classy chassis for your two-buck Chuck, so you might want to just use and reuse yourself when you go to BYOBs or over the river to Grandmother’s house. This leather handled corkscrew ($55) comes with its own carrying case, and the witty set of coasters ($65) is printed with the options olive/twist, straight up/on the rocks, dry/dirty, and stirred/shaken. 

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

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The Library Bistro
By Penny Pollack & Jeff Ruby
Jim Dragatsis (Marigold), Howard Natinsky (Fat Cat), and Cary Michael (formerly of Rockit) are collaborating on Branch 27 (1371 W. Chicago Ave.), a 120-seat American bistro in the old 27th Ward library. “We are focusing on foods people are very familiar with—flat-iron steaks, great mussels, great seafood—classics done very well,” says Dragatsis. “The plates are not going to be loaded with garnishes and sauces.” The partners... Read more
Housing Bulletin: Auction Bargains and a New Web Site
By Dennis Rodkin

In this season of extreme markdowns, everybody is offering closeout prices—including the developers of two South Side real-estate projects. The McKinley Park Lofts and Jazz on the Boulevard, a condo and townhouse complex in Bronzeville, have both seen sales slow down dramatically, so the last blocks of units are going up for auction next week....

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Tale of the Tape
By Lucinda Hahn
The former Channel 5 news reporter Amy Jacobson saw her career and personal life derailed after a video showed her in a bikini at the home of a man under investigation after his wife’s disappearance. Now she hopes her lawsuit against Channel 2—the rival station that turned that visit into a sensational news story—will win her a measure of redemption Read more
Holiday Gifts at Golden Triangle

We received an email from The Golden Triangle with some great ideas for gifts. The good news: many are on sale! New Thai celadon ceramic vases are just $22; the 11-inch Chinese fishing float glass globes (circa 1970) are $175 each; new Peking yellow glass objects are (left to right) $280, $145, and $325.

—Jan Parr

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White Attic Opens in Bucktown
By Katherine Lee

Vintage Modern
The Andersonville home goods haven White Attic opened its second location on Nov. 8th at 1842 North Damen Avenue (773-252-8844, thewhiteattic.com) in Bucktown’s fledgling design district. The owner, Terry Ledford, handpicks primarily vintage furniture with good bones and lovingly reworks them into pieces that are both modern and quirky. Ledford hand paints each piece, usually in creamy neutrals, and adds unexpected touches such as...

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Guest Blog: Oprah Planning Inauguration Ball
Oprah Winfrey is said to be planning a Candlelight Ball for 1,000 glamorous guests as her inauguration-night fete in Washington, D.C., Chicago magazine’s Marcia Froelke Coburn reports. The talk-show host and Obama supporter has been entertaining bids from Washington-based caterers for the January 20th party at a venue yet to be determined. A spokeswoman for Winfrey said, “We have nothing to confirm at this point.” Read more
Maine Event

Leon Leonwood (his friends call him L.L.) Bean has opened a huge new store at the Old Orchard mall in Skokie—only their second retail location in Illinois—and I think that there’s something very comforting about that. In trying economic times, chunky warm Bean boots, aromatic Maine balsam wreaths, and striped Hudson’s Bay blankets are appealingly nostalgic. Prices are reasonable, quality’s sturdy, and you can’t beat their customer service. I liked this line of Mission-style hardwood furniture (that bookshelf is only $179) and some surprisingly modern hand-hooked wool rugs (that’s the Multi Windmill pattern, and it’s $499 for a 6’ x9’ size). While you’re at it, get yourself one of those prepped-out monogram tote bags for greener grocery runs, and a set of buffalo-plaid flannel sheets to tuck in with the latest issue of Chicago Home + Garden. Just stay away from the mom jeans.  

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

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